Jasmine Oil: Mood Booster, Stress Buster & Health Enhancer

Jasmine oil, a type of essential oil derived from the jasmine flower, is popular for purportedly helping improve mood, overcome stress and balance hormones. In fact, jasmine essential oil has been used for hundreds of years in parts of Asia as a complementary natural oil for depression, anxiety, emotional stress, low libido and insomnia.

Research suggests that jasmine oil works by positively influencing the nervous system. Through aromatherapy or by penetrating the skin, the oils from the jasmine flower can have an effect on a number of biological factors, including heart rate, body temperature, stress response, alertness, blood pressure and breathing.

Many people refer to jasmine oil as a natural aphrodisiac because it’s said to have a “seductive” scent that can increase sensuality. It even is sometimes nicknamed “queen of the night,” both because of the strong smell of jasmine flower at night and also because of its libido-boosting qualities.

What is jasmine essential oil?

Jasmine essential oil is a highly aromatic oil extracted from the delicate white flowers of the Jasminum officinale plant, often called the “queen of the night” due to its intoxicating fragrance that intensifies after sunset. Unlike many other essential oils obtained through steam distillation, jasmine oil is typically produced via solvent extraction, resulting in what’s known as jasmine absolute.

This method preserves its rich, sweet and floral scent, one that has been cherished for centuries in traditional medicine, perfumery and spiritual practices for its mood-lifting and aphrodisiac qualities.

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In holistic wellness, jasmine essential oil is valued for its ability to calm the nervous system, uplift the spirit and promote skin health. It’s often used in aromatherapy to help ease stress and anxiety, support emotional balance, and encourage a sense of confidence and optimism.

Applied topically (properly diluted), jasmine essential oil can help nourish dry or sensitive skin thanks to its soothing and antioxidant properties.

Traditionally, it has been used in places like China to help the body detox and relieve respiratory and liver disorders. It’s also used to decrease pain associated with pregnancy and childbirth.

Primary beneficial compounds

The unique therapeutic profile of jasmine essential oil comes from its powerful array of natural compounds, including:

• Benzyl acetate: Contributes to jasmine’s signature floral aroma and provides mild sedative and relaxing effects, making it beneficial for reducing stress and tension.
• Linalool: Known for its calming and anti-inflammatory properties, this compound helps support relaxation and may contribute to improved sleep quality.
• Benzyl alcohol: Offers gentle antiseptic and preservative qualities, supporting skin health and the longevity of the oil.
• Indole: Found naturally in jasmine blossoms, indole gives the oil its deep, rich scent and is thought to help stimulate alertness and a sense of well-being in small amounts.
• Phytol: A compound with antioxidant and antimicrobial potential that may aid in protecting the skin from environmental stressors.
• Geraniol: Provides additional antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits while adding a rosy note to jasmine’s complex fragrance.

Together, these bioactive constituents make jasmine essential oil both a therapeutic and sensory powerhouse … one that not only supports emotional wellness, but also enhances natural beauty and vitality.

Jasmine oil benefits and uses

1. May help relieve depression and anxiety symptoms

Several studies have found improvements in mood and sleep after using jasmine essential oil either in aromatherapy or topically on the skin, as well as it being a way to boost energy levels. Results have demonstrated that jasmine oil has a stimulating/activating effect on the brain and also helps improve mood at the same time.

A study published in Natural Product Communications found that jasmine essential oil used on the skin over an eight-week period helped participants feel improvements in their moods and decreases in both physical and emotional signs of low energy.

A 2013 study published in the Journal of Health Research tested the mood-lifting effects of jasmine essential oil on 20 healthy volunteers and found an improvement in brainwave actives that help regulate mood. Jasmine oil was inhaled by all the study participants, and then central nervous system function and mood responses were tested.

Participants had electrodes placed on their heads and also filled out personal questionnaires.

Compared to the electrode and test results prior to inhaling jasmine oil, the results after using the oil led to a significant improvement in cognitive-emotional responses. Researchers observed improved levels of activity in beta wave power in the anterior center and the left posterior regions of the brain, which help control emotions and stress responses.

Participants reported feeling an increase in positive thoughts and feelings, including a reduction in stress but a renewed feeling of being more active, awake and romantic.

2. Encourages arousal

Research has revealed that aromatherapy using jasmine essential oil can increase measures of sexual function, and exposure to this oil can influence hormones and autonomic states tied to arousal and milk ejection.

Compared with a placebo, jasmine oil caused significant increases of physical signs of arousal, such as breathing rate, body temperature, blood oxygen saturation, and systolic and diastolic blood pressure, in a study conducted on healthy adult women. Subjects in the jasmine essential oil group also rated themselves as more alert and more vigorous than subjects in the control group.

The study results indicated that this oil can increase autonomic arousal activity and help elevate mood at the same time.

