The Benefits and Versatility of Vetiver Essential Oil

Have you ever wondered where the captivating aroma of Vetiver comes from? Known as the “Oil of Tranquility,” Vetiver owes its calming and strengthening effects on the nervous system to the roots of a sturdy aromatic grass native to India. These roots emit a distinctive earthy scent, reminiscent of freshly turned soil, with a fragrance that is deeply grounding, rich, smoky, and slightly sweet. Often referred to as the “Fragrance of the Soil,” Vetiver’s aroma offers a unique and soothing sensory experience.

Vetiver essential oil is celebrated for its profound impact on the nervous system, relieving stress, anxiety, and emotional turmoil while revitalizing the mind and body. But the wonders of Vetiver don't stop there. This versatile aromatic also offers many topical and skincare benefits and can be used in lotions, salves, natural perfumery, incense, and more.

In this video and article, you’ll discover how to harness Vetiver’s calming effects through various aromatic applications, making it an indispensable ally in your natural wellness journey. Let's dive into the benefits and uses of Vetiver essential oil, and uncover why this powerful, aromatic oil deserves a place in your aromatic medicine toolkit.

Vetiver, a perennial tropical grass closely related to Lemongrass and Citronella, can reach heights of 4 to 9 feet tall. Vetiver roots are strong and burrow deep beneath the soil, and the plants are often grown for erosion control and bioremediation. Vetiver is native to Asia – specifically India, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Sri Lanka – growing wild in India and thriving along the slopes of the Himalayan mountains. These wild populations are stewarded and harvested by locals, who commonly refer to wild Vetiver as Ruh Khus or Khus. Vetiver essential oil made from these specific wild roots is often considered a premium quality oil.

Not all Vetiver essential oils are created equal. Today, Vetiver is cultivated in South India, Sri Lanka, West Java, Madagascar, Haiti, China, Japan, Brazil, and Reunion, each region imparting slight nuances to the oil's aromatic profile. The color and scent vary due to the differing chemistry of the volatile oils. For instance, Ruh Khus from Northern India, made from wild Vetiver, has more balsamic and woody notes, while "Bourbon Vetiver" from Reunion boasts floral and rosette aromatic notes. 

The essential oil is made from both fresh and dried roots using either hydro-distillation or steam distillation. In hydro-distillation, the plant material is boiled directly in water; while in steam distillation, the plant material sits in a separate container above the water, and the volatile oils are extracted using steam.

When the roots are harvested for essential oil production, the grasses are traditionally repurposed by locals, woven into cooling shades and sometimes intertwined with the roots to make roof thatching, window screens, blinds, and hand fans. The shades are consistently doused in water, effectively cooling and transforming hot, scorching summer air into aromatic, moist, balmy breezes. 

Most essential oil has a shelf-life of a couple of years, but Vetiver essential oil is an exception to that rule. It’s widely believed that as Vetiver essential oil ages, the aroma improves over time – like a fine wine. As excess water in the oil evaporates, the aroma shifts. In fact, in India, they use leather containers to support this oxidation and maturation process of the oil. The aging process also happens after the essential oil is bottled up; so the longer your Vetiver essential oil bottle sits, the better it gets.

Vetiver essential oil, often referred to as the "Oil of Tranquility," is renowned for its grounding and stabilizing properties, much like its practical role in preventing soil erosion. This powerful oil offers a sense of centering and balance to our emotions and mental health, making it an invaluable ally in aromatherapy. Vetiver's rich, earthy aroma helps connect us to the Earth, encouraging us to feel our purpose and find stability amidst life's chaos. When we are feeling “wired and tired,” Vetiver can provide the strength, self-confidence, stamina, stillness, self-worth, rationality, and practicality we need to navigate through our days.

Vetiver is particularly nourishing, restoring, and reconnecting. Its fortifying aroma stabilizes the mind and promotes realism, helping to ease anxiety, fear, and worry. For those who feel disconnected, spacey, or overwhelmed, Vetiver offers a comforting embrace that brings balance to the mental-emotional realm. This makes it especially beneficial for individuals struggling with cyclical thoughts, excessive or obsessive thinking, and the overwhelming need for perfection. Vetiver instills a sense of settling and security, allowing us to break free from these cycles and embrace a more relaxed and accepting mindset.

The soothing properties of Vetiver extend beyond the emotional realm, offering a cooling and relaxing effect that soothes and calms the mind. As a root oil of the Earth element, Vetiver inspires us to connect deeply with the natural world, embracing the beauty, wonder, and mystery of nature. This connection helps pull us away from unnecessary worries or thoughts of material concerns such as money, power, and status symbols. Instead, Vetiver encourages us to remember our own values and find peace in the simplicity and authenticity of our existence.

Vetiver essential oil is unique for topical use because, unlike most essential oils that are stimulating, Vetiver has a balancing and cooling effect that helps draw excess heat from the body, making it effective for balancing hot and inflamed skin conditions. In addition, it can help ease aches and pains from sprains, strains, and back and joint pain, as well as rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia, and headaches thanks to its anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties.

