Benefits of Amyris Essential Oil and Its Uses In Aromatherapy

The most common of the benefits of amyris essential oil (Amyris balsamifera) is as a fixative in perfumes and soaps, although the oil has other uses.

Basic Amyris Facts

Amyris also goes by the name West Indian sandalwood, and the scent of the oil is similar to sandalwood. However, amyris is not a sandalwood, has no botanical relationship to the commonly used East Indian sandalwood, and does not have similar properties. Amyris also goes by the name balsam torchwood.

However, because of the scent, amyris often serves as an inexpensive alternative in perfumes and soaps that claim to have a sandalwood scent.

Plant family: Rutaceae.

Production: Steam distilled from the wood and branches of a small, bushy tree with white flowers that's native to the West Indies. The oil is thick and tacky to the touch.

Aroma: Woody, with vanilla notes.

Perfume/Aromatic note: Base.

Is amyris safe to use during pregnancy? Consult a professional.

Is amyris essential oil safe for children? Yes, according to Revive Essential Oils. Consult a professional for details.

Main components:

• valerianol 15.1–21.5%
• alpha-eudesmol 4.4–16.2%

Source: Essential Oil Safety, 2nd Edition

Benefits of Amyris Essential Oil

The Complete Book of Essential Oils and Aromatherapy: Amyris may help relieve coughs, chest congestion, restlessness, stress, and tension. The oil is also useful in skin care.

The Complete Aromatherapy & Essential Oils Handbook for Everyday Wellness: You can use amyris in a facial wash or toner to help maintain clear, healthy skin. The oil relaxes, making it useful in inhaler and diffuser blends to ease nervous tension and everyday stress and in bath blends to support healthy sleep.

Plant Therapy: Amyris relaxes the mind, supporting sound, restful sleep and overall emotional well-being when dealing with nervous tension and everyday stressors. The oil also encourages feelings of clarity and positive thinking after a tiring day. This essential oil can promote naturally radiant skin and may also be useful for the respiratory system when you have a cough and congestion.

The Aromatherapy Encyclopedia: Amyris is calming, reduces stress and tension, releases anxiety, promotes a peaceful state, and improves mental clarity. The oil also helps loosen tight muscles and deepen breathing.

Aromatica: A Clinical Guide to Essential Oil Therapeutics, Volume 2: Amyris has a decongesting effect on the pelvis and legs, which may help relieve conditions such as hemorrhoids and varicose veins. You can also use the oil to promote cognitive flexibility and sensory integration, although it's not as effective as sandalwood.

The Complete Guide to Aromatherapy, Third Edition, Vol. 1: Though not commonly used in aromatherapy, amyris offers an inexpensive woody base note for fragrances. This essential oil blends well with atlas or Virginian cedarwood and can intensify the rich earthy scent of vetiver or patchouli.

Aromatherapy and Subtle Energy Techniques: Amyris supports the sixth chakra and helps increase creativity and imagination.

Stillpoint Aromatics: Amyris supports the second chakra for relationships and creation energy and the sixth (third eye) chakra for perspective, balancing, clarity, introspection, and meditation. The oil is grounding and relaxing and may clear mental clutter, promote focus, and encourage insight. Suggested grounding massage blend:

• 2 drops cedarwood essential oil
• 3 drops frankincense essential oil
• 5 drops amyris essential oil
• 2 tablespoons carrier oil

Llewellyn's Complete Book of Essential Oils: The benefits of amyris essential oil helps balance the energy of the home. Use the oil in feng shui for areas where you want to slow down fast-moving energy. 

Mixing Essential Oils for Magic: Amyris supports work in the astral realm. This essential oil opens the doorway between the conscious and subconscious, stimulating memories, increasing creativity, and enhancing dream and past-life work. The oil helps release misconceptions and negative thoughts and helps you tune to the cycles of the natural world and personal rhythms.

Amyris Essential Oil Uses and Blends

Amyris Skin-Care Blend

• 2 tablespoons carrier oil
• 3 drops amyris essential oil
• 3 drops frankincense essential oil
• 3 drops elemi essential oil
• 1 drop rose absolute

Source: There's an EO for That

Soap Blend
(For a 32-ounce batch of cold-process soap)

• 10 grams (17%) vetiver essential oil
• 50 grams (83%) amyris essential oil

Source: Lovin' Soap Studio

Diffuser Blends

Use these blends according to your diffuser's instructions.

Relaxation Blend

Add 3 to 5 drops each of amyris and lavender essential oils to an aromatherapy diffuser. You can diffuse this blend in the evening before going to bed.

Diffuser Blend for Sleep

• 2 drops amyris
• 2 drops himalayan cedarwood essential oil
• 2 drops ho wood essential oil
• 3 drops bergamot essential oil

Source: Loving Essential Oils

Bright Diffuser Blend

• 5 drops amyris essential oil
• 3 drops tangerine essential oil
• 3 drops elemi essential oil

Source: Mountain Rose Herbs

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Carol Wiley is a retired massage therapist and freelance writer. She has used her deep interest in aromatherapy and essential oils to research their benefits and uses and bring you summaries with links to more detailed resources.

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Photo Credit: ©Francisco Farriols Sarabia via iNaturalist, CC BY 4.0

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