Ravensara and Ravintsara Have Very Different Aromas and Qualities

Ravensara and Ravintsara are two essential oils with names that are so similar it’s easy to assume they’re different spellings for the same plant. They’re not.

They do come from the same Lauraceae plant family, but they’re very different plants. It’s like tomatoes and potatoes…same Solanaceae plant family, but two distinctly different plants with different uses.

Ravensara (Ravensara aromatica*) and Ravintsara (Cinnamomum camphora) are both grown in Madagascar, so the country of origin doesn’t help us distinguish them. This makes the botanical, latin name on the bottle especially important.

*In 2008, the botanical name for the Ravensara plant was changed to Cryptocarya agathophylla. Despite this shift in the scientific classification, the essential oil and aromatherapy industries continue to use the older well-known name, Ravensara aromatica, so we do also.

While both oils are antiviral, Ravensara and Ravintsara have distinctly different aromas and bring different qualities to an essential oil blend. Let’s explore those differences…

Ravensara: Softer, Earthier and More Depth

Ravensara has a softer, warmer character with herbal, earthy and slightly spicy qualities. There can be a subtle sweet, almost licorice-like quality to the aroma. It can add depth and a gentle herbal-spicy quality to blends that might otherwise feel too sharp or medicinal.

Think of Ravensara when you want an essential oil that feels warm, grounding and quietly supportive, especially when you’re creating a blend for when you want to slow down, settle in and take a restorative breath.

Note: Some have found it to be helpful for easing the pain and inflammation of shingles or herpes when it’s at 10% dilution: Add 10 drops of Ravensara to ½ tsp of Tamanu and ½ tsp of Jojoba for topical application. Dilute further or stop using if skin becomes irritated.

Ravintsara: Fresh and Clearing

Ravintsara is an essential oil rich in 1,8-cineole so it has a fresh, penetrating, herbaceous aroma. A lot of people say that it smells a little like eucalyptus. Reach for it when you want to create a blend with a fresh, clean, open quality. It’s great for when your mind feels crowded and you want mental freshness.

If you want to see how we’ve used Ravintsara take a look at these e3 blends: Alignment, Comfort, Harmony, and Resilience.

Ravensara and Ravintsara are not interchangeable because of their different aromas and chemical constituents. A recipe calling for Ravintsara is expecting a fresh, eucalyptus-like quality. Substituting Ravensara will create something softer, warmer and more herbal. The reverse is true as well.  A gentle blend with Ravensara will take on a camphoric note if you use Ravintsara instead.

Three Ways to Blend Ravensara and Ravintsara

One of the easiest ways to appreciate the difference is to put each oil into a simple blend and notice what happens. However, rather than mixing up an entire blend, put a drop of each oil on its own Aroma Test Strip, hold them like a fan, and wave them under your nose. Mix and match the strips until you come up with a blend you like. Or try one of these recipes below:

A Fresh Breath of Air

• • 3 drops Ravintsara
  • 2 drops Eucalyptus Radiata
  • 2 drops Lemon
  • 1 drop Peppermint

Ravintsara and Eucalyptus create the fresh, cineolic foundation, while Lemon brightens the blend and Peppermint adds a cool, lively finish.

Warm Woodlands

• • 3 drops Ravensara
  • 2 drops Cedarwood Atlas
  • 2 drops Frankincense
  • 1 drop Mandarin

Ravensara gives the blend its distinctive herbal-spicy heart. Cedarwood and Frankincense add warmth and depth, while Mandarin keeps the finished aroma from becoming too heavy.

Clear Your Head

• • 3 drops Ravintsara
  • 2 drops Rosemary
  • 2 drops Lemon
  • 1 drop Lavender

Ravintsara gives the blend its fresh, open quality. Rosemary and Lemon add brightness and mental freshness, while Lavender rounds the edges and keeps the blend from feeling too sharp.

Key takeaway: When blending essential oils, start with the experience you want to create and let your sense of smell guide you from there. Approaching it solely with a list of desired benefits will give you a less successful result.

The simplest way to choose between Ravensara and Ravintsara is to smell them. (Did you know you can request samples? Click here to learn more about our Sample Policy.) This may sound obvious, but two oils can have impressive lists of chemical constituents and traditional uses, but if one aroma makes you want to take a deeper breath and the other makes you want to put the bottle away, that matters. Listen to your nose!