Vetiver Essential Oil

About vetiver oil from dōTERRA^®:

Vetiveria zizanoides, a member of the grass (Gramineae) family.  It is grown for many reasons.  Unlike other grasses, the root system of the Vetiveria zizanoides plant grows down deep, making it ideal for helping to prevent erosion and providing soil stabilization.

Vetiver oil is extracted through a process called hydro diffusion of the roots of the Vetiveria zizanoides plant, yielding an oil with a sweet, woody, caramel, smoky aroma, high in the chemical compound class of terpenes.

Hydro diffusion is a type of steam distillation, varying from other steam distillation methods only in the way in which the steam is introduced into the still.

With what we normally think of as steam distillation, steam is introduced from below the botanical material, with the oil-containing steam mixture rising up and condensing down through tubing into a collection vessel.

However, with hydro diffusion, the botanical material is held in place by a grill, and the steam is fed in from the top, onto the botanical material, with the condensation of the oil-containing steam mixture occurring below.  The main advantage of this method is that less steam is used, shorter processing time and a higher oil yield.

Vetiver oil has a rich, exotic, complex aroma.  Due to its calming, grounding effect on the emotions, and its ability to promote healthy circulation, vetiver is an ideal oil to use in massage therapy.  It can also be rubbed on the feet before bedtime to promote a restful night’s sleep.

When taken internally, vetiver acts as an overall tonic to the body’s systems while promoting immunity and overall health.

Primary benefits of vetiver oil

• Supports healthy circulation
• Calming, grounding effect on emotions
• Immune-enhancing properties

Uses for vetiver oil

• Add 1–2 drops to tea or hot drinks, during winter time, to promote immunity.
• Use as a massage oil, to promote circulation and calm emotions.
• Take a warm bath with a few drops of vetiver essential oil, for its calming and grounding effect on emotions.
• Diffuse with lavender, Serenity or Balance, to calm emotions and feel more grounded.

A tip on using vetiver oil: You can use a toothpick to help get the desired amount out of container, if vetiver is too thick to get out of the bottle.  There is no reason to feel frustrated if you can’t get much oil out, in this manner; a little vetiver goes a long way.

How to use:

Vetiver oil is intended for aromatic, topical or dietary use.  It is gentle enough to be used neat.

• Diffusion: Use three to four drops in the diffuser of your choice.
• Internal use: Dilute one drop in 4 fl oz of liquid.
• Topical use: Apply one to two drops to desired area. While gentle enough to be used neat, dilution with dōTERRA’s fractionated coconut oil will help to minimize any possible skin sensitivity. See additional precautions below.

Cautions: Possible skin sensitivity.  Keep out of reach of children.  If you are pregnant, nursing, or under a doctor’s care, consult your physician.  Avoid contact with eyes, inner ears and sensitive areas.

Chemical Profile

Chemo-type: β-Vatirenene

Primary constituents:

→ Sesquiterpene Alcohols (up to 42%):

→ Sesquiterpene Ketones (<22%):

→ Sesquiterpenes (<4%):

→ Sesquiterpene Esters: