From soothing achy muscles after a workout to opening blocked sinuses, white flower oil is a favorite of many therapeutic massage and traditional Chinese medical practitioners.
The day before 9/11, I stumbled on White Flower Oil in a health food store when looking for a deep muscle rub for my husband. I read the ingredient lists on Icy Hot and Mineral Ice and finally chose the White Flower Oil. The others contained unpronounceable ingredients I wouldn’t put on my family’s skin – plus I loved the cute little Oriental, vintage-y box. He loved the smell and the nearly identical soothing, deep icy-hot tingle for his aches and overworked muscles.
In time, I decided to make my own copycat blend – and now I share the recipe with you.
A Mr. Gan Geock Eng, a local Singaporean merchant, first developed the combination back in 1927. It’s popularity spread around the world, and he started to mass produce the oil.
Still it remains a trusted cure for congestion and muscle aches – even added to witch hazel or aloe vera as an after shave. One man wrote in an Amazon review, “Oh boy, your face will feel smooth and soothed all day – and what a kick!”
White flower oil is created by combining a number of oils. I have done the ratios for you below.
A Lot More Super Helpful Uses for White Flower Oil:
- Tension headaches – If you suffer from muscle tension headaches, this oil could be a saving grace. Simply massage a few drops onto your shoulders and neck to see a big difference, plus it smells wonderful!
- Aches and pains – We usually find this to be all we need after a minor sprain, strain, or overworked muscles. Rubbing it into the sore area is enough to reduce pain and make a significant difference to any muscular discomfort we’re experiencing. In addition, it can be combined with a carrier oil, such as jojoba or coconut oil (even your favorite body lotion) to make a soothing massage balm for deep tissue massage and relaxation.
- Travel sickness – Rubbing just a couple of drops behind the ears helps calm or eradicate the symptoms. Add 10 drops of Ginger essential oil to the recipe when traveling.
- Congestion – White flower oil is a fantastic home remedy for the discomfort of sinus pain and congestion. It is completely natural and makes a great alternative to decongestants, which can come with a nasty set of side-effects.
Caveats:
DO NOT get into eyes. It will sting! And never orally! Always use in a carrier oil and not alone (neat) on the skin!
What Does It Mean To Apply Essential Oils Neat & Is It Good Practice?
And this is not for use on babies, toddlers, or young children. There are only 19 known safe essential oils that can be used on kids and babies and you can find them here.
White Flower Massage Oil Recipe:
I kept the old box since the ratios are given for us:
- Wintergreen essential oil – 40 drops
- Eucalyptus essential oil – 18 drops
- Peppermint essential oil – 15 drops
- Camphor – 6 drops
- Lavender -6 drops
- Menthol crystals – add several crystals equivalent to ~15% right into the bottle. They’ll dissolve readily. Adding menthol is optional, but it gives more synergy and depth to the blend. Menthol is what makes it ‘icy hot’!
- Carrier oil for massage – The original product I had contained essential oils only, but a carrier is recommended. It will also aid in massaging a larger area.
- Use 1 tsp. coconut oil, olive, jojoba, etc. and add 3-4 drops of this EO blend recipe.
Directions:
- Simply drip the essential oils together into a small dark glass bottle.
- Add the menthol crystals discussed above.
- Replace the dripper top and cap (see the photo below) and seal tightly.
- Label and store in a cool place out of sunlight.
- Shelf life is 7-10 years at least.
All the essential oils in white flower oil blend are safe and very inexpensive oils.
White flower oil is not known for any side-effects, but like many essential oils, it is not recommended for use with pregnant women or children.
Some essential oils may cause irritation in people with sensitive skin so always apply with a carrier oil as noted above and once again here:
- Use 1 tsp. coconut oil, olive, jojoba, etc. and add 3-4 drops of this EO blend recipe.
It is wise to do a patch test before using regularly.
If time is an issue and you’d rather buy instead of make something yourself, I recommend Tiger Balm which has only the safe ingredients of Camphor and Menthol, Cajeput, Cassia, Clove, and Mint oils, plus paraffin petrolatum.
Heather
I appreciate you so much, Jacqueline! Thanks for yet another thorough post! As a related question, is there a particular book or resource you would recommend for me as I dive into the world of essential oils? How amazing God created these plants for us and yet how overwhelming to figure out how best to use them. 🙂 Blessings to you!!!
Jacqueline
Hi, Heather 🙂 I have used the same book for almost 20 years and while I have others, this is the one I keep going back to. It is ‘The Complete Book of Essential Oils and Aromatherapy: Over 600 Natural, Non-Toxic and Fragrant Recipes to Create Health Beauty a Safe Home Environment ‘ by Valerie Ann Worwood. http://amzn.to/1WzEcrj
I’m so glad you are interested in these amazing gifts from our Creator! Have fun learning, friend 🙂
Chez
Hi Jacqueline….my mother has osteoarthritis in her knees…..she is also diabetic and on quite a lot of meds…..what would you recommend please? Have you heard of For Motion Balm???
Jacqueline
Hi, Chez!
This study gives a thumbs up to what turmeric (curcumin) does for osteoarthritis and later in the study, for diabetes (see in ‘systemic review’). https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3591524/
Based on the widespread health benefits many are seeing, here is a post I wrote that tells you how to try it with your mother to see it is helps her: https://deeprootsathome.com/how-to-make-use-turmeric-golden-paste/
I pray this is helpful and am praying for you both, Chez!
Sue
Thank you so much for all the wonderful information you provide. I love all that God is showing me through you. You are a great inspiration.
Jacqueline
Thank you SO much for your kind words! What an encouragement you are, Sue 🙂 I love doing it~
Chez
Sorry. I meant Motion Free Balm. Nit For Motion Balm
Jacqueline
I had not heard of this balm, but the ingredients look great (and safe)!
Jessie W.
Hi Mrs.Jackie!
I’ll never forget how well this worked when Becca shared it with me and helped my sore neck. Besides smelling wonderful it REALLY works!!
Oh, and Ive been meaning to tell you that I finally started a health blog of my own. Thank you for the inspiration you’ve been!! 🙂
Much love to you and your dear family,
Jessie
Jacqueline
Oh, Yay!
Jessie, I can’t wait to come to you blog for a visit 🙂 This will be fun! Praying for your writing to bless many 🙂
Nancy
Hi Jacqueline,
To use for congestion do you apply it on the chest as you would use Vicks Vapo Rub? Can you use it under your nose as well?
Thanks for your time.
Nancy
Jacqueline
Hi, Nancy. Sorry for the delay in answering…we’ve been away for 5 days. I would add it to your favorite body lotion and put it over the lungs, chest and back. I think it is helpful for opening up the sinuses, but may be too strong right under the nose. You can also use eucalyptus alone on a tissue and breathe in deeply. My grandmother taught me that as a wee girl of 5 (she also put drops on the collar of my pajamas before sleep so I could breathe better. Test a small area of your skin before applying to your face and then maybe add a drop to a daub of coconut oil before placing it under your nose 🙂
Blessings!
Blessings!
Lyne
Sorry… How much crystal is 15%. If the amount of drops is approx 85, in a 5ml stock bottle, how many crystal do you put in?
Jacqueline
Hi, Lyne! It is not an exact thing, and I’ve searched to find out exactly but have not been able to, so I break off and added 1/3 inch of menthol crystal. (Some crystals will be thicker than others, but I just guessed!) As long as it isn’t more than approximately 15% of the total, I think we are good! We love White flower oil and still make and use it!
I hope that helps!
Blessings, ~J
Lyne
Thank you, will do just that. Awesome recipe.
Amanda
Thank you so very much Jacqueline! This is exactly what I needed. I‘m sure I am just missing this but what size bottle should I use? I normally use a 10ml with a rollerball for easy application, but I didn’t know if that would be big enough.
Thank you again!
Jacqueline
Hi, Amanda! Yes, a 10 ml. bottle will work. It is what I have linked to in the post! 😀
Enjoy this recipe! It is one of my very favorite blends!
~Jacque
DavetteB
You still need to dilute the oil; several of the EOs included have dermal maximums. 3 drops in 10mls carrier is 1%; 9 drops in 10ml is 3%. HTH
Jacqueline
Davette B, that is a good point to bring up again! So glad it is helpful! ~J
Cyndi Steen
Thank you so much for doing the math for me. White Flower was the last Chinese product to go from my list of regular purchases.
I was introduced to it 26 years ago while living in China for a year. Great product, but I don’t trust the Chinese to not poison me, sad to say. Now that Hong Kong is under the control of Beijing I just can’t trust even the HK production.
I use White Flower for headaches, topically all over my neck and glands when I know my immune system is working overtime and for bug bites, in addition to sore muscles. Thanks again and God bless you.
Jacqueline
Oh, Cyndi! I am so glad to know this has been helpful to you! Interesting insight on China! 😀
Blessings, Jacque
Cyndi Steen
Just read a story in the Epoch Times tonight that a Chinese textbook on Professional Ethics and Law just twisted the account of Jesus and the woman caught in adultery. In the CCP version they made Jesus out to be a murderer of the woman. How’s that for irony? A book on ethics. 🙄
I lived there a year and I could tell you story after story of absurdly dangerous situations. Most of those were from general carelessness and disregard for human life. Now? The CCP is aggressive and ruthless. They just passed legislation making people (even foreigners) who criticize them enemies of their state and even named some of our legislators. The CCP is no friend to the US.
Jacqueline
Cyndi, that is so sad to hear, but predictable from what we’ve seen in the past. China certainly disrespects human rights.
DavetteB
I finally got the menthol crystals to make this; it was on my mind because I had watched “Fresh Off the Boat” and the mom’s fix for everything is White Flower oil. 🙂 I reused a 10 ml bottle and added crystals until it was full. I never tried the original, but this worked nicely on my sore wrist (chronic tendonitis).
Thanks for sharing this.