Did you know that we grow FRESH eucalyptus here at TMFF? We grow our eucalyptus in a protective greenhouse structure, safe from winter winds, and it’s usually available/in season August- November.
Fresh eucalyptus is 100x better than imported eucalyptus (anything you get at a box store). Imported Eucalyptus is often weeks old and loses its potency by the time you get it. On the other hand, our fresh eucalyptus is fragrant and full of amazing essential oils! Not to mention that it lasts up to two weeks fresh in a vase (forever if you dry it!).
Not only is this foliage beautiful to look at and long-lasting, it provides some amazing health benefits (especially for your sinuses!), and has antifungal/antibacterial properties.
Here’s 10 Different Ways to Use Fresh Eucalyptus:
Enjoy as a fresh foliage by itself
Place a bunch of eucalyptus in a vase of water to enjoy how beautiful it is! Be sure to change the water and re-trim the stems often to prolong vase life.
Use as an air freshener
Place eucalyptus in bud vases in your bathroom, or hang in different rooms of your house to use as a natural air freshener. To increase the smell, rub or smash the leaves to release more oils.
Arrange with other fresh, seasonal flowers
Create a stunning hand-tied bouquet using several different varieties of eucalyptus for the most dramatic affect, and add seasonal flowers. It’s a great gift!
Shower aromatherapy session
Hang a bunch of eucalyptus in your shower (I hang it from the shower head using a piece of string or rubber band). The steam from the shower will release the oils, leaving you feeling relaxed and rejeuvenated! (Pro Tip: rub or smash the leaves to release more oils and create a stronger scent).
Dry it
Simply hang a bunch of eucalyptus upside-down in a warm, dry, and dark environment for a week or two to dry it. You can hang dried eucalyptus around your home as a decoration, or use the dried leaves in linen sachets or homemade potpourri (see #7).
Preserve it
Dried eucalyptus (#6) sends to make the leaves brittle. When you preserve eucalypus, the leaves stay supple and look more natural, however, the leaves can turn a bit darker. Mix 1 part natural vegetable glycerin and 2 parts water in a vase (you may have to heat it to get it to mix, be sure to let it cool afterwards). Place your eucalyptus in the vase and let it soak up the mixture for 4-10 days and voila!- you’ll have preserved eucalyptus for a lifetime.
Linen sachets/homemade potpourri
Place dried leaves in a sachet bag and hang in your closet or in clothing drawers to keep them freshly scented. You can also add the leaves to homemade potpourri, while adding other ingredients like dried orange, lavender, sage, or star anise and cloves.
Decongestant steam facial
Eucalyptus is great for clearing sinuses as a natural decongestant, plus it’s great for your skin! Place a few leaves in a pot of water and bring to a soft boil. Gently breathe in the steam for 10-15 minutes (just be cautious you don’t burn yourself). Works great for headaches, too.
Use as a spider repellant
Apparently spiders hate eucalyptus, so hang sprigs in areas where you don’t want them like corners of your home, the basement, garage…anywhere!
Make a eucalyptus wreath
You can make a wreath using fresh eucalyptus and then let it dry in place, or you can use already dried eucalyptus. Either works great. Buy a wreath form (available at most craft stores) and affix smaller bundles of eucalyptus to the form using paddle wire - simply wrap the wire around the base of the bundle and the wreath form. Gently overlap each bundle as you move all the way around the form until the entire thing is covered in eucalyptus bundles. I love these wreaths because they look good for every season!
Fresh eucalyptus from TMFF is generally available August-November, but it’s best to use it in fall when the stems have hardened up a bit (it helps to make it last longer). Plus, the benefits of eucalyptus seem to be magnified by the shorter days and colder weather! I always have some on hand during cold and flu season.
If you have questions, leave them as a comment below!
I hope I’ve inspired you to do something fun and useful with our fresh eucalyptus!