Guide to essential oils

Essential oil of Sweet Marjoram

Widely renowned for its calming properties, Sweet marjoram essential oil is used to relieve stress and anxiety and alleviate sleep problems. Also beneficial for overall health, it is used to strengthen and stimulate the body. When diffused, its country fragrance pleasantly purifies the air. In the field of psycho-energetic olfactotherapy, it is included in essential oil blends designed to support individuals undergoing withdrawal from physical and psychological dependencies.

How to use

  • Skin application and massage

    Skin application and massage

    Suitable

  • Diffusion

    Diffusion

    Suitable

  • Cosmetic active ingredient

    Cosmetic active ingredient

    Possible but not recommended

  • Aromatherapy bath

    Aromatherapy bath

    Possible but not recommended

  • Food grade

    Food grade

    Suitable

Features

Properties and uses

Precautions

Find out more

Features

Production process

Complete steam distillation

Part of the plant used

Aerial parts

Botanical name

Origanum majorana

Warning

The properties, information and methods of use below are quotes from reference books or websites on aromatherapy, hydrolatherapy and phytotherapy. This general information is provided for informative purposes only and in no way constitutes medical guidance. Under no circumstances can this information be used as a substitute for a medical diagnosis, consultation or follow-up, nor can it incur our liability. We recommend that you consult the guide to essential oils before using them, so that you are aware of any precautions that need to be taken. If in doubt, consult a doctor before using essential oils.

Properties and uses

Sweet marjoram essential oil is traditionally used for: Distress, anxiety, panic attacks, arthritis, osteoarthritis, rheumatism, anger, irritability, depression, low mood, insomnia, laryngitis, pharyngitis, colds, blocked nose, runny nose, stress

Health

Kitchen

Find out more, etc.

Properties

Sweet marjoram essential oil is renowned for its health properties:

  • It also powerfully supports the parasympathetic system, being hypotensive, vasodilatory and an anaphrodisiac, with a calming effect on the central nervous system.

  • Combats fatigue, supports nervous system health, and promotes overall and nervous balance

  • Rich in antifungal, antibacterial and antispasmodic active ingredients

  • Helps soothe pain

  • Gastric stimulating and appetite regulating

Uses

It is traditionally used to improve the following conditions:

  • Soothes disorders of nervous origin: respiratory (cough, etc.), digestive (aerophagia, indigestion, etc.), nervous (stress, distress, nervousness, irritability, etc.).

  • Helps soothe and promote joint and muscle health: rheumatism, osteoarthritis, lumbago, sciatica and muscle cramps and contractions.

  • General and mental fatigue

  • Respiratory infections: rhinitis, bronchitis, nasopharyngitis and sinusitis

Synergies

  • Supports health: Ravintsara essential oil.

  • Supports mental function: Rosemary verbenone essential oil.

  • Joint and muscle health, soothing and calming: American wintergreen essential oil.

  • Regulating and calming (nervous): Lemon balm, Seville orange, Roman chamomile essential oils.

In practice

Promotes vitality: Mix into your oil blend. Massage your blend locally along the spine or over the solar plexus.

Respiratory comfort: blend into your oil blend. Massage or rub your blend into the chest and upper back.

Muscle and joint health: Mix into your oil blend. Massage or rub in locally.

Sleep disorders, anxiety: For air diffusion.

Precautions

  • Not recommended during the first three months of pregnancy.

  • Always use diluted on the skin.

  • Keep out of reach of children.

  • Avoid contact with eyes.

  • Certain natural compounds in this essential oil may present an allergy risk for sensitive individuals when used in cosmetic formulations (according to the 7th Amendment to the European Cosmetics Directive (2003/15/EC)): limonene.

  • As a general rule, always carry out a patch test on the inside of the elbow at least 48 hours before use.

Find out more

Sweet marjoram is a perennial plant cultivated as an annual, which can grow up to 80 centimetres tall, producing pink, violet, purple and white flowers. Belonging to the Lamiaceae family, it is also known as Garden oregano or Garden marjoram. Due to itsoregano-like aroma, it is a popular condiment for enhancing numerous dishes.

