Black Pepper 

Botanical Name: Piper Nigrum

Botany and Origins: Black Pepper is a fruit from the Piperaceae family, also known as the pepper family, and is a flowering vine which has been traded & prized for centuries. It grows to about 5m. The unripe green fruit peppers are picked and sun dried until they turn brown, then crushed and steam distilled. Mature fruits however are used for dried white pepper for culinary use. The pungency of black pepper is due to the presence of resins and a crystalline alkaloid called piperine. The main producers are India, Indonesia and Malaysia, cultivated in these areas for over 2000 years. 

History: Esteemed as a spice in India since time immemorial, Black Pepper influenced trade, world exploration and was accepted as a curency in the middle ages. The essential oil was developed in the middle ages by the Arabs, first to recognise its therapeutic potential, and also used it to preserve food and as a fragrance. 

Method of Extraction: Steam distilled

Plant Part: Berries

Aromatic Scent: Warm, woody, spicy, green and slightly floral. Often described as the scent of strength and fortitude.

Fragrance Note: Middle

Blending: This rich essential oil blends well with Citrus notes, Clary Sage, Clove, Fennel, Frankincense, Ginger, Juniper, Lavender, Rose Geranium, Sage, Sandalwood and Ylang-Ylang.

Aromatic blending is a combination of creativity and science. Essential oils will evaporate at different rates because of their molecular compositions. Oils that evaporate the quickest, usually within 1-2 hours, are called top notes. Oils that evaporate within 2-4 hours are considered middle notes and oils that take the longest time to evaporate - up to a few days - are referred to as base notes. Each of our oils have the fragrance 'Note' listed on the bottle. We recommend the following formula in creating your personal blend: Top note: 2-3 drops; Middle note: 4-8 drops; Base note: 1-3 drops. 

We can feel a little different each day, so follow your nose and intuition when blending for your personal preference. 

Use: 2-3 drops in diffuser, full body bath, foot bath or diluted in 10ml carrier oil for massage. A few drops in cooking.

Plant Compounds: Rich in monoterpene hydrocarbons and sesquiterpene hydrocarbons: a-pinene, camphene, B-pinene, δ-3-carene, limonene, y-terpinene, p-cymene, terpinolene, δ-elemene, a-copaene, B-elemene, B caryophyllene, a-humelene, δ-cadinene, caryophyllene oxide. 

These are beneficial natural plant compounds and they differ between each essential oil, giving each oil its distinct natural properties.

Note: Australian Body essential oils are 100% pure & natural and are stringently tested for purity. Please consult a qualified practitioner for specific advice on the use of this 100% pure essential oil.