To be honest, I picked my current collection of essential oils based on what was on sale at the time – seemed a good way to try out some things I wouldn’t normally have considered!

This… I’m not sure about. It smells like aniseed, which I dislike, but mixed with things it’s not too bad.

• “When you are feeling timid and in need of courage and strength, fennel essential oil may do the trick.”
• It is a cooling spice that calms the nerves, relaxes muscles and promotes mental alertness.
• It detoxifies the body and is useful when suffering from a hangover.
• It has a cleansing and tonic action on the skin and also helps keep wrinkles at bay.
• blends well with basil, geranium, lavender, lemon, rose, rosemary & sandalwood

So I can use it to calm my nerves, build courage and alertness – and keep my wrinkles away at the same time ;)

On the other hand, it carries a warning that it should be avoided by those with breast cancer (due to a “mild estrogenic effect”). I’m sure a few drops in an oil burner are safe enough, but still not exactly reassuring.

I burned it today with geranium, and I quite liked the mix apart from the fennel gushing out of the bottle and being a bit overpowering! But the geranium is quite sweet and cloying, this is a bit more bitter, so it’s a good balance. I can image a touch of lemon(grass) would be nice for studying, and I might add a few drops of lavender oil to finish off tonight.

Not one I’ll be looking to replace, but I’m guessing the bottle will be hanging about for long enough anyway.