What is Thieves Essential Oil?

Thieves Essential Oil is an aromatic blend rather than a single oil, built in the traditional "Thieves" style from clove (Syzygium aromaticum), cinnamon (Cinnamomum species), lemon (Citrus limon), rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis), and eucalyptus (Eucalyptus species). The result is a warm, spicy, herbaceous, and citrusy scent.

About the blend and its legend

The blend takes its name from a romanticized tale set in plague-era France, in which a band of thieves who robbed the sick were said to have avoided illness by anointing themselves with an aromatic vinegar of clove, cinnamon, and other warming herbs. Whether the story is literally true is doubtful, but it has been retold across European plague traditions for centuries, and the warm spice-and-citrus combination it inspired has become a beloved seasonal aromatic. We make no health claims about the blend; it is offered as an aromatic and fragrance product.

Aroma and character

The aroma of Thieves oil is warm and spicy from the clove and cinnamon, herbaceous from the rosemary and eucalyptus, and brightened by lemon.

Related essential oils

• Clove Bud Essential Oil — a warm, eugenol-rich component of the blend.
• Cinnamon Leaf Essential Oil — a clove-like cinnamon oil.
• Eucalyptus Essential Oil — the sharp, fresh note in the blend.

Thieves Essential Oil: form

We carry Thieves oil bottled as a ready-made aromatic blend.

Safety and handling

Because it contains clove and cinnamon oils, which are high in eugenol and cinnamaldehyde, Thieves oil should be well diluted in a carrier oil before any topical use and kept away from the eyes. Store it tightly capped and out of reach of children and pets. This blend is not intended for internal use.

Thieves Essential Oil at a glance

Product type

Essential oil blend

Typical components

Clove, cinnamon, lemon, rosemary, eucalyptus

Aroma

Warm, spicy, herbaceous, citrusy