In this spotlight, you will learn the uses and benefits of juniper oil plus DIY Juniper Essential Oil Recipes you can make. The scent of juniper is reminiscent of walking through a forest. This woodsy oil has sweet and fruity undertones that create a refreshing aroma.
Fill your home with this fragrance to enjoy calming effects on nervous tension.
Juniper is on our Top 30 Affordable Essential Oils list, so cost should not keep this oil from being added to your collection. If you haven't tried it yet, I highly recommend getting a bottle. Read on to see how it can benefit your life.
Juniper Essential Oil Facts
Historically, juniper has been used for spiritual purposes. It has also been burned to ward off disease. Juniper berries are best known as the raw material of gin.
Juniper Berry Essential Oil comes from the fruit of an evergreen tree. The fruit is a berry-like cone that is highly aromatic. It is known as a strong detoxifier and immune booster, naturally improving short term and long term ailments.
| Botanical Name | Juniperus communis |
| Botanical Family | Cupressaceae |
| Aka | Juniper or Juniper Berry |
| Note | Top |
| Aroma | Crisp, sweet, woody, piney, fresh |
| Extraction Method | Steam distilled |
| Plant Part Used | Berries |
| Shelf Life | 2-3 years |
| Kid Safe? | Yes |
| Safety Concerns | Avoid old or oxidized oils, they may cause skin sensitization. Store oil in dark, airtight container. Not phototoxic. |
Main Constituents:
Alpha-pinene, beta-myrcene, beta-pinene, sabinene, limonene. See Essential Oil Safety for a complete list of constituents.
Juniper Berry Essential Oil Blends Well With
There are many oils that Juniper blends well with, this is not an exhaustive list, just some suggestions:
- Bergamot
- Black pepper
- Lavender
- Frankincense
- Sandalwood
- Cypress
- Fir needle
- Cedarwood
- Grapefruit
- Clary sage
- Rosewood
- Lemon
- Orange
- Laurel leaf
- Roman chamomile
Therapeutic Properties:
Analgesic, anthelmintic, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, carminative, depurative, diuretic, emmenagogue, nervine, spasmolytic, tonic
Therapeutic Uses:
Fluid retention, cystitis, urinary tract infection, abdominal bloating, menstrual cramp, heavy legs, detoxifying, cellulite, obesity, gout, rheumatism, arthritis, acne, ulceration, eczema, mental exhaustion, chronic fatigue, anxiety, tension
Juniper Berry Benefits and Uses
Juniper essential oil is extracted from the juniper plant. It can be applied topically or used for aromatherapy, and it has a warm, woody scent that is invigorating. Juniper's therapeutic properties include anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, and diuretic.
Here is our top 10 list of benefits and uses for juniper oil.
1. Promotes Clear and Healthy Complexion
Frequently used in skincare, juniper oil acts as a natural skin toner and reduces the appearance of skin blemishes. It can also diminish stretch marks and help skin conditions that occur because of hormonal imbalance.
For Healthy Complexion: After washing face, apply one drop of juniper mixed with jojoba oil to your skin. You will love the refreshing look this oil brings to your skin! Also add some to your shower gel or body wash to fight blemishes, fungus and foot odor. This oil is known as an astringent which means it helps tighten the pores of your skin.
Make Juniper Berry Moisturizer: Fill a 2 oz glass jar with whipped coconut oil and 6-12 drops of juniper berry to it (0.5-1% dilution). Simple right? Now you have yourself an essential oil moisturizer that is excellent for your skin and all natural!
2. Joint and Muscle Soother
Juniper is a great way to relieve pain and inflammation. Use for injuries, joint aches, muscle pain, bone pain, and arthritis. When used topically, it produces skin warmth which can ease tired muscles. Blend 1-2 drops juniper with 1 teaspoon carrier oil, massage on effected areas. Try our Juniper Muscle Rub recipe below.
Sore joints? Try Juniper Bath Blend: Add 2 drops juniper oil, 1 drop of rosemary and 1 drop of lavender to 1 tablespoon of fractionated coconut oil. Pour 1/4 cup of Epsom salts into mixture. Add blend to a warm bath to soothe your body.
3. Reduces Stress and Nervous Tension
The aroma of juniper reduces emotional and physical stress, creating a fresh and positive atmosphere. Use during meditation or prayer to help release worry and negative thinking. Juniper oil has a positive impact on the relaxation responses of the brain when you inhale it.
Use for aromatherapy by place one drop of oil on a diffuser necklace and enjoy the encouraging aroma throughout the day. Read more about benefits of using diffuser necklaces.
Naturally Calming Perfume: You can add 6 drops of juniper to a 10 ml roller bottle, fill the rest with jojoba oil. Roll on throughout the day, it smells wonderful and is better for you than any chemical perfumes.
4. Boosts Digestion
Used as a digestive aid, juniper acts as a stimulant for digestive enzyme. This allows for easier breaking down and absorption of nutrients and fats from foods.
Heartburn Relief: Massage 1-2 drops of juniper berry essential oil with coconut oil on chest and abdomen for indigestion symptoms, acid reflux, or heart burn.
