Valerian (Valeriana officinalis)
Valerian is a musky, earthy root oil traditionally diffused in the evening to support a calm, sleep-ready atmosphere.
How to use it
2–3 drops before bed; blend with lavender or cedarwood to round out the intensity.
Dilute in a carrier oil and patch-test, as root oils vary batch to batch.
Safety in detail
- Max dermal use
- Dilute in a carrier oil for skin
- Phototoxic
- No
- A gentle oil, but with a famously heavy, earthy-musty aroma some find unpleasant — use sparingly in blends.
- Not phototoxic. Keep out of reach of children.
Sources: JEOR study (2009)
Composition & chemistry
Aggregated from 2 GC-MS samples across 2 peer-reviewed open-access studies (2010–2015). Figures are the distribution across those samples — median with interquartile range — not a single reading.
- Sesquiterpene hydrocarbon 27.7%
- Unclassified 24.7%
- Oxygenated sesquiterpene 20%
- Oxygenated monoterpene 17.1%
- Monoterpene hydrocarbon 4.8%
- Aliphatic / other 3.6%
- Other terpenoid/aromatic 2.1%
| Constituent | Median | Typical range | Max | Detected in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| calarene ↗ C15H24 | 25.3% | 25.3–25.3% | 25.3% | |
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| bornyl acetate ↗ C12H20O2 | 23.9% | 23.9–23.9% | 23.9% | |
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| α-selinene ↗ C15H24 | 7.3% | 7.3–7.3% | 7.3% | |
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| spathulenol ↗ C15H24O | 6.3% | 6.3–6.3% | 6.3% | |
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| patchoulol ↗ C15H26O | 5.9% | 5.9–5.9% | 5.9% | |
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| α-gurjunene ↗ C15H24 | 5.7% | 5.7–5.7% | 5.7% | |
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| guaiol ↗ C15H26O | 4.7% | 4.7–4.7% | 4.7% | |
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| α-thujene ↗ C10H16 | 4.2% | 4.2–4.2% | 4.2% | |
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| borneol ↗ C10H18O | 3.5% | 3.5–3.5% | 3.5% | |
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| globulol ↗ C15H26O | 3.0% | 3.0–3.0% | 3.0% | |
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| sabinene ↗ C10H16 | 2.5% | 2.5–2.5% | 2.5% | |
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| α-bulnesene ↗ C15H24 | 1.4% | 1.4–1.4% | 1.4% | |
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+ 14 more compounds reported across the dataset.
2 peer-reviewed sources behind these figures
- Chen HW, Wei BJ, He XH, Liu Y, Wang J. (2015). Chemical Components and Cardiovascular Activities of Valeriana spp. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM.
- Wang J, Zhao J, Liu H, Zhou L, Liu Z, Wang J, Han J, Yu Z, Yang F. (2010). Chemical analysis and biological activity of the essential oils of two valerianaceous species from China: Nardostachys chinensis and Valeriana officinalis. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland).
Every figure above traces to a named table in one of these open-access papers. How this was built →
- Bornyl acetate — the dominant ester in valerian oil, contributing to its warm, woody-balsamic (and to some, musty) aroma JEOR study (2009)
The root — not the leaves or flowers — is what's distilled into the oil.
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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Valerian root is a traditional sleep and calming herb; most sleep research uses oral extracts standardised to valerenic acids, not the inhaled essential oil. Aromatic use of the oil is soothing to many but is not the same as the studied extracts.
JEOR study (2009)
Evidence & sources
Peer-reviewed research on Valerian's chemistry and safety. These describe composition and documented effects — not health or treatment claims.
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Valerian oil is led by bornyl acetate and camphene; the valerenic acids linked to valerian's sleep research concentrate in extracts rather than the distilled oil.
JEOR study (2009)
Frequently asked questions
Will valerian oil help me sleep like the pills?
Not necessarily. Valerian's sleep research is mostly on oral extracts standardised to valerenic acids, which concentrate in extracts rather than the distilled oil. Diffusing the oil may feel soothing, but it isn't the same as the studied supplements. JEOR study (2009)
Why does valerian oil smell so strong?
Its heavy, earthy-musty aroma comes from its root-oil constituents. A little goes a very long way — most people use just a drop, blended with brighter oils, in an evening blend. JEOR study (2009)
Is valerian phototoxic?
No — valerian is a root oil with no phototoxic constituents, so there's no sun-exposure restriction. Dilute it for skin use as usual.
Gallery
Valerian (Valeriana officinalis) is distilled from the plant’s root, and the aroma reflects that — deep, earthy, and distinctly musky. It’s an acquired scent that some find grounding and others find a bit strong on its own.
The plant
Valerian is a flowering perennial native to Europe and parts of Asia, with a long history in traditional herbal practice, particularly around evening and bedtime routines. The root — rather than the leaves or flowers — is what’s distilled into essential oil, which is part of why its aroma is so different from the plant’s small, pale pink blossoms.
Aroma
Musky, earthy, and somewhat animalic, valerian root oil doesn’t resemble a typical “calming” floral or citrus scent at all — its intensity is part of its character, not a flaw.
In the diffuser
2–3 drops before bed is the traditional use. Because the aroma is intense, many people blend it with lavender, cedarwood, or a citrus oil to round out the profile rather than diffusing it alone.
On skin
Dilute before any topical application and patch-test, as root oils can vary in skin sensitivity from batch to batch.
Pairs well with
Lavender, cedarwood, and sweet orange are common partners, each softening valerian’s intensity while keeping its grounding base note in the mix.
Sourcing note
The strength and character of valerian oil is noticeably affected by growing region and distillation method, more so than lighter floral or citrus oils — a batch grown and distilled differently can smell meaningfully different, which is one more reason to buy from a documented source.
Found in these blends
Valerian is one of the oils inside 2 Young Living blends.