What is Buddha Wood Oil?
Found primarily in Australia, Buddha Wood oil is a relatively new addition to the essential-oils family. Its therapeutic properties and woody aroma make it a prime candidate for men’s skin care products. And it is sustainable and somewhat inexpensive as well.
Key Anti-inflammatory and Anti-microbial Therapeutic Properties:
Sesquiterpenes are well known for their anti-inflammatory properties and Buddha Wood oil is comprised mainly of the three sesquiterpene ketones: eremophilone, hydroxyl dihydro eremophilone, and hydroxyl eremophilone.
Research by Charles Sturt University in Australia indicated Buddha Wood oil having promising antimicrobial impact against Candida albicans and Staphylococcus aureus – two microbes often implicated in skin rashes. Also, when matched with the renowned antimicrobial properties of Tea Tree (Melaleuca alternifolia) oil and Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus staigeriana) oil, Buddha Wood oil demonstrated significant antimicrobial potential against Candida at lower concentration.
Buddha Wood oil thus has great therapeutic potential in products for skin issues such as shaving rash (folliculitis) and sweat rash (Candida intertrigo), both quite common among men. It can also be used to treat diaper rash.
Calming Aroma:
Buddha Wood oil shows excellent harmony among dry, woody, smoky, and earthy notes. It has a dry and woody aroma, while carrying a sweet rosy undernote. Its use for meditation is common but it is also used in insomnia because it diffuses a smoky hue and gradually transitions into an earthy back note, which can calm mind and make body get ready to sleep easily.
Sustainability:
Buddha Wood is primarily found in native shrub in the area from Northern Queensland to Northern New South Wales in Australia. As only mature Buddha Wood trees are harvested for production of essential oils, it greatly improves growing conditions of the younger trees and helps create a self-regenerative process.
There is an abundant supply of trees for harvesting as Buddha Wood is a prolific grower. However, as it is still not very popular in the marketplace, its use is rather minimal presently and Buddha Wood is, therefore, not at risk of over-harvesting in the near future.
Directions:
Buddha Wood can be used to diffuse during meditation to encourage peaceful mind and relaxation. It blends well with a wide range of citrus, floral, leafy and woody oils, such as Bergamot, Lavender, Neroli, Palmarosa, Sandalwood, or Ylang Ylang, for addition to perfume, massage oil, soap and lotion.