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The Complete Essential Oil Guide: Part 1

August 28, 2025 - by Geneviève Latour

Essential oils are more than scents: they’re experiences. At the Spa Village, we use them to transform the atmosphere, guide you into deeper relaxation, and connect you to nature’s healing powers. Whether diffused through the air, infused in treatments, or released during an Aufguss ritual, these aromatic tools transport you, soothe you, energize you, and remind you to breathe a little deeper.

This series exists so you can better understand the oils we use at the spa. Discover the notes you’ve been wondering about for years, the properties that influence your wellbeing, and the perfect oil pairings for your own wellness concoction in a diffuser at home.

All of our essential oils are sourced from Aromen, who share our passion for authentic Aufguss rituals. 

DISCOVER VILLAGE RITUALS

The Essential Oils We Use at the Spa from A to I
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white flowers

Amyris
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Fragrance: woody, warm, and balsamic.

Benefits: relaxes, improves sleep quality, and repels insects.

Complementary oils: bergamot, cedar, citronella, elemi, lavender, and ylang-ylang.

Essential oil profile: Amyris is a small evergreen bush tree from the Caribbean, part of the Rutaceae family, also known as the citrus family. Amyris can grow up to 18 metres tall, with light green leaves, white blossoms, and dark blue fruits. Sometimes called Sandalwood of the West Indies, it was mistaken for true sandalwood until the late 1800s.

Did you know?
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When an essential oil is described as balsamic, it refers to a warm, resinous scent that’s often reminiscent of vanilla or tree resins.

balsam fir

Balsam Fir
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Fragrance: fresh, balsamic, woodsy, and crisp.

Benefits: relaxes, purifies, harmonizes, supports airways, vitalizes, and grounds.

Complementary oils: pine, fir, juniper, sandalwood, and benzoin.

Essential oil profile: Balsam fir is an evergreen tree in the Pinaceae family (the pine family), native to Canada and the United States. It often grows up to 20 metres tall. The bark and needles form blisters rich with resin and essential oils which are sometimes called “Canadian Balm.”

bergamot

Bergamot
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Fragrance: sweet, fresh, fruity, and citrusy.

Benefits: soothes, refreshes, improves sleep, and boosts mood.

Complementary oils: other citrus, neroli, lavender, and ylang-ylang.

Essential oil profile: Bergamot is a citrus fruit from the Rutaceae family (the citrus family). The tree produces small, pear-shaped fruits with a distinctive green-yellow colour. Its essential oil, pressed from the peel, is famously used to flavour Earl Grey tea.

bergamot mint

Bergamot Mint
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Fragrance: citrusy, sweet, floral, minty, and herbaceous.

Benefits: revitalizes, soothes, energizes, helps relieve muscle cramps, and uplifts.

Complementary oils: lavender, lavandin, ho, geranium, ylang-ylang, eucalyptus, rosemary, and citrus.

Essential oil profile: Mentha citrata is an herbaceous plant in the Lamiaceae family (the mint family), native to Europe and some regions of Asia. It’s also called bergamot mint because its leaves smell similar to bergamot fruit. It contains no menthol and its composition is somewhat similar to lavender essential oil, making it a lovely complement or substitute for lavender in blends.

black pepper

Black Pepper
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Fragrance: woody, spicy, warm, and floral.

Benefits: purifies, revitalizes, tonifies, and lowers blood pressure.

Complementary oils: clove, frankincense, lavender, marjoram, ravintsara, rosemary, and citrus.

Essential oil profile: Black pepper is a perennial woody vine in the Piperaceae family, native to Southwest India. Cultivated in India, Indonesia, and Madagascar, it reaches a height of 5 metres with heart-shaped leaves and small white flowers that ripen from red drupe to black. Its oil is sometimes confused with pink pepper, which is in the same family but has a distinct origin and scent.

blood oranges

Blood Orange
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Fragrance: fruity and citrusy.

