“Like the waters of a sweet river, Jasmine penetrates the deepest layers of our soul, opening the doors to our emotions” Susanne Fischer Rizzi
Jasmine has a heady perfume loved by many especially the perfumers of France. She also has a long history of use in India.
Family: Oleaceae
Synonyms: Jasminum officinale, Catalonian jasmine, Spanish jasmine, White jasmine
Aroma: Intensely floral warm sweet and rich with a tea like undertone
Colour: Dark orange but becomes a more reddish brown due to age and oxidization.
Plant: Jasminum grandiflorum is a semi evergreen deciduous vine with masses of fragrant single white flowers that bloom from spring to autumn.
Jasminum sambac is an evergreen shrub that can reach up to 5 feet in height in a pot but when grown in shade is more like a vine.
Main Growing Areas: Jasminum grandiflorum is native to Iran, Kashmir and Afghanistan but is also grown commercially in France, Italy, Morocco, Egypt, Japan and Turkey. Jasminum sambac is native to Southern India
Major Constituents: Benzyl benzoate, benzyl acetate, linalool (higher in j.sambac), benzyl alcohol, cis-jasmone, indole, eugenol, alpha-farnesene (higher in j.sambac) and methyl jasmonate. Unfortunately due to its high cost jasmine is often adulterated with benzyl acetate and benzyl benzoate.
Note: Pure jasmine essential oil is expensive but it is possible to buy her diluted 3 or 5% in jojoba or other carrier oils. I prefer her in jojoba as jojoba being a wax and not an oil does not go rancid over time. This allows you to experience the properties of jasmine without the expense.
Interesting snippets:
It takes 8 million blossoms to produce one kilo of absolute with an experienced picker able to pick between 10,000 and 15,000 blossoms a night.
In India Jasmine is called “queen of the night” or “moonshine in the garden.”
In India, Jasmine is mixed with sandalwood oil creating an attar of jasmine.
The perfume Joy by Jean Patou has pure jasmine among its ingredients.
Part of Plant used /Extraction: Flower. In the past jasmine essential oil was obtained through enfleurage. Today most jasmine absolute is obtained in a process whereby solvents such as hexane, pentane, petroleum and ether are used to remove the volatile and non-volatile substances from the flowers before being heated to boil off the solvents producing the concrete. Next the concrete is slowly warmed with alcohol to melting point allowing the essential oil, waxes and fixed oils to dissolve in the alcohol which is than cooled, filtered and distilled to remove all the traces of the alcohol resulting in what is called the absolute.
To give the highest yield the process must begin as soon as possible after picking. 1000 kg of jasmine blossoms will produce between 2.6 and 2.8 kg of concrete which will then yield between 1.5 and 1.7 kg of absolute.
Therapeutic actions: Said to help relieve pain and strengthen contractions during the early stages of labour as well as assisting the expulsion of the placenta after delivery. Helpful in relieving the spasms and cramps in painful and delayed periods. Insomnia
Emotional and Spiritual: Mental fatigue, anxiety, restlessness
Valerie Ann Worwood writes that it has been said that jasmine has the ability to call the angelic realms close, and to be able to transmit our soul’s joy and love to the universe, if the intent and purpose is carried from a clear and pure heart.
Susanne Fischer Rizzi writes that jasmine penetrates and diminishes fear, not only lightening your mood but it brings euphoria to darkness. It helps to recapture self-confidence and defeat pessimism.
Robbi Zeck advises that when you are faced with seemingly unresolvable emotional challenges and feeling fearful, that Jasmine will dissolve those fears and build trust. She writes to sit with your fears and concerns, taking breath after breath and wait in the stillness for an answer. Prayer and deep faith will open you to trusting yourself, blessing the present and expecting the best.
Gabriel Mojay writes that whenever fear and vulnerability, or anxiety and depression, cut us from our ability to share physical pleasure and affection, jasmine oil can support, reassure and delight.
Aromatherapy Insight Card:
Courtesy of J.Jefferies & K.Osborn
LIVING IN THE NOW WITH PASSION
Stop living in the past and enjoy what life is giving you now. Stay present and regain your raw passion for everything in life. Stop worrying what happened yesterday or what is coming tomorrow, simply be and really enjoy what life is about. Release feelings of depression, fear and vulnerability and move to that place where you trust and feel supported. Live and Do what you really want to do.
Fragrant Change Healing Card: I have a passion for life and living
Contemplations for the Soul:
Are you feeling stressed, angry, depressed or just plain exhausted mentally and physically?
Are you living your life according to the values of others and wondering who you really are?
Do you lack confidence in your ability to create and bring joy to yourself and others?
It’s time to live, love, create and laugh again on your own terms.
Nurture your passions and yourself.
Reawaken those feelings that have long been forgotten or repressed.
Begin to create the life you want.
Find those who will support you in your creative endeavours and feel the passion and excitement racing through you again.
Safety: Non-irritating, non-sensitizing
Sources: Atterby D, Jasmine Essential Oil Profile. Aromatherapy Today, Vol. 50 (2011)
Bowles E.J, The A-Z of Essential Oils. New Burlington Books (2003)
Fischer-Rizzi S, Complete Aromatherapy Handbook. Essential Oils for Radiant Health Sterling Publishing Company (1990)
Hodges C. Contemplations for the Soul (2016)
Hodges C, Fragrant Change Healing Cards (2015)
Jefferies J, Jasmine Essential Oil Profile. Aromatherapy Today, Vol. 33 (2005)
Jefferies J, Osborn. K, Aromatherapy Insight Cards. Living Energy, Aust. (2nd Ed. 2005)
Mojay G, Aromatherapy for Healing the Spirit. Hodder and Stoughton (1996)
Sydney Essential Oil Company, Harvest: Jasmine Absolute Premium. Oily Winter Edition (2011)
Worwood V.A, The Fragrant Heavens. Doubleday Publishing UK (1999)
Zeck R, The Blossoming Heart. Aroma Tours (2004)