Botanical Name: Pinus banksiana
Country of Origin: Canada
Extraction Method: Steam distilled
Shelf Life: 2-3 years
Plant Part: Branches/needles
Strength of Aroma: Medium
Aromatic scent: Fresh, sweetly fruity, intensely “green,” grassy, woody scent.
Blends Well With: Aniseed, Blue Cypress, Laurel Leaf, Lavender, Lemon, Pink Grapefruit, Rose Absolute, and Rosemary.
Cautions: None known.
KidSafe®: No (Although most conifer oils are child safe, this is a relatively unusual oil. Therefore, due to a lack of definitive information in the available literature, we can’t *yet* give this oil our KidSafe® stamp).
Background of Jack Pine
Jack Pine, also known as grey pine or scrub pine, is native to eastern Canada and the north-central/northeastern United States. This fast-growing conifer tree ranges from 30-72 feet tall. Jack Pine is the most common tree to quickly re-populate barren ground in a forest; the reason for this is that until a forest fire destroys the mature tree, Jack Pine’s seed cones remain tightly closed. Once the tree is dead, the cones open and release their seeds into the burned ground, quickly resulting in re-growth.
Jack Pine is widely used in the timber industry for lumber and wood pulp. Native people of the area have long used Jack Pine as medicine; the bark, resin, tar, oil, and leaves are all parts of the tree used in traditional remedies.
As with most pine oils, Jack Pine brings an “opening” sensation to the chest, allowing for deeper breathing. What’s unique, though, about Jack Pine is the complexity of its minor constituents. When he evaluated this oil for us, essential oil expert Robert Tisserand stated that “hexanal and cis-3-hexanol are intensely ‘green’ odorants, both smelling of fresh-cut grass. The esters, such as bornyl acetate, myrtenyl acetate, and terpinyl acetate conspire with the grassy odorants to lend a sweet fruitiness not seen in other pine oils”.
Because of these minor constituents, Jack Pine has refreshing and mood-uplifting properties; it can create a “clear” environment in the mind, pushing out cluttered thoughts and leaving one calmer.
Here are several recipes submitted by the Safe Essential Oil Recipe Facebook group’s members and admins during the month of April. Enjoy!
Calming Diffuser Blend
- 4 drops Jack Pine
- 2 drops Frankincense Carteri
- 2 drops Fragonia
Refreshing Chest Balm
- 1 oz of Beeswax Pearls
- 1 oz of Shea butter
- 16 drops Lemon
- 1 oz of solid coconut oil
- 32 drops Jack Pine
- 16 drops Blue Cyprus
Melt beeswax in a microwave or double boiler; then add coconut oil and finally the Shea butter, stirring the three together. When slightly cooled but still liquid, add the essential oils and stir to combine. Pour into small jars and cap immediately; let cool for several hours until firm. Apply to the chest area so the vapors can be easily inhaled.
Uplifting Energy Diffuser Blend
- 3 drops Jack Pine
- 2 drops Lemon
- 2 drops Laurel Leaf
Revitalizing Diffuser Blend
- 3 drops Jack Pine
- 2 drops Pink Grapefruit
- 1 drop Rosemary
Clear Breathing Steam Blend
*This is a master blend. Take 2 drops of the master blend and add to a bowl of steaming water–hot, but not boiling–and lean over the bowl, covering your head with a towel. Close your eyes and breathe in the vapors for 5-8 minutes. Take care not to burn yourself! This method is not suitable for small children.
This blend helps ease a congested head and breathing from common seasonal afflictions.
What do you think of these recipes? Let us know what blends you’d make with Jack Pine—we’d love to hear from you!
If you have specific questions, we are happy to consult with you, free of charge. Please e-mail us at aromatherapist@planttherapy.com. When doing so, please include any relevant medical information like diagnosed medical issues and medications you may be taking and allergies, as well as letting us know what your goals are for using aromatherapy and essential oils. This gives us the ability to recommend the best course of action for you and your family. We look forward to hearing from you!
You can also join our fun Facebook group over at Safe Essential Oil Recipes!
