I love burning essential oils — I find them more potent and pure than incense – and smoke-free, which is a distinct advantage. The names, too, are rich and evocative. Of course, many essential oils share their names with herbs, but there are some which are found purely as essential oils, and they certainly make a good hunting ground for wonderful names!
So here are some essential oil names. Most of these feature in Llewellyn’s Complete Book of Names, but there are a couple which I missed. Fear not! They’ll get an entry here at Nook of Names erelong!
Anise, Basil, Bay, Benzoin, Bergamot, Black Pepper, Cajaput, Cardamon, Carrot Seed, Cedarwood, Chamomile, Cinnamon Leaf, Citronella, Clary Sage, Clove Bud, Coriander, Cypress, Dill, Elemi, Eucalyptus, Fennel, Frankincense, Geranium, Ginger, Grapefruit, Helichrysum, Hyssop, Jasmine, Juniper Berry, Lavender, Lemon, Lemongrass, Lime, Litsea, Mandarin, Manuka, Marjoram, Melissa, Myrrh, Neroli, Niaouli, Nutmeg, Orange, Palmarosa, Parsley, Patchouli, Peppermint, Petitgrain, Pine, Ravensara, Rose Geranium, Rose Otto, Rosemary, Rosewood, Sage, Sandalwood, Spearmint, Spikenard, Tagetes, Tangerine, Tea Tree, Thyme, Valerian, Vanilla, Vertivert, Violet Leaf, Yarrow, White Birch, Ylang Ylang.
If some of these essential oil names are a little ‘strong’, why not consider their botanical names? One part or the other (or sometimes both) may have potential!
- Benzoin — Styrax benzoin
- Bergamot — Citrus bergamia
- Black Pepper — Piper nigrum
- Cajaput — Melaleuca cajaputi
- Cardamon — Elettaria cardamomum
- Carrot Seed — Daucus carota
- Cedarwood — Cedrus atlantica
- Clary Sage — Salvia sclarea
- Clove Bud — Eugenia caryophyllata
- Dill — Anethum graveolens (Anetha, maybe?)
- Frankincense — Boswellia carteri
- German Chamomile — Matricaria recutica
- Ginger — Zingiber officinale
- Grapefruit — Citrus paradisi
- Lime — Citrus aurantifolia
- Marjoram — Origanum marjorana
- Niaouli — Melaleuca viridiflora
- Nutmeg — Myristica fragrans
- Parsley — Carum Petroselinum (tweaks to Cara Petroselina rather well!)
- Peppermint — Mentha piperata
- Pine Pinus — Pinus sylvestris
- Roman Chamomile — Anthemis nobilis
- Rose Otto — Rosa damascena
- Rosemary — Rosmarinus officinalis (why not Rosmarina?)
- Rosewood — Aniba rosaeodora (while rosaeodora has perhaps a bit much going on, Rosadora or Rosodora are food for thought!)
- Sandalwood – Santalum album (Santaly, perhaps?)
- Spearmint — Mentha spicata
- Spikenard — Nardostachys jatamansi
- Tea Tree — Melaleuca alternifolia
- Thyme — Thymus vulgaris
- White Birch — Betula alba
- Valerian — Valeriana officinalis
- Vetivert — Vetiveria zizanoides
- Violet Leaf — Viola odorata
- Yarrow — Achillea millefolium
- Ylang Ylang — Cananga odorata
Nook of Names
