Magnolia Essential Oil Uses, Benefits & Recipes - EO Spotlight
Magnolia essential oil is known for its emotional benefits and its heavenly aroma. This elusive oil can become a shining star in your oil collection, read more to find out why.
Magnolia flowers have been used in Chinese traditional health practices for hundreds of years, where it has been cherished for its therapeutic benefits and steeped into a fragrant tea.
The sweetly floral aroma of magnolia essential oil is sedative and relaxing, yet has uplifting actions.
Like lavender & bergamot essential oil, magnolia primarily contains linalool. Linalool rich oils have powerful soothing and relaxing benefits to the emotions and skin.
This desirable essential oil is steam distilled from the petals of the magnolia tree. Magnolia essential oil is costly due to the difficulty growing and harvesting the flower blossoms.
Magnolia Essential Oil Facts
Botanical Name:
Michelia Alba
Magnolia Alba
Botanical Family:
Magnoliaceae
Aka:
White Champaca
White Jade Orchid
Plant Part Used:
Flowers
Extraction Method:
Steam distilled
Aroma:
Sweet, floral, fresh, champagne-like
Main Constituents:
Linalool. See Essential Oil Safety for a complete list of constituents.
Shelf Life:
2-3 years
Safety Precautions:
Avoid old or oxidized oils, they may cause skin sensitization. Store oil in dark, airtight container. Not phototoxic. Do not ingest. Not a kid friendly oil.
Magnolia Essential Oil Blends Well With:
Bergamot, cedarwood, coriander seed, frankincense, lemon, tangerine, grapefruit, lavender, orange, ylang ylang, jasmine, geranium, mandarin, sweet marjoram, helichrysum, melissa, petitgrain, rose, neroli.
Magnolia oil blends well with other floral aromas, as well as citrus oils. It can add a lovely, sweet scent to essential oil blends without being overpowering.
Therapeutic Uses:
Scars, wounds, muscular aches, abdominal cramp, intestinal spasm, fear-induced anxiety, insomnia, inability to communicate, stress-related tension, depression (from The Complete Book of Essential Oils and Aromatherapy by Valerie Ann Wormwood, page 601).
Magnolia Essential Oil Benefits
Magnolia has been described as "heaven in a bottle". Besides its wonderful aroma, check out these benefits you can enjoy when using topically or aromatically:
- Relaxes the mind and body
- Soothes and moisturizes the skin
- Acts as a natural sedative (great for bedtime!)
- Creates a calm and serene atmosphere
- Stimulates the generation of new cells, beneficial for skin
- Soothes aches and pains (analgesic properties)
- Uplifts when feeling down and grounding when anxious
- Promotes circulation and relieves congestion
- Eases discomfort from abdominal or menstrual cramps (antispasmodic properties)
Magnolia Essential Oil Uses
Now that you can see the benefits of magnolia oil, here are some ways you can enjoy this floral essential oil:
- Make an all natural perfume roll on (see recipe below)
- Diffuse to brighten the atmosphere & uplift spirits
- Place one drop on a diffuser necklace for emotional support
- Add 2 drops to hair brush for amazingly scented hair
- Add 1-2 drops to unscented lotion or body oil
- Place 1-2 drops on the shower floor just before you get in
- Place one drop in the palm of hand, rub hands together then deeply inhale the aroma
Magnolia Essential Oil Recipes
Beauty Sleep Diffuser Blend
Try this sweet blend of sedative and relaxing oils
- 3 drops Magnolia (Magnolia Alba)
- 2 drops Sweet Orange (Citrus sinensis)
- 1 drop Ylang ylang (Cananga odorata)
Add essential oils to diffuser with recommended water. Read more about diffusing essential oils.
Heavenly Sugar Scrub
Renew and refresh skin with this exfoliating scrub, the aroma is heavenly!
- 6 drops Magnolia (Magnolia Alba)
- 2 drops Sweet orange (Citrus sinensis)
- 2 drops Patchouli (Pogostemon cablin)
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1/4 cup fractionated coconut oil
- 4 oz jar
Mix all ingredients together in a bowl and place into jar. To use, scoop out a small amount and rub onto desired areas for exfoliating action.
Field of Flowers Diffuser Blend
Dispel negativity and inspire feelings of love and comfort
- 3 drops Magnolia (Magnolia Alba)
- 2 drops Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia)
- 2 drops Cedarwood (Juniperus virginiana)
- 1 drop Lemon (Citrus limon)
Add essential oils to diffuser with recommended water.
Magnolia Bliss Room Spray
Emotionally supportive blend to create a relaxed environment
- 10 drops Magnolia (Magnolia Alba)
- 5 drops Bergamot (Citrus bergamia)
- 4 drops Sandalwood (Santalum album)
- distilled water
- 2 oz glass spray bottle
Add essential oils to bottle and swirl to blend, fill rest of bottle with distilled water, shake well . To use, shake and spritz into air, enjoy the calming aroma.
Heavenly Perfume Roller Blend
Magnolia is a highly desirable scent for perfume blends
- 3 drops Magnolia (Magnolia Alba)
- 2 drops Grapefruit (Citrus paradisi)
- 1 drop Patchouli (Pogostemon cablin)
- 10 ml Roller Bottle
- Jojoba Oil
Add oils into 10 ml Rollerball bottle and fill rest of bottle with jojoba oil (or favorite carrier oil). To use, roll on pulse points (wrists, neck, inner elbow). 3% dilution.
Magnolia Bloom Diffuser Blend
Beautiful blend of sweet and fruity aromas to brighten your space
- 4 drops Magnolia (Magnolia Alba)
- 2 drops Grapefruit (Citrus paradisi)
- 2 drops Lemon (Citrus limon)
Add essential oils to diffuser with recommended water.
Antispasmodic Roller Blend
Abdominal or menstrual cramps got you bent over in agony? Try this blend of antispasmodic & analgesic oils
- 2 drops Magnolia (Magnolia Alba)
- 2 drops Sweet Marjoram (Origanum majorana)
- 1 drop Helichrysium (Helichrysum italicum)
- 1 drop Roman Chamomile (Anthemis nobilis)
- 10 ml Roller Bottle
- Jojoba Oil
Add oils into 10 ml Rollerball bottle and fill rest of bottle with jojoba oil (or favorite carrier oil). To use, roll on neck and shoulders to relieve muscle discomfort. 3% dilution.
Renewal Diffuser Blend
This lovely blend will help to ease tension in both mind and body
- 2 drops Magnolia (Magnolia Alba)
- 2 drops Grapefruit (Citrus paradisi)
- 2 drops Frankincense (Boswellia carterii)
Add essential oils to diffuser with recommended water.
Aloe Skin Nourishing Gel
Hydrate skin with this nourishing oil blend in a base of aloe vera gel
- 2 drops Magnolia (Magnolia Alba)
- 2 drops Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia)
- 2 drops Frankincense (Boswellia carterii)
- 1 oz aloe vera gel
- 1 oz lotion pump
Add ingredients to bottle and shake to blend. To use, apply gel to desired area.
Sweet Slumber Bath Salt Blend
Perfect recipe to use during night time for great relaxation before going to sleep. If making recipe ahead of time or giving as a gift, store in a 2 oz glass jar.
- 2 drops Magnolia (Magnolia Alba)
- 2 drops Petitgrain (Citrus aurantium)
- 1/4 cup Pink Himalayan salt
- 1 tablespoon jojoba oil
Mix all ingredients together in a bowl. Fill tub with warm water. Before getting in, add bath salt to water and swirl with hand to blend in. Use full recipe for bath soak. To use recipe for a foot soak, use 1 tablespoon in a foot bath.
Serene Inhaler
Creates feelings of calm and relaxation
- 5 drops Magnolia (Magnolia Alba)
- 5 drops Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia)
- 5 drops Bergamot (Citrus bergamia)
- Blank Inhaler
Add essential oils to cotton wick and insert into inhaler. Read more about using aromatherapy inhalers.
Magnolia Dreams Diffuser Blend
Use this recipe to help promote peaceful sleep
- 3 drops Magnolia (Magnolia Alba)
- 2 drops Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia)
- 2 drops Cedarwood (Juniperus virginiana)
Add essential oils to diffuser with recommended water.
Tropical Breeze Diffuser Blend
Uplift the mood and create a sense of balance
- 2 drops Magnolia (Magnolia Alba)
- 2 drops Ylang ylang (Cananga odorata)
- 1 drop Lime (Citrus aurantifolia)
- 1 drop Tangerine (Citrus reticulata)
Add essential oils to diffuser with recommended water.
Where to Buy Magnolia Essential Oil
Here are two brand we like:
General Essential Oil Precautions
Never use essential oils undiluted, in eyes or mucous membranes. Do not take internally unless working with a qualified practitioner. Keep out of reach from children.
Use essential oils with extreme caution on children, be sure you have researched the oil and that it is safe for use on kids. Plant Therapy clearly labels their oils "KidSafe" on the bottle if the oil can be used for children ages 2–10).
If applying an essential oil topically (on your skin), it is best practice to always perform a small patch test to an insensitive part of the body, use 1-2 drops in a teaspoon of carrier oil like jojoba oil.
If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, epileptic, or under a doctor’s care, consult your physician. For more information on oil safety issues, read Essential Oil Safety by Robert Tisserand and Rodney Young.
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