Vetiver oil is excellent for cleansing and purifying oily skin by balancing sebum production, the body's natural oily substance that keeps skin moisturized. Its astringent, toning, antiseptic, and antimicrobial properties make it an effective oil for soothing acne, eczema, and dermatitis. As a cell and tissue regenerative, Vetiver also helps mitigate wrinkles, scars, stretch marks, and small cuts. 

Vetiver essential oil is also known as an effective natural insect repellent and has been shown to reliably repel ants, ticks, cockroaches, termites, mosquitoes, weevils, and beetles [1]. Thanks to its versatility, Vetiver essential oil is a multi-functional ingredient in topical herbal salves, lotions, baths, facial oils, perfumes, bug sprays, and more.

To enjoy Vetiver essential oil without having to use up any drops, you can simply inhale the aroma directly from the bottle by opening the cap, placing the bottle about an inch below your nostrils, and taking several deep inhales through the nose. You might notice a sense of centering and grounding move through you. This can be repeated several times a day for a few days or longer, or whenever needed. 

When using the essential oil in an essential oil diffuser, place only 2-3 drops in the diffuser – remember, less is more when it comes to essential oils, as they are potent, concentrated aromatic medicines.

Due to the highly concentrated nature of essential oils, they should rarely ever be applied “neat,” or directly to the skin. Doing so can cause possible allergic reactions, burns, inflammation, or sensitization. For topical use, Vetiver essential oil should be diluted in a carrier oil like coconut oil, olive oil, sunflower seed oil, or your favorite oil for topical use. 

Dilution ratios will vary depending on the intended use of your topical oil. In general, aromatherapists and essential oil safety experts state that Vetiver essential oil can be used at a dilution ratio of up to 15%, which is a very high ratio compared to other essential oils. However, since Vetiver is quite potent, it's often unnecessary to use such a high concentration. For more information on how to safely dilute essential oils, refer to our Essential Oil Dilution Chart & Guide.

Vetiver hydrosol can also be used topically as a gentle skincare application for facial toners, bug sprays, or pain relief; or sprayed into the air for aromatherapy purposes. Vetiver also has a deodorizing quality and 2-3 drops of Vetiver essential oil can be combined with magnesium oil and plant hydrosols to be used topically as a deodorant. This blend works well in the summer, as it doubles as an insect repellant!

In natural perfumery, a fixative is a substance that is added to perfume formulations to help stabilize and prolong the fragrance. Fixatives have molecules that bind with the volatile components of the perfume, slowing down their evaporation rate, which helps the fragrance to last longer on the skin and enhances its overall longevity and depth.

As a fixative in perfumery, Vetiver plays a crucial role in holding space and creating harmonious blends with other aromatic plants. It provides a solid foundation that enhances and prolongs scents and pairs well with Citrus, Cinnamon, Vanilla, Sandalwood, Patchouli, and plants rich in linalool such as Lavender and Rosemary. Vetiver is particularly delightful when paired with Rosemary; together, they form a supportive and healing combination that enriches the olfactory experience with its comforting and uplifting aroma.

Never consume an essential oil or apply it directly to the skin. Always dilute an essential oil before using it topically. Vetiver essential oil is considered safe with no known contraindications of use topically.

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Latin name: Vetiveria zizanioides, Chrysopogon zizanioides
Other Common Names: “Oil of Tranquility,” Vetivert, Khus-khus (Europe), Ruh Khus (India), Khus (India), Khas-khas (India), Akar wangi (Indonesian), Larasetu (Javanese), Nara wastu, Kusu kusu (Malaysia), Faik (Thai), Vetyver (French)
Genus: Chrysopogon
Plant Family: Poaceae (Gramineae)
Parts Used: roots 
Herbal Energetics and Actions: analgesic, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antifungal, antiseptic, antispasmodic, anti-stress, aphrodisiac, astringent, calmative, cardiotonic, carminative, cicatrisant, depurative, diaphoretic, diuretic, emetic, emmenagogue, febrifuge, insect repellent, nervine, parasiticide, refrigerant, revitalizing, rubefacient, sedative (nervous system), stimulant (circulatory & immune system), stomachic, tonic, vermifuge, vulnerary
Body Systems Affiliations: nervous system, circulatory system, reproductive system, integumentary & musculoskeletal systems (skin & muscles)
Aroma: Varies by region, ranging from rich, resinous, sweet, warm, earthy, molasses-like, rooty, mossy, woody, smoky, floral, to rosette notes

Video featuring Erika Galentin, MNIMH, RH

Text Written By Melissa Szaro

1. Nararak, J.; Sanguanpong, U.; Sukkanon, C.; Manguin, S.; & Chareonviriyaphap, T. Synergistic Repellent and Irritant Effects of a Mixture of β-Caryophyllene Oxide and Vetiver Oil against Mosquito Vectors. Insects. 2023 Sep 20;14(9):773.

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*The statements above have not been evaluated by the FDA, and are for educational purposes only. This article is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. This article should not be taken as medical advice. Please consult your physician before you use this information for health purposes.