Laurel Leaf (Bay)

Origin: Morocco

Sizes: 5mL, 15mL, 120mL

Botanical Family: Lauraceae

Latin Name: Laurus nobilis

Description: Laurel leaf picks you up with its camphorous, spicy, yet slightly sweet and herbal aroma. It is an aroma that feels energizing yet calming as you breath it in. My aromatherapy peers and I call this essence "The Queen of the Lymphatic system"! Laurel is often thought of as a protector with much folklore and historical reference within Greek mythology. This protection shows up in laurel's medicinal properties as an immune system tonic and stimulant, respiratory aid, anti-viral, anti-bacterial, anti-septic, anti-fungal, analgesic, anti-spasmatic, and a digestive aid. This essence can be a useful remedy for strengthening appropriate and healthy personal boundaries, as well as an emotional remedy for healing feelings of shame, guilt or humiliation. Laurel brings us courage, motivation and strengthens a positive self-image. It assists us with mental clarity and focus, is uplifting yet eases anxiety, bringing balance to the heart.

Here is an excerpt from a paper written by aromatherapist Rachel Jackson on Bay Laurel in 2014 -

“In both Greek and Roman mythology, the laurel tree is spoken of with great significance. It is most commonly known for its role in the tale of the nymph Daphne and the Olympian god Apollo. There are several versions of this story. The general narrative is that Apollo became infatuated with Daphne because of her great beauty and mystical nature, but Daphne fled from his pursuit to the forests and the rivers where she preferred to dwell among the trees. Most nymphs are typically known as divine spirits who animate nature and like nature Daphne yearned to remain free and wild. Apollo persisted in his pursuit, and just before being overtaken, Daphne pleaded to her father, the river god Ladon, for help. He then transformed her into a laurel tree. In her new form, Daphne remains wild and free, dwelling among the forests she loves, and protected from the lust of Apollo. The laurel became sacred to Apollo. In early Greece, a suit of athletic competitions was held annually to honor the god Apollo. The prize for each of these competitions was a crowning wreath of bay laurel. Roman culture embraced the laurel as a symbol of victory, and even to this day in Greece, Daphne is the common name for the bay tree. From this story, it is also revealed how the bay laurel came to be associated with courage, protection, warding off unwanted guests (hence the term to keep some one or something “at bay”), and supporting the process of transformation.

In modern society, the history of the bay laurel still carries on. The Latin word baccalaureus translates as laurel berry and is where the title baccalaureate originated from. A poet laureate is so named for his or her significant literary contributions. The phrase “rest on your laurels” means that one can rest on the accumulation of previous successes, or even knowledge and experiences, to carry them along their path of continued success. When someone uses the phrase “look to your laurels” this means one must reflect upon the action he/she is about to take; that it might lead to a fall from one’s previously acquired successes and the honorable reputation he/she has earned. In this way, Laurus Nobilis continues to impress upon us her great legacy of honor and nobility, and remind us that we can call upon her in times when these qualities might need cultivating within our lives.”