Northern Lights Black Spruce (Picea mariana)
Northern Lights Black Spruce is Young Living's own Alaska-grown spruce oil, with a grounding, evergreen aroma popular after activity.
How to use it
3–5 drops creates a grounding, forest-like atmosphere for emotional calm and centering.
Dilute to 2–4% in a carrier oil for post-activity massage blends.
Safety in detail
- Max dermal use
- Dilute in a carrier oil for skin
- Phototoxic
- No
- A gentle conifer oil; dilute before topical use. Store cool and sealed to prevent pinene oxidation.
- Not phototoxic. Keep out of reach of children.
Sources: BioResources study (2017)
Composition & chemistry
- Bornyl acetate 25%
- Camphene 20%
- α-Pinene 18%
- δ-3-Carene 8%
- β-Pinene 8%
- Limonene 5%
- Other minor constituents 16%
- Bornyl acetate — a soft, pine-forest ester characteristic of spruce and fir needle oils, contributing to their calming, woody-fresh scent BioResources study (2017)
Steam-distilled black spruce (Picea mariana) needle oil; a classic conifer profile of bornyl acetate, camphene, and the pinenes.
Source: BioResources study on Picea mariana essential oil & hydrosol (2017)Distilled from trees Young Living grows and harvests on its own farm in Alaska.
What the research says
An honest read of the published research — what has actually been studied, at what stage. Not medical advice or a promise of results.
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Black spruce needle oil has been characterised chemically and studied for antimicrobial activity in the laboratory. Its fresh, grounding reputation is traditional and preliminary rather than clinically established.
BioResources study (2017)
Evidence & sources
Peer-reviewed research on Northern Lights Black Spruce's chemistry and safety. These describe composition and documented effects — not health or treatment claims.
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Black spruce oil is a bornyl-acetate- and camphene-rich conifer needle oil, the basis of its crisp, forest-fresh aroma.
BioResources study (2017)
Frequently asked questions
What does black spruce smell like?
Crisp, fresh, and grounding — a true 'forest' conifer aroma from its bornyl acetate, camphene, and pinene content. It's popular in grounding and evening blends. BioResources study (2017)
Does black spruce oil oxidise?
Yes — like other pinene-rich conifer oils it oxidises over time, and oxidised oil is more likely to irritate skin. Store it cool, sealed, and out of light. BioResources study (2017)
Is black spruce phototoxic?
No — it isn't phototoxic, so there's no sun-exposure restriction. Dilute it for topical use as usual.
Gallery
The tree & source
Black spruce (Picea mariana) is a slow-growing conifer native to the boreal forests of Canada and the far northern United States, tolerant of cold, boggy, nutrient-poor ground where few other trees survive. Young Living’s Northern Lights Black Spruce is distilled from trees the company grows and harvests on its own farm in Alaska, part of its vertically integrated “seed to seal” sourcing model — a point of traceability that sets this bottle apart from generic “black spruce” oils on the wider market.
How it’s extracted
The oil is steam-distilled from the needles and branch tips, which carry a concentrated dose of the resinous compounds responsible for spruce’s deep, evergreen character.
Aroma
Earthy, resinous, and distinctly evergreen — richer and more grounded than typical pine or fir oils, closer to the smell of standing inside a spruce forest than a simple “Christmas tree” note.
Traditional & everyday uses
Northern peoples across the boreal forest region have long incorporated spruce needles and tips into traditional teas and tonics as part of everyday plant knowledge suited to a short growing season. In modern use, the oil shows up mostly in the diffuser and in massage blends.
In the diffuser: 3–5 drops creates a grounding, forest-like atmosphere, popular in blends aimed at emotional calm and centering.
On skin: dilute to 2–4% in a carrier oil for use in post-activity massage blends, where its earthy aroma pairs well with wintergreen or peppermint.
Sourcing note
The farm-to-bottle traceability here is part of what distinguishes this oil from generic “black spruce” oils on the market, where species and growing region are often unclear.
Found in these blends
Northern Lights Black Spruce is one of the oils inside 23 Young Living blends.