Palo Santo EO
Available at StillPoint Aromatics
Our Palo Santo essential oil has a unique woody, fruity/balsamic sweet, penetrating aroma, with citrus, mint and soft spice nuances that is somewhat reminiscent of Frankincense. The smoke of Palo Santo wood is traditionally used in spiritual rituals to clear negativity from a person or space, very similar to the use of White Sage in smudging practices. It comes from the same botanical family (Burseraceae) as Frankincense and Myrrh1 and is often used to enhance meditative states in the same way as its botanical cousins - encouraging relaxation, calming the nerves and quieting mental chatter.
Our Palo Santo is distilled in small batches from sustainably harvested wood. The aged, dead wood is gathered from the forest floor on Ecuador's Pacific coast, allowing the production of oil without any harm to the living trees.2,3 This in itself is a stellar example of life within death – that which we perceive as dead is most certainly very much alive. Among the living molecules that are resurrected upon distillation are none other than the familiar and ubiquitous limonene, alpha-terpineol – the claim to fame of Tea Tree – and menthofuran, the musty/minty terpenic compound notably found in Peppermint oils. The usefulness of these molecules, within the overall composition of Palo Santo essential oil, is varied – this oil is highly recommended for respiratory applications, but it may also be a great ally for psychological cleansing and when coping with life’s inevitable changes. A long-time distiller of Palo Santo oil observes that “when people come in contact with the essence of the tree, whether it is in the form of its essential oil or its fragrant wood, it has a deeply transformative effect, including nurturing, activating and manifesting their creative and spiritual potential.”4
Palo Santo, the Spanish name given to this South American tree, means ‘holy wood’, an appropriate name for its many applications in spiritual practices. In Latin, graveolens is derived from gravis, meaning ‘heavy’, and olēns, ‘smelling’ – also an apt description of Palo Santo’s essential oil. Diffuse it with Frankincense and Myrrh during meditation practice, or with White Sage to help clear congested lungs and to purify room air. Or, explore Palo Santo on its own merits and discover the unique ways this South American botanical native speaks to you.
Safety Considerations: Use with caution and always highly dilute; the maximum dermal use level is 3.4%5, however due to menthofuran and ß-pulegone (both hepatotoxic) content6, we recommend using no more than 1-2% in formulas and for limited duration. Do not use with small children, elders, epileptics, pregnant and/or nursing women. Dilute well before using. A patch test should be performed before use for those with sensitive skin.
Studies
Chemical Composition and Anti-Proliferative Properties of Bursera Graveolens Essential Oil