Types of Pine Essential Oils and Their Benefits and Uses

You can find many types of pine essential oils on the market, although the most common in aromatherapy is scotch (scots) pine. This article looks at two others you're likely to see, piñon (pinyon) pine and white pine, and mentions other available pines.

Basic Pine Facts

Plant family: Pinaceae

Production: Most pine essential oils are steam distilled from the needles and sometimes twigs/small branches of the tree.

Aroma: Generally coniferous and woody, but each pine has its own distinct scent.

Perfume/Aromatic note: Middle to top, depending on the type of pine.

Cautions: All pine oils have the potential to cause skin irritation if used in high dosage or if old and oxidized.

Consult a professional about using any of the pine oils during pregnancy/breastfeeding or with young children.

Piñon (Pinyon) Pine

The main components of piñon pine (Pinus edulis) are alpha-pinene and beta-pinene, according to Aromaweb. The oil is a top note with a fresh, coniferous, crisp, and woody aroma.

Pinyon pine has an affinity for the respiratory system, according to Aromatherapy Companion. The oil expands breathing and helps relieve conditions such as asthma, bronchitis, catarrh, cough, sinusitis, sore throat, and allergies. Use pinyon in a personal inhaler, steam inhalation, or chest salve.

This essential oil also has an affinity for the musculoskeletal system and helps relieve muscle aches and pain, arthritis, rheumatism, and joint pain. For the psyche and emotions, the oil helps relieve nervous exhaustion, depression, and both physical and mental fatigue.

The Heart of Aromatherapy also notes that piñon pine supports the respiratory system. The oil soothes allergies and sinus congestion, clears mucous and congestion, calms inflammation, and helps relieve sore throat, coughs, headaches. This oil also helps you feel inspired, uplifted, and motivated.

Uplifting Diffuser Blend

• 3 drops piñon pine
• 3 drops juniper essential oil
• 3 drops lemon essential oil

Relieve Body Aches

Use this oil on your body to ease aches and pains caused by respiratory discomfort.

• 1 ounce (30ml or 2 tablespoons) trauma oil
• 5 drops myrrh essential oil
• 5 drops black spruce essential oil
• 3 drops piñon pine essential oil
• 2 drops basil ct. linalool essential oil

More About Pinyon Pine

In "3 Essential Oils to Explore in 2016" (Aromatherapy Thymes, Spring 2016, p. 40), aromatherapist Jade Shutes calls the oil refreshing, relaxing, uplifting, and cleansing. Here are two blends adapted from her article.

Chest Salve

• 1/4 cup carrier oil of choice
• 1/4 ounce beeswax
• 20 drops piñon pine
• 16 drops laurel (Laurus nobilis) essential oil
• 12 drops lemon essential oil
• 10 drops thyme ct. linalol essential oil
• 8-ounce dark color glass jar

1. Melt the beeswax in a double boiler over low heat.
2. Remove from heat and stir in carrier oil.
3. Blend in carrier oils.
4. Pour mixture into jar and let cool.

Immunity-Supporting Salt Scrub

• 1 cup fine sea salt
• 1/2 – 3/4 cup sesame or jojoba oil
• 7 drops piñon pine
• 5 drops green myrtle (Myrtus communis) essential oil
• 5 drops lemon essential oil
• 2 drops niaouli (Melaleuca quinquenervia) essential oil

Stir together sea salt and oil. Drop in the essential oils and stir well. Use as a body scrub. Do not use on face.

White Pine Essential Oil

The major components of white pine essential oil (Pinus strobus) are alpha-pinene, beta-pinene, and beta myrcene, according to Essential Oil Safety, 2nd Edition.

This essential oil has a fresh, crisp, evergreen, woodsy scent, according to Aromatics. The aroma helps unwind both physical and emotional tension. Use white pine to ease body aches, breathe more comfortably, and support restorative sleep. Two suggested uses:

• To fall sleep when you’re sniffling, use a white pine oil inhaler. (Common recommendation for adults is 10 to 15 drops essential oil on the aromatherapy inhaler wick.)
• To relieve soreness and comfort achy muscles, make a bath salt using 3 drops white pine in 1 tablespoon of carrier oil blended into 1/2 to 1 cup of sea or Epsom salt. Stir blend into a warm bath and soak for 15 to 20 minutes.

White pine oil has uplifting and invigorating effects that help ease stress, encourage a positive mood, and prevent fatigue, according to The Essential Oil Company. The oil can clear the mind and enhance concentration, making it beneficial for meditation and other spiritual practices.

