# Valerian essential oil

> Valerian is a musky, earthy root oil traditionally diffused in the evening to support a calm, sleep-ready atmosphere.

Canonical page: https://essential-oils.club/oils/single/valerian

Type: Single oil

## At a glance

- **Botanical name:** Valeriana officinalis
- **Plant part:** Root
- **Extraction:** Steam-distilled
- **Aroma:** Musky, earthy, animalic
- **Origin:** Europe and Asia
- **Blends with:** Lavender, cedarwood, sweet orange

## Composition (GC-MS research aggregate)

Based on 2 GC-MS samples from 2 peer-reviewed papers (2010–2015); Limited evidence base. 26 compounds reported in total. Typical share of the oil (median, with interquartile range):

| Compound | Class | Median % | IQR % | Max % | Papers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| calarene | Sesquiterpene hydrocarbon | 25.31 | 25.31–25.31 | 25.31 | 1 |
| bornyl acetate | Oxygenated monoterpene | 23.93 | 23.93–23.93 | 23.93 | 1 |
| α-selinene | Sesquiterpene hydrocarbon | 7.32 | 7.32–7.32 | 7.32 | 1 |
| spathulenol | Oxygenated sesquiterpene | 6.28 | 6.28–6.28 | 6.28 | 1 |
| patchoulol | Oxygenated sesquiterpene | 5.87 | 5.87–5.87 | 5.87 | 1 |
| α-gurjunene | Sesquiterpene hydrocarbon | 5.72 | 5.72–5.72 | 5.72 | 1 |
| guaiol | Oxygenated sesquiterpene | 4.73 | 4.73–4.73 | 4.73 | 1 |
| α-thujene | Monoterpene hydrocarbon | 4.18 | 4.18–4.18 | 4.18 | 1 |
| borneol | Oxygenated monoterpene | 3.54 | 3.54–3.54 | 3.54 | 1 |
| globulol | Oxygenated sesquiterpene | 2.96 | 2.96–2.96 | 2.96 | 1 |
| sabinene | Monoterpene hydrocarbon | 2.55 | 2.55–2.55 | 2.55 | 1 |
| α-bulnesene | Sesquiterpene hydrocarbon | 1.38 | 1.38–1.38 | 1.38 | 1 |

Chemotypes seen in the samples: bornyl acetate (50% of samples), calarene (50% of samples).

## Key constituents

- **Bornyl acetate** — Common root-oil ester contributing to the musky, earthy base note
- **Valerenic acid** — Characteristic sesquiterpene acid unique to valerian root

## How to use it

- **In the diffuser:** 2–3 drops before bed; blend with lavender or cedarwood to round out the intensity.
- **On skin:** Dilute in a carrier oil and patch-test, as root oils vary batch to batch.

## 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 oil, but with a famously heavy, earthy-musty aroma some find unpleasant — use sparingly in blends.
- Not phototoxic. Keep out of reach of children.

## What the research says

- 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) (https://doi.org/10.1080/10412905.2009.9700206)

## Evidence

- 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) (https://doi.org/10.1080/10412905.2009.9700206)

## 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.

### 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.

### 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.

## Sources (GC-MS studies)

- Chen HW, Wei BJ, He XH, Liu Y, Wang J. Chemical Components and Cardiovascular Activities of Valeriana spp. _Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM_, 2015. https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC4695638
- Wang J, Zhao J, Liu H, Zhou L, Liu Z, Wang J, Han J, Yu Z, Yang F. Chemical analysis and biological activity of the essential oils of two valerianaceous species from China: Nardostachys chinensis and Valeriana officinalis. _Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)_, 2010. https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC6257676

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