Spikenard Essential Oil (Nardostachys jatamansi (D.Don) DC.)

Its aroma is dark, mossy, and gently sweet — rooted in earth, warmed by resin, and softened by herbaceous calm. A prized material in high perfumery and aromatherapeutic grounding work, it has been revered for centuries for its deeply centring presence.

Why you’ll love it:

• Perfumery depth — adds ancient-earth warmth and meditative character to woods, incense, leather, and amber bases
• Grounding aromatherapy — calming, stabilising, and ideal for stress relief, sleep blends, yoga, and meditation rituals
• Traditionally sourced from Nepalese communities using long-established harvesting practices

• Earthy: deep root character with ancient warmth
• Mossy: cool green darkness and forest softness
• Balsamic: resinous warmth with depth
• Herbal sweetness: a gentle, calming lift
• Soft resin: meditative richness and stillness

Strength: Medium-strong · Perfume note: Base

A deep, grounding aroma that feels calm, ancient, and quietly stabilising.

• Perfumery: 0.2–3% of concentrate; pairs beautifully with cedarwood, vetiver, patchouli, frankincense, labdanum, tonka, and sandalwood.
• Aromatherapy: 1–2 drops in carrier oil for grounding blends; excellent in bedtime formulations.
• Diffusion: 3–5 drops per 100 ml water for a calming, meditative atmosphere.

Blends beautifully with

Cedarwood, sandalwood, patchouli, vetiver, frankincense, myrrh, labdanum, tonka bean, oakmoss, black pepper, ginger, rose, and amber accords.

Botanical

Nardostachys jatamansi

Plant part

Roots and rhizomes

Extraction

Steam distillation (essential oil)

Origin

Nepal

Appearance

Dark amber to brown; viscous

Solubility

Oil-soluble; miscible in perfumer’s alcohol

Ethically sourced

Cultivated by traditional communities in Nepal, supporting sustainable harvesting of Nardostachys jatamansi roots and responsible land management practices.

Safety

For external use only. Dilute before skin application. Avoid during pregnancy or with specific medical conditions unless advised by a professional. Keep away from children.

Spikenard has been valued for thousands of years as a precious aromatic oil. The plant, Nardostachys jatamansi, grows in the Himalayan regions of Nepal, India, and Bhutan, where its roots have traditionally been distilled to produce a deep, earthy fragrance.

In the ancient world, spikenard was regarded as one of the most luxurious perfumes. It was traded along historic spice routes and used by the Romans, Egyptians, and peoples of the Middle East in perfumery, incense, and ceremonial anointing oils.

Spikenard is also widely known from biblical texts. In the Gospel of John (12:3), a jar of pure nard perfume was used to anoint the feet of Jesus shortly before the Passover. Because of this reference, the fragrance has long held symbolic meaning in Christian tradition and is sometimes used today during Lent or in devotional settings.

Beyond religious contexts, spikenard has been used in traditional Himalayan herbal practices and in historical perfumery for its distinctive, grounding aroma.

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