# Palo Santo essential oil

> Palo Santo — "holy wood" — is a sweet, woodsy single oil from South America, traditionally burned or diffused for its calming aroma.

Canonical page: https://essential-oils.club/oils/single/palo-santo

Type: Single oil

## At a glance

- **Botanical name:** Bursera graveolens
- **Plant part:** Aged fallen wood
- **Extraction:** Steam-distilled
- **Aroma:** Sweet, resinous, woody
- **Origin:** Ecuador and Peru
- **Blends with:** Frankincense, myrrh

## Composition (GC-MS research aggregate)

Based on 1 GC-MS samples from 1 peer-reviewed papers (2023–2023); Limited evidence base. 11 compounds reported in total. Typical share of the oil (median, with interquartile range):

| Compound | Class | Median % | IQR % | Max % | Papers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (e)-methyl cinnamate | Phenylpropanoid / aromatic | 19.3 | 19.3–19.3 | 19.3 | 1 |
| β-caryophyllene | Sesquiterpene hydrocarbon | 15.8 | 15.8–15.8 | 15.8 | 1 |
| cinnamyl acetate | Phenylpropanoid / aromatic | 12.5 | 12.5–12.5 | 12.5 | 1 |
| cinnamaldehyde | Phenylpropanoid / aromatic | 10 | 10–10 | 10 | 1 |
| β-selinene | Sesquiterpene hydrocarbon | 5.8 | 5.8–5.8 | 5.8 | 1 |
| α-copaene | Sesquiterpene hydrocarbon | 4.5 | 4.5–4.5 | 4.5 | 1 |
| bicyclogermacrene | Sesquiterpene hydrocarbon | 4.2 | 4.2–4.2 | 4.2 | 1 |
| caryophyllene oxide | Oxygenated sesquiterpene | 2.5 | 2.5–2.5 | 2.5 | 1 |
| α-pinene | Monoterpene hydrocarbon | 1.6 | 1.6–1.6 | 1.6 | 1 |
| β-pinene | Monoterpene hydrocarbon | 1.3 | 1.3–1.3 | 1.3 | 1 |
| 1,8-cineole | Oxygenated monoterpene | 1.3 | 1.3–1.3 | 1.3 | 1 |

Chemotypes seen in the samples: (e)-methyl cinnamate (100% of samples).

## Key constituents

- **Limonene** (40-60%) — A major compound contributing a bright, citrus-like undertone to palo santo's woodsy scent
- **Alpha-Terpineol** (10-20%) — Adds a soft, lilac-like sweetness beneath the woody top notes

## How to use it

- **In the diffuser:** 3–5 drops creates a grounding, meditative atmosphere; blends naturally with frankincense.
- **On skin:** Dilute to 2–4% in a carrier oil for massage or skin-care use, and patch-test first.

## Safety

- Dilute to 2–4% in a carrier oil, patch-test as with any new oil, and keep out of reach of children.
- Maximum dermal use: Dilute in a carrier oil for skin.
- A gentle oil; dilute before topical use as usual.
- Choose sustainably sourced palo santo — it should come from naturally fallen wood, not felled trees.
- Not phototoxic. Keep out of reach of children.

## What the research says

- Palo santo oil has been characterised chemically and examined for enzyme-inhibition and other activities in the laboratory. Its traditional 'cleansing' use is cultural and preliminary, not a clinical health claim. — BLACPMA study (2022) (https://doi.org/10.37360/blacpma.22.21.4.28)

## Evidence

- Palo santo is unusual among wood oils in being limonene-dominant, which gives it a bright, sweet-citrus edge over its warm, resinous wood base. — BLACPMA study (2022) (https://doi.org/10.37360/blacpma.22.21.4.28)

## Frequently asked questions

### Why does palo santo smell citrusy for a wood?

Because it's dominated by limonene — the same terpene that makes citrus peels smell bright. That's unusual for a wood oil and gives palo santo its distinctive sweet, resinous-yet-citrusy character.

### Is palo santo sustainable?

It can be, when the oil comes from naturally fallen wood aged on the forest floor rather than felled trees. Because demand has raised concerns, look for suppliers who document sustainable, fallen-wood sourcing.

### Is palo santo phototoxic?

No — despite being limonene-rich, palo santo is a distilled wood oil and isn't considered phototoxic. Dilute it for skin use as usual.

## Sources (GC-MS studies)

- Sosa L, Espinoza LC, Valarezo E, Bozal N, Calpena A, Fábrega MJ, Baldomà L, Rincón M, Mallandrich M. Therapeutic Applications of Essential Oils from Native and Cultivated Ecuadorian Plants: Cutaneous Candidiasis and Dermal Anti-Inflammatory Activity. _Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)_, 2023. https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC10420932

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