Equivalents

Essential Oils

1 ml = approximately 35 drops (with our Aroma-Zone dropper caps)

Carrier oils

1 pump (Aroma-Zone aluminium pump) = approx. 0.15 ml

Mass / Volume conversion (for a liquid)

Mass (g) = Density x Volume (ml) at 20°C

Further information

1 full teaspoon = between 3 and 4.5 ml

1 full tablespoon = between 7.5 and 10 ml


However, these spoon ratios depend on a number of factors (e.g. viscosity of the liquid, temperature, depth and size of the spoon, rheological behaviour of the liquid), and we strongly advise you to use precise measuring equipment, such as graduated test tubes, graduated pipettes, and precision scales.

Aromatherapy recipes from the bibliography

EO = Essential Oil VO = Carrier Oil or Macerated Oil

Depression in adults (D. Baudoux)

Health & wellbeingNerve pain and disorders

  • Sweet marjoram essential oil: 3 drops

  • Seville orange essential oil: 5 drops

  • Ravintsara essential oil: 2 drops

  • Ylang-ylang essential oil: 2 drops

  • Lemon verbena essential oil: 1 drop

  • Frankincense essential oil: 1 drop

Use: 3 drops of the blend on the solar plexus and on the inside of the wrists 2 to 3 times a day.

Aroma-Zone note: Lemon verbena essential oil is photosensitising. Do not expose yourself to the sun after applying this blend.

Distress, Phobia (D. Baudoux)

Health & wellbeingNerve pain and disorders

  • Frankincense essential oil: 0.5 ml

  • Myrrh essential oil: 0.5 ml

  • Rose essential oil: 0.5 ml

  • Marjoram: 1 ml

  • Chamomile: 1 ml

  • Seville orange essential oil: 1 ml

Use: 3 to 4 drops as needed on the solar plexus or chakras or along the spine.

Depression in children (over 6 years and with medical advice) (D. Baudoux)

Health & wellbeingChildren's medical care

Olfactory use:

  • Cinnamomum camphora (Ravintsara) essential oil: 2 ml

  • Chamaemelum nobile (Roman chamomile) essential oil: 2 ml

  • Citrus aurantium ssp aurantium (fe) (Seville orange) essential oil: 10 ml

  • Origanum majorana (Sweet marjoram) essential oil: 3 ml

  • Commiphora molmol (Myrrh) essential oil: 1 ml

Use: Diffuse the blend 10 minutes per hour to benefit from its effects on mental function.

Nightmares in adults (J-P. Willem)

Health & wellbeingNerve pain and disorders

  • Roman chamomile essential oil: 1 drop of

  • Sweet marjoram essential oil: 1 drop of

  • Ravintsara essential oil: 1 drop of

Use: Apply this blend to the solar plexus in the evening before bed for 15 days.

Aggression in adults (D. Baudoux)

Health & wellbeingNerve pain and disorders

  • Ravintsara essential oil: 2 ml

  • Ylang-ylang essential oil: 1 ml

  • Sweet garden marjoram essential oil: 2 ml

  • Mandarin essential oil: 2 ml

Use: Apply 2 drops of the blend on the inside of the wrists or 4 drops on the solar plexus or arch of the foot.

Aroma-Zone note: Mandarin essential oil is photosensitising, so do not expose yourself to the sun after applying this blend.

Rheumatism and neuralgia in adults (after consulting a doctor) (D. Baudoux)

Health & wellbeingMuscles and joints

  • Gaultheria procumbens (American wintergreen) essential oil: 1 ml

  • Cananga odorata (Ylang-ylang complete) essential oil: 1 ml

  • Thymus satureoides (Savoury thyme) essential oil: 1 ml

  • Origanum majorana (Sweet marjoram) essential oil: 1 ml

  • Hazelnut oil + transcutol oil as a carrier oil: top up to 35 ml

Use: Locally, 4 to 6 drops to be massaged in 3 times a day.

