Siam Wood Oil

Plant Description:
Siam Wood essential oil, also known as Pemou, Po Mu, Fujian Cypress, Coffin Wood, and Bois de Siam, is a precious wood oil from the evergreen conifer Fokienia hodginsii. Siam Wood is native to Asia and recognized as a single genus; the only one living species classified in the subfamily Cupressoideae within the family Cuprressaceae. The aromatic quality of this precious wood peaks after a tree matures to a height of 80-100 feet. Exploitation as a durable fragrant wood resource for furniture and handcrafts in Vietnam caused indiscriminate harvesting. Thankfully sound ecological replanting practices were started hopefully saving the Fokienia tree from similar over harvesting situations seen with Rosewood, Sandalwood and other precious woods. Interestingly, the trunk and roots abandoned by loggers as worthless for timber are where the highest concentration of Fokienol is located and from where this natural essential oil is distilled. 

Organic Siam Wood Oil Properties: 
Appearance: Clear, Mobile Liquid
Colour: Red yellow.
Specific gravity at 20℃: 0.890 – 0.920
Refractive Index at 20℃: 1.490 – 1.510
Optical rotation at 20ºC: + 10° to + 17°
Main components: Fokiennol 25%/ Nerolidol 32%

Organic Siam Wood Oil Use:
Siam Wood oil has a sensuous, warm, creamy, sweet, and balsamic aroma similar to Sandalwood but with nuances of Rosewood and faint Cypress back notes.
This not well known, and not often used essential oil in Western aromatherapy, surely deserves consideration in natural perfume and spiritual blend creations. It has an extremely calming and pleasant aroma for use as a base note in natural perfume and is a less costly alternative to Sandalwood. Siam Wood essential oil is grounding and clearly a must have for spiritual blends. It melds beautifully with Frankincense for a wonderful meditation blend for regaining a new positive, or transitional, perspective.
Siam Wood was once used in Asia to build coffins since the wood demonstrates high resistance to degradation by insects and moisture. Perhaps this characteristic inherent with this precious wood is why Siam Wood essential oil is an effective natural insect repellent, particularly against mosquitoes, and documented in scientific research performed on essential oils with high sesquiterpene content. 

Always intrigued with how diffusing essential oil in a candle oil diffuser can profoundly effect mood and emotions, especially essential oil with little Western aromatherapy documentation led to my discovery of Dr. Bruce Berkowsky, N.M.D., M.H., NCTMB, a master practitioner, and one of the world’s preeminent teachers of deep psycho-spiritual work with essential oils who says that: “this oil is not used much in aromatherapy and so there is little discussion in the aromatherapy literature regarding its properties and uses. The oil is noted as being a neuroendocrine tonic and supportive of the pituitary/adrenal pathway and the pituitary/testes pathway. On a physical level, it may have value in cases of adrenal fatigue and low testosterone levels. Pemou is particularly well suited for symptoms such as feelings of: abandonment, isolation, being all alone in the world, disconnectedness, estrangement from society, vulnerability and introversion. Pemou oil may prove useful in addressing the following symptoms: grief associated with the death of a loved one; ailments from grief; depression after grief; fear of death; feelings of isolation; ailments from disappointed love; feels as if separated; feelings of vulnerability; dreams of: death, coffins, funerals, graves, long, forgotten past.”

In Vietnam the Siam Wood (Pemou, Po Mu) tree is believed to bring eternal life and is used aroma-therapeutically in many parts of SE Asia as an antiseptic, rheumatic anti-inflammatory, in therapeutic massage to enhance vitality, reduce muscle and skin inflammation. It is also diffused in an oil diffuser to help kill bacteria, purify and disinfect the air, and an effective mosquito and insect repellent.

Blends well with: 
Agarwood (Oud), Cedarwood, Cinnamon Bark, Geranium Egypt, Grapefruit Pink, Jasmine sambac, Lavender, Lemon, Ylang Ylang Oil.

Storage:
It is recommended that oils packaged in metal containers (for safe shipping) be transferred into dark glass containers to maintain freshness and attain maximum shelf life.

Cautions:
Possible skin sensitivity. Keep out of reach of children.
If you are pregnant, nursing, or under a doctor’s care, consult your physician.
Avoid contact with eyes, inner ears, and sensitive areas.