The white fir tree conjures memories of wintry holidays, twinkling Christmas trees, and woodsy aromas swirling around the house. Beyond its nostalgic representation, this tree, with its deep roots and towering height symbolizes grounding, stability, and empowerment.
Whether used for aromatherapy or for topical purposes, white fir essential oil will promote healing, emotional strength, and clarity of both the airways and the mind.
What Is White Fir Essential Oil
White fir essential oil is extracted from the Abies concolor tree, which is native to the western regions of North America. The oil itself is derived from the tree’s needle-like leaves through the process of steam distillation.
Another name for white fir essential oil is silver spruce, silver fir, or fir needle oil. You might also see this essential oil go by the botanical name of Abies alba.
White fir oil offers numerous benefits that can be enjoyed aromatically or topically. This popular aromatherapy oil helps to boost a sense of stability and calmness. When used topically, white fir oil can help to ease muscle pain and relieve tension. It is however not safe for oral use.
If you are wondering what does white fir essential oil smell like, the oil has a strong sweet and woodsy aroma, making it a great choice for therapeutic medicine and healing routines.
How To Use White Fir Essential Oil For Respiratory Health
For years, native communities across North America and Europe have used white fir essential oil to alleviate respiratory tract problems including bronchitis, colds, coughs, and sore throat.
The mucolytic and decongestant properties of fir oil help to open airways, alleviate problems with sinuses and lungs and soothe nerve and muscle pain related to tuberculosis and other respiratory infections.
There are several ways you can use white fir essential oil for respiratory health. Two remedies that come to mind are as an allergy inhaler and steam bowl.
White Fir Essential Oil Inhaler Recipe
This remedy helps to ease respiratory inflammation and sinus blockage.
Ingredients
- 10 drops white fir essential oil
- 5 drops peppermint oil
- 5 drops laurel leaf oil
Method
Mix the essential oils in a small bowl and add to a blank inhaler. When needed, open the inhaler and breathe in the aroma.
Steam Bowl Recipe
From sore throats to flus, sinus congestion to inflammation, a steam bowl infused with white fir oil can help open up the airways and minimize the symptoms of respiratory inflammation.
Ingredient
- 2 cups of distilled water
- 1 drop white fir essential oil
Method
In a bowl of very hot water, add one drop of fir essential oil. Bring your head close to the bowl and cover with a towel. Inhale the woodsy steam for about 3-5 minute allowing it to penetrate deep into your nose, chest, and lungs.
How To Make White Fir Essential Oil At Home
Before we get to how you can make white fir essential oil at home, it is important to note that a lot goes into preparing safe, high-quality essential oils.
In addition to choosing the right plant variety, you should also select indigenously grown plants to ensure that you are using healthy plants, to begin with.
The plants should also be harvested at the right time. To preserve the oil molecules, premium essential oil needs to be extracted under the right temperature and pressure.
While you can make white fir essential oil at home, it might not be of the same quality as the trusted premium brands in the market.
Steam distillation is the best method for extracting fir oil but this DIY method uses the process of maceration where a carrier oil helps to extract the therapeutic elements from the fir plant.
That being said, here is a simple method for homemade fir essential oil:
Harvest the needless of your chosen fir tree. Be sure to only pick from newer trees to keep your essential oil fresh. Use warm water and mild soap to clean the impurities on the surface of the needles. Just place the needles in a bowl, swirl them around for a few minutes and rinse with clean water.
Dry the needles using a paper towel. Then, in small batches, crush the needles using a mortar and pestle. In a separate jar, pour ¼-cup carrier oil such as safflower, kernel, or almond oil, add the crushed needles, cover the jar, and shake to mix the oil with the needles.
Keep shaking the jar at least once for a week then store in a dark place at room temperature for up to 14 days without shaking.
After the 14-day storage period, bring the jar out, shake and pour the mixture through a strainer all the while squeezing the strainer to get as much fir essential oil out as possible. Store in a dark airtight container to preserve the oil for longer.
What Can I Use As A Substitute For White Fir Essential Oil
Some great substitutes for white fir essential oil include cypress, wintergreen, and arborvitae.
The cypress tree from which cypress essential oil is extracted bears some semblance to the white fir tree. Cypress oil, like fir oil, helps to heal the respiratory system, ease nerves, fight infections, and rid the body of toxins.
Another white fir substitute, wintergreen oil, is extracted from an evergreen plant that is botanically known as Gaultheria procumbens.
Wintergreen oil has a minty aroma, similar to that of white fir oil, and has been used for centuries to reduce pain, cure respiratory illness, and treat fatigue.
If you do not have white fir oil at hand, you can also use arborvitae oil, extracted from a coniferous tree, commonly referred to as The Tree Of Life. Arborvitae helps with swollen joints and muscles, flu, headache, and coughs.
What Blends Well With White Fir Essential Oil
One of the best qualities of fir oil is its versatility and ability to blends really nicely with a range of other oils. So, what blends well with white fir essential oil depends on your needs. For example, for relaxation, fir and lavender or frankincense makes a great combination.
Alternatively, you could blend fir oil with patchouli oil to ease anxiety and achieve grounding when you are feeling out of balance.
Bergamot combined with fir can also help to soothe the nerves and alleviate symptoms of anxiety and depression. To restore respiratory health, combine it with laurel leaf oil or peppermint oil
What Is The Best Most Effective Essential White Fir Oil
Few essential oil brands can guarantee that their oils are 100% pure, natural, and safe. After comparing several brands, our pick for the most effective essential white fir oil is the Therapeutic Grade Silver Fir Essential Oil by Edens Garden.
Summary
White fir tree serves more than a decorative purpose. Premium essential oil extracted from the fir tree offers such wonderful healing and relaxing benefits. Add white fir essential oil to your bath water, rub on sore muscles, or spritz around the house to heal your body and soothe your mind.