AROMATHERAPY MIDDLE NOTE OILS
Plants that yield middle note oils fall into three main categories: flowers, fruits and warm spices. The oils extracted from the 20 plants listed here have pleasant, relaxing scents that can help balance your body and emotions. Their use can lift your mood, calm anxiety and relax tense muscles to ease aches and pains.

1.Aniseed
Botanical Name:Pimpinella anisum
Oil From: Crushed, dried seeds
Fragrance: Pungent, rich, spicy
Origin: Middle East
Properties: Antispasmodic, digestive, diuretic, expectorant, invigorating, reviving, uplifting
Blends With: Bay, cardamom, cedarwood, coriander, fennel, mandarin, petitgrain, rosewood
CAUTIONS" Should not be used on the skin. Do not use if pregnant.

2.Basil
Botanical Name:Ocimum basilicum
Oil From: Whole plant
Fragrance: Fresh, herby, spicy
Origin: Egypt, Eastern Europe
Properties: Antiseptic, decongestant, warming
Blends With: Bergamot, chamomile, citronella, clary sage, geranium, lemongrass
CAUTIONS: Use in low concentrations--can irritate skin. Do not use if pregnant.

3.Bay
Botanical Name:Laurus noblis
Oil From: Steam-distilled from leaves
Fragrance: Herby, sweet, spicy, camphorous
Origin: Mediterranean, South America
Properties: Analgesic, antiseptic, astringent, promotes menstruation, stimulant, settles stomach
Blends With: Coriander, eucalyptus, geranium, juniper, lavender, rose, rosemary, thyme
CAUTIONS: Do not use in facial steams. Do not use if pregnant

4.Black Pepper
Botanical Name:Piper nigrum
Oil From: Crushed, dried, black peppercorns
Fragrance: Dry, hot, spicy
Origin: India and Indonesia
Properties: Analgesic, antiseptic, antispasmodic, aphrodisiac, circulatory stimulant, laxative
Blends With: Bergamot, cypress, frankincense, geranium, grapefruit, rosemary, ylang ylang, sandalwood
CAUTIONS: Use in low doses

5.Chamomile
Botanical Name: Anthemis noblis (Roman Chamomile), Matricaria recutita (German Chamomile)
Oil From: Dried flower tops
Fragrance: Light, sharp, sweet
Origin: Europe
Properties: Anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antidepressant
Blends With: Jasmine, lavender, lemon, neroli, palmarosa, rose
CAUTIONS: Avoid in first three months of pregnancy

6.Clary Sage
Botanical Name:Salvia sclarea
Oil From:Flowering tops and leaves
Fragrance:Heavy, herbal, nutty
Origin:France and Morocco
Properties:Antidepressant, antiseptic, menstrual regulator, sedative, uterine tonic
Blends With: Bergamot, cypress, grapefruit, juniper, lavender, lime, pine, sandalwood
CAUTIONS: Do not use if pregnant. Can cause headaches

7.Clove
Botanical Name:Syzgium aromaticum
Oil From: Dried flower buds
Fragrance:Sharp, sweet, spicy, woody
Origin: Indonesia
Properties: Analgesic, antiseptic, stimulating, warming
Blends With: Basil, black pepper, lemon, peppermint, rosemary
CAUTIONS: Do not use as a massage oil. Use in low doses with caution

8.Geranium
Botanical Name: Pelargonium graveolens
Oil From: Flowers, leaves, and stems
Fragrance: Floral with fruity-minty undertones. Potent smell
Origin: South Africa and Pacific
Properties: Balancing, calming, diuretic, soothing, uplifting
Blends With: Bergamot, lavender, lemon, neroli, rose, sandalwood
CAUTIONS: Can irritate very sensitive skin. Do not use if pregnant. Generally nontoxic

9.Ginger
Botanical Name: Zingiber officinale
Oil From: Dried root
Fragrance: Woody, spicy
Origin: Tropical Asia
Properties: Analgesic, antiseptic, comforting, expectorant, warming
Blends With: bay, cardamom, cedarwood, clove, eucalyptus, frankincense, geranium, juniper, lemon, lime, rosemary, orange
CAUTIONS: Can irritate mucous membranes. Avoid using as a bath oil

10.Jasmine
Botanical Name: Jasminum officinale
Oil From: Freshly collected flowers
Fragrance: Exotic, floral, musky, sweet
Origin: China
Properties: Antidepressant, emollient, mild analgesic, sedative, soothing, uplifting, uterine tonic
Blends With: Clary sage, frankincense, geranium, melissa, neroli, orange, rose, sandalwood
CAUTIONS: Do not use if pregnant

