If you love discovering new essential oils to add to your collection, you’re going to love this list. Revive Essential Oils carries some incredible, rare oils that don’t often get the spotlight they deserve. Today, I’m sharing 10 of their lesser-known essential oils you may have never heard of — plus 3 easy ways to start using each one. Here is 11 Rare Essential Oils & Their Amazing Benefits.

11 Rare Essential Oils & Their Amazing Benefits

1. Sea Fennel (Crithmum maritimum)

Pronunciation: see feh-nuhl
Aroma: Fresh, salty, herbaceous, and slightly citrusy.

Uses:

• Skin Serum: Add 1–2 drops to your favorite face oil or moisturizer for a rejuvenating boost.

• Body Scrub: Mix 2–3 drops into a sugar scrub for an antioxidant-rich body exfoliator.

• Bath Soak: Add a few drops to Epsom salts and dissolve into a warm bath for skin and stress support.

History:
Sea fennel, also known as “rock samphire,” was prized in ancient Greece for its culinary and medicinal benefits, especially for promoting skin health and digestion.

2. Arborvitae (Thuja plicata)

Pronunciation: ar-bor-VY-tee
Aroma: Warm, woody, earthy, with slightly sweet undertones.

Uses:

• Bug Spray: Add 10 drops to a 2-ounce spray bottle with water and witch hazel for a natural insect repellent.

• Wood Polish: Blend a few drops into olive oil to polish and protect wood surfaces naturally.

• Grounding Diffuser Blend: Combine with frankincense and cedarwood for a centering, earthy diffuser blend.

History:
Arborvitae, meaning “Tree of Life,” was revered by Native American tribes for its medicinal properties, including respiratory support and wood preservation.

3. Catnip (Nepeta cataria)

Pronunciation: kat-nip
Aroma: Green, herbaceous, and slightly minty.

Uses:

• Outdoor Spray: Mix 15 drops with water and witch hazel for a skin-safe bug repellent.

• Calming Diffuser Blend: Diffuse with lavender to create a relaxing atmosphere.

• Pet Protection: Use diluted in a spray (away from cats!) around doorways to help deter pests.

History:
Catnip has been used since Roman times for teas and remedies for colds and digestive issues, long before it was famous for its effect on cats.

4. Dill (Anethum graveolens)

Pronunciation: dil
Aroma: Fresh, herbaceous, slightly sweet, and reminiscent of pickles.

Uses:

• Digestive Massage Oil: Add 3 drops to 1 tablespoon of carrier oil and massage onto the abdomen after meals.

• Diffuser Blend: Diffuse with lemon or peppermint to freshen your kitchen after cooking.

• Calm Nerves: Inhale directly from the bottle when feeling overwhelmed.

History:
Dill was highly valued in ancient Egypt and Greece, both as a culinary herb and for its calming properties, often used to soothe digestion and ease tension.

5. Lantana (Lantana camara)

Pronunciation: lan-TAH-nuh
Aroma: Fresh, sharp, herbal, slightly floral and earthy.

Uses:

• Steam Inhalation: Add 1–2 drops to a bowl of hot water, cover your head with a towel, and inhale to support respiratory health.

• Massage Blend: Combine with eucalyptus and a carrier oil to soothe tired muscles.

• Air Freshener: Add to a spray bottle with water for a clean, herbal room spray.

History:
Native to tropical regions of the Americas, lantana was traditionally used in folk medicine for treating respiratory ailments and skin irritations.

6. Leleshwa (Tarchonanthus camphoratus)

Pronunciation: leh-LESH-wah
Aroma: Camphorous, crisp, slightly sweet, and herbal.

Uses:

• Room Spray: Blend with lemon and peppermint essential oils for a natural antibacterial home spray.

• Skin Cleansing Oil: Dilute and apply to problem skin areas for its antimicrobial properties.

• Purifying Diffuser Blend: Diffuse to cleanse the air and create a fresh environment.

History:
Leleshwa, often called “African Wild Sage,” has been used by the Maasai people of Kenya for centuries for wound care, skin cleansing, and purification rituals.

7. Niaouli (Melaleuca quinquenervia)

Pronunciation: nee-OW-lee
Aroma: Fresh, medicinal, slightly sweet, and camphorous.