Comment from Aroma-Zone: Transcutol is a less common pharmaceutical preparation which facilitates the penetration of fats such as essential oils into the skin. It can easily be replaced by a dry carrier oil such as Hazelnut, Kukui or Macadamia oil.

Sleep disorders (D. Baudoux)

Health & wellbeingNerve pain and disorders

  • Cinnamomum camphora essential oil (Ravintsara): 2 ml

  • Cananga odorata totum Essential Oil (Ylang-Ylang): 2 ml

  • Origanum majorana ssential oil (Marjoram): 1 ml

Uses: 4 to 5 drops 1/2 hour before bedtime along the spine or on the chakras or on the inside of the wrists or on the solar plexus or on the arch of the foot.

Tantrums - anger in children (over 6 years and with medical advice) (J-P. Willem)

Health & wellbeingChildren's medical care

  • Ylang Ylang complete essential oil: 2 ml

  • Sweet marjoram essential oil: 13 ml

Use: Diffuse the blend for 10 minutes, several times a day.

Nervous fatigue, anxiety, insomnia (N. Grosjean)

Health & wellbeingNerve pain and disorders

  • Linalool basil (linalool) essential oil: 1 drop

  • Sweet marjoram essential oil: 1 drop

Use: 2 drops of the blend diluted with a carrier oil, taken internally between meals, 2 times a day, combined with a massage using 10 to 20 drops of the blend (half diluted in a carrier oil) on the solar plexus, neck and spine, 2 times a day.

Laryngitis (M. Faucon)

Health & wellbeingENT problems

  • Marjoram essential oil: 20 drops

  • Ravintsara essential oil: 30 drops

  • Rosemary cineole essential oil: 10 drops

Preparation: Apply locally to the neck and nape of the neck 3 times a day.

Spasmodic or atopic cough (L. Bosson)

Health & wellbeingRespiratory problems

Internal use :

  • Red Myrtle hydrosol: 50 ml

  • linalool sweet basil hydrosol: 50 ml

  • German chamomile hydrosol: 50 ml

  • Hyssop hydrosol: 50 ml

Procedure: Heat the mixture with 200 g of brown sugar until it simmers. When the mixture is lukewarm, add the following essential oils:

  • German chamomile essential oil: 2 drops

  • Lemon zest essential oil: 3 drops

  • Sweet Fennel essential oil: 3 drops

  • Hyssop decumbens essential oil: 5 drops

  • Marjoram essential oil: 5 drops

Directions for use : 1 ml of the mixture 3 to 4 times a day, depending on progress. Store this syrup in the fridge.

Cystitis (L. Bosson)

Health & wellbeingUrinary issues

  • Lemon Verbena Hydrosol: 50 ml

  • Sandalwood Hydrosol: 50 ml

  • Mountain Savory hydrosol: 50 ml

  • Marjoram hydrosol: 50 ml

  • Cypress hydrosol: 50 ml

Use: 1 teaspoon of the mixture in a glass of hot water, to be drunk 4 to 5 times a day for 2 weeks. Prevention: Take Sandalwood hydrosol (1 tablespoon in 1 litre of water) during the day for 2 to 3 months to restore the flow of energy in the pelvis.

Bedwetting (L. Bosson)

Health & wellbeingUrinary issues

  • Marjoram Hydrosol: 50 ml

  • Cypress hydrosol: 50 ml

Use: 10 drops in a glass of water 3 times a day before meals until symptoms have completely disappeared.

Distress (L. Bosson)

Health & wellbeingNerve pain and disorders

Internal use :

  • Lemon verbena hydrosol

Use: 1 teaspoon in a cup of hot water 2 to 3 times a day, depending on how the condition is progressing.

External use :

  • Garden Marjoram essential oil: 2 drops

  • True Lavender essential oil: 2 drops

Use : Massage into the heart area and under the soles of the feet, 2 to 3 times a day, depending on how the condition is progressing.