5. Repels Insects
The smell of juniper berry naturally sends bugs away like citronella oil. You can spray juniper essential oil on your clothes, or mix it with carrier oil and massage your skin. Just add 6 drops to a 1 oz dropper bottle and fill the rest with fractionated coconut oil (1% dilution).
6. Natural Remedy For UTI
Have you ever had a UTI (urinary tract infection)? If so, you know how terrible they are. Thankfully, Juniper Berry is known for supporting healthy kidney and urinary function and it acts as a natural cleansing and detoxifying agent.
Natural Remedy: Mix 1-2 drops of juniper oil with 1 teaspoon of jojoba oil and massage onto your lower abdomen/pelvic area, near the spot where your bladder is.
For bladder discomfort also try our Detox Bath Salt Blend under #9, a warm bath with this blend can be soothing. Follow up with a doctor if natural remedies are ineffective.
7. Natural Air Purifier
Replace commercial air fresheners and room sprays with an all natural juniper berry essential oil spray. Simply add 15 drops of juniper and 1/2 tablespoon of vegetable glycerin into a 2 oz spray bottle and then fill the rest with water. Add spray top and shake well to mix. Place natural air freshener in living room, bathroom and office to clean the air.
Diffusing juniper can also help with purification of air. Diffuse 3 drops of juniper oil and 3 drops of lemon oil to deodorize the air in your home. Read more about the benefits of diffusing oils.
8. Natural Sleep Remedy
The aroma of juniper makes you relax and unwind muscle tension. Massage a few drops diluted in carrier oil onto your chest, feet and neck before bedtime. Juniper berry essential oil enables you to sleep faster and prevents racing mind or restlessness, soothing you into peaceful sleep.
Peaceful Sleep Inhaler: Make a nasal inhaler and inhale before bedtime. Add 4 drops Juniper berry, 4 drops lavender and 4 drops cedarwood.
9. Enhances Detoxification
Increasing urination and elimination, juniper berry helps in drawing waste, toxins and irritants out of your digestive tract. As it acts helpful in fighting stressful feelings, it will help you in controlling emotional food cravings.
Place 1-2 drops on your hands, rub and inhale the oil to aid in stimulating a relaxing response.
Detox Bath Salt Blend: Mix 1/4 cup of dead sea salt, 2 tablespoon of fractionated coconut oil and 4 drops of juniper berry. Add to warm bath and soak for a detoxing effect.
10. Household Cleaner and Freshener
Juniper berry essential oil is a natural antiseptic which lessens and prevents bacteria from spreading. You can use it on kitchen and bathroom surfaces as well as appliances. It absorbs odors when you diffuse it indoors while purifying the air.
Use juniper berry on dryer balls, just add a few drops to each ball and allow to dry while you are washing your load. Once load is washed add clothes and dryer balls to dryer. Read more about using essential oils with wool dryer balls.
Juniper Essential Oil Recipes
Check out these recipes with juniper essential oil and juniper diffuser blends.
Juniper Muscle Rub |
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Juniper oil is warming effect on muscles may also help to relieve pain caused by arthritis or soreness after exercise. Use this muscle rub recipe to soothe minor aches, pains and inflammation.
Directions: Add all ingredient into a 2 oz lotion pump bottle. To use, rub on sore muscles for relief. (2% dilution) |
Calming the Chaos Diffuser Blend |
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Blend that is calming and helps to reduce stress.
Directions: Add essential oils to diffuser with recommended water. Read more about diffusing essential oils. |
Feet Treat Foot Soak |
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Use after a long day on your feet to sooth and refresh. Juniper essential oil may help to treat skin conditions like acne and eczema because of its antimicrobial properties.
Directions: Mix oils together and add in epsom salt. Place foot soak blend into a basin of warm water and soak feet. |
Clear Congestion Inhaler Blend |
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When stress or tension hit, take a whiff of this relaxing blend
Directions: Add essential oils to cotton wick and insert into inhaler. Read more about using aromatherapy inhalers. |
DIY Moisturizing Nail Soak |
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Nourish your nails with this nail soak, great to do once a week for healthy nails.
Directions: Mix ingredients in a small bowl that you can comfortably soak your nails in. Soak nails for 5-10 minutes. No need to rinse when done, just rub any oil residue into your hands! You can use the leftover nail soak for a foot soak, just add the remaining oil to a warm basin of water and soak your feet! |
Christmas Tree Diffuser Blend |
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Love the scent of Christmas trees? This blend smells just like it!
Directions: Add essential oils to diffuser with recommended water. |
Where to Buy Juniper Essential Oil?
So as you can see, there are lots of uses for juniper essential oil, you just need to open your bottle and start using it. Juniper is on our Top 30 Affordable Essential Oils list, so cost should not keep this oil from being added to your collection.
Buy only high quality, 100% pure essential oils when purchasing. If you are looking to buy clove essential oil, here are some brands 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), you may 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, read more here.
If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, epileptic, or under a doctor’s care, consult your physician. For more information on oil safety issues here.
Newbie to Oils? Read More: Essential Oils for Beginners
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