In a six-week, randomized, clinical trial of women with sexual dysfunction, aromatherapy that included jasmine oil produced measurable improvements in overall sexual function compared with control, suggesting a real libido/sexual function benefit. Other research has linked fragrant stimulation (including jasmine) to changes in oxytocin and related neuroendocrine responses, which plausibly support both sexual bonding/arousal and milk ejection.

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It’s worth noting the research is mixed on the effect on lactation, as some studies have found overdoing it on jasmine may actually suppress milk production.

3. Boosts immunity and helps fight infections

Jasmine essential oil is believed to have antiviral, antibiotic and antifungal properties that make it effective for boosting immunity and fighting illness. In fact, jasmine oil has been used traditionally for fighting hepatitis, various internal infections, and respiratory and skin disorders for hundreds of years in Thailand, China and other Asian countries.

In vitro and in vivo animal studies have revealed that oleuropein, a secoiridoid glycoside found in jasmine oil, is one of the oil’s primary active ingredients that can fight harmful infections and increase immune function.

Jasmine essential oil has also specifically been shown to have antimicrobial activity toward the bacteria that causes staph infections and the fungus that causes candida.

Inhaling jasmine oil, either directly or by infusing it in your home, can help clear mucus and bacteria within the nasal passages and respiratory system. Applying it to your skin can also help reduce inflammation, redness and pain and speed up time needed to heal wounds.

4. Helps with falling sleep

Feel like you’re always tired but have trouble getting good sleep? Jasmine essential oil exhibits a calming effect that can act as a natural sedative and help you sleep better.

A study published in the European Journal of Applied Physiology found that jasmine tea odor had sedative effects on both autonomic nerve activity and mood states. Inhaling jasmine along with lavender helped reduce heart rate and bring on feelings of calm and relaxation, which are all important for dosing off and avoiding restless nights.

To diffuse jasmine essential oil in your home, combine several drops in a diffuser along with other soothing oils, like lavender oil or frankincense oil.

5. May help lower symptoms of menopause

Using jasmine oil either via aromatherapy or applying it directly to the skin can help decrease emotional and physical symptoms of menopause and provide menopause relief.

In a study published in the Journal of Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, when menopausal women applied jasmine oil to their skin over an eight-week period, they showed improvements in energy levels, mood and menopause-related symptoms, including hot flashes, pain and depression, compared to women who weren’t using the oil.

6. May prevent or improve PMS symptoms

Studies have shown that jasmine oil is among a group of essential oils that help balance hormone levels by acting as phytoestrogens, plant constituents with a phenolic structure similar to estrogen. This gives therapeutic-grade oils, including jasmine oil, the ability to help with PMS, menopause and other hormone-related issues.

For example, after testing women for 11 common symptoms related to hormone fluctuations (including insomnia, nervousness, weakness and headaches) researchers found that aromatherapy and massage with phytoestrogen oils helped decrease symptoms without causing any negative side effects.

Massaging jasmine oil onto your skin or inhaling it can help to reduce PMS symptoms, including headaches, stomach cramps, acne and other skin issues, and restlessness.

7. Can boost concentration

Jasmine oil is known for its stimulating and arousing properties. Diffusing it or rubbing it onto your skin can help wake you up and boost energy.

Its active ingredients have been shown to increase heart rate, body temperature and brain activity that are needed for active learning and problem solving.

In one study, 40 healthy human subjects who were exposed to jasmine aroma felt more attentive, more energetic and less tranquilized than subjects in the control group. Also, these findings revealed a stimulating and activating effect and verified the use of jasmine absolute in aromatherapy.

Try adding some to your bath water or rubbing it onto your skin during a morning shower to help you get ready for your day. Have a test coming up or doing a presentation? Sniff some jasmine oil.

8. Promotes healthy skin

A scientific review titled “Commercial Essential Oils as Potential Antimicrobials to Treat Skin Diseases” published in 2017 featured Jasminum officinale for its use in dermatology for general skin care, revitalization, dry skin, anti-aging, reducing inflammation, oily skin conditions and psoriasis. Talk about some major jasmine oil benefits for face and skin concerns!

Try mixing this oil into your face cream, shower gel or body lotion to help reduce blemishes, improve dryness, balance oily skin, prevent wrinkles and fine lines, and calm shaving irritation. Just make sure to first test your reaction to any essential oil by applying a small amount to a patch of skin in order to check for allergies.

Is jasmine oil good for your hair? Using jasmine essential oil for hair can help to counter dryness and add shine, just like it does with your skin.

9. Creates a calming or invigorating massage oil

Depending on what other oil it’s used with, jasmine essential oil can make a massage more on the uplifting or soothing side.

Want an energizing massage? Try combining the floral oil with invigorating peppermint or rosemary oil plus a carrier oil of your choice.

Looking for a calming massage? Combine jasmine oil with lavender or geranium oil and a carrier oil.

Jasmine oil can increase alertness and arousal when needed, but it can also have relaxing and pain-reducing effects that make it a perfect massage oil. It has been used topically for centuries to reap its anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects.

10. Serves as a natural mood-lifting perfume

As mentioned earlier, studies have confirmed jasmine oil’s mood-lifting benefits. Instead of using expensive store-bought perfumes, try dabbing jasmine oil onto your wrists and neck as a natural, chemical-free fragrance.

Jasmine essential oil has a warm, flowery smell similar to many women’s perfumes. A little bit goes a long way, so only use one or two drops at first, and mix it with a carrier oil to tone down the strength of the smell if you’d like.

How to use

How can you use jasmine oil?

• It can either be inhaled through the nose (aromatherapy) or applied topically directly to the skin.
• It doesn’t always need to be combined with a carrier oil and is recommended to be used undiluted if tolerable for the best results.
• You can also diffuse it in your home or combine it with other lotions, moisturizing coconut oil or essential oils for many different household and body uses, like homemade massage oil, body scrubs, soaps and candles, for example.
• You can combine it with other essential oils to create a homemade perfume (recipe included below). What scents blend well with jasmine? Citrus oils, lavender and more.

In order to get the most results from jasmine oil, you need to use a high-quality, “therapeutic” grade oil. Synthetic jasmine oil is often sold for much lower prices than true jasmine essential oil because real oil is expensive to produce.

If you see a jasmine oil diffuser for sale in a store or line, beware that it likely may be a synthetic aroma.

Jasmine flowers are very small and only produce tiny amounts of oil, so it costs manufacturers thousands of dollars just to extract one pound of pure jasmine oil. Therefore, it’s important to always carefully check the ingredients in the oil to make sure the genus species name is listed as Jasminum officinale.

Although jasmine oil might be one of the more costly essential oils on the market, it has a ton of uses and won’t go to waste. Just two to three drops also make a big impact, so a small bottle will last a very long time.

You can also find jasmine oil absolute, which includes another oil like jojoba and significantly brings the price per bottle down. However, the drawback to absolutes is that they are created using solvents like hexane.

What goes well with jasmine oil? It blends well with many other oils to either promote an awakened state or help with relaxation.

For an uplifting scent, try using jasmine oil with citrus oils. For its aphrodisiac effects, combine jasmine oil with rose essential oil, sandalwood essential oil and ylang ylang oil.

As a sleep aid and relaxant, lavender and frankincense make good additions to jasmine oil since all act as mild sedatives and promote a reduction in pain and anxiety.

To make a warming, homemade, chemical-free fragrance using jasmine essential oil, try the following recipe:

Homemade jasmine oil perfume

INGREDIENTS:

• 30 drops jasmine oil
• 5 drops vanilla essential oil
• 5 drops lavender essential oil
• 5 drops orange essential oil
• 2 tablespoons vodka
• 1 tablespoon orange blossom water (or distilled water)

DIRECTIONS:

1. Mix the essential oil blend with the vodka in a glass mason jar or bottle, and leave it to sit on a countertop for two days. Keep it covered and somewhere that’s room temperature and away from the sun.
2. Add the orange blossom water or distilled water, and stir together. Add the mixture to an old perfume spray bottle or regular aluminum spray bottle. Keep the mix somewhere around room temperature, and use on your skin, clothes, sheets, rugs, etc.

Risks and side effects

Jasmine is generally considered safe and non-irritating, but there’s always a risk for allergies or irritations occurring whenever you use essential oils. Especially if you’re new to using essential oils or have sensitive skin, make sure to start with a small amount, and try diluting it with carrier oils.

Jasmine has an intense aroma that’s very flowery, so some people prefer to mix it with other oils to prevent it from becoming overpowering.

In a small group of people, jasmine oil might cause headaches, skin reactions or nausea due to its strength. It can always be toned down by combining it with coconut, almond or jojoba oil and avoiding direct contact with the skin.

Can jasmine oil be ingested? It’s typically only recommended for aromatherapy and topical use.

Although it’s been used in pregnant women and new moms traditionally, speak with your doctor before using essential oils if you’re pregnant, nursing or experiencing hormone-related problems. Jasmine oil has an effect on hormones due to its phytoestrogen effects, so it’s always smart to air on the side of caution.

Conclusion

• Jasmine oil is created from jasmine flowers and not surprisingly has a very floral scent.
• Look for jasmine oil labeled Jasminum officinale.
• Wondering how to use jasmine essential oil? Either pure or diluted with a carrier oil, it can be applied topically for massage or used to make a homemade natural perfume. It can also be diffused.
• Jasmine oil benefits are known to include help:
  • Dealing with stress, anxiety and depression
  • Increasing alertness
  • Fighting low energy
  • Boosting skin health
  • Reducing hormone-related issues like menopause and PMS symptoms
  • Encouraging a better night’s sleep
  • Fighting off harmful bacteria, viruses and fungi