Holy basil has many uses, but before you picture pasta sauce, know that it is an entirely different herb from the sweet basil in your kitchen. Holy basil has a spicier scent, a warmer character, and its use goes back over 3,000 years in Ayurvedic tradition.
The essential oil distilled from this revered plant has been finding its way into Western diffusers and blend recipes, and for a good reason; it offers a mix of uses that few single oils cover on their own. In this article, we will discuss exactly this as we go over holy basil essential oil uses.
Read on to learn more about how you can use holy basil for aromatherapy, skincare, hair, and more.
Holy Basil Essential Oil Introduction
Holy basil, which is known as tulsi in India, belongs to the species Ocimum tenuiflorum, a cousin of the culinary basil rather than a variety of it. For millennia, Ayurvedic practice has treated the holy basil as medicine, using it for coping with stress, consuming it as teas, and preparing it into creams and rubs.
The essential oil of this plant, however, is different. It is far more concentrated than the plant, steam-distilled from its leaves and flowering tops. Its signature compound is eugenol, the same warm molecule that gives clove oil its character, joined by caryophyllene that together produce a spicy, herbaceous, sweet aroma.
Holy Basil Essential Oil Uses
Here are some of the ways that you can use holy basil. We will include a variety of uses to ensure this special essential oil deserves its own shelf space.
1) Aromatherapy to Wind Down
Aromatherapy is the closest to holy basil’s traditional identity. Three or four drops in a diffuser fill a room with a warm, sweet scent that gives a sense of mental clarity. In fact, many people reach for holy basil essential oil for meditation or an evening reading hour.
Starting with a quality bottle matters most of all with holy basil essential oil. As long as you’re using the actual organic product, a few drops of holy basil essential oil are enough to create a relaxed environment. You can use it in a diffuser or create a room spray, both of which work equally well, according to holy basil oil experts at Wholesale Botanics.
2) Caring for Your Scalp
Holy basil essential oil has cleansing properties that serve the scalp very well. A drop or two added to a handful of shampoo or blended into a pre-wash scalp oil with your favorite pure oil helps manage flaking and itching that come with an oily, congested scalp. The natural herbal scent also elevates ordinary washes and makes every wash like a spa treatment.
However, keep in mind that holy basil is quite strong, so it is best to limit its use for scalp and hair occasionally rather than adding it to your daily routine.
3) Blend It Into a Warm Massage Oil
Holy basil’s warmth translates well into physically stimulating massage blends. A few drops of holy basil essential oil per tablespoon of carrier oil, worked through shoulders and calves after a long day, produces a gentle heat that has a loosening effect.
To elevate its scent, you can also pair it with lavender essential oil, but the ratio per tablespoon of carrier oil shouldn’t be more than a few drops of essential oil.
4) Repel Household Insects
Holy basil carries a scent that flies, mosquitoes, and ants would rather avoid. A few drops in a diffuser near open summer windows or on cotton balls tucked where pests appear adds a layer of discouragement that smells far better to humans than it does to insects.
Plus, using holy basil essential oil for this means it’s all natural, which makes it a lot more pet and kid-friendly than chemical alternatives.
5) Add It to Your Skincare Routine for Blemishes
The eugenol found in holy basil essential oil has antibacterial properties, which makes it well-suited for spot treatments and purifying face oil for occasional breakouts. The best part is that one drop of it in a tablespoon of carrier oil like jojoba goes a long way.
However, you should use it only for the areas of your face that need it rather than the whole face, as it is more for supporting a routine rather than replacing it entirely.
Before Diving Into Holy Basil Essential Oil Uses
Before using holy basil essential oil, it is best to take some precautions because the high eugenol content makes it stronger than the gentle florals many people use. Always start with a patch test and dilute it more than usual. As a general rule of thumb, dilute it to one percent or below for skin use, which works out to about four to six drops per ounce of carrier oil.
