Updated 8/15/24
Meet May Chang! The sweet little sister of the Lemongrass fragrance, May Chang, or Litsea Cubeba, is a citrus-scented plant that is also known as the Mountain Pepper. Smell it once and it may become your new favorite natural citrus scent with so many uses in natural cleaning recipes, natural bodycare, perfumery, and aromatherapy.
How to use May Chang essential oil for aromatherapy benefits, cleaning, and skin care
May Chang / Litsea Cubeba is a member of the Lauraceae family, native to regions of Southeast Asia and grows as a tree or shrub. Although grown extensively in Japan and Taiwan, China is the largest producer and exporter. The tree bears petite white and yellow flowers, which bloom from March to April each growing season. The fruit, flower and leaves are processed for essential oil, and the timber can be used for furniture or construction. Most essential oil used in aromatherapy is usually coming from the fruit of the plant.
May Chang / Litsea Cubeba essential oil is widely used in the perfume and cosmetic industries and due to its lemony aroma, it is often used an an alternative citrus ingredient and can be a base note for more complex citrus fragrances. The citrus refreshing scent is uplifting, making it a good option for cleaning products.
The oil of the fruit is mobile and easily pourable and has a pale yellow color. The primary compound in the essential oil is citral which is usually mixed as citral and geranial, its cis-trans isomeric forms. May Chang may be a preferable blending oil versus Lemongrass because Lemongrass occasionally has compounds that cause a more earthy aroma. Smell these two oils side by side and you'll see why the potent citral content of May Chang / Litsea Cubeba really shines for a natural citrus scent!
May Chang Essential Oil Benefits:
Energetically May Chang is emotionally refreshing with a cool radiant energy. If you need to do some space clearing and rid yourself of some stagnant vibrations this essential oil will help you accomplish that. It would make an ideal companion to a sage smudge. If you've just moved a housemate out or just need to reset your space to boost your creativity you can use this oil to help your efforts.
Adding this stimulating and balancing essential oil to your natural bodycare, housecleaning and aromatherapy routine will bring fresh energy, clear the mind of cloudy thoughts, improve focus and alleviate stress.
Aromatherapy Blending:
The natural citrus scent of May Chang blends exceptionally well with the following essential oils:
Basil, Bay, Black Pepper, Cardamom, Cedarwood, Clary Sage, Cypress, Frankincense, Geranium, Grapefruit, Orange, Palmarosa, Patchouli, Sandalwood, Tea Tree, Thyme, Vetiver, Ylang Ylang.
How to use May Chang essential oil:
1. Natural facial care recipe
- Add 1 drop of May Chang oil to a squirt or two of any plain gel or cream facial cleanser and work into the skin. Litsea cubeba oil will help maintain a healthy microbiome on the skin and is a good pore cleansing oil.
- You can also add a few drops of May Chang oil to your facial steam water for detox and cleansing effects. Essential oils are easily carried upward into the steam because they are volatile oils. For a
facial steam tutorial you can find one on our Youtube channel.
2. Natural bodycare recipe
- Put 6 to 12 drops of the essential oil per ounce of a plain base oil like grapeseed oil or apricot kernel oil and turn it into a fragrant, deodorizing, and luxurious natural bodycare treat without chemicals or harsh ingredients. This is particularly lovely for after bathing in the wintertime to seal valuable moisture into skin.
3. Natural cleaning recipe
- Use May Chang on its own or combine with Tea Tree oil to make the house smell divine and squeaky clean. A few drops in mop water will have your floors shiny and citrusy-smelling in no time. We recommend using a cleansing agent in the water to help diffuse the oil. Essential oils can damage wood finishes if used in too great of concentration, so 3-5 drops per bucket of mop water is a great place to start to test on your floors.
For soap and candlemakers, May Chang offers a strong and sweet aroma that mixes well with orange or lemon essential oil.
May Chang essential oil uses:
Use May Chang essential oil in perfumes, insect repellents, body fragrances, incense, skin care products, potpourri, deodorizers, laundry products, shampoos, conditioners, massage oils, hair products, tonic, candles, soap making, sprays, cosmetics, aromatherapy products, bath oils, creams, and air fresheners.
Essential oil safety information: Never use May Chang / Litsea Cubeba undiluted, as a good rule of thumb for all essential oils. Avoid the eye area or mucus membranes, and do not take internally. Keep away from children. Always perform a patch test on the skin after proper dilution in a carrier oil such as Grape Seed, Avocado, Sesame or Jojoba.
You can buy essential oils online through our aromatherapy store. We offer this pure essential oil and many others.
Disclaimer: The information contained on this site is general in nature and for informational purposes. It is not meant to substitute for the advice provided by your own physician or other medical professional. None of the statements on this site are a recommendation as to how to treat any particular disease or health-related condition. If you suspect you have a disease or health-related condition of any kind, you should contact your health care professional immediately. Please read all product packaging carefully and consult with a healthcare professional before starting any diet, exercise, supplementation or medication program. Cosmetic products have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease.