Spikenard Essential oil (Nardostachys jatamansi)

Spikenard (Nardostachys jatamansi)

Not one of our kit 48 oils but it remains a very interesting and useful oil because of its biblical connection.  The aroma is warm, earthy, woody, musty. You might call it the oil of forgiveness.

As life goes on we inevitably find things to reproach ourselves for.  Perhaps we could have spent more time with our parents or avoided a family row.  Things like this niggle away at the back of our minds.  An oil which can heal these doubts and allow us to forgive ourselves and others is very useful.  It is famous of course as the biblical Nard applied to the feet of Jesus by Mary Magdalen. 
There is more on this in the wikipedia entry

'Spike' the 'nard'??

Are all azulenes blue? Anyone heard of blue spikenard? My reference books and distiller documentation describe spikenard (nardostachys jatamansi, nepal) as a pale yellow to amber coloured liquid. The principal components are the azulenes gurjunene (not blue), patchoulene (not blue). So maybe green, brown, amber, yellow but not blue? To get blue spikenard I think someone has to 'spike' the 'nard' with azulene?     


Ian Brealey