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Men love scent just as much as women do because aroma emotionally affects us all. Essential oils have the power to influence our mood. Some scents are uplifting and energizing, while others are relaxing and grounding.
Beyond the preference of scent, the benefits of essential oils are the same for both men and women, they can be used for treating skin issues, emotional upsets, and minor physical injuries.
Men are not usually as keen about fruity and flowery scents, and in general, they prefer woody, spicy, and earthy smells.
In this article, we will talk about the "manly" essential oils. The rugged, earthy, robust scents that men are drawn to.
We are going to focus on the most likable scents that men commonly use, and we will talk about the benefits of these oils and share recipes so you can incorporate them into your daily routine.
Where to Source Essential Oils
You want to purchase high-quality essential oils so you can be sure you are getting your money's worth and aren't getting ripped off with fake or diluted essential oils.
I have been using essential oils for years, and have sampled various brands. On my hunt for the best essential oil brand, I came across Rocky Mountain Oils, and I have been hooked since!
Rocky Mountian Oils has remarkable customer service, exceptional quality, easy-to-navigate packaging, and a user-friendly website.
The Best Essential Oils for Men and their Uses
Black Pepper Essential Oil
Black pepper essential oil (Piper Nigrum), is one of the most common and favorite scents for men. It is excellent for use in after-workout formulations and as a cologne or aftershave ingredient.
Black Pepper essential oil is non-sensitizing and non-irritating.
Emotional Properties
Emotionally, black pepper can promote courage and stamina.
Aroma
Black pepper has a spicy, woody, warming, and sporty type of aroma.
Uses
- Black Pepper warms and stimulates the skin, making it ideal for rejuvenating overused muscles and joint tissue. It makes an excellent massage oil for an achy body.
- Use in a cologne or body spray to refresh the mind and encourage you to get moving.
- Use in an aromatherapy diffuser to calm the energy of a room, and encourage relaxation.
Blending
Black pepper blends well with Bergamot, Cinnamon Bark, Lavender, Lemon, Orange, Sandalwood, and Ylang Ylang.
Black Pepper Essential Oil Recipes
Soothing Aftershave
- 1/2 cup Vodka
- 1/2 cup Witch Hazel (I like this one)
- 1 drop Lavender Essential Oil
- 1 drop Sage Essential Oil
- 1 drop Bay Leaf Essential Oil
- 1 drop Black Pepper Essential Oil
- 1 tablespoon Glycerin (I use this brand)
Mix together all the ingredients in a dark colored glass jar. Shake well before every use. Keep it tightly sealed when not in use.
Black Pepper Massage Oil
- 3 ounces Apricot Kernel Oil
- 1 ounce Grapeseed Oil
- 24 drops Black Pepper Essential Oil
- 12 drops Coriander Seed Essential Oil
- 12 drops Ginger Essential Oil
- 4 fl ounce Amber Glass Bottle
In glass bottle, combine all ingredients, replace cap and shake until well blended.
To use, dispense 1 to 2 teaspoons into palm of hand and massage
into muscles.
Black Pepper Muscle Rub
- In a 10 ml roller bottle; add:
- 5 drops Peppermint Essential Oil
- 2 drops Clove Essential Oil
- 5 drops Wintergreen Essential Oil
- 3 drops Black Pepper Essential Oil
- Top with fractionated coconut oil (I use this one)
Spruce Essential Oil
Spruce essential oil, also known as Black Spruce (Picea mariana) is another favorite essential oil for men. It uplifts the mood and helps ease congestion.
Emotional Properties
Spruce oil has the benefit of helping relieve stress, uplifting the mood from occasional blues, while also soothing tense nerves. It encourages self-acceptance and forgiveness, while enhancing a sense of security.
Aroma
Spruce Essential Oil has a medium-strength woody, earthy, and evergreen aroma.
Uses
- Add Spruce oil to a chest rub when you have chest congestion.
- Mix with a carrier oil and use it to massage tired muscles or improve circulation to an area.
- Spruce oil is excellent in shaving products such as pre-shave oils or aftershaves.
- Use spruce oil in your very own beard balm.
- Diffuse Spruce essential oil to create a sense of security and self-acceptance.
Blending
Spruce oil blends well with Cedarwood, Cinnamon Bark, Cypress, Eucalyptus, Lavender, Lemon, Orange, Pine, and Sandalwood.
Spruce Essential Oil Recipes
Bright Snowy Day Diffuser Blend
- 6 drops - Spruce Essential Oil
- 4 drops - Wintergreen Essential Oil
- 2 drops - Peppermint Essential Oil
Aftershave Spray
- 1/4 cup Witch Hazel (I like this one)
- 2 TBSP. Lavender Hydrosol (get it here)
- 2 TBSP. Aloe Vera Gel (this one is good)
- 7 drops Spruce Essential Oil
- 3 drops Euculyptus Essential Oil
- 4 ounce spray bottle
Mix everything together in a spray bottle and spritz on freshly shaven skin.
