All About Black Pepper Essential Oil

Resembling the spicy scent of freshly cracked peppercorns, black pepper essential oil will add some heat to your favorite diffuser blends. Add Black Pepper Vitality to cooking recipes for an extra zing of flavor. Black pepper is energizing, encouraging, and motivating when inhaled and applied topically. Read all about Black Pepper below. 

Botanical Name

Piper nigrum

Botanical Family

Piperaceae

Common Names

• Pipor
• Piper
• Pipalli
• Long pepper

Historical Uses

Black pepper has a long history, both as a seasoning and as a medicine. Its earliest uses can be traced back to the Romans, Greeks, and Egyptians as early as the fourth century BC. Black peppercorns were found in the nostrils of mummified remains in Egypt. Pepper was carried by Buddhist monks to be used as a medicine on their travels. 

In ancient times, peppercorns were so valuable they were known as “black gold” and often used as currency. Pepper would dominate the spice trade in Europe and India for centuries. Today, pepper makes up one-fifth of the world’s spice sales. 

Fun Facts

• Black pepper is one of the most commonly used spices in all types of cuisines
• Black peppercorns come from boiling and drying the unripe drupes of the pepper plant. The heat causes the cell wall to rupture and turn brown. The peppercorns are then dried in the sun until the skin around the pepper seed turns black
• There are multiple variants of peppercorns including black, white, green, and pink.  

Aroma and Tips for Blending

Black pepper essential oil is steam distilled from the fruit of the pepper plant. It has a warm, pungent, spicy aroma that resembles freshly cracked pepper. 

Black pepper blends well with most essential oils including lavender, ginger, cardamom, clary sage, and lemon. It is considered a middle note when blending with other oils. Black pepper helps meld together the scents in a blend. 

Black pepper is best diffused with other essential oils rather than solo. It is much more potent than traditional cracked pepper. Start with a toothpick swirl and build on that amount until you reach the desired aroma when diffusing. 

Benefits and Uses for Black Pepper Essential Oil

• When taken internally, black pepper may support a healthy circulatory system and aid in digestion
• Black pepper is a good source of antioxidants 
• Incorporate Black Pepper Vitality into your favorite cooking recipes for a more intense flavor
• Take Black Pepper Vitality daily in a vegetable capsule to support a healthy weight
• Use diluted black pepper to massage and soothe sore muscles
• Apply this essential oil diluted to the bottom of your feet in the morning, or whenever you feel sluggish

Black Pepper Essential Oil Recipes

• NingXia Red is amazing all on its own, but adding a drop of Black Pepper Vitality kicks up the heat. Try black pepper in one of these NingXia Shot Recipes
• If you enjoy grilling, you’ll love the flavor black pepper adds to grilled meat. Use black pepper