I like to keep a small bottle of this essential oil in my aromatherapy chest as I think it is such a beautiful fragrance and if I know I have a stressful event coming up such as a big meeting or wedding then I like to keep some of this on hand to calm my anxious nerves.

What is it?
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Neroli is made from the either the distillation or effleurage of the flowers of the Seville orange tree. The name is derived from an Italian princess who used to use this oil as her favourite fragrance. The oil itself is thick oil which is deep brown in colour. The smell of this oil I personally find hauntingly exquisite it is for me the perfect blend of bitter and sweet notes. There is a wonderful mixture of sweet flowery notes that is contrasted with a spicy citrus.

The use of Neroli in aromatherapy
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This oil can be used for many reasons including antidepressant, a gentle sedative, and relaxation, antiseptic and as an aphrodisiac. The main uses for this oil really are for emotional problems and states but it can be used as well for reducing spasms in smooth muscles especially in the gut. It is also used extensively in skin care due to its ability to stimulate skin cells and it doesn't often aggravate sensitive skins.

Contra-indications
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Neroli shouldn't be used in pregnancy due to there being not enough research to say it is definitely safe. Equally as it can be mildly sedating I would also advise some caution with this oil if you need to concentration like a driving test.
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How I use this oil
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Though I like this oil a lot I do tend to be a bit frugal with how I use it as in its pure form it is quite expensive. The main use for me for this oil is when I am worrying about something and find that I am unable to sleep. If I know for example that I have a big meeting the next day and that when I go to bed I will be thinking things through and playing situations through my mind I tend to mix about 10 drops in some full fat milk and place this in a warm bath before bedtime. I find doing this means that I do get to sleep a lot quicker and the what ifs in my mind are a lot quieter and I can distract myself from them and sleep. If I wake up in the night when I haven't expected too and haven't had a Neroli bath then I will drop some on to a cotton wool ball and sniff it a few times before placing it in the corner of my pillow case to aid sleep.

Another time I use this oil is if I am looking forward to a night of friskiness with my husband but I know the day at work or looking after my son has left me feeling burnout and a bit irritable, a bath or a relaxing massage then does seem to banish those irritations. I tend to mix the Neroli with some Ylang- Ylang and some base oil such almond for a massage from my husband I find that if I use a mix of 3 drops Neroli and 2 drops Ylang-Ylang to 10 mls of base oil then this works well for me and him.

Some people like to use this as a vapour treatment in an aromatherapy burner I personally dislike this as I prefer to have the oil applied directly to my skin or inhaled from a small area due to the expense of the oil.

It is good oil for the treatment of shock and as such is a useful item to have in a first aid kit alongside some rescue remedy. You can use the oil a couple of ways either like a Victorian lady inhaled directly for a few sniffs from the bottle like smell salts or on a tissue for inhalation. If you know the person well I actually find using it blended with some carrier oil and giving a hand massage to be very grounding as the sense of touch combined with the oil helps to calm people in these situations.

I also used some of this oil to help with some of my scaring following a caesarean section. I simply applied it to a fragrance free cream and applied it over the scar after it had healed and whilst I have a scar it is not an unsightly one just a thin white line which I personally think is a lot better than some scars I have seen from this operation.

For those who get IBS especially if it is tension related then either a bath with this oil mixed in is beneficial or a gentle effleurage massage on the stomach area can help ease this cramping sensation for massages if you follow one drop of Neroli to 10 drops of carrier oil this is about the right ratio I find.
Neroli essential oil is also a great a tonic for relief of menstrual cramps the way I use Neroli for this is to add to a bath mainly but if it is really bad I mix the about 10 drops of oil in 10 mls of Apricot Kernel Oil and massage into my abdomen.


Overall and recommendation
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Care must be taken when buying Neroli oil, as many suppliers adulterate the oil due to it being expensive as it is a strong smelling oil and even when diluted still has the most incredible smell it is often hard to tell if the oil has been adulated so I would suggest buying only from well know retailers. Equally as essential oils can go off I would suggest buying this in small amounts only as if you invest in some you don't want it going off before you use it all. Expect to pay between £20-30 for a 5ml bottle that isn't diluted in any way.

I would definitely recommend this oil to people for the use of nervous disorders and to reduce insomnia caused by worry. It is a nice oil as well to help romance due its aphrodisiac qualities and historically orange blossom and Neroli were used for brides on wedding nights to reduce their anxiety and allow them to enjoy some passion. If you have IBS I think a few baths of this on the days that the cramps are bad is worth a try as I do know from other people who have tried this that it has helped them. It is also a great essential oil to help reduce scar tissue and for this reason it is often found in skin care preparations but you can just add it to your own skin care cream for some added benefits. So overall it gets 4 stars from me I can't really give it 5 stars due to the expense.