Marjoram
Origanum Majorana
Marjoram Oil is a multi-use oil popular in alternative medicine and skincare as it boasts a number of benefits. It can improve cardiovascular health, relieve pain and assist in relaxation (to name a few!). It has a herbaceous smell and works beautifully with other oils, as well as on its own.
History of Marjoram Oil
The history of Marjoram Oil dates way back to the time of ancient European civilisations! According to ancient Greek mythology, it was Aphrodite - the goddess of love - who caused the plant to smell pleasant simply by touching it! The Greeks believed that Aphrodite would appear to women who left a sprig of Marjoram on their pillow, to announce the name of their future partner. Similarly, the ancient Romans believed that Venus - their goddess of love - would sprinkle marjoram on the Earth as a symbol of her beauty.
In both cultures, the aroma of marjoram was associated with beauty: the scent was a popular perfume, and the plant was a common decoration at marriage ceremonies. The Greeks used to massage Marjoram Oil on their temples and as an antidote for poison! In Ancient Egypt, Marjoram Oil was used as a natural antiseptic, to preserve food and as an antidepressant. Because of its calming effects, Marjoram Oil was also used to help people through hard times such as grief.
Despite the variance in its uses in the ancient world, Marjoram Oil has consistently been used to bring relief to those in pain, and it is still seen as a sign of happy passing if Marjoram grows on a loved one’s grave. In the 1800's, Marjoram Oil was reportedly first used in European perfumes; and after World War II, American soldiers brought it home to the USA. Nowadays, Marjoram Oil is used as a pain reliever, particularly for menstrual pain, digestion problems and headaches. Although it is Native to Europe and the Middle East, Marjoram Oil is grown and used all over the world.
So, what has kept Marjoram Oil so popular all this time?
Probably because of how it makes people feel! Marjoram Oil has the ability to lighten a mood and lessen a load. As well as its relieving abilities, Marjoram Oil is so versatile that it is popular across industries such as alternative medicine and perfume. Its calming nature also makes it a staple in aromatherapy, with its earthy aroma used to promote balance and peace.
Marjoram Oil has a distinctive flavour and is widely used in European cooking, but is sometimes confused with its close cousin - Oregano. This confusion probably stems from the use of the two names interchangeably throughout history. Nevertheless, Marjoram Oil is an old favourite that is not about to go anywhere!
Extracting Marjoram Oil
Marjoram Oil is produced from the flowers and sometimes also the leaves of the Marjoram plant. The leaves of the plant are green and the flowers are pale pink. Once the oil is extracted, it turns a yellow-green colour, and as it gets older this colour changes to brown. Marjoram is native to Europe, Egypt and Turkey, which is where much of the oil is extracted.
The method used to extract the oil is called steam distillation, which involves passing steam over the plant in huge steel drums, extracting an oil/water mix, and cooling again so that the oil rises to the top. The process of steam distillation is preferred because it does not add any chemicals or cause damage to the plant. Being an essential oil means that the components found in the oil are the same as those in the original plant!
Can I make Marjoram Oil at home?
You could make Marjoram Oil in a saucepan, however, we recommend buying it instead. It takes a lot of the plant to make just a tiny bottle of oil, so you probably would not be able to make very much at home. If you wanted to make more, you could buy a smaller version of the equipment used to extract it properly, but as it is not a particularly expensive oil, it might cost less to just buy it online.
Instead of making the essential oil yourself, you could infuse your favourite carrier oil with some dried Marjoram flowers. Coconut Oil works great with Marjoram because of its sweet scent, but remember that it is solid at room temperature, so leave them over low heat or out in the sun while you wait for them to infuse.
How do you feel about Marjoram Oil? Is it a staple in your collection? As always, the Essentially Yours team is eager to hear how you are getting on with your essential oils, so feel free to reach out to us today!
Can I make Marjoram Oil at home?
You could make Marjoram Oil in a saucepan, however, we recommend buying it instead. It takes a lot of the plant to make just a tiny bottle of oil, so you probably would not be able to make very much at home. If you wanted to make more, you could buy a smaller version of the equipment used to extract it properly, but as it is not a particularly expensive oil, it might cost less to just buy it online.
Instead of making the essential oil yourself, you could infuse your favourite carrier oil with some dried Marjoram flowers. Coconut Oil works great with Marjoram because of its sweet scent, but remember that it is solid at room temperature, so leave them over low heat or out in the sun while you wait for them to infuse.
