Yarrow Essential Oil: Uses, Skincare Benefits & Why Aromatherapists Love This Remarkable Blue Oil
- Dr Lucy
- Jun 15
- 5 min read
Updated: Jul 5
Most people encounter yarrow first as a wildflower.
They notice the feathery leaves, the delicate white flower heads and perhaps its long history in herbal medicine.
What they don't tend to expect is that this humble meadow plant produces one of the most striking essential oils in the entire aromatherapy world.
Deep blue in colour and rich in fascinating plant chemistry, yarrow essential oil has earned a loyal following among aromatherapists, herbalists and skincare formulators alike. Yet despite its growing popularity, many people still aren't entirely sure what it is, how to use it or where it fits within an aromatherapy collection.
So let's explore...
Why Is Yarrow Essential Oil Blue?
The first thing most people notice about yarrow essential oil is its extraordinary colour. Unlike the white flowers from which it is distilled, the essential oil is a rich sapphire blue thanks to a compound called chamazulene.
Interestingly, chamazulene isn't present in the fresh plant itself. It develops during the distillation process, transforming naturally occurring compounds within the plant into the vivid blue constituent that aromatherapists know and love. German chamomile is perhaps the best-known blue oil, but yarrow deserves equal attention.
Why Is Yarrow Essential Oil So Expensive?
One reason yarrow essential oil often surprises people is its price.
After all, yarrow grows abundantly across meadows, field margins and hedgerows throughout the UK. But the challenge lies in the yield.
Like many flowering herbs, yarrow produces only a relatively small amount of essential oil when distilled. Large quantities of plant material are required to produce even a modest amount of oil, making commercial production both labour-intensive and resource-intensive.
This is also why distilling yarrow at home is rarely practical. Most home distillers simply cannot process enough fresh plant material to obtain a meaningful amount of essential oil. For most herbalists, yarrow is far better suited to teas, tinctures and infused oils than home distillation.
How Can Yarrow Essential Oil Be Used?
Yarrow has a long history as a medicinal herb, but in aromatherapy it tends to be appreciated for slightly different reasons.
Its distinctive chemistry has made it particularly popular in skincare, massage blends and restorative body oils.
Some aromatherapists incorporate yarrow into:
Facial oils and serums
Botanical skincare formulations
Massage blends
After-sun preparations
Aromatherapy body oils
Emotional wellbeing rituals
Unlike oils chosen primarily for their fragrance, yarrow is often selected because of what it contributes to a formulation. In many ways, it is a working oil rather than a perfume oil.
Where Does Yarrow Fit In A Skincare Collection?
One of the most useful questions to ask about any oil is:
"When would I choose this over something else?"
If My Skin Is Dry...
I would usually start with a carrier oil.
Rosehip, argan, jojoba and castor oil all play important roles in supporting hydration and maintaining the skin barrier.
Yarrow is not primarily a moisturising oil.
If My Skin Is Extremely Sensitive...
German chamomile would often be my first thought.
Its reputation for supporting delicate and reactive skin is well established within aromatherapy.
If I'm Thinking About Tissue Repair...
Helichrysum is often the classic aromatherapy choice.
Its association with tissue support and recovery has made it a favourite among many practitioners.
So When Do I Reach For Yarrow?
For me, yarrow sits in a category of its own.
I reach for it when skin feels stressed rather than simply dry.
After too much sun.
After travel.
During periods of stress.
When skin appears dull, depleted or tired.
When I'm looking for support and restoration rather than intensive treatment.
That's where yarrow makes the most sense to me.
What Is Yarrow|Pom®?
Most of my personal experience with yarrow comes through Yarrow|Pom®, which combines yarrow essential oil with pomegranate seed oil.
It's important to understand that this is not the same thing as pure yarrow essential oil. Pure yarrow essential oil is highly concentrated and, like most essential oils, would normally require dilution before being applied to larger areas of skin.
Yarrow|Pom takes care of that step by combining the essential oil with pomegranate seed oil, creating a product that sits somewhere between an aromatherapy oil and a facial oil.
This is one of the reasons I enjoy working with it. Rather than reaching for a carrier oil and creating a blend every time, it is already prepared in a way that feels practical for everyday use.
When Do I Personally Reach For Yarrow|Pom®?
I don't use it every day, nor do I think it belongs in every skincare routine.
But there are certain situations where I consistently find myself reaching for it.
After long days outdoors
During periods of stress
When my skin feels tired or depleted
As part of an evening facial massage ritual
During gua sha treatments
Whenever I want my skincare routine to feel a little more intentional
What I appreciate most is that it bridges two worlds I care deeply about.
On one hand, there is the traditional medicinal herb growing wild in summer meadows. On the other, there is modern aromatherapy and botanical skincare.
Few plants move between those worlds quite as beautifully as yarrow.
The Emotional Side of Yarrow
Beyond its physical applications, yarrow has developed a fascinating reputation within energetic herbalism and aromatherapy.
Interestingly, many of these associations mirror the plant's traditional folklore. For centuries, yarrow was carried as a protective herb. It was hung over doorways, tucked into travellers' belongings and used in rituals connected with courage, divination and personal strength.
Modern aromatherapists often describe similar themes when working with yarrow. Rather than being an oil of relaxation or comfort, yarrow is frequently associated with healthy boundaries, resilience and maintaining a sense of self during challenging periods.
It has been called "the herb of the wounded healer" and I sometimes think of it as an oil for people who spend a great deal of time caring for others.
The therapists.
The healers.
The parents.
The people who are constantly giving their energy away.
Whether viewed through the lens of folklore, energetics or personal reflection, yarrow seems to carry a recurring message: Remain open, but don't lose yourself in the process.
Of course, these emotional and energetic associations are deeply personal and cannot be measured in the same way as chemistry or clinical research. Nevertheless, they remain one of the reasons many aromatherapists feel such a strong connection to this remarkable plant.
Is Yarrow Essential Oil Worth Exploring?
If your interest lies purely in fragrance, perhaps not.
But if you are fascinated by the meeting point of herbal medicine, plant chemistry, skincare and aromatherapy, yarrow is one of the most intriguing oils available. It may never achieve the popularity of lavender or frankincense, but perhaps that is part of its appeal.
Like the wildflower itself, it quietly rewards those who take the time to get to know it.
What a wonderfully gentle but thoughtful and informative article.
It’s all to easy to to stick with your ‘favourite or regular’ choices but this has inspired me to look a little further and harmonise with this shy but highly valued rich essential oil. 💖