Wildcrafted bay laurel pure essential oil - 5 ml

Laurus nobilis. Plantpart: Young shoots, leaves. Collected: Apokoronas near Fres Steam, Chania (not cultivated).

Babis and Janina, the producers, report on wild bay laurel collection and distillation: "In Crete, its essential oil has been produced traditionally in the villages of Apokorona, called "Karabassi" and been used mainly for toothache and hair-care, however, today this village production has sadly ceased. In 1992 we met one of the last people producing Karabassi in a village in sub mountainous Apokoronas. An old man, he came riding on a donkey, shouting 'Karabassi', and would sell the oil measured in 'oka', using a bullet-shell to measure out the small amount. It is still in this area, that we are collecting laurel from large wild growing populations.

All parts of the tree contain essences, but the leaves most. We distill the essential oil from the young shoots in the summer months, in the stage of fruit ripening, and the fruits, though yielding a very small amount of oil, do give an interesting, delicate aroma to the oil. The leaves have to be comminuted, cut, immediately before distillation to truly liberate their oil. Laurus nobilis, steam distilled for 4-5 hours, yields approximately 0.5-0.7% essential oil. Our oil has a truly wonderful round, warm, full and rich scent, and the collection of Laurel and the distillation process itself is an illuminating experience for us again and again".

Principle of action: Regenerating, illuminating, clearing. Prevents physical aging and psychological weakness. A poly-valent oil, efficient even at low doses.

Properties: An excellent remedy for hair and scalp, stimulates growth, clears dandruff, helps to heal scars, acne and pimples. Stimulates digestion, helps flatulence and loss of appetite.  Like many essential oils it shows antibacterial and fungicidal activity. Laurus nobilis is a mild broncho-pulmonary disinfectant; it's tonic to the kidneys and the reproductive system and helpful with oral infections and toothache. A few drops of Bay Laurel essential oil can be used to flavor foods, soups and seasonings instead of the often dry and aroma-poor bay leaves commercially available.

Uses: Evaporated in an aroma lamp, sniffed to directly from the bottle, or used as a perfume this oil has an uplifting, illuminating effect, vitalizes and strengthens a tired mind and body and combats degeneration. A mental stimulant which favors clarity of mind and concentration, it is a good companion when creative work is to be accomplished. It helps us in moments of depression, psychic weakness and fear. The fragrance helps us to turn out our ‘noble’ side, to feel integrity and give out the best in an artful way.

Laurel stimulates the lymphatic system and disperses lymphatic congestion. Can be used in compresses for swollen lymphatic glands, or in a vegetable oil for massaging legs or other areas with swelling due to congestion in the lymphatic system.

When suffering from a cold or respiratory problems, evaporate the oil in an aroma lamp in the bedroom, or use it diluted in a massage base oil at 3% or 4-5 drops in a small glass of alcohol to rub on chest and back. It is a mild treatment in cases when colds are accompanied with general weakness and exhaustion. Laurel is a good oil to use in times of recovering from illness, used diluted in vegetable oil (3%) and massaged onto the area affected.
 

Laurel stimulates digestion, counteracts flatulence and relieves stomach ache, and a drop or two can be taken in a small glass of alcohol after food. Taken this way before food, it stimulates the appetite. We can also add some drops of oil to soups and foods.

The oil is a valuable ingredient in skin care products, as it has a regenerating activity. You can add a few drops to your daily cream, which should be little or non- perfumed, to a skin tonic, or an aftershave. To mix a body oil for use after bath, you can use 100ml of jojoba, almond, or olive oil, add 3ml of laurel oil, or a mixture of oils like wild carrot seed, myrtle and laurel (3% total). Smooth into skin when still moist. Laurel oil strengthens and beautifies hair. Give a few drops of oil onto your fingertips and massage your hair and scalp after washing. It not only strengthens it, but also makes it shine. You can also add some drops to your shampoo or balsam.

An excellent mask for truly healthy and shiny hair we make by beating a raw egg with approximately 30 ml of olive- and/or avocado oil into a kind of mayonnaise and adding 8 drops of each laurel- and rosemary essential oil. If you have longer hair, you might have to make a larger portion. This is then well applied to dry hair, covered with cling film and then a towel. Leave for about an hour, then wash well out. We have seen excellent results. You can almost feel your hair growing out towards the light.

Comments: Our Laurus nobilis leaf oil is one of the most all-round oils, and we use it in many different situations. We always have a bottle of it with us. In our experience, it's also an oil which almost everyone loves and responds to. An oil that will cleanse the atmosphere or the surroundings in many circumstances and many places.
We feel the greatest affinity with what Apollo represents, as god of the arts such as music and poetry, of wisdom and learning, of healing and philosophy. All the fine qualities which truly express what human beings can contribute to life as it is on this planet, a sign of true victory, of true expression of human possibilities and qualities. The scent of Laurus nobilis reminds us of all that what is truly noble, creative and compassionate in us. Of all that we are able to contribute with to the universe, if in alignment with ourselves and our purpose.