dōTERRA Spikenard Essential Oil - 5ml
dōTERRA Spikenard Essential Oil - 5ml
Spikenard is steam distilled from the rhizome — the underground stem, not the root hairs — of a flowering plant that grows at high altitude in the Himalayas. doTERRA sources it from Nepal, where harvesting is wild rather than farmed and closely regulated, since the plant is classed as endangered in the wild.
The aroma is deep, earthy and woody with a warm, musty, root-like character, closer to an old apothecary cabinet than anything floral or fresh. It has been prized in perfumery for centuries for exactly this heavy, grounding quality, and it reads as a base note rather than something that ever sits at the front of a blend.
Because it's both concentrated and comparatively rare, people use it sparingly — a single drop stirred into a blend of woods and resins such as Frankincense, Myrrh or Cedarwood, rather than diffused on its own. A little genuinely goes a long way, so a 5ml bottle lasts far longer than the size suggests.
Why people choose it
- Deep, earthy and musty-woody aroma with a warm, root-like base note
- Steam distilled from the rhizome of a high-altitude Himalayan plant
- Wild harvested in Nepal under regulated conservation limits
- A traditional perfumery ingredient prized for centuries for its grounding character
- Pairs well with Frankincense, Myrrh, Cedarwood and Vetiver in evening blends
How it smells
Deep, earthy and musty-woody, with a warm root-like base note quite different from the greener or more floral oils on the shelf.
How to use it
- In a diffuser
- One drop is usually plenty, blended into a woody or resinous base rather than diffused on its own.
- On skin
- Dilute well and apply to the wrists or the soles of the feet, where a heavier base note is often preferred.
- Dilution
- One drop of Spikenard to three or four drops of fractionated coconut oil for topical use.
- Worth knowing
- A little goes a long way — it's a concentrated, strong-smelling oil, so most people use it as an accent rather than the main note in a blend.
Details
- Botanical name
- Nardostachys jatamansi
- Plant part
- Rhizome
- Extraction
- Steam distillation
- Key compounds
- Calarene, Valeranone
- Size
- 5 ml
Safety
Possible skin sensitivity. Keep out of reach of children. If you are pregnant, nursing or under a doctor's care, speak to your practitioner before use. Avoid contact with eyes, inner ears and sensitive areas. Dilute with a carrier oil for topical use.
This information is for general use and is not medical advice. If you have a health condition, are pregnant or nursing, speak to your GP, midwife or pharmacist.
Blends well with
Common questions
What does Spikenard actually smell like?
Deep, earthy and woody with a warm, musty, root-like character — closer to an old apothecary cabinet than anything floral or fresh.
Why is Spikenard more expensive than other 5ml oils?
It's steam distilled from the rhizome of a slow-growing Himalayan plant that's wild harvested under strict conservation limits in Nepal, so supply is naturally limited.
What does it blend well with?
Woods and resins such as Frankincense, Myrrh, Cedarwood and Vetiver — Spikenard adds a deep base note underneath lighter oils.
How many drops should I use in a diffuser?
Start with one. It's a strong, concentrated aroma and easily dominates a blend if you add more.
Does a 5ml bottle last, given how little is used per blend?
Yes — because so little is needed per use, a 5ml bottle typically lasts a long time even with regular use.