Celery Seed Oil: Scent, Origin and Uses of the Essential Oil
Celery oil sounds like vegetable soup at first – and that’s exactly what makes it so intriguing. This essential oil is obtained from celery seeds and has a fresh, spicy, herbaceous scent with a clear, distinctive note. There’s hardly any information about it online. Here you’ll learn what celery oil is, what it smells like, how to use it and what to keep in mind.
What is celery oil?
Celery oil is the essential oil of celery (botanical name: Apium graveolens). Celery belongs to the carrot family (Apiaceae) – like dill, fennel, caraway and lovage. In the kitchen, we mainly know celeriac and stalk celery. For the essential oil, however, neither the root nor the stalks are used, but the small brownish seeds of the plant.
Our celery oil is obtained from celery seeds by steam distillation: steam flows through the crushed seeds, picks up the volatile aromatic compounds and is then cooled so that the essential oil separates from the water. Our celery oil comes from India.
Celery is an ancient cultivated plant. In ancient Greece, wild celery was called selinon, and at the Nemean Games the winners were traditionally honoured with wreaths of celery. Celery seeds are still a classic spice today – for example in celery salt or spice blends. The essential oil captures exactly this spicy, clear seed aroma.
The scent: fresh, spicy, herbaceous
Celery oil smells fresh and spicy, with a clear, herbaceous note that immediately recalls celery – only more concentrated and warmer. It belongs to the herbaceous-spicy family of oils.
- Top note: fresh, green, clear
- Heart note: spicy and herbaceous, typically celery
- Base note: warm, slightly earthy and sweet
Lovage oil smells similar, but stronger and earthier. Celery oil is somewhat clearer and fresher. Dosed sparingly, it gives blends with citrus and herbal oils an unusual, natural spiciness.
Ways to use celery oil
- Diffuser: 1–2 drops in 150–200 ml of water are enough for an average room. The scent is intense – better to start small. More on dosage in our guide Essential oils in the diffuser.
- Oil burner: 1–2 drops in the water bowl. The oil is flammable, so never put it directly onto hot surfaces and never leave the oil burner unattended.
- Room spray: One drop of celery oil in a homemade room spray with citrus oils adds a fresh, green note.
- Aroma stone or scent wood: 1 drop for a subtle, spicy accent.
- Scented massage oil: For a massage oil blend, add 2–3 drops of celery oil to 10 ml of carrier oil – always diluted and only after a patch test (see safety information). This way you can enjoy the scent during a massage.
Scent blends with celery oil
The following recipes are designed for a diffuser with 150–200 ml of water:
1. Green garden
2. Clear freshness
- 1 drop celery oil
- 2 drops grapefruit oil
- 1 drop peppermint oil
3. Spicy breeze
- 1 drop celery oil
- 2 drops lime oil
- 1 drop coriander seed oil
Fancy a ready-made, herbaceous-fresh composition? Our blend Fresh Spirit can be given a green, spicy facet with a single drop of celery oil.
Safety information
Celery oil is highly concentrated. Please observe the hazard statements on the label:
- Never apply neat to the skin: Undiluted, the oil causes skin irritation. Always dilute it – 2–3 drops in 10 ml of carrier oil, e.g. almond oil or jojoba oil.
- Patch test: Celery oil may cause allergic skin reactions. Test the diluted blend on a small area on the inside of your elbow first and wait 24 hours.
- Celery allergy: In the EU, celery is one of the food allergens that must be declared. If you know you are allergic to celery, do not use the oil.
- Do not ingest: May be fatal if swallowed and enters the airways. If swallowed, call a poison centre or doctor immediately and do not induce vomiting.
- Flammable: Keep away from heat, sparks and open flames; use in well-ventilated rooms.
- Children: Keep out of the reach of children.
- Pregnancy and breastfeeding: Please consult a qualified professional before use.
- Pets: Cats in particular are sensitive to essential oils. More on this in Essential oils and pets.
- Environment: Very toxic to aquatic life – take leftovers to a waste collection point.
Stored cool, tightly closed and protected from light, your oil lasts longest – all tips in Storing essential oils correctly.
Buying celery oil: what to look for
- Botanical name: Apium graveolens should be on the label.
- Plant part: Celery essential oil is usually obtained from the seeds – this information belongs on the label.
- 100% pure: no additives, no synthetic fragrances, not diluted with carrier oil.
- Origin and batch: Country of origin and batch number ensure traceability.
- Amber glass: A light-protected bottle with dropper.
What else matters is explained in Buying essential oils: how to recognise real quality.
Our celery oil is 100% pure, steam-distilled from the seeds of Apium graveolens from India, and hand-filled in Germany – available in 10 ml, 50 ml, 100 ml and 500 ml amber glass bottles with dropper.
Frequently asked questions about celery oil
What does celery oil smell like?
Fresh, spicy and herbaceous, with a clear celery note and a warm, slightly earthy base. It is intense and works best when dosed sparingly.
Can you use celery oil for cooking?
No. Our celery essential oil is intended for room fragrance and diluted external use and is not suitable for consumption. For the kitchen, use fresh celery or dried celery seeds as a spice.
Is celery oil made from the root?
No. Our celery oil is distilled from the seeds of the celery plant, not from the root or stalks.
How many drops of celery oil go in the diffuser?
1–2 drops in 150–200 ml of water. In blends, one drop alongside other oils is usually enough.
What can you combine celery oil with?
Citrus oils such as lemon, lime and grapefruit work well, as do herbaceous oils such as basil and peppermint, and spicy seed oils such as coriander.
Where does your celery oil come from?
From India. It is obtained from the seeds by steam distillation and hand-filled in Germany.
🌿 Casse-Q – natural oils with character
For everyone who loves natural freshness and unusual spice. Discover our celery oil – a drop full of clarity.