11.Juniper
Botanical Name: Juniperus communis
Oil From: Berries, needles, wood
Fragrance: Fresh, woody
Origin: Northern Europe
Properties: Astringent, diuretic, purifying, stimulating, uplifting
Blends With: Benzoin, cypress, cedarwood, frankincense, geranium, grapefruit, lemongrass, melissa, rosemary, sandalwood
CAUTIONS: May overstimulate the kidneys. Do not use if pregnant

12.Lavender
Botanical Name: Lavandula augustifolia
Oil From: Flowering tops
Fragrance: Floral, woody
Origin: France
Properties: Analgesic, antiseptic, balancing diuretic, sedative, skin-rejuvenating, stress-relieving
Blends With: Bergamot, geranium, neroli, peppermint, rosemary, sandalwood, thyme
CAUTIONS: Avoid in the first three months of pregnancy

13.Mandarin
Botanical Name: Citrus reticulata
Oil From: Peel, by cold expression
Fragrance: Sweet, zesty, floral undertones
Origin: Southern China
Properties: Uplifting, antiseptic, antispasmodic, digestive tonic, emollient, skin rejuvenating
Blends With: Bergamot, black pepper, chamomile, grapefruit, lavender, lemon, marjoram, neroli, palmarosa, petitgrain
CAUTIONS: Avoid before sunbathing

14.Marjoram
Botanical Name: Origanum marjorana
Oil From: Dried flower heads
Fragrance: Camphorous, sweet
Origin: Mediterranean
Properties: Analgesic, antiseptic, antispasmodic, digestive tonic, sedative
Blends With: Cedarwood, chamomile, eucalyptus, lavender, mandarin, nutmeg, ylang, ylang
CAUTIONS: Can cause drowsiness. Do not use if pregnant

15.Melissa
Botanical Name: Melissa officinalis
Oil From: Leaves, flowers, stems
Fragrance: Herbaceous, lemony, sweet
Origin: Central and southern Europe
Properties: Antiallergenic, antidepressant, anti-inflammatory, digestive tonic
Blends With: Basil, chamomile, ginger, juniper, lemon, neroli, rose, ylang ylang
CAUTIONS: May cause sensitivity. Do not use if pregnant

16.Neroli
Botanical Name: Citrus aurantium
Oil From: Freshly picked blossoms
Fragrance: Light, floral and fruity with bitter undertones
Origins: Asia
Properties: Antidepressant, antiseptic, digestive, emollient, sedative, uplifting
Blends With: Benzoin, bergamot, geranium, jasmine, lavender, lime, rose, sandalwood
CAUTIONS: Short shelf life

17.Nutmeg
Botanical Name: Myristica fragrans
Oil From: Crushed kernels
Fragrance: Pungent, sharp, spicy and sweet
Origin: The Molucca or "Spice" Islands
Properties: Analgesic, antispasmodic, antiseptic, laxative, stimulating
Blends With: Black pepper, cinnamon, clove, coriander, cypress, lavender, lemon, lime, orange, patchouli
CAUTIONS: In large doses can overheat the body and irritate skin. Avoid in early pregnancy

18.Palmarosa
Botanical Name: Cymbopogon martini
Oil From: Leaves
Fragrance: Floral, rosy and woody
Origin: India
Properties: antiseptic, circulation stimulant, cooling, nervous tonic, refreshing, tonifying, uplifting
Blends With: Bergamot, citronella, geranium, jasmine, lavender, lime, orange, rosewood, sandalwood, ylang ylang
CAUTIONS: Avoid in early pregnancy

19.Rose
Botanical Name: Rosa damascena
Oil From: Fresh petals
Fragrance: Heady, floral, sweet
Origin: Bulgaria, Egypt, Greece, Turkey, Morocco, France
Properties: Antidepressant, aphrodisiac, liver tonic, menstrual regulator, rejuvenator, sedative
Blends With: Frankincense, geranium, jasmine, lavender, neroli, patchouli, sandalwood
CAUTIONS: Avoid in early pregnancy

20.Rosemary
Botanical Name: Rosmarinus officinalis
Oil From: Leaves
Fragrance:Pine, pungent, spicy
Origin: Mediterranean
Properties: Anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, astringent, soothes nerves, stimulant, tonic
Blends With: Basil, lavender, lemon, peppermint, pine, sandalwood
CAUTIONS: Avoid if breastfeeding or epileptic