Because witch hazel, lavender hydrosol and aloe vera gel all have preservatives, there is no need for a preservative. The shelf life of this product is about 3 months.
Cedarwood Essential Oil
Cedarwood essential oil (Cedrus atlantica), also known as Himalayan Cedar and Deodar Cedar, is a scent that works well for men.
Emotional Properties
Cedarwood oil promotes a night of restful sleep, it calms the nerves and relieves built-up tension. Use it if you are feeling fearful.
Aroma
Cedarwood has a strong woody, balsamic, rich, and earthy aroma.
Uses
- Bring it with you camping as an excellent natural repellent for moths and mosquitoes.
- Cedarwood oil works for both hair and skin by balancing oil production. Use it if you have dry, or oily skin. It is also a scalp and hair tonic, fortifying stronger, shinier hair.
- Cedarwood is excellent for use in a beard oil because of its hair tonic properties.
- This oil is fantastic for deodorizing and neutralizing odor.
Blending
Cedarwood oil blends well with Vanilla, Cypress, Lemon, Lime, Orange, Pine, Rose, and Sandalwood.
Cedarwood Essential Oil Recipes
Keep Balm and Beard On Beard Oil Recipe
- 2 tsp (10 ml) Carrier Oil (I like Apricot Kernel)
- 2 drops Myrrh Essential Oil
- 2 drops Cedarwood Essential Oil
- 2 drops Neroli Essential Oil
Mix the ingredients and use to add shine and fragrance to your beard.
Cedarwood Aftershave Spray
- 2 ounce spray bottle
- approx 1 oz Distilled Water
- approx 1 ounce Witch Hazel (I like this one)
- 1/4 teaspoon Vegetable Glycerin (I use this brand)
- 1/8 teaspoon Jojoba Oil (this is the one I use)
- 13 drops Cedarwood Essential Oil
- 4 drops Sandalwood Essential Oil
- 3 drops Cypress Essential Oil
- 2-3 drops Vitamin E as a preservative (I like this brand)
Add vegetable glycerin, jojoba oil, EOs, & Vitamin E to your spray bottle. Fill bottle almost halfway with water, and then fill almost to the top with witch hazel. Shake well.
Spray and enjoy (spray directly on the face or into the hand for application).
Vetiver Essential Oil
Vetiver essential oil (Vetiveria zizanoides), also commonly known as Ruh Khus oil, is used a lot in men's colognes because of its crisp, earthy scent.
Emotional Properties
Vetiver oil grounds and calms. It helps us sleep. Vetiver is one of the best oils to use for relaxation and reducing mental distractions.
Aroma
Has an incredibly strong earthy, balsamic, slightly sweet, and spicy aroma.
Uses
- Vetiver is very beneficial to the skin, helping to tone and tighten all skin types while reducing the appearance of minor blemishes. Vetiver is also cooling to the skin and thus will calm heat conditions.
- Vetiver is also a great pain reliever, use as a massage oil to ease the tension of overexerted muscles and joints.
- This oil is very thick and does not diffuse easily, instead use it topically before bed to induce a restful sleep.
Blending
Vetiver blends well with Frankincense, Lemon, Red Mandarin, Orange, Juniper Berry, Sandalwood, and Ylang Ylang.
Vetiver Essential Oil Recipes
Euphoria Diffuser Blend
- 4 Drops Vetiver Essential Oil
- 3 Drops Grapefruit Essential Oil
- 2 Drops Ginger Essential Oil
Frankincense Essential Oil
Frankincense essential oil (Boswellia sacra) is another masculine aromatic scent used commonly in colognes. It is one of the best essential oil for skin care due to its anti-aging properties.
Emotional Properties
Frankincense can help enhance deep meditation, balance emotions, lessen feelings of loneliness, frailty, and grief.
It is spiritually grounding and relaxing, without being sedating.
Aroma
It has a balsamic, warm, slightly spicy, sweet, and woody aroma.
Uses
- Frankincense is used in many skin care products for its toning and smoothing effects on the skin. It can help fade the appearance of scars.
- Also great for sore muscles and achy joints. Add Frankincense to a salve after a workout to calm the muscles.
- Diffuse to enhance meditation or draw upon inner strength.
- Use frankincense in your shaving and beard care products, such as pre-shave oil and beard balm.
Blending
Frankincense blends well with Black Cumin, Cedarwood, Lavender, Lemon, Rose, Sandalwood, and Ylang Ylang.
