The Versatility of Vetiver
The Benefits & Uses of the “Oil of Tranquility”.
Vetiver is a type of sweet grass from the Poaceae family of plants, which also includes lemongrass and citronella, all widely used for their essential oils.
Also called khus oil, vetiver essential oil is extracted from the vetiver plant, which is a clumpy, green grass that can grow five feet high or more. The plant features tall stems and thin, rigid leaves. Though native to India, vetiver is also grown extensively in the Caribbean Islands. Unlike other grasses, the root system of vetiver grows downward, making it helpful to prevent erosion and providing soil stabilization.
The good stuff - vetiver oil - is not found in the grass itself, but rather the plant’s long web-like roots.
Vetiver essential oil was an ingredient of ancient Indian perfumes and was referred to as "the oil of tranquility".
The Healing Properties of Vetiver
In addition to environmental advantages, vetiver is extremely versatile, used for agriculture, medicinal, and decorative purposes.
While it’s rich, complex, and sophisticated aroma is often used in fragrances, vetiver is calming, grounding, and presents a slew of medicinal properties and other health benefits.
According to Webmd, vetiver can be helpful for the following:
- Nerve and circulation problems
- Stomach pain or abdominal discomfort
- Applied directly to the skin for relieving stress or for emotional traumas or shock
- To treat conditions such as lice, arthritis, stings, and burns
Vetiver oil also has several advantageous properties that make it great for aromatherapy, a holistic practice that involves the inhalation or a topical application of essential oils for therapeutic benefits. It can be inhaled for nervousness, insomnia, and joint and muscle pain. Researchers have also found that vetiver oil improved alertness, brain function, and mental fatigue. When used in a diffuser, vetiver oil can also improve breathing patterns during sleep.
Due to its calming, grounding, and soothing aroma, vetiver oil can be used in massage therapy and can also be rubbed on feet before bed to aid in a restful night’s sleep.
Additionally, it’s been found that vetiver root has antioxidant properties, which means that it aids in helping the body fight “free radicals” - toxins that disrupt your body’s processes and contribute to the signs of aging. As a result, using products that contain vetiver oil may give you an antioxidant boost.
As if these benefits weren’t enough, vetiver can also be used as a natural repellent for insects and ticks!
The Scent of Sophistication
While vetiver has an abundance of health and healing benefits, its distinctive sharp, earthy, and robust scent is used in many colognes and perfumes. Though vetiver had been considered a more masculine scent, it’s now estimated to be found in about 40% of women’s fragrances too.
Vetiver oil is a base note with a dry, earthy, woody, leathery, and smoky aroma - think uncut grass on a beautiful warm day.
It sometimes goes by the nickname, “fragrance of the soil,” appropriate for the complex, grounding scent distilled from the roots.
We at St Johns, are so proud of our incredible line of vetiver products. From our Classic Vetiver Cologne, which artfully combines a blend of citrus and spicy cardamom with notes of cypress musk, amber, cedar and sandalwood, to our Vetiver Travel Kit, we have an array of options perfect for all your grooming needs.
Like the other St Johns fragrances that have come before, vetiver is sure to become a classic and your next dopp kit essential. Dignified, bold, and dashing like the gentleman who wears it, vetiver continues the long-standing St Johns tradition of creating uniquely fresh grooming and toiletry products.
With St Johns Vetiver fragrance, bath, and body products they generate a personal calmness , ground your spirit, boost your antioxidant power, and smell great...how’s that for versatility?
