Episode 241: The Beautiful Blooming Trio

For centuries, motherhood has been associated with springtime and plants because springtime and plants are seen as symbols of life and fertility. Additionally, we also associate flowers with our mothers because they stand as symbols of beauty and purity. And to honor that association we’ve brought together three of the most beautiful floral essential oils.

Welcome back to Essential Oil Solutions with doTERRA, the podcast where you'll hear exciting, useful, and simple everyday uses for essential oils from experts in the field.

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Today we’re going to talk about the special Mother’s Day offer, the Blooming Trio which contains Jasmine, Neroli, and Geranium.

Today we’re going to talk about some internal historical uses for some of these plants, but we want to remind you that not all of these oils are for internal use and should only be used aromatically or topically. Any internal benefits discussed for the individual oils in the blend are not applicable to aromatic or topical use. Also, various plant parts, such as the leaves, bark, flower, stem, fruit, peel, bud, resin, etc., were often used for many different practices and benefits throughout history. These historical uses are mentioned here to offer insight as we explore the history of oils and plants. As such, these ancient uses are solely for informational purposes, and are not being advocated or recommended by doTERRA. Proceed at your own risk with such uses.

Jasmine

For thousands of years, jasmine has been cultivated for its euphoric fragrance and used in many different forms. It was actually one of the first plants in the world that began to be cultivated specifically for its scent. The word jasmine derives from the Persian “yasameen”, meaning “gift from God”.

Jasmine has also sometimes been referred to as “Queen of the Night”, both because it blooms at night, and because the luscious fragrance is thought to inspire an air of romance and love. Jasmine’s meaning varies by location and culture, but the symbolism of love and beauty appears again and again. Another meaning, that shows up because of its small, white flowers, is jasmine’s association with purity and modesty.

In Thailand jasmine represents motherhood and is used as a symbol of love and respect. A symbolism that is also found in the Philippines where dignitaries are often presented with jasmine wreaths as a sign of respect and honor.

In Ancient Egypt, jasmine flowers were added to luxurious hot baths. In true Egyptian style, they provided their dead with similar luxuries, and jasmine was one of the many flowers used to decorate mummies and tombs and was also hung around the neck of statues.

Jasmine is also commonly used in Hindu rituals across India where women will often wear it in their hair as a symbol of good fortune.

In Italy during the Renaissance the white jasmine flowers became associated with the purity of Mary. Because of this association jasmine flowers show up in many Christian religious paintings.

Jasmine has a history of being incredibly popular in China. Starting in the 7th century AD, the upper class frequently wore jasmine as perfume. And jasmine tea was first documented during the Song Dynasty which was 960 to 1279 BC and at that time, jasmine tea was reserved for royalty.

In addition to being prized for its scent and symbolism, jasmine also has a long history of use in wellness practices. It shows up frequently in traditional Ayurvedic practices as well as traditional Chinese practices. It’s an oil we are lucky to have.

Neroli

It’s hard to describe the scent of neroli until you have the opportunity to experience it for yourself. It’s fresh and floral with hints of citrus and honey and can completely envelope you as you breath it in. It’s a scent that can be traced back for centuries, Neroli has found popularity in ancient and modern cultures around the globe.

Neroli oil comes from the blossoms of the bitter orange tree but it’s not the only gift the tree gives us. Distilling the leaves and twigs of the tree is what produces Petitgrain essential oil.

Ancient Egyptian priests and priestesses used Neroli oil in their houses of worship, much like incense is used in churches today. In certain cultures, it is thought that the aroma of neroli is able to promote an air of tranquility and love. As a result, it has deep associations with romance, and perhaps the most notable example is its symbolic use in weddings. In Ancient China, neroli was also a symbol of purity, innocence, and fertility, and brides would use the blossoms in their bridal bouquets. Because of this tradition, the expression “to gather orange blossoms” would eventually come to mean “to seek a wife.”

The name “Neroli” is widely believed to have come from a small Italian city near Rome, and the 17th century royalty who lived there. Princess Anna Maria de la Tremoille of Nerola, Italy fell in love with the fragrance, which perfumed the air in spring. She loved the scent so much that she became the first person to distill the bitter orange blossoms to make Neroli Essential Oil, which she used to perfume her clothes, gloves, and baths. Because of her immense love for neroli she became known as “Princess Nerola,” introducing the scent to her homeland and kickstarting the popularity for the scent.

Gardenia

Finally, we have another beautiful flower, Gardenia. This flower is native to the tropical and subtropical regions of Africa, Asia, Madagascar and Pacific Islands, and Australia. And although roses may be the flowers best known for their beauty, gardenias aren’t far behind. Their beauty is known almost everywhere throughout the world and their scent is incredibly captivating.

The gardenia made its way into English gardens in the mid-18th century and got its name in a rather unique way. Now, it's quite an honor to have a plant named after you, it's an even bigger honor when that plant sports a flower with one of the most intoxicating fragrances in the world. The gardenia owes its name to the famous Scottish botanist, Alexander Garden. Garden exchanged letters with English merchant John Ellis, who just happened to be a good friend of Carolus Linnaeus, a famous Swedish botanist who developed the genus-and-species system for scientifically naming and classifying plants.

In 1758, Ellis visited a garden outside London to inspect an evergreen shrub thought to be a jasmine and blessed with powerfully scented double white flowers. Ellis doubted it was a true jasmine, and Linnaeus agreed. Ellis convinced Linnaeus to name the new find for his pen pal, Alexander Garden. Enter the gardenia (Gardenia jasminoides). Fittingly, in 1762, the New World's first gardenia was planted in Dr. Garden's garden.

These flowers are eye-catching and full of personality and are seen as a symbol of purity and gentleness.

The gardenia can also symbolize secret love or joy. Or the gardenia can symbolize everything related to the spiritual world, especially pure attraction. It’s a mystical flower associated with the power of attraction and positive energy and finally it’s associated with feminine elegance and deep feelings.

It was also believed that the gardenia could bring good luck which made it a flower people liked to have around the house especially if someone was going through a hard time.

Furthermore, gardenia flowers symbolize the idea of renewal and starting something new. They can symbolize other common themes, too, including hope, dreams, and beauty which makes it a beautiful addition to this Mother’s Day Blooming Trio.

We are so glad to be able to offer these powerful oils together and we know you and your family will love them.

Thanks for joining us and congratulations on living a healthier lifestyle with essential oils. If you want to try any of the products you learned about, click on the link in the episode description or find a Wellness Advocate near you to place an order today. And remember, if you liked what you heard today, rate, review, and subscribe wherever you listen.