Uses:

• Respiratory Support: Diffuse with eucalyptus and rosemary when you’re feeling congested.

• Skin Cleanser: Add a drop to your facial cleanser for purifying and clarifying skin support.

• Immune Boost: Create a chest rub by blending with carrier oil and massaging into the chest during seasonal changes.

History:
Closely related to tea tree oil, niaouli was traditionally used by Aboriginal Australians for wound healing, respiratory support, and cleansing purposes.

8. Nootka (Cupressus nootkatensis)

Pronunciation: NOOT-kuh
Aroma: Woody, smoky, slightly peppery, and resinous.

Uses:

• Furniture Protection: Add a few drops to wood oils to preserve and protect wood furniture.

• Grounding Diffuser Blend: Pair with cedarwood and sandalwood for a deeply grounding blend.

• Natural Deodorizer: Blend with citrus oils and diffuse to freshen a room naturally.

History:
The Nootka cypress tree is native to the Pacific Northwest and was used by Indigenous peoples for building canoes, homes, and tools, valued for its durable and aromatic wood.

9. Plai (Zingiber cassumunar)

Pronunciation: ply
Aroma: Fresh, spicy, warm, slightly peppery with a cool finish.

Uses:

• Muscle Balm: Blend with a carrier oil and apply to sore areas after exercise.

• Joint Support: Create a massage blend with plai and black pepper essential oil for joint care.

• Relieving Bath: Add a few drops to Epsom salts for a restorative, muscle-soothing bath.

History:
Plai, a relative of ginger, has been used for centuries in Thai herbal medicine for its cooling effects on inflamed joints and muscles.

10. Yuzu (Citrus junos)

Pronunciation: YOO-zoo
Aroma: Bright, zesty, sweet, and tangy with floral notes.

Uses:

• Mood Boosting Diffuser Blend: Combine with bergamot and peppermint for an energizing atmosphere.

• Uplifting Roller Bottle: Add to a 10 ml roller with fractionated coconut oil and apply to wrists.

• Bath Ritual: Add to a warm bath for stress relief and an instant mood lift.

History:
Yuzu is a citrus fruit native to East Asia, traditionally used in Japan in “yuzuyu” — a winter solstice bath to ward off colds and promote relaxation.

Bonus: Priprioca (Cyperus articulatus)

Pronunciation: pree-pree-OH-kuh
Aroma: Earthy, woody, slightly spicy, with subtle sweetness.

Uses:

• Natural Perfume Base: Use as a base note in DIY perfumes for a sensual, grounding effect.

• Meditation Diffuser Blend: Diffuse alone or with frankincense to deepen meditation practices.

• Beard Oil Additive: Add a drop to beard oils for a warm, woodsy scent.

History:
Priprioca is an aromatic root native to the Amazon rainforest, historically used by Indigenous tribes both for its unique scent and as a ritual purification plant.

Final Thoughts

Exploring lesser-known oils like Leleshwa, Nootka, and Priprioca opens up new possibilities for wellness, home care, and beauty DIYs. Always remember to check dilution guidelines, and when trying new oils on your skin, do a patch test first. You might just find a new favorite hidden gem.

Which oil on this list are you most excited to try?

Essential Oil Brands We Approve Of

• EDEN’S GARDEN: A beautiful brand with the BEST blends called their synergies. Candles, who?
• FERN AND PETAL: A small, simple and beautiful company that is doing all the right things from sourcing to education
• MOUNTAIN ROSE HERBS: A rustic organic brand with lots of other goods & products like teas etc
• PLANT THERAPY: Checks all the boxes + has tons of products like candles, hydrosols, supplements, skincare and more.
• REVIVE: The best prices + has exact dupes from the big brands
• ROCKY MOUNTAIN OILS:  Lovely brand with lots of DIY/usage videos on their socials
• SIMPLY EARTH: The one for DIY lovers & subscription box lovers. An abundance of education and support.

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Disclaimer: 

Essential oils can be potent and may interact with certain medications or cause allergic reactions. It’s essential to consult with an Aromatherapist before using essential oils, especially if you have any pre-existing health conditions or are pregnant or breastfeeding.

As a Certified Aromatherapist I’m here to help!  Schedule a consultation with me email me at hello@toreynoora.com