What Is Fir? An Introduction to Fir Essential Oil

An essential oil with a clear scent and a fresh resinous, balsamic aroma. It has anti-scorbutic, antibacterial, expectorant, lung-clearing and sedative properties.

Fir trees grow mainly in the north and come in many varieties. They all have feathery leaves, with cones growing on the V-shaped branches. Although they often appear in the north, some species can also grow in southern countries, such as Mexico and Algeria. Resinous fir essential oil is generally extracted from the species Abies balsamea, which comes from the United States and Canada.

Another species, Siberian fir (Abies sibirica), grows in Russia, and older needles can yield more essential oil through distillation. There is also a species called grand fir (Abies grandis) which, when crushed, releases a strong sweet orange scent.

Legend

At the beginning of this century, many small rural industries in Russia still produced fir essential oil on a fairly large scale. The "balm of Gilead" in the Bible refers to the tree Abies balsamea; this fir has durable wood and was often used in the past to build houses and ships. The Indians of the Americas used fir resin for medical and religious purposes, and it was only introduced to Europe in the 17th century. Its current uses include bathroom products such as shaving cream, soap, bath products, room fresheners, deodorants, disinfectants and inhalants.