Three Types of Cinnamon
With the holidays around the corner, it's starting to smell a lot like Christmas.
Pumpkin pie, warm cider, pine trees, and cinnamon. Cinnamon has always been a holiday favorite. An aroma that can fill you full of nostalgia and warm you from head to toe. Cinnamon essential oil is perfect for diffusing in your home or adding to a few of your DIY holiday crafts.
If you visit our shop you’ll notice we carry three different cinnamon oils. People often wonder what the difference is between Cinnamon Bark Oil, Cinnamon Leaf Oil and Cinnamon Cassia Oil.
So, what's the difference and which cinnamon is right for you?
Let’s start with Cinnamon Bark (Cinnamomum zeylanicum). Cinnamon Bark essentil oil has a strongest and sweetest aroma. It is derived from a tree native to Sri Lanka, the bark of the Cinnamon tree is harvested for distilling the essential oil and to produce dry cinnamon for the market as a spice.
Cinnamon bark contains cinnamaldehyde, which is a naturally occurring chemical compound which gives Cinnamon its strong, exotic aroma.
The dried bark is chipped before hydro-distillation. The yield of essential oil from the distilled Cinnamon bark is 1.82% by weight.
Cinnamon Bark essential oil is considered to be a strong antibacterial and anti fungal agent.
This is a perfect oil to add a warm cozy feeling when diffused in your home.
"Cuddle Time" diffuser blend:
- 3 drops of Cinnamon Bark essential oil
- 2 drops of Ginger essential oil
- 2 drops of Frankincense essential oil
Cinnamon leaf (Cinnamomum zeylanicum) is steam distilled from the leaves of the same tree as Cinnamon Bark and is native to Sri Lanka.
Eugenol is a major component of Cinnamon Leaf essential oil. Eugenol is well known in dental preparations to remove inflammation and reduce pain.
Try making this winter time massage oil for sore joints and tense muscles.
DIY Winter Massage Oil:
- 3 oz of Jojoba oil
- 1 oz of Coconut oil
- 10 drops of Cinnamon Leaf essential oil
- 5 drops of Rosemary essential oil
- 5 drops of Juniper Berry essential oil
Cinnamon Cassia (Cinnamomum cassia), is not true Cinnamon, but is a close botanical relative. It’s aroma is very similar to Cinnamon Bark but noticeably different when smelled together.
Cassia is a very common spice, sold frequently as Cinnamon Bark in the grocery store.
During the holiday season, you can create a natural cleaner with cassia that will add the familiar cinnamon aroma to your home.
DIY Holiday All Purpose Cleaner:
- 4 oz of distilled water
- 4 oz of apple cider vinegar
- 20 drops of Cinnamon Cassia essential oil
- 10 drops of Peppermint essential oil
- 5 drops of Tea Tree essential oil
Regardless of which cinnamon oil you choose, these oils all provide incredible health benefits both physically and emotionally.
All three of these oils are sweet, spicy and warm, which is why they are perfect for winter time and creating atmosphere in the home.
Use with caution! Never put Cinnamon essential oils directly on your skin without first diluting them.