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Thieves® Essential Oil Blend Uses & Benefits

What is Thieves® essential oil blend, and what is it good for?

As you dive into the world of essential oils, you’ve probably heard about the legendary Thieves® essential oil blend and its benefits and properties. So what is Thieves essential oil blend, where did it come from, and what is it good for?

Let’s start with “What is Thieves essential oil blend?” The Young Living® proprietary Thieves blend of combines spicy Clove, zesty Lemon, warm Cinnamon Bark, invigorating Eucalyptus Radiata, and herbaceous Rosemary essential oils into a fan fave with a rich, sweet aroma.

What is the origin of Thieves oil blend? Essential oil users find the Thieves blend’s history particularly fascinating because of the legends surrounding its purported origins in 15th-century France, at the height of the bubonic plague. Both contagious and deadly, this four-year pandemic killed millions across Europe and Asia, infecting both patients and doctors alike.

During that time, four thieves were caught and brought before a judge. It came to light that they had gone house to house, robbing the sick and dying. The judge on the case took a special interest because the thieves, despite coming in close contact with plague victims, somehow miraculously never caught the plague themselves. Intrigued, the judge offered the thieves a deal. The typical punishment for the crimes they committed was death by fire. The judge told the thieves he wouldn’t have them burned to death if they would share how they stayed free of the plague.

The thieves confessed that they were merchants who specialized in spices and perfumes. With the ports closed because of the plague, they had turned to robbery. Assuming they might be able to avoid the plague, they used a plant and plant-extract combination t hat they applied to their hands, faces, feet, and to masks they wore over their mouths. True to his word, the judge sentenced them to hanging rather than burning them. Although the Thieves blend story is only legend, the name and the story are inseparably connected to this oil blend recipe. The Young Living signature Thieves blend was formulated to recreate the sweet, spicy scent that these thieves’ legendary formula was said to possess.

What is Thieves blend good for? The benefits and fresh, spicy aroma of Thieves blend have made it a popular go-to for oil enthusiasts, especially as the key ingredient in a line of household cleaning products. The cleansing properties of Thieves blend offer a naturally derived, plant-based replacement for common household cleaners that contain harsh chemicals.

Harvesting the power of the plant extracts used in Thieves® blend

As an essential oil blend, Thieves derives its properties from a combination of concentrated oils obtained from aromatic plants. These oils capture the aroma, flavor, and natural benefits of each plant and can be found in a plant’s flowers, bark, leaves, stems, rinds, or resin. We’ll explore each of the component essential oils that compose the proprietary Young Living ® Thieves oil blend.

  • Clove: The clove tree is a tropical evergreen species known for producing thousands of small, fragrant flower buds. When the buds ripen and turn deep red, they’re ready to harvest.
  • Lemon: Lemon trees belong to the evergreen family and were originally native to Asia. They can grow as tall as 20 feet.
  • Cinnamon bark: True cinnamon trees are tropical evergreens that produce fragrant bark and leaves and are native to Sri Lanka.
  • Eucalyptus radiata: The Australian Eucalyptus radiata is one of the world’s largest trees, growing to over 300 feet tall.
  • Rosemary: This evergreen shrub belongs to the mint family and is native to the Mediterranean and Asia.

How is Thieves® blend made?

Each of the plants and oils used to create the Young Living® Thieves blend is harvested and obtained in unique ways, typically through steam distillation or cold pressing . Steam distillation is when water is turned into steam, which is then passed through select aromatic plants from which the essential oil components are extracted. The steam bearing the oil is collected and condensed, where it becomes a liquid again. Cold pressing is when the rind of a fruit is placed in a container with spikes that puncture the peels while the device rotates, releasing the oil, which is collected and separated from the fruit’s juices.

Listed below are the oils used to create Thieves essential oil blend, along with the part of the plant used and the methods of extracting their oils.

  • Clove essential oil:The clove tree’s buds are dried and steam distilled to obtain Clove essential oil.
  • Lemon essential oil: Like many citrus oils, Lemon essential oil is obtained by cold pressing the fruit’s rinds to preserve the oil’s potency.
  • Cinnamon Bark essential oil: Cinnamon Bark oil is obtained from the cinnamon tree’s inner bark, which is dried out and steam distilled to extract the oil.
  • Eucalyptus Radiata essential oil: The Eucalyptus radiata tree’s narrow, fragrant leaves are harvested and steam distilled to produce this essential oil.
  • Rosemary essential oil: This essential oil is obtained from the steam-distilled leaves of the rosemary herb and is often included in soaps, fragrances, shampoos, and household cleaners.

The natural composition of the Thieves® blend

With its unique combination of oils, each drop of Young Living® Thieves blend contains several beneficial, naturally occurring constituents with cleansing properties. Thieves blend boasts cinnamaldehyde from Cinnamon Bark oil, limonene from Lemon oil, and eucalyptol, a constituent found in both Eucalyptus Radiata and Rosemary essential oils.

What are the uses and benefits of Thieves® essential oil blend?

Wondering how to use the Young Living® Thieves oil blend? The real question is where can’t you use it? If you’re just starting out with essential oils, you should know that Thieves blend is a natural fit for your diffuser to surround you with the sweet, cozy scent of fall baking. It’ll also transform your to-do list when you add a few drops to your homemade cleaners. You can use Thieves blend to boost your general oral health by freshening your breath and delivering a soothing sensation to your gums. There are so many ways to infuse Thieves blend into your life that it’s impossible to cover it all here, but here are some of the main ways to add the benefits of Thieves blend into your day-to-day.

Benefits of Thieves blend

Thieves blend is best known for its rich, spicy aroma and its cleansing properties. Keep a bottle on hand, especially during the winter season—not just for its skin-cleansing properties, but also for its energizing, uplifting scent.

Using Thieves oil blend to cleanse the air

Diffuse Thieves blend to enjoy its soothing, clean aroma. Its fresh, inviting scent is especially helpful during the cold winter months, giving you a sense of well-being, as well as cleansing the air of unwanted odors.

Using Thieves oil blend to wash dishes

Add a few drops of Thieves blend to your dishwasher, or if you’re scrubbing dishes by hand, to your dishwater. It’ll help eliminate odors and boost your cleaning for sparkling fresh dishes.

Using Thieves oil blend for a breath of fresh air

Put a few drops of Thieves blend in a bowl of steaming hot water. Be sure to start with only a few drops—a little essential oil can go a long way. Cover your head with a towel, close your eyes, and lean over the bowl of water. Breathe in deeply through your nose for a moment of spa-like relaxation.

Using Thieves oil blend on surfaces to remove sticky residue

Simply apply a drop of Thieves blend to a cleaning towel and use it to scrub the residue off your counters, whiteboards, desks, and other surfaces.

Using Thieves oil blend on your feet

Start your morning on the right foot by diluting Thieves blend with a carrier oil according to label directions and applying it to the bottoms of your feet—especially during the wintertime. Carrier oils are neutral, plant-derived oils like coconut, almond, or jojoba oil that you can use to harness essential oils’ powerful effects while making sure they’re comfortable on the skin . Or take it a step further and combine 1 drop of Thieves blend with 4 drops of carrier oil for an invigorating foot massage.

Using Thieves oil blend for laundry

Spruce up your laundry routine by adding a few drops to your natural fabric softener or onto a wool dryer ball before starting the load. Be sure the oil isn’t directly dropped into the water or onto the clothes to avoid stains.

Using Thieves oil blend in your bath

Draw a bath with Epsom salt—except mix 10 drops of Thieves blend to the salt before adding it to the water—especially on cold nights to help you stay extra warm.

Using Thieves oil blend to clean the bathtub

It’s as easy as adding several drops to the baking soda you use to scrub your tub and any other bathroom surfaces.

Using Thieves oil blend on your teeth

Add a drop of Thieves blend on your toothbrush or in your mouthwash for a soothing sensation to your gums and to help freshen your breath.

Using Thieves oil blend for massage

Zing up your massage oil with a few drops of Thieves blend. Make sure that you dilute any Thieves blend applied directly to skin with a carrier oil.


*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

Thieves® Vitality™ essential oil blend

The Young Living® Thieves oil blend offers both external and internal benefits, and its sweet, spicy aroma doubles as a delicious boost of flavor. Not all oils are safe for ingestion, so always check the label before taking any oils internally. Thieves Vitality oil blend is specifically labeled for use in foods and teas, or as a supplement. Add a drop to spice up your morning tea, coffee, juice, oatmeal, granola, cereal, or to your sweet, cinnamon-y treats and baked goods to take advantage of Thieves blend’s antioxidant properties and immune support .* You can even add Thieves blend to a vegetarian gel capsule as a once-a-day dietary supplement—diluting 1 drop of Thieves blend with 4 drops of a neutral culinary oil such as olive or avocado.

