Academy › Single Essential Oils › Elemi
Elemi Essential Oil
The Radiant Harmonizer of Skin and Spirit
Elemi essential oil is a fresh, lemony and softly balsamic oil steam-distilled from a tropical tree resin, loved for its bright, clean scent in diffuser blends and skin care rituals.
Botanical name: Canarium luzonicum
Aroma: Fresh, lemony, spicy and softly balsamic
Note: Top to middle
Main growing region: The Philippines
Typically extracted: Steam-distilled from the resin
Blends well with: Bergamot, Frankincense, Myrrh, Cedarwood and Rosemary
Top 3 benefits:
- Bright, clear scent: a lemony freshness with a resinous backbone, often enjoyed when the day feels slow or scattered.
- Skin care ritual: a traditional favourite for gentle facial oils and massage blends when properly diluted.
- Versatile blender: sits between citrus and resin, so it bridges bright and grounding oils beautifully.
Safety first: elemi oil should be diluted to 1% or less for skin use (about 3 drops per 15ml of carrier oil), patch tested first, and checked with a healthcare professional if you are pregnant. Read the full safety information.
What Is Elemi Essential Oil?
Elemi essential oil is steam-distilled from the soft, fragrant resin of Canarium luzonicum, a tropical tree that grows in the Philippines. The resin is tapped from the trunk and has a pale, sticky texture, which gives the oil its resinous, balsamic character.
Its scent sits in an unusual place between a citrus oil and a resin. Terpenes such as limonene and alpha-phellandrene give the lemony, peppery freshness, while elemol adds a woody, balsamic depth. It is often compared to frankincense, with a brighter, more citrusy lift.
Benefits and Traditional Uses
The science: elemi is a traditional favourite in gentle facial oils and massage blends, and its fresh, resinous scent makes a skin care ritual feel special. Research into its effects on skin is limited, so enjoy it as part of a routine rather than expecting specific results.
How to use (the evening facial oil): add 1 to 3 drops of elemi to 15ml of a carrier oil such as rosehip or argan (up to about 1%), patch test, and smooth it over clean skin with gentle upward strokes, avoiding the eyes.
The science: elemi has a clean, lemony-resinous aroma that many people find clearing and steadying. Research into aromatherapy is limited, so think of it as a pleasant cue for a fresh start rather than a treatment.
How to use (the clear desk): diffuse 3 drops of elemi with 2 drops of Rosemary in a ventilated room for a 30 to 60 minute work session.
The science: with its bright citrus top and resin base, elemi gives rooms a warm, clean fragrance that works well through autumn and winter.
How to use (the cosy room): diffuse 3 drops of elemi with 2 drops of Frankincense and 1 drop of Bergamot, in short sessions in a ventilated space.
How to Use Elemi Essential Oil
| Method | Instructions | VivaForte tip |
|---|---|---|
| Diffusion | 3 to 4 drops in an ultrasonic diffuser, in short sessions in a ventilated room. | Pairs beautifully with bergamot, frankincense or myrrh. |
| Inhalation | 1 drop on a tissue or cotton ball kept nearby. | A quick scented pause before a busy task. |
| Topical | Maximum 1% dilution (about 3 drops per 15ml of carrier oil). | Patch test first and avoid the eyes and broken skin. |
| Skincare | 1 to 3 drops in 15ml of rosehip or argan oil for a nightly facial oil (0.3% to 1%). | Start at the lower end if your skin is sensitive. |
| Massage | 2 drops per 10ml of carrier oil for a neck and shoulder rub (about 1%). | Keep away from the face of young children. |
Elemi Safety Information
- Dilute and patch test. Use no more than 1% on the skin (about 3 drops per 15ml of carrier oil). Elemi may cause an allergic skin reaction in some people, so patch test first and stop using it if irritation occurs. Avoid sensitive or damaged skin.
- External and aromatic use only. Do not swallow essential oils.
- Pregnancy, breastfeeding and health conditions. Some guidance advises caution in pregnancy. Speak to a healthcare professional before use if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, have a medical condition or take medication.
- Children. Keep out of reach of children, and do not use on or near the face of babies or young children.
- Pets. Elemi is rich in citrus-type terpenes, which can be harmful to cats in particular. Ventilate the room, let animals leave freely, and do not apply it to them.
- Chemical profile. High in limonene and alpha-phellandrene, with elemol.
For general guidance on dilution, patch testing and sun safety, read our Essential Oil Safety guide.
History and Heritage
Elemi is the name given to a group of soft, aromatic resins from trees in the Canarium family, and the Philippine species Canarium luzonicum is the source of most elemi oil today. The tree is tapped, and the sticky resin that seeps from the bark is collected and distilled.
Elemi resin has traditionally been used in the places where it grows, and in Europe it was used in ointments and plasters in earlier centuries. It remains valued in perfumery and natural skin care, where its fresh, resinous scent is often compared to frankincense.
Elemi Essential Oil FAQs
Is elemi essential oil safe to use on the skin?
Yes, when diluted. Keep skin use to 1% or less (about 3 drops per 15ml of carrier oil), patch test first, avoid the eyes and broken skin, and stop if irritation occurs.
Can I use elemi oil during pregnancy?
Some guidance advises caution, so speak to a healthcare professional before using elemi if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. It is best to get personal advice for any essential oil in pregnancy.
Is elemi oil safe around pets?
Take care. Elemi contains citrus-type terpenes that can be harmful to cats in particular. Diffuse in a ventilated room, let animals leave freely, and never apply it to their skin or fur.
What does elemi smell like and what blends with it?
It smells fresh, lemony, peppery and softly balsamic. It blends well with Bergamot, Frankincense, Myrrh and Cedarwood.
How is elemi different from frankincense?
Both are resin oils with a clean, balsamic character. Elemi is brighter and more lemony, while frankincense is deeper, warmer and more incense-like. They blend well together.
Continue Exploring
- Frankincense: a deeper, warmer resin that echoes elemi’s balsamic notes.
- Myrrh: a rich, earthy resin that pairs well in skin care blends.
- Bergamot: a bright citrus partner for elemi’s lemony top notes.
- Essential Oil Safety: dilution, patch testing and sun safety explained.
- All Single Essential Oils: browse the full VivaForte botanical range.