Fir Needle (Siberian) Essential Oil

About The Plant

Abies siberica is a relatively small coniferous evergreen tree which grows in Austria, Eastern France, Germany, Poland, Russia, and Canada. The Siberian Fir is native to China. Mongolia, Eastern Russia and what is now the region straddling Iran and Afghanistan. The tree is planted in many European countries for lumber, wood pulp and for Christmas trees.

About The Oil

This very fluid, clear essential oil is steam distilled from the needles of organically grown Siberian Fir trees. Considered one of the most popular fir needle oils in Europe, the aroma brings immediate memories of Christmas, as Fir trees are often grown as Christmas trees.

The aroma is bright and uplifting, yet also grounding, as evergreen needle oils tend to be. This oil has that rich and wonderful classic, brilliant Fir Needle aroma also found in Balsam Fir, but at a much lower cost.

Of Interest

Fir pine trees exude a resin called fir balsam. This was used by North American Indians for medicinal and religious purposes.

THERAPEUTICS DESCRIBED BY AROMATHERAPY SPECIALISTS

From Salvatore Battaglia’s The Complete Guide to Aromatherapy¹:

Analgesic
Antiseptic
Expectorant
Deodorant
Rubefacient
Stimulant
Strengthens the mind
Brings spiritual clarity & unity.
Elevating & grounding

From Jeanne Rose’s The Aromatherapy Book: Applications and Inhalations²:

Wonderfully refreshing – like a forest after a rain
Lovely way to scent the house during the winter holiday season
Warming
Gentle nervous system tonic
Mildly sedating

PROPERTIES OF SIBERIAN FIR REPORTED IN PEER-REVIEWED RESEARCH

Siberian fir has many therapeutic properties due to its high concentration of bornyl acetate and camphene.

Decreases arousal³
Analgesic⁴
Anti-cancer⁵
Anti-inflammatory^4,6,7
Antioxidant⁸
Anti-diabetic⁹

SUMMARY OF RESEARCH STUDIES

A study on subjects asked to perform a task displayed on a computer monitor found that inhaling Siberian fir essential oil caused lowered heart rate and decreased arousal following the task.³
Bornyl acetate exhibited both anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving activities in mice.⁴
"Bornyl acetate significantly inhibited the growth of human breast adenocarcinoma cancer cells in vitro."⁵
Bornyl acetate was shown to significantly reduce lung inflammatory responses in mice and may be useful "as a preventive agent for lung inflammatory diseases."⁶
Bornyl acetate had a significant effect on increasing natural human anti-inflammatory modulators in vitro. The researchers propose that these results "suggest the therapeutic potentials of bornyl acetate in patients with [osteoarthritis]".⁷
Camphene and geraniol were found to protect against oxidative stress in vitro. According to the researchers, these results "indicate the pharmacological potential of these phytochemicals in lung inflammatory diseases where oxidative stress is a critical control point."⁸
A study on mice found that camphene added to the diet prevented fatty liver disease and protected against insulin resistance.⁹

INHALATION

Direct inhalation, diffuser, oil vaporizer, steam inhalation

This oil has a bright, piney top note with a slightly sweet menthol and honeyed middle note and balsamic, resinous undertones.

Siberian Fir Needle Essential Oil blends well with: Pine oil, Cedarwood oil, Lavender oil, Frankincense oil, Lemon oil, Blue Chamomile oil, Myrtle oil, Galbanum, Benzoin, Lavandin, Rosemary.

For accurately measuring oils, see our Drops per mL page.

Generally non-toxic, non-irritant and non-sensitizing. Always test a small amount first for sensitivity or allergic reaction.

If pregnant or under a doctor's care, consult your physician.

1. Battaglia, Salvatore. The Complete Guide to Aromatherapy. International Centre of Holystic Aromatherapy, 2003.

2. Rose, Jeanne. The Aromatherapy Book: Applications & Inhalations. North Atlantic Books, 2013.

3. Matsubara, Eri, et al. “The Essential Oil of Abies Sibirica (Pinaceae) Reduces Arousal Levels after Visual Display Terminal Work.” Flavour and Fragrance Journal, vol. 26, no. 3, 2011, pp. 204–210., doi:10.1002/ffj.2056.

4. Wu, Xiaosong, et al. “Studies on the Analgesic and Anti-Inflammatory Effect of Bornyl Acetate in Volatile Oil from Amomum Villosum.” Journal of Chinese Medicinal Materials, vol. 27, no. 6, 1 June 2004, pp. 438–439.

5. Karan, Tunay, et al. “Inhibition of Various Cancer Cells Proliferation of Bornyl Acetate and Essential Oil from Inula Graveolens (Linnaeus) Desf.” Records of Natural Products, vol. 12, no. 3, 2018, pp. 273–283., doi:10.25135/rnp.30.17.09.057.

6. Chen, Na, et al. “Inhibition of Lung Inflammatory Responses by Bornyl Acetate Is Correlated with Regulation of Myeloperoxidase Activity.” Journal of Surgical Research, vol. 186, no. 1, Jan. 2014, pp. 436–445., doi:10.1016/j.jss.2013.09.003.

7. Yang, He, et al. “Bornyl Acetate Has an Anti-Inflammatory Effect in Human Chondrocytes via Induction of IL-11.” IUBMB Life, vol. 66, no. 12, Dec. 2014, pp. 854–859., doi:10.1002/iub.1338.

8. Tiwari, M., and P. Kakkar. “Plant Derived Antioxidants – Geraniol and Camphene Protect Rat Alveolar Macrophages against t-BHP Induced Oxidative Stress.” Toxicology in Vitro, vol. 23, no. 2, Mar. 2009, pp. 295–301., doi:10.1016/j.tiv.2008.12.014.

9. Kim, Sohee, et al. “Dietary Camphene Attenuates Hepatic Steatosis and Insulin Resistance in Mice.” Obesity, vol. 22, no. 2, Feb. 2014, pp. 408–417., doi:10.1002/oby.20554.