Frankincense Essential Oil Recipes
Calming Diffuser Blend for Meditation
- 6 drops Frankincense Essential Oil
- 1 drop Palo Santo Essential Oil
- 3 drops Balsam Copaiba Essential Oil
Sexy Spice Pre-Shave Oil Recipe
- 4 tsp Castor Oil (Get it here)
- 1.5 tsp Olive Oil
- 5 drops vitamin E oil (I like this brand)
- 7 drops Frankincense Essential Oil
- 7 drops Sandalwood Essential Oil
- 2 drops Black Pepper Essential Oil
- 2 drops Rosewood Essential Oil
Copaiba Balsam Essential Oil
Copaiba Balsam (Copaifera reticulata) contains over 90% sesquiterpenes, making it a powerful anti-inflammatory that exhibits anti-bacterial and antimicrobial properties.
Emotional Properties
Works as a mood stabilizer, helping to calm the mind from everyday ups and downs.
Aroma
Has a deep, rich, earthy, and grounding aroma.
Uses
- Copaiba Balsam nourishes and cleanses the skin. Use it in a spray mist or toner to balance the skin and help heal acne.
- Try using Copaiba Balsam in a diffuser to bring calm and tranquility to the room.
- Copaiba Balsam can be used as a remedy for headaches and migraines. It helps relieve pain in the muscles due to cramps as well as joint pain. Use this oil in a massage blend for pain relief.
- Add Copaiba Balsam to your moisturizer or aftershave to encourage radiant skin.
Blending
Copaiba Balsam blends well with Cypress, Lemon, Nutmeg, Frankincense, Mandarin, Neroli, Lavender, and Sandalwood.
Copaiba Balsam Essential Oil Recipes
Refreshing Aftershave
- 4 drops Bay Rum Essential Oil
- 4 drops Sandalwood Essential Oil
- 2 drops Copaiba Essential Oil
- 1 drop Red Mandarin Essential Oil
- 1 drop Cinnamon Bark Essential Oil
- 4 ounces Witch Hazel (I like this one)
Put all ingredients in a dark colored glass bottle. Shake well before every use. You can follow it with Jojoba oil or other carrier oil.
Pain Relief Recipe Blend
- 4 drops Peppermint
- 8 drops Copaiba
- 13 drops Lavender
- 2 oz of unscented lotion or carrier oil
Mix oils in with unscented lotion or carrier oil of your choice. Apply a thin layer to the affected area several times per day.
Aches and Pains Salve
Keep a few jars of salve around your house to help address everyday cuts, scrapes, bruises and aches.
- 1/4 cup sesame oil (get it here)
- 1/4 ounce of beeswax (I like this brand)
- 18 drops Copaiba (Copaifera officinalis)
- 10 drops Black pepper (Piper nigrum)
- 5 drops German chamomile (Matricaria recutita)
- 7 drops Helichrysum (Helichrysum italicum)
- 10 drops Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia)
Melt beeswax with the sesame oil in a double boiler. Let cool slightly and add essential oils. Mix and pour into a container.
Other Essential Oils Men Enjoy
Allspice
Ambrette Seed
Angelica Root
Amyris
Anise
Balsam, Peru
Basil
Bay
Bay Laurel
Benzoin
Bergamot
Blue Cypress
Cajeput
Cananga
Caraway Seed
Cardamom
Carrot Seed
Cedarwood, Atlas
Cedarwood, Virginian
Cinnamon
Clary Sage
Coriander
Cypress
Cypress, Blue
Davana
Eucalyptus
Fennel
Fir Needle
Ginger
Grapefruit
Gurjum Balsam
Helichrysum
Holy Basil
Hyssop
Immortelle
Juniper Berry
Kanuka
Lime
Mandarin
Manuka
Marjoram
May Chang
Melissa
Mullein
Myrrh
Myrtle
Myrtle, Lemon
Neroli
Nutmeg
Oakmoss
Orange, Bitter
Orange, Sweet
Oregano
Palo Santo
Parsley
Patchouli
Pepper, Black
Peppermint
Petitgrain
Pine, Scotch
Rosemary
Sage, Spanish
Sandalwood
Spruce
Star Anise
Tagetes
Tangerine
Thyme
Tobacco
Vanilla
Conclusion
As you can see, there is an abundance of essential oils that are ideal for men! Enjoy the benefits of these oils with DIY recipes or diffusing your oils at home and in the office.
Important Note: We only recommend the best essential oils on the market. It is important to buy high-quality oils that are made from pure ingredients and processed correctly.
All oils we recommend above are from Rocky Mountain Oils, our number one choice in essential oils. Be sure to check out their quality and safety standards.
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