# Northern Lights Black Spruce essential oil

> Northern Lights Black Spruce is Young Living's own Alaska-grown spruce oil, with a grounding, evergreen aroma popular after activity.

Canonical page: https://essential-oils.club/oils/single/northern-lights-black-spruce

Type: Single oil

## At a glance

- **Botanical name:** Picea mariana
- **Plant part:** Needles and branch tips
- **Extraction:** Steam-distilled
- **Aroma:** Earthy, resinous, evergreen
- **Origin:** Alaska, USA
- **Blends with:** Wintergreen, peppermint

## Composition

- Bornyl acetate: 25%
- Camphene: 20%
- α-Pinene: 18%
- δ-3-Carene: 8%
- β-Pinene: 8%
- Limonene: 5%

Source: BioResources study on Picea mariana essential oil & hydrosol (2017) (https://doi.org/10.15376/biores.12.2.2635-2645)

## Key constituents

- **Bornyl acetate** (15-30%) — A sweet, pine-like ester characteristic of true spruce oils
- **Alpha-Pinene** (10-20%) — Contributes the crisp, evergreen top note
- **Camphene** — A minor terpene adding a cool, woody nuance

## How to use it

- **In the diffuser:** 3–5 drops creates a grounding, forest-like atmosphere for emotional calm and centering.
- **On skin:** Dilute to 2–4% in a carrier oil for post-activity massage blends.

## Safety

- For topical use, dilute in a carrier oil and keep out of reach of children.
- Maximum dermal use: Dilute in a carrier oil for skin.
- A gentle conifer oil; dilute before topical use. Store cool and sealed to prevent pinene oxidation.
- Not phototoxic. Keep out of reach of children.

## What the research says

- 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) (https://doi.org/10.15376/biores.12.2.2635-2645)

## Evidence

- Black spruce oil is a bornyl-acetate- and camphene-rich conifer needle oil, the basis of its crisp, forest-fresh aroma. — BioResources study (2017) (https://doi.org/10.15376/biores.12.2.2635-2645)

## 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.

### 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.

### Is black spruce phototoxic?

No — it isn't phototoxic, so there's no sun-exposure restriction. Dilute it for topical use as usual.

_Educational reference only — not medical advice. Essential oils are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease._