Fennel

Foeniculum vulgare                                                                 Middle note

Sweet fennel comes from the unbellifer family of plants, and the essential oil is obtained by crushing the seeds.  Sweet fennel essential oil has a fresh, sweet scent with a clear aniseed note.  It is important to ensure that bitter fennel oil is not used instead, as this should not be applied to the skin.

Like other umbellifers used in herbal medicine and aromatherapy, fennel is particularly noted for its balancing effect on the digestion, used variously for poor appetite, digestive upsets, and obesity.  Applied externally diluted in carrier oil, the essential oil is invaluable for massage of areas of cellulite, and can also combat fluid retention and in general help the tissues to expel toxins.  This oil is best in the short term – up to two weeks at a time.