“Are you going Scarborough Fair? Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme.” Are you familiar with those worlds from Simon and Garfunkel’s song “Scarborough Fair?

This Plant Talk article features Rosemary the ancient, medicinal plant who has inspired many an artist and healer over the centuries. Read on for information about Rosemary essential oil, its personality, therapeutics, and aromatherapy blending ideas.

“Rosemary, That’s For Remembrance”

Rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus, formerly known as Rosmarinus officinalis) has been venerated and worked with since early antiquity—the herb was even found in first dynasty tombs of the Egyptians. Often used to foster good luck and immunity, it was supposedly part of the infamous “4 Thieves” vinegar used to ward off the plague. Its effect on the mind was rightly immortalized by Shakespeare’s Ophelia when she uttered: “There’s rosemary, that’s for remembrance.” The herbalist, William Langham aptly conveyed its stimulating and convivial qualities: “Seethe [boil] much Rosemary and bathe therin to make thee lusty, lively, joyfull, likeing and youngly.” Rosemary is indeed a perfect ally for personal care, immunity, overall health and keeping one “lusty and lively.”

Growing and Harvesting Rosemary

Endemic to the Mediterranean, Rosemary is also known as “sea rose” which is derived from the Latin ros (dew) and marinus (sea). Can you envision swaths of it blooming amongst the rocky, coastal locales of Morocco, Spain, Tunisia and France? This evergreen shrub prefers lean, rocky, limey soils and copious amounts of sun. When considering the essential oil, you’ll find it is mostly grown and produced in the aforementioned parts of the world. Rosemary blooms from March through July in the Northern Hemisphere though its peak time for creating essential oil are from April – June depending on geography. Although the flowering tops are collected, a superior oil comes from the leaves and flowers meaning the stem is removed before distillation. Similar to lavender (also in the Lamiaceae family), how the shrub is cut is important as it does not like to be drastically sheared (meaning don’t go too low).

Rosemary is warming, stimulating, fortifying and clearing. Yet also fresh, playful, penetrating and dispersive making it a brilliant oil for dispelling stagnation and conjuring joy.

Affinities and Usage Applications for Rosemary Essential Oil

• Support emotions and mental states with this “cephalic” as it helps clear brain fog and promotes clarity and focus
  • Consider blending with: peppermint, black pepper, frankincense, lemon (and other citrus), basil or lemongrass
• Support respiratory health for general infection that presents with catarrh/mucus and to support overall deep breathing
  • Consider blending with: the conifer oils (e.g., Hemlock spruce, white pine, Black Spruce), Frankincense, Myrtle, Thyme linalool or one of the Eucalyptus or Melaleucas
• Help soothe muscular and arthritic aches and pains
  • Consider blending with black pepper, ginger or the conifers to encourage blood flow and warmth
• As a stimulating botanical it promotes circulatory health for those with low blood pressure, including those whose extremities run cold (e.g., in a hand cream or salve)
  • Consider blending with the oils listed above…
• As the HERB it is stimulating to the liver and gall-bladder: combine the fresh or dried herb with rich meals to encourage digestion
• Include Rosemary (i.e., as an infusion, tincture, hydrosol or essential oil) in skin and hair care formulations for those living with hair loss, oily hair, dandruff or seborrhea

Impressions of Rosemary Essential Oil

Aromatherapy Recipes with Rosemary Essential Oil

Need more Rosemary in your life? Watch the below Plant Talk Episode where we explore Rosemary as it’s distilled in one of my copper stills.

Note: the sound comes in around 30 seconds. Such is the nature of these impromptu videos! Seize the day and growing season!

---