How do you feel about Marjoram Oil? Is it a staple in your collection? As always, the Essentially Yours team is eager to hear how you are getting on with your essential oils, so feel free to reach out to us today!
Marjoram Oil Varieties
Marjoram Oil Varieties
Marjoram Oil (Origanum Majorana) comes from the Lamiaceae family, which is also the family of herbs such as mint, thyme and oregano. There are over thirty varieties of Marjoram, and they can be grouped into three categories. Sweet Marjoram Oil comes from the knotted variety of the Marjoram plant, whereas its cousin Oregano (Origanum vulgare) grows on the Wild Marjoram plant. Oregano and Marjoram are often confused for one another, so if you are not sure, use their Latin names! The other category is Pot Marjoram (Origanum Onites), which commonly grows in European and Middle Eastern gardens and is used for cooking. Sweet Marjoram Oil is rarer because it is made from only the flowers, which means that it can only be produced while the flowers are fully bloomed, between August and September.
So, how do I know which variety of Marjoram Oil I should use?
Sweet Marjoram is the variety you should use if you would like to experience its calming qualities. We recommend adding a few drops of Sweet Marjoram Oil to an electric diffuser to fill the room with its sweet, herby scent. If you are looking to relieve aching muscles, you can add a few drops of Sweet Marjoram Oil to your favourite carrier oil and apply it directly onto your skin.
To make sure that you are getting the best quality Marjoram Oil, make sure that it says 100% Sweet Marjoram Oil on the bottle. As always, if you live in Europe or the Middle East, where Marjoram grows naturally, you will probably be able to buy it cheaper. If you would like to find a specific variety of Marjoram Oil, we recommend buying it online and doing your research first. By reading the reviews of the oil and retailer, you can be a little more confident that you are getting your money’s worth.
How do you feel about Marjoram Oil? Is it an essential in your collection? As always, the Essentially Yours team love to hear how you are getting on with your collection. So, feel free to reach out and share your stories with one of the team today!
So, how do I know which variety of Marjoram Oil I should use?
Sweet Marjoram is the variety you should use if you would like to experience its calming qualities. We recommend adding a few drops of Sweet Marjoram Oil to an electric diffuser to fill the room with its sweet, herby scent. If you are looking to relieve aching muscles, you can add a few drops of Sweet Marjoram Oil to your favourite carrier oil and apply it directly onto your skin.
To make sure that you are getting the best quality Marjoram Oil, make sure that it says 100% Sweet Marjoram Oil on the bottle. As always, if you live in Europe or the Middle East, where Marjoram grows naturally, you will probably be able to buy it cheaper. If you would like to find a specific variety of Marjoram Oil, we recommend buying it online and doing your research first. By reading the reviews of the oil and retailer, you can be a little more confident that you are getting your money’s worth.
How do you feel about Marjoram Oil? Is it an essential in your collection? As always, the Essentially Yours team love to hear how you are getting on with your collection. So, feel free to reach out and share your stories with one of the team today!
Benefits of Marjoram Oil
Marjoram has been used for pain relief and celebration since ancient times. The Ancient Greeks and Romans associated Marjoram with love and beauty, and it is still seen as a symbol of happiness today. Although the use of Marjoram Oil in Europe was more focussed on symbolism, the Ancient Egyptians used it to fight depression and infections and to prevent food from going off. Nowadays, Marjoram Oil is well-loved in aromatherapy, alternative medicine and European cooking.
So, what are the benefits of using Marjoram Oil?
Anti-Anxiety
True to its history, Marjoram Oil is a great reliever of anxiety and depression. It was first used as an antidepressant by the Ancient Egyptians and is still regarded as a natural alternative to medications today. Drop a few drops into an electric diffuser and sit back and let the calm wash over you.
Enhance your massages
You could create an anti-inflammatory, soothing massage oil by mixing a few drops of Marjoram Oil with your favourite carrier oil. Jojoba Oil would work great for this as it is gentle on the skin and stays in liquid form. Marjoram Oil’s calming nature will give your muscles a well-deserved pampering.
Relaxation Properties
Adding a few drops of Marjoram Oil to your diffuser can help with relaxation.
Keep your heart healthy
The soothing abilities of Marjoram Oil are great for the heart and nervous system. Mix a few drops with boiled water, put a towel over your head and inhale the fumes to reduce blood pressure, relax your heart and calm your body.
Pain relief
Marjoram Oil is associated with all types of pain, but is particularly well-known for treating female pains such as menstrual cramps and the symptoms of menopause. To use as a pain reliever, mix a few drops in with your favourite carrier oil and rub onto your abdomen. We love Coconut Oil for this because it smells great and moisturises too!
These are just a few of our favourite uses of Marjoram Oil, but there are loads more to discover! Just remember not to use Marjoram Oil if you are pregnant, as it stimulates menstrual bleeding and could harm an unborn baby.
Uses of Marjoram Oil
Marjoram Oil has been loved for thousands of years and was originally associated with all things love and beauty. More recently, it has become popular for its relieving properties, in areas such as aromatherapy and alternative medicine. Marjoram Oil is particularly well known as a reliever of female reproductive pains, such as menstrual cramps and menopause.
So, what can I use Marjoram Oil for?
Aromatherapy
Due to its soothing scent, Marjoram Oil is renowned in aromatherapy. Adding a few drops to your electric diffuser will fill the room with calm, enhance your heart health and restore balance within you. If you do not have an electric diffuser, a few drops in your bath would be a lovely relaxing alternative!
Cooking
Marjoram flavour is typically used in Mediterranean cooking but works well in many dishes such as soups, stews and pies.
Decongestant
If you have a cold or blocked nose, a few drops of Marjoram Oil in a bowl of boiled water is great to soothe and decongest. Put a towel over your head and the bowl and inhale the fumes for a few minutes, or until you feel relief.
Massage oil
The soothing nature of Marjoram Oil makes it great to enhance a massage. Whether you play sports or just love relaxing, a few drops in your favourite carrier oil will make a natural, moisturising and calming massage oil. Also, if you suffer from digestive problems, massaging your Marjoram mix onto your lower abdomen can help to get things moving.
Pain reliever
Another great use of massage oil containing marjoram. If you have sore muscles, a headache or menstrual pains, massaging the affected area with Marjoram Oil and a carrier oil can bring relief, lessen swelling and soothe. It is important to remember that Marjoram Oil stimulates the menstrual cycle, so it is best to avoid it whilst pregnant.
Sleep-aid
One of our favourite things about Marjoram Oil is how relaxing it is. So, if you have trouble sleeping, place a few drops on your pillow (or a towel close by) or on the soles of your feet and wave goodbye to counting sheep.
Blends well with
Marjoram Oil is well-loved for its natural relieving abilities, particularly for menstrual and muscle pains. Here are just a few of our favourite combinations, but Marjoram Oil’s sweet, herby aroma blends well with loads of oils, especially citrus, floral and other herby tones.
Bergamot Oil
Citrus oils go well with a huge range of essential oils, but we especially love this pairing! The sweet, herby aroma of Marjoram smells absolutely divine when mixed with tangy Bergamot. Add a few drops to your diffuser, bath or facial mist for an au naturale soothing experience.
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Black Pepper Oil
An oil we could not leave out! Black Pepper Oil’s spicy aroma makes it popular in perfume, aromatherapy and cooking. Whilst some spicy flavours are too strong to blend effectively, Black Pepper Oil enhances the flavour of Marjoram without overpowering it. For an earthy scent with a bit of a kick, add a few drops of each to your electric diffuser!
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Clary Sage Oil
As Marjoram is so popular in women’s health, Clary Sage Oil is an obvious blend! It is another oil used as a pain reliever in aromatherapy and is also especially popular for helping with menstrual cramps. You can add both to a diffuser or rub a blend of the two and your favourite carrier oil directly onto your abdomen for a natural pain reliever.
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Jojoba Oil
A fabulous carrier oil because it is so gentle on your skin! Mixing a few drops of Marjoram Oil together with a cup of Jojoba Oil will create an ointment you can use on even very sensitive skin. For those who want to harness the relief that Marjoram Oil can bring, but are concerned about having a reaction, diluting it with a carrier oil is a must-try.
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Lavender Oil
Lavender is one of those oils that blends well with just about ANYTHING. Mixing a few drops of Lavender Oil and Marjoram Oil to your laundry before you dry it will have them smelling fabulous. We particularly recommend using this trick on your bedsheets for an extra luxurious feel while you sleep.
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