Benefits: relaxes, purifies, harmonizes, and uplifts.

Complementary oils: star anise, cinnamon, cloves, lavender, lavandin, myrrh, and vanilla.

Essential oil profile: Blood orange is an evergreen tree from the Rutaceae family, native to China but cultivated mainly in Italy and Spain. It grows 8–10 metres tall with woody bases, dark green leaves, and whitish flowers. Its fruits are larger and more vibrant than bitter orange.

cajeput

Cajeput
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Fragrance: sweet, medicinal, and herbaceous.

Benefits: purifies, revitalizes, stimulates the immune system, benefits the skin, calms, and improves concentration.

Complementary oils: cedar, lavender, lime, marjoram, tea tree, cypress, juniper, and citrus.

Essential oil profile: Cajeput is a large evergreen tree in the Myrtaceae family (the myrtle family), native to Southeast Asia and Australia. Cultivated in Vietnam, Indonesia, and Australia, it can reach 30 metres tall with thick leaves and white flowers. Its oil, distilled from leaves and twigs, has long been used in traditional medicine.

camphor

Camphor
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Fragrance: sharp, medicinal, strong, cool, and woody.

Benefits: harmonizes, revitalizes, relieves respiratory congestion, and eases headaches.

Complementary oils: basil, benzoin, cajeput, chamomile, rosemary, pine, cardamom, cinnamon, citronella, elemi, lavender, lavandin, ho, lemon, neroli, and citrus.

Essential oil profile: Camphor comes from the evergreen camphor tree (Cinnamomum camphora) in the Lauraceae family (laurel family), native to China, Japan, and Taiwan. It grows up to 40 metres tall with lanceolate leaves, white flowers, and black drupes. Camphor oil is extracted from the bark of the cineole chemotype and has been used for centuries in rituals, remedies, and aromatherapy.

cinnamon sticks

Cinnamon
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Fragrance: spicy, sweet, dry, and hot.

Benefits: purifies, harmonizes, supports the immune system, supports airways, and enhances mood.

Complementary oils: amyris, star anise, lemongrass, sweet orange, basil, benzoin, cajeput, coriander, sweet fennel, lavender, red mandarin, ylang-ylang, and citrus.

Essential oil profile: Cinnamon is an evergreen tropical tree in the Lauraceae family (laurel family), native to Sri Lanka and cultivated in Madagascar. It grows up to 15 metres tall with woody bases, thick branches, thick bark, green leaves, and small white flowers. Its oil is strong and must be used sparingly.

clove

Clove
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Fragrance: spicy and warm.

Benefits: purifies, revitalizes, supports airways, and relieves pain.

Complementary oils: bergamot, frankincense, lavender, lime, black pepper, vanilla, ylang-ylang, and citrus.

Essential oil profile: Clove is an evergreen tree in the Myrtaceae family, originally from Indonesia and cultivated in Madagascar. It reaches 12 metres with woody bases, large shiny green leaves, and pink-red flowers.

copal resin

Copal
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Fragrance: woody, peppery, and balsamic.

Benefits: stimulates creativity, relaxes, reduces anxiety, and helps with insomnia.

Complementary oils: tea tree, bergamot, chamomile, camphor, lavender, neroli, amyris, thyme, spices, and citrus.

Essential oil profile: Copal is a wild resin in the Fabaceae family (legume family) of South America. Found mainly in Peru, Brazil, and Venezuela, it grows up to 40 metres tall. Also called Balsamo del Gesuita, it was historically used in ancient Mexico for chewing gum, incense, and ceremonial purposes.

Although the Spa Village doesn’t currently have any “D” oils in its repertoire, Douglas fir is a strong contender with its fresh and woody fragrance that evokes the forest and uplifts the spirit.

eucalyptus leaves

Eucalyptus Citriodora
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Fragrance: herbal, fresh, sharp, strong, medicinal, and citrusy.

