Star Anise Essential Oil in Soap & Candles

Star anise essential oil comes from the seeds of the the star-shaped fruit of the star anise tree (Illicium verum). This essential oil is most commonly associated with licorice - or cough syrup, and has been used in Chinese medicine for over 1,300 years. It is also used widely in cooking, toothpaste, candy and liqueurs.

Primarily Illicium verum

Licorice - black licorice - sweet, smoky, rich, slightly woody - with very interesting aspects of top, middle AND base notes. (Different aspects of star anise essential oil evaporate at different rates. The woody notes evaporate quickly (top note), the woody sticks around a bit longer (middle note), and the rich sweet note lingers (base note.) So you can see why this is such a great essential oil in blends!

Rose, lavender, orange, pine and other spice oils like clove. You can use it all by itself in a fisherman or hunter's soap, or use just a bit of it to add complexity to other standard blends.

The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Essential Oils by Julia Lawless, lists anise essential oil as generally safe, but to "use in moderation only", and warns that large doses (internally) can slow down circulation with a narcotic effect. It is also one of the essential oils to be avoided during pregnancy.

Star Anise essential oil is produced mainly in China, it is native to south east asia - China, Vietnam, India and Japan.

I love anise essential oil in blends, but many people either love it or hate it...and it's certainly not an essential oil that I use or would want to use every day. It's more of a "special" essential oil for me. It's also a great essential oil to add just a tiny amount to blends - it adds a complexity and sweet woodiness that is similar too, but lighter and sweeter than patchouli.

One of my favorite blends using anise essential oil is:

• 3 parts orange
• 2 parts anise
• 1 part clove

This blend works equally well in soap and candles - so you can make coordinating products if you like.

While most of us would only associate it with black licorice, it's actually pretty widely used in foods, medicines, toothpastes and other flavored products.

The scent of star anise essential oil reminds me of my childhood, when at Greek Easter celebrations, my grandparents (on my father's side) would drink Ouzo. It also reminds me of Vicks 44 cough syrup, a favorite of my grandmother (on my mother's side) to treat our childhood colds.

My fondest memory of anise essential oil came from my fisherman grandfather who would dip his hooks in anise essential oil and swore that it helped attract fish. I'm not sure whether it attracted the fish...or just masked human scent, and hence, repelled the fish less...but it worked! (This human scent masking also makes it a popular essential oil for hunter's soap.)

(Here's my fisherman's/hunter's soap recipe.)