Of all the trees in the garden, there’s something special about this one. The arborvitae, which literally means “tree of life” in Latin, is a needled evergreen that is also known as the Western Red Cedar and is native to North America. Ever seen pictures of those giant Redwood trees of the Pacific Northwest? Well, the Western Red Cedar is related to them, which sure helps explain how it reaches up to 200 feet in height. Arborvitae was so named because it possesses a chemical makeup which protects it from damage over time, making possible a remarkably long plant lifespan of 400 - 1000 years. This is a tree that can live for an entire millennium! Just imagine all that a single Western Red Cedar could teach us, if only it could talk.
Aromatically, dōTERRA® Arborvitae is one of the warmest and earthiest oils available. Who wouldn’t want to tap into the properties of a tree with such powerful resistance to decay and insect damage that, even after it has fallen, its wood can remain sound and salvageable for an entire century? These natural preservative properties are packed into tiny dōTERRA bottles, each filled with approximately two pounds of steam-distilled Canadian arborvitae wood. Turn up the diffuser right now with this woodsy, renewing blend.
Everlasting Evergreen
• 2 drops Arborvitae
• 2 drops Wintergreen
• 1 drop Douglas Fir
Arborvitae’s majestic, strong aroma makes it a popular one for both meditative and calming purposes. Diffuse it, or apply your oil directly to the pulse points of the body. It’s also a perfect match for skincare, general cleansing, and, not surprisingly, polishing wood furniture! Apply Arborvitae topically to help soothe skin blemishes and promote a healthy-looking complexion, remembering that it pairs well with Bergamot in this department. A few drops of Arborvitae oil mixed with water (and a drop of Lemon, if you’re someone who absolutely needs citrus in your purifying blend) create an ideal natural cleaning spray.
That majestic strength I mentioned earlier makes Arborvitae a key player in this next diffuser blend. The three oils it contains can just as easily be turned into an outdoorsy cologne.
Strong and Steady
• 3 drops Arborvitae
• 3 drops Frankincense
• 2 drops Cedarwood
Arborvitae is what takes this blend to a grounding and composing place. Ladies, this is an oil that a man’s man can be proud to wear and own because of its strength and practicality. Historically, Native Americans used arborvitae wood to build homes, vessels, and totem poles, while the tree’s roots and bark were utilized for rope, twine, and other items. Any woodworker can understand why Native Americans turned to the Western Red Cedar for practical projects they wanted to preserve. And Arborvitae oil itself is a practical product, as dōTERRA extracts it from sawdust and other byproducts of the lumber industry.
Call this robust cypress the Western Red Cedar, arborvitae, or the tree of life. Whatever you call it, depend on it for unparalleled purifying and preserving properties. These are the very properties that make dōTERRA Arborvitae such a valuable essential oil.