Eucalyptus globulus steam distilled from the wood and leaves, from Australia
Aroma: Eucalyptus Globulus Essential Oil has a very fresh herbaceous sweet strong menthol scent with soft woody earthy undertones.
History: Eucalyptus Essential Oil has long been used in homes in Australia. In Spain, the timber of Eucalyptus was used in construction.
Common Uses: Eucalyptus Globulus Essential Oil is fantastic on skin ailments such as burns, blisters, wounds, insect bites, lice and skin infections, as well as to combat the effects of colds and the flu. There is also a history of Eucalyptus essential oil being applied to sore muscles and joints.
Possible Uses: Arthritis, bronchitis, catarhh, cold sores, colds, coughing, fever, flu, poor circulation, sinusitis. [Julia Lawless, The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Essential Oils (Rockport, MA: Element Books, 1995), 57-66.]
Constituents: Cineole, Pinene, Globulol, Camphene, Limonene, Pinocarvone [Shirley Price, The Aromatherapy Workbook (Hammersmith, London: Thorsons, 1993), 54-5.]
Colour: Clear to pale yellow liquid.
Consistency: Thin
Note: Top
Strength of Aroma: Strong
Safety Information: Very toxic when taken orally (no essential oil should be taken internally without the guidance of a qualified aromatherapy practitioner). [Julia Lawless, The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Essential Oils (Rockport, MA: Element Books, 1995), 141.]
Essential Oil Safety by Robert Tisserand does not indicate any special precautions when using this oil. [Robert Tisserand, Essential Oil Safety (United Kingdom: Churchill Livingstone, 1995), 206.]
Cautions: Eucalyptus Oil should be used in dilution, and be avoided during pregnancy. It is considered toxic if taken internally, non-irritant and non-sensitive. Avoid if you have high blood pressure or epilepsy.
Photo thanks to John Tann from Sydney, Australia, CC BY 2.0