Wildcrafted Wild Carrot, Queen Anne's Lace pure essential oil - 5 ml

Daucus carota ssp. maxima (or ssp. maximus). Plantpart: Ripe seeds. Collected around Modi and Vrisses, Kydonias (not cultivated). Steam-distilled

Babis and Janina, the producers, report on wild carrot collection and distillation: "We collect the wild carrot seeds in July- August, when the umbels have closed upon the seeds and the seeds have ripened and dried inside their shelter, in the region of Kydonias, province of Chania. Even though this time of year is the hottest here in Crete, we collect at a splendid site at about 150m altitude with a view towards the sea to the north and the white mountains towards the South. These views make up for the heat. Collection is time consuming, since the plants are spread, ripen individually one by one and the heads are cut one by one. It takes many visits to the Daucus populations to complete collection for a distillation. We steam distill the heads for at least 6 hours, and the oil has a deep, lasting sweet smell with flowery undertones".

Revitalises mature skin, aids regeneration after burns and injuries. The oil to use after a crisis, and not during. Promotes diuresis, aids the liver and digestion. In Skin care products for mature, dry and devitalized skin. Strengthens the lower epidermal cells. Effective in the treatment of wrinkles. Restores tone and elasticity. Perfume fixative properties. Can promote the flow of scanty menstruation and relieve stagnation.

The seeds of the wild carrot have been known since antiquity. Dioscurides, the ancient Greek physician, botanist and pharmacologist mentions wild carrot, Staphylinos, in his famous work 'De Materia Medica' dated around 75 AD, a work considered one of the most influential herbal books in history, in use well into the 17th century. He mentions, that 'the seeds drunk as tea or used as a vaginal suppository, promote the flow of menstruation' and 'drunk as a tea it is diuretic and used in urine retention and edemas'...'Also the seed promotes conception'. He also mentions, that the cultivated carrot makes a better food, but has a much inferior medicinal activity. Still today, D. carota ssp. maxima is called 'Staphylinakas' in Crete.

The essential oil of carrot seeds is used as a fragrance fixing compound in perfumes. We have blended it successfully with myrtle and laurel oil, but also with leaf oils from various citrus trees and lavender. Also blends with the sweet, warm flower oils ylang-ylang and geranium have been reported.

Wild carrot seed oil has an underlying deep and flowery fragrance, which can lighten up and warm our beings. It aids us in looking inward and to center ourselves, to relax into our being. It is the oil we turn to after and not during a crisis. A calming and comforting oil, it can ease tension and anger.

The oil stimulates the regeneration of the liver cells and aids in their detoxification and can be taken internally (2 drops in a small glass of alcohol) as well as rubbed on the area diluted at 5% in a carrier oil. Good the morning after excessive drinking. It is useful after hepatitis or liver problems and aids both for this activity as for its digestion stimulating action when one has eaten too much or too fat foods. Our oil also seems to have a spasmolytic activity, probably related to the presence of himachalol and himachalenes, and can be used for clockwise abdominal massage when our stomachs are tense and bloated, or menstruation scanty and stagnated.

Due to its antiseptic and diuretic properties, it may help with urinary tract infections.

Daucus in general has been reported to reduce cholesterol levels in the blood, to increase red blood cells and even to have anti-coagulant (blood-thinning) activity.

Especially recommended for mature, dry and devitalized skin, it energizes the basal layer of skin cells, tones and nourishes the skin. Added to a cream or oil (1-3%) it also helps in cases of dermatitis, eczema and acne. One can also prepare a skin tonic as described under cypress, which, used daily soon proves very effective for dry and mature skin. Restoring tone and elasticity, the oil prevents and reduces wrinkles quite effectively. Mix it in a body oil (1-3%) or, for the area around the eyes mixed at 2% in sweet almond oil and used drop-wise. Wild carrot seed oil ( at 1-3%) blended with especially jojoba oil and natural vitamin E or wheatgerm oil is an excellent sun tan lotion, not only protecting the skin but also favoring a beautiful golden tan. However, this blend will only provide a SPF (Sun Protection Factor) of about 2.

A luxury bath to smooth dry and tired skin can be prepared by warming a liter of full fat milk or a good cupfull of full fat cream slightly and dissolving 5 tablespoons of honey, previously mixed with 10 drops of wild carrot seed oil and adding to the bath. Always add just before entering the bathtub.