Eucalyptus, Narrow Leaf EO

The pleasant smell and valuable profile of constituents of our Narrow Leaf Eucalyptus makes it our favorite Eucalyptus essential oil – its aroma is refreshing, very diffusive, cineolic, with subtle citrus and peppery-floral overtones. Narrow Leaf Eucalyptus, Eucalyptus radiata, is also known as Grey, Black or Narrow-Leaved Peppermint Eucalyptus; its aroma is more complex and generally more pleasing than the aroma of Blue Gum Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus globulus). It is commonly the Eucalyptus of choice, when used with caution and properly diluted, for use with children and sensitive individuals.

For hundreds of years, the Aborigines of Australia have used the leaves of Eucalyptus for various incense and skincare applications. The radiata species of Eucalyptus has a compact crown, dense canopy and thin papery bark shredding in long, colorful ribbons. It was the first of the Eucalyptus species (then known as E. amygdalina[1]) commercially utilized for oil production in Australia in the mid-1800s. Since then, other Eucalyptus species (namely E. globulus, E. polybractea and E. australiana) have superseded E. radiata with regard to higher yields of oil, and it is from these species that most of the current Australian Eucalyptus oils of commerce are now produced.

Like other Eucalyptus types, Narrow Leaf Eucalyptus is suited for diffusion into the air, outdoor sprays, joint and muscle massage, chest rubs, foot lotions, and oily scalp and skin preparations. With its unique and highly beneficial combination of terpene alcohols, cineole, and the aldehydes neral and geraniol, Kurt Schnaubelt suggests that Eucalyptus radiata could be considered an aromatherapist’s “designer oil” due to its broad effects, attractive price point, and exceptionally pleasant aroma.[2]

Please Note: Although we consider Eucalyptus – Narrow Leaf to be the least problematic of our cineole-rich Eucalyptus oils for aromatherapy use, we recommend using it with caution. The primary constituent in Eucalyptus Narrow Leaf (E. radiata) is 1,8-cineole, a potent and volatile oxide. However, E. radiata has percentages of moderately volatile and extremely gentle constituents that mediate the intensity of 1,8-cineole.