There are a lot of different conifer essential oils.

They all have wonderful wintery, foresty smells, perfect for the holidays. They share some of the same therapeutic properties, too.

It can be confusing to try to figure out which ones to use.

So we’re going to compare eight different conifer essential oils, and offer some suggestions about how to use each one.

All of the conifer essential oils on our list are excellent for respiratory issues, and have antiseptic properties that make them excellent ingredients in homemade natural cleaners. Many of them are good for muscle soreness and tension, too.

If your blend calls for a particular conifer essential oil, you can most likely use any of these in its place (although you’ll want to be careful if you’re blending for therapeutic purposes). So it helps to know what makes each oil stand out.

• Supports the immune system  
• Antioxidant 
• Warming

Grand Fir, aka Christmas Fir (Abies grandis)
Most of the oils on this list smell like Christmas trees, but this has one of the brightest holiday aromas! Make a spray with 18 drops in 1 oz of water, and spritz it on your decorations and upholstery.                

• Great ingredient in green cleaning products
• Centers and uplifts the mind during listless, withdrawn periods 
• Fights fatigue

Black Spruce (Picea mariana)
Use black spruce essential oil when you’re feeling tired, sluggish, and have low energy during the winter. It’s like a tonic for your adrenals, so it gets energy moving through your body again.                

• Great ingredient in green cleaning products
• Pain relief for swollen joints and sore muscles
• Helpful for fungal infections (such as Candida)

White Fir (Abies concolor)
White fir stands out among conifer essential oils for its antifungal abilities. This makes it a great addition to cleaning products, or respiratory blends brought on by some kind of fungal infection.                

• Sedative and calming
• Anti-inflammatory and pain relieving
• Antioxidant

Siberian Fir (Abies sibirica)
Also known as Sibirian pine, this conifer essential oil is especially helpful for inflammatory lung conditions. Great for smokers or others with weak lungs.                

• Calms spastic, painful coughs
• Balances the emotions
• Strong immune system support

Scotch Pine (Pinus sylvestris)
Scotch pine, or Scots pine, helps balance hormones. It’s like a tonic for the endocrine glands, and supports a healthy flow of energy through the body so you feel more vital and alive.                

• Antiviral and antibacterial
• Good for sore muscles, and bodily aches and pains
• Similar to eucalyptus in its benefits for the respiratory system

Canadian Hemlock (Tsuga canadensis)
This isn’t the toxic hemlock that Socrates was forced to drink. However, Canadian hemlock essential oil does have sedative effects that can calm you down and help you sleep when you have a cold.                

• Diuretic
• Emotionally balancing
• Anti-inflammatory and pain relieving

Douglas Fir (Pseudotsuga douglasiana or menzies)
Douglas fir essential oil is a good anti-inflammatory that can relieve the pain of infections, headaches, or swollen tissues, especially in the respiratory system.               

• Deeply supportive of personal transformation (including physical healing)
• Anxiety and stress-induced tension 
• Antioxidant

Remember, it’s always a good idea to test essential oils on your skin, and by inhaling them, before using them more extensively.