Coffee, scientifically known as Coffea Arabica or Coffea Robusta, is a brewed caffeinated drink prepared from roasted beans that are obtained from the seeds of the berries of certain flowering plants in the Coffea genus. Coffee been around since approximately the 15th century in the Arabian Pennisula.
While the roasted beans create this magical concoction of a drink loved and obsessed by many, cold pressed non roasted beans create coffee essential oil and coffee carrier oil. Today, we will focus on coffee essential oil. It is widely used for fragrance, food flavoring and diffusion.
Based on limited research, coffee essential oil does contain caffeine, which is the chemical compound responsible for stimulating our nervous system and making us feel more refreshed and less tired. However, the amount of caffeine in the essential oil is far less than what you would get in a cup of coffee.
Coffee essential oil contains 0.5% to 1.5% of caffeine. In terms of using the essential oil via diffusion, it is safe for kids as well as pregnant women (it may even ease nausea and morning sickness). Individuals who typically don’t like or don’t drink coffee also commonly do not have an issue with the enticing scent of coffee essential oil.
Given its stimulating nature, coffee essential oil is brilliant to diffuse during morning or midday when you need that extra boost of energy. It may even serve as an alternative for those who are trying to quit, cut down or those who cannot ingest caffeine but want the energizing effect on their senses.
For obvious reasons, it is advised not to diffuse coffee essential oil during night time unless you need to stay up late. In addition to that, coffee essential oil blends well with a range of other essential oils from floral scents such as rose and geranium, citrusy scents, hot oils such as cinnamon and clove, and even woody scents such as cedarwood and sandalwood.
It can also be used topically with the standard dilution rate (1% – 2%), just make sure to do a patch test before hand and it is advised not to use it topically on children but diffusion is alright. Used on the skin with proper dilution, it is said to have astringent properties that can be beneficial for stretch marks and cellulite as well.
Since coffee essential oil has such a robust scent, you can use it to deodorize stale smelling environments as well or if you’re in a business setting, use a touch of coffee essential oil (with an option to add other harmonious blends of oils to the mix) as a scent marketing tactic. Who doesn’t love the smell of coffee?