Suggested uses:

• To soothe coughs and prevent fatigue: Diffuse 3 drops each of white pine, peppermint, and lemon essential oils. You can also diffuse white pine for general respiratory support.
• To uplift your mood and enhance focus: Combine 10 drops white pine essential oil with a carrier oil in a 10ml roller bottle. Dab the blend on your wrists and temples as needed.
• To relieve sore muscles and joints: Dilute white pine with a carrier oil to a 5% ratio (30 drops essential oil in 2 tablespoons carrier oil). Gently massage sore muscles and joints. (If you have sensitive skin, add more carrier oil to further dilute the blend. Skin patch test recommended.)

White Pine Skin and Hair Benefits

White pine also has skin and hair/scalp benefits, according to The Essential Oil Company. Purported skin benefits:

• Stimulates circulation and promotes regeneration of skin cells, which helps reduce pain and support healing of minor cuts, burns, burns, and other abrasions.
• Soothes skin conditions that cause dryness, itchiness, and inflammation, such as eczema and psoriasis.
• Reduces appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, and other signs of aging.

Purported hair benefits:

• Moisturizes.
• Helps get rid of bacteria and prevent inflammation and itchiness
• Cleanses the scalp and hair of excess dead skin, product, and oil build-up that can contribute to dandruff or dry scalp

No-More-Flakes Moisturizing Scalp Oil

• 2 tablespoons jojoba oil
• 2 tablespoons sweet almond oil
• 8 drops white pine essential oil
• 8 drops rosemary essential oil
• 6 drops roman chamomile essential oil
• 2-ounce dark-color bottle with dropper

Add all ingredients to the bottle. Shake to blend. Massage a few drops into your scalp, focusing on dry areas. Let sit for 15 to 30 minutes. Shampoo and condition as usual.

White Pine for Cleaning

White pine cleans, sanitizes, and deodorizes surfaces and freshens the air.

Forest Diffuser Air-Freshening Blend

This blend is for a 200ml ultrasonic diffuser. Adjust the amount based on your diffuser size and instructions.

• 4 drops white pine
• 2 drops fir needle essential oil
• 2 drops peppermint essential oil
• 2 drops eucalyptus essential oil

Floor Cleaner Concentrate

• 1/2 cup distilled water
• 1/3 cup distilled white vinegar
• 4 tablespoons unscented liquid castile soap
• 20 drops white pine essential oil
• 20 drops lemon essential oil
• 16-ounce dark-color glass bottle

Add all ingredients to a large bowl and stir to combine. Pour the mixture into the bottle for storage.

To use: Add 1/2 cup of the concentrate to a gallon of warm water and use to mop floors.

Source: The Essential Oil Company

Shower Cleaner

Make this essential oil shower cleaner in a 4-ounce (120 ml) spray bottle. Spray the cleaner directly on your tile, and then use a scrubby sponge. Spot-test this blend first to be sure it doesn't stain or otherwise harm your tile and grout.

• 4 ounces (120 ml or 1/2 cup) castile soap
• 1 teaspoon white vinegar
• 30 drops white pine essential oil
• 10 drops lemon essential oil

Source: Aromahead

Energetic Benefits of White Pine

White pine stimulates the third (solar plexus) and fourth (heart) chakras, according to Divine Archetypes, and vibrates trust, self-love, and self-forgiveness. 

Energetically, the oil helps restore the heart when your emotions have hardened, releasing you from old wounds and letting you move forward and experience your emotions in the present, rather than play out echoes from the past. This shift nourishes and replenishes your emotional body, bringing growth, inner peace, a strong sense of well-being, and the ability to engage in loving relationships.

Other Pine Essential Oils

Other pine essential oils include:

Longleaf (Pinus palastris) is useful improving circulation and relieving muscle and joint issues such as arthritis, aches and pains, rheumatism, and stiffness, according to The Encyclopedia of Essential Oils (updated edition). The oil also has respiratory benefits, similar to other pine oils. 

Black (Pinus nigra)
Major components: 1-epi-bicyclosesquiphellandrene, alpha-pinene, beta-caryophyllene

Dwarf (or mountain) (Pinus mugo)
Major components: terpinolene, beta-pinene, beta-phellandrene

Grey (or jack) (Pinus divaricata)
Major components: alpha-pinene, beta-pinene, delta-3-carene, bornyl acetate, camphene

Norway (or red) (Pinus resinosa)
Major components: alpha-pinene, beta-pinene, delta-3-carene, beta myrcene

Ponderosa (Pinus ponderosa)
Major components: beta-pinene, estragole, delta-3-carene

Component source: Essential Oil Safety, 2nd Edition

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Photo Credit: Pinus edulis by Kenraiz, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons