I simply love the oils from needle trees! They don’t take no for an answer. There’s something there that is direct, uncompromising, clean, clear, uplifting and energising. No nonsense.
Pines are of course no exception. Indeed these extremely versatile oils represent the oldest aromatic energy on earth, and are deeply linked to the oxygenation of our planet.
Their connection with the human respiratory system in folk medicine should come as no surprise: Scots Pine for example is traditionally used to detoxify and strengthen the mucus membranes of the lungs, bronchi, and sinuses.
Generally speaking, Pine oils have the following uses:
• To support the respiratory system, and for a wide range of respiratory complaints
• To enhance energy and boost the adrenal glands
• To refresh tired, aching or painful muscles
• Various other uses based on their antiseptic qualities
The most common ways to use pine oils are direct inhalation, and as a component in aromatherapeutic massage.
Make A Fresh Start 
Often we allow the light energy to get swallowed by the challenges of life, losing contact with our soul, our true identity. Pine essential oil is a good remedy to start a new learning process and open access to precious vitality, freeing us from our anxieties, frustrations and physical pain. Lying down under pines in a forest and listening to the rushing of the branches created by the wind is music which only pines are able to bring about. It touches our hearts, reminding us of heavenly sounds. Thus it is understandable why Pine has been highly welcome and esteemed down the ages and around the world. Its direct straightforward energy instills confidence and boldness. It bestows the untwisted clarity needed by those bowed down by the burden of memory and fate. Here’s a shaft of ancient power to lean on and get strong. — Dr. Malte Hozzel
Understanding the Different Species of Pine Oils
When we speak loosely about Pine oil in aromatherapy we are most likely to be referring to Scots Pine (Pinus sylvestris). But there are a number of species of pine which have different qualities and applications.
We were so pleased when Jennifer Peace-Rhind, author of several internationally-renowned books on aromatherapy, asked us for some samples of our different pine oils for an article that she was writing for The International Journal of Professional Aromatherapy. Jennifer and the journal have kindly given us permission to publish her impressions, which we are pleased to offer you, unedited, below.
• Black Pine (Pinus nigra, organic, France) – clean, coniferous and piney, with woody and resinous notes and a light turpentine nuance. This has the highest amount of α-pinene, which itself has an impressive array of therapeutic actions, and nearly 83% combined pinenes. It also contains less than 1% of the potential respiratory irritant, δ-3 carene.
• Dwarf Pine (Pinus mugo m, organic, Italy) – warm and with real depth of aroma, coniferous with pronounced lemony and sweet woody notes. This has the highest amount of δ-3 carene and is perhaps less suited to aerial dispersal. Although its total pinene content is lower than some of the others at just over 25%, it contains more β-phellandrene and β-myrcene and l-limonene.
• Jack Pine (Pinus divaricata, wild crafted, Canada) – fresh and very resinous, a gentle pine element with sweet, balsamic and fresh ‘wood shavings’ notes. Jack Pine has a good level of the pinenes – just over 55% and so we could expect to see many of their actions manifesting in the essential oil, and the tissue protecting, healing l-limonene is present at 8%.
• Laricio Pine (Pinus nigra laricio, organic, France) – fresh, diffusive pine-like with soft resinous and woody notes and turpentine nuances. Laricio has just over 50% pinenes – with much of that being α-pinene, so we could expect many of its properties to manifest in the essential oil. The very low level of δ-3-carene suggests that aerial dispersion would be safe, while the relatively high amount of β-phellandrene might augment the antifungal/anti-candida aspect of α-pinene.
• Lodgepole Pine (Pinus contorta, wild crafted, Norway) – sweet, resinous and coniferous, with dominant sweet, warm lemon-citrus notes and a fresh ‘wood shavings’ nuance. With β-pinene dominant, and the greatest amount of β-phellandrene (in the region of 26%) and a moderate amount of δ-3-carene.
• Norway Pine (Pinus resinosa, wild crafted, Canada) – fresh, resinous, coniferous and woody with a faint turpentine nuance. With just over 82% pinenes and α-pinene dominating, and very low levels of all other components, this oil will be characterised by the extensive array of actions provided by the pinenes.
• Scots Pine (Pinus sylvestris, wild-crafted, Bulgaria) – fresh and diffusive, penetrating, clean coniferous and pine-like with turpentine and woody notes. Scots pine has a high level of combined pinenes at 66% with the α-isomer dominant, and around 9% l-limonene. The other components are present in relatively low amounts, with the greatest being β-myrcene at over 5%.
• Sea Pine – (Pinus pinaster, wild crafted, Portugal). With just over 68% combined pinenes, and α-pinene less dominant, and the remaining components all present at less than 5%, it could be suggested that Sea pine will have the actions of the pinenes, possibly augmented by the others – there are numerous opportunities for synergistic interactions.
• Stone Pine (Pinus cembra, organic, Austria) – fresh and warm, resinous and coniferous, with soft lemony and woody notes. This species has around 54% combined pines with α-pinene very dominant. It is also notable for its comparatively high levels of β-phellandrene and l-limonene.
• White Pine (Pinus strobus, organic, Canada) – clean and coniferous, with sweet warm resinous notes giving depth, and a fresh ‘wood shavings’ nuance. White pine oil has around 60% combined pinenes, occurring at similar levels, with comparatively high amounts of both β-myrcene and l-limonene. 
Two things to add:
• Stone Pine is a common name that is applied to both Pinus pinea, a tall pine with reddish trunk and a sweeping canopy which you meet on the Italian coastline, and also to Pinus cembra which is a bushier tree that grows in the Alps and other parts of Central Europe.
• About delta-3-carene: Lydia Bosson regards the component δ-3 carene (delta-3-carene) as the ‘go-to’ component for severe coughs and bronchitis, while Jennifer (above) describes it as a potential irritant. The conclusion is that both are true: Here is a ‘big gun’, a ‘powerful medicine’ to be used as required, and of course to proceed with gentle caution. ‘It’s all in the dose’! I subequently had a chat with Jennifer and this was her response: ‘I would say that the levels of delta-3-carene found in any of these oils is highly unlikely to cause a problem via inhalation. As for skin irritation, it is the auto-oxidised products that could cause a problem. Therefore the levels found in these oils will not cause a problem, but they should be stored carefully to avoid oxidation.’