Benefits: purifies, revitalizes, supports airways, and relieves pain.

Complementary oils: chamomile, lavender, ho, marjoram, pine, rosemary, thyme, vetiver, spices, and citrus.

Essential oil profile: Eucalyptus citriodora, also called lemon-eucalyptus, is a tree in the Myrtaceae family, native to Australia and cultivated in Brazil. Growing up to 30 metres, it has smooth gray bark, blue-green leaves, and white flowers.

eucalyptus flowers

Eucalyptus Dives
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Fragrance: fresh, medicinal, herbal, balsamic, minty, and woody.

Benefits: purifies, revitalizes, supports airways, relieves congestion, supports healthy breathing, and uplifts.

Complementary oils: cedar, citronella, lavender, ho, marjoram, pine, rosemary, thyme, vetiver, spices, and citrus.

Essential oil profile: Eucalyptus dives, also called peppermint-eucalyptus, is an evergreen tree in the Myrtaceae family, native to South Africa and Australia. Cultivated mainly in Australia, it grows over 70 metres tall with long narrow leaves and white flowers.

eucalyptus globulus

Eucalyptus Globulus
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Fragrance: fresh, woody, medicinal, balsamic, and herbal.

Benefits: purifies, revitalizes, supports airways, relieves coughs and colds, and eases headaches and joint or muscle pain. 

Complementary oils: cedar, citronella, lavender, ho, marjoram, pine, rosemary, thyme, vetiver, spices, and citrus.

Essential oil profile: Eucalyptus globulus, also called blue gum, is an evergreen tree in the Myrtaceae family, native to Australia. Cultivated in Spain and Portugal, it grows over 90 metres tall with woody bases, narrow yellowish leaves, and white flowers.

No oils beginning with “F” can currently be enjoyed in the Village, however, sweet and herbaceous fennel or warm and resinous frankincense are high on our “must-smell” list.

geranium

Geranium
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Fragrance: sweet, floral, rosy, and green.

Benefits: purifies, revitalizes, supports airways, and reduces stress.

Complementary oils: citrus, bergamot, lemon, sweet orange, lavender, ylang-ylang, sandalwood, and rosemary.

Essential oil profile: Geranium is a perennial shrub in the Geraniaceae family (geranium family), native to Southern Africa and cultivated mainly in Egypt. Growing up to 1 metre tall, it has small pink flowers. Its oil is steam-distilled from the leaves.

golden everlasting

Golden Everlasting
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Fragrance: gentle, floral, warm, sweet, and herbaceous.

Benefits: relaxes, supports the immune system, supports airways, and reduces inflammation.

Complementary oils: chamomile, cypress, sweet fennel, patchouli, rose, sage, sandalwood, ylang-ylang, and citrus.

Essential oil profile: Golden everlasting, a member of the Asteraceae family (daisy family), is native to the Mediterranean and cultivated throughout the region. Growing up to 50 cm with golden blossoms.

grapefruit

Grapefruit
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Fragrance: citrusy, fresh, fruity, bitter, and gentle.

Benefits: purifies, harmonizes, balances mood, and relaxes.

Complementary oils: citrus, spice, peppermint, cedarwood, lavender, ylang-ylang, rosemary, geranium, and frankincense.

Essential oil profile: Grapefruit (Citrus x paradisi) is a tree in the Rutaceae family, originating in tropical Asia and the East Indies. Cultivated mainly in California, it grows up to 10 metres with shiny leaves and large yellow fruits.

Ho leaf (gentle and floral) and ho wood (soft and woody) are both calming oils that could be added to our Spa Village encyclopedia under “H”.

As for “I”, luxurious and delicate iris or sweet and balsamic iary are both calming essential oils you won’t find at the Spa Village (yet).

Discover the other letters of the alphabet in our scent encyclopedia in part 2 of our Spa Village essential oil guide.

READ PART 2

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