Acute bronchitis (T. Telphon)

Health & wellbeingRespiratory problems

  • True lavender essential oil: 2 to 3 ml

  • Sweet marjoram essential oil: 2 to 3 ml

  • Blue gum eucalyptus essential oil: 2 to 3 ml

  • Arnica oil: 10 ml

  • Sweet almond carrier oil: 10 ml

  • Sunflower oil: 10 ml

Use: Rub your chest vigorously with a few drops of the mixture. Repeat 2 to 4 times a day, if necessary.

Muscle pain in adults (N. Purchon)

Health & wellbeingMuscles and joints

  • Black pepper essential oil: 5 drops

  • Sweet marjoram essential oil: 15 drops

  • Juniper essential oil: 15 drops

  • Rosemary camphor essential oil: 15 drops

  • Grape seed oil : 3 tablespoons

Directions for use: Apply by massaging or add to bath (one tablespoon).

Delivery (on medical advice) (D. Baudoux)

Health & wellbeingProduct for pregnant or breastfeeding women

  • bay laurel essential oil: 1 ml

  • Immortelle essential oil: 0.2 ml

  • Neroli essential oil: 1 ml

  • Marjoram: 0.5 ml

  • Hazelnut oil: 10 ml or more

Use : Shortly before delivery, apply 5 drops to the inside of the wrists and inhale deeply and regularly during delivery.

Depression in adults with a 'sanguine' temperament (Aroma News - NARD)

Health & wellbeingNerve pain and disorders

  • Citrus aurantium ssp aurantium leaf (Seville orange) essential oil: 3 ml

  • Cananga odorata (Ylang-ylang) essential oil: 0.5 ml

  • Chamaemelum nobile (Roman chamomile) essential oil: 1 ml

  • Origanum Majorana (Sweet marjoram) essential oil: 1.5 ml

  • Hazelnut oil as a carrier oil: 4 ml

Use: A few drops of the blend on the solar plexus, the soles of the feet, the inner wrists and/or along the spine. Effectiveness is enhanced by inhaling the aroma of the blend.

Mental fatigue in adults (D. Baudoux)

Health & wellbeingNerve pain and disorders

  • Seville orange essential oil: 2 ml

  • Sweet garden marjoram essential oil: 2 ml

  • Mandarin essential oil: 1 ml

Use: Apply 3 drops of the blend to the solar plexus and the inner wrists 2 to 3 times Aroma-Zone note: Mandarin essential oil is photosensitsing. Avoid sun exposure after applying this blend.

Nausea, vomiting, motion sickness in children (over 6 years and with medical advice) (D. Baudoux)

Health & wellbeingChildren's medical care

  • Chamaemelum nobile (Roman chamomile) essential oil: 1 ml

  • Citrus aurantium ssp aurantium (Seville orange) essential oil: 3 ml

  • Cananga odorata totum (Ylang-ylang complete) essential oil: 1 ml

  • Origanum majorana essential oil (Sweet marjoram): 1 ml

  • Jojoba carrier oil: Top up to 15 ml

Use: Apply 3 drops of the blend to the abdomen and lower back 3 to 4 times a day as needed.

Bibliography

1

'Huiles essentielles - 2000 ans de découvertes aromathérapeutiques pour une médecine d'avenir'

Dominique Baudoux

2

Aromatherapy

Dr Jean Valnet - Éditions Maloine

3

"L'Aromathérapie exactement"

P. Franchomme and Dr D. Pénoël

4

'La Bible de l'aromathérapie'

Nerys Purchon

5

"ABC des huiles essentielles"

Dr Telphon

6

Aromatherapy

Nelly Grosjean

7

Les huiles essentielles pour votre santé

G. Roulier

8

Les cahiers pratiques de l'aromathérapie française - Paediatrics

Dominique Baudoux - Editions Amyris

9

Aroma-News newsletters

NARD Association

10

'Aromatherapy - Healing with essential oils'

Dominique Baudoux - Editions Amyris