Thieves® essential oil blend

Thieves® essential oil blend was created from research recorded in the archives of the British Museum library about a group of 14th-century European perfumers and spice traders who rubbed oils on themselves while they robbed those who had died from the plague. Thieves has a rich, spicy aroma and is a key ingredient in our Thieves Home Collection—your go-to for an invigorating, clean, and healthy home.


*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

What other Young Living® oils blend well with Thieves® oil blend?

As a blend, Thieves has a versatile aroma that mingles well with several other essential oils, including its own constituent oils such as Lemon, Rosemary, Clove, Cinnamon Bark, and Eucalyptus Radiata. To spotlight Thieves blend’s zestiness, add Young Living citrus oils like Grapefruit, Lemon, or Orange. To bring out its herbaceous notes, add some of our Rosemary essential oil. If you’re more in the mood for something sweet and spicy, you’ll want to bring our Cinnamon Bark essential oil to the party.

Thieves blend’s uses are as versatile as its aroma, making it a natural choice to blend with other Young Living products for an extra boost or aromatic zing. Here are a few favorites when it comes to blending Thieves blend with other products:

V-6™ Vegetable Oil Complex or other massage oil
Bath & Shower Gel Base

Thieves blend is just sweet and spicy enough to make it a delightful dietary addition to nutritional products. Here are a few we recommend that blend well with Thieves blend’s flavor:

NingXia Red® beverage
Einkorn Berries
Einkorn Flour
Einkorn Granola
Pure Protein Complete™ supplement
Balance Complete™ supplement
Vanilla Lemongrass Tea Set
Spiced Turmeric Herbal Tea Set
Orange Rose Hip Black Tea Set

What other Young Living® products contain our Thieves® blend?

Thieves oil blend is the gift that keeps on giving, which is why it’s the key ingredient—and namesake—of our line of naturally derived and plant-based personal care products. Check out all the ways that Thieves oil blend can help you cultivate a happy, healthy home free of harsh chemicals:

Thieves® oil blend safety guidelines and notices

While the Young Living® Thieves oil blend is known for its cleansing properties and welcoming scent, there are some safety guidelines users should follow before they use this or any other essential oil or blend:

Avoid the eyes and ears

Because these areas can be extra sensitive to essential oils, we recommend avoiding the eyes and ears when applying Thieves essential oil blend topically. Make sure all residue has been washed off your fingers before inserting contact lenses.

Be cautious with pre-conditions

Some pre-conditions such as asthma or epilepsy may be triggered by essential oils. We highly recommend consulting with your doctor if you have questions before using Thieves blend.

Dilute when applying topically and perform a skin test

Cinnamon and Clove essential oils can potentially cause skin irritation, so do a skin test with a single drop of Thieves blend to identify how your body is likely to react. Whatever your reaction, any time you apply Thieves essential oil blend topically, always dilute it with one drop of oil for every four drops of V-6™ Vegetable Oil complex or another carrier oil of your choice.

Photosensitivity

The Lemon essential oil in Thieves blend can lead to photosensitivity. If you apply Thieves blend topically to your skin, it’s important to avoid direct exposure to the sun for 12–24 hours after application.

Consult your doctor if pregnant

If you are pregnant, please consult your doctor before using Thieves essential oil blend. Avoid contact with eyes, the inner ears, or sensitive areas.

Avoid use with infants

It’s recommended that you avoid using Rosemary and Eucalyptus essential oils on or around infants and children. Avoid use with infants, and consult your doctor or pediatrician before using this blend on children under the age of six.

Be cautious around pets

While it is safe to use essential oils around pets (such as diffusing), some safety guidelines should be followed when applying essential oils directly to their skin or fur. Because your pet may have individual skin sensitivities, we recommend using fewer drops of Thieves blend and other essential oils for your pets than you would use for yourself or another person. Dilute your Thieves blend when applying directly to your pet’s skin or fur for the first time. Some small animals like cats metabolize essential oils differently, therefore a “low and slow” approach works best. If you have questions, consult your veterinarian.

Where to buy Thieves® essential oil blend

The more familiar you become with essential oils, the more you’ll realize that not all oils are created equal. At Young Living, we recognize that the quality is what makes the difference to essential oil users. To verify the Seed to Seal® quality of our essential oils, we test and authenticate them without compromise. Our Seed to Seal quality commitment ensures a premium product every time, going above and beyond to supervise the process all the way from planting the seeds to distilling the essential oil. On our farms across the globe, we grow aromatics sustainably and safely to ensure that all of our oils and blends, such as our beloved Thieves oil blend, come from solid roots our customers can trust. Pick up your first bottle of Thieves blend to experience this authentic and versatile oil blend.