Is vanilla essential oil really a thing?? There are many blog posts throughout the internet that say there is no such thing as a vanilla essential oil, however, this changed in the fall of 2020 when Young Living created the first vanilla oleoresin oil to be used just like all other essential oils. Yes! You can now diffuse vanilla oil by itself or in your own DIY essential oil diffuser blends!
Vanilla oil is produced from the vanilla plant, the vanilla planifolia, which is a member of the orchid family (orchidaceae), native to tropical climates. V. planifolia is an orchid that grows long vanilla bean pods. The process of obtaining this expensive spice is a labor-intensive process that can take up to four years for the vine to mature, providing the growing season is conducted in a very specific manner. If the growing conditions aren’t perfect for the plant, it may not produce at all. The vine produces orchid blossoms that last only 24 hours and must be pollinated by hand within 8-12 hours for the bean pod to grow. The entire process – growing, pollinating, drying, curing, and preparing for export – takes around one year.
Young Living’s Vanilla is not strictly an extract or an absolute, both of which contain mostly alcohol and do not blend well with essential oils. The D. Gary Young Research Institute found a vanilla product that would meet our Seed to Seal standard AND blend well with our oils. We are using a FIRST of its kind extraction method with the vanilla oleoresin and fractionated coconut oil, so now we have access to an INCREDIBLE Vanilla that’s not only pure but also diffuses and blends beautifully with our essential oils!
** PLEASE NOTE ** Don’t be fooled by clever marketing. Not all essential oils are created equally. Make sure you’re not wasting your money on fake essential oils, or oils diluted in questionable solvents (even if they’re labeled as “pure essential oil”). Don’t miss our complete guide on how to find quality pure essential oils to ensure you’re not wasting your money on brands of oils that legally carry out questionable or unethical practices and mislead you through deceitful marketing practices.
Please keep in mind the information shared here is for informational purposes only. The content on this page has not been reviewed by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or cure any disease or health ailment. The information shared here is based on my personal knowledge, experience, and research.
The Constituents and Health Benefits of Vanilla Oil
Vanilla oleoresin oil contains aromatic compounds to include natural vanillin (a polyphenol), 4 hydroxybenzaldehyde, and vanillic acid.
Natural sources of vanillin are rich in antioxidant properties. Vanillin-containing vanilla beans contain anticlastogenic properties, which are effective to reduce chromosomal damage that occurs due to exposure to X-ray or UV rays (source). It also helps with and is a known aphrodisiac and antidepressant in rat studies.
4 hydroxybenzaldehyde is often isolated from vanilla beans to be used in commercial perfumes. It is a phytocompound that has been found to provide beneficial effects on insulin resistance in type 2 diabetic rats consuming a high-fat diet. Studies have also shown it to have positive effects on inflammation. (Source)
Vanillic acid is also found in turmeric, mushrooms, other herbs, grains, & spices. It is known to have positive effects on your gut health, liver wellness, inflammation, blood sugar, menstrual cramps, mental health, and physical energy. (Source)
Uses for Vanilla Essential Oil
While not a true essential oil, the aroma of vanilla oil offers a rich, soothing scent that enhances other oils blended with it.
** Please note, vanilla oleoresin should be used aromatically or kept for topical applications. If you’re wanting to use vanilla in culinary recipes, please continue using pure vanilla extract.
- Create your own homemade natural perfume
- Warm Vanilla Room Spray – a pinch of salt, 5 drops each cinnamon bark and clove essential oils, 6 drops orange oil, and 4 drops vanilla oil in a 2oz bottle filled the rest of the way with distilled water. Shake and spray.
- Create your own DIY Diffuser Blends
- Vanilla Spice Diffuser Blend
- Create your own DIY Roller Bottle Blends
- Add to your favorite homemade massage oils
- A great upgrade to your DIY skincare and body care products
- Use a few drops on your dryer ball when you do laundry
- Add a few drops to your bath oil or bath salts
Essential Oils that Blend The Best with Vanilla Oil
Vanilla’s aromatic influence blends especially well with a variety of spice, citrus, and floral essential oils, enriching their aromatic properties.
- Balsam Fir (otherwise known as Grand Fir and White Fir) essential oil
- Cinnamon essential oil
- Clove essential oil
- Copaiba essential oil
- Lemon essential oil
- Lime essential oil
- Neroli essential oil
- Nutmeg essential oil
- Peppermint essential oil
- Spearmint essenital oil
Diluting requirements for vanilla oil
While vanilla oleoresin oil is NOT a true essential oil, I still recommend always diluting with a carrier oil. Diluting your oils is a good habit to maintain, and helps make your oils last longer, saving you money.
A carrier oil can be any cold-pressed, seed-based oil (ideally organic and unrefined). This includes most cooking oil, like coconut oil, avocado oil, and olive oils. Personally, we LOVE using sweet almond oil, grapeseed oil, and the V6 Carrier oil (made by Young Living). This is the best way to dilute your essential oils for topical use.
Before deciding to use vanilla oil on your skin, it is always wise to do a small patch test first. This is where you add some oil to your skin (ideally diluted) to see whether you need additional dilution. If your skin turns red or develops a rash on the site of where you applied the oil, either stop using that oil topically or add more carrier oil to dilute it further.
Frequently Asked Questions about Vanilla Essential Oil
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Where to Buy Vanilla Oil
Vanilla oil can only be found through Young Living because of its proprietary and unique oleoresin extraction technology.
We love purchasing from Young Living because they set a higher standard for essential oils than the rest of the industry. Their Seed to Seal guarantee is unmatched and shows their dedication to a farm-to-table type of approach. This company has proven to me time and time again to be the closest thing out there to buying from your local farmer. They are totally transparent in their processes, and even open their farms so you can see for yourself (or involve yourself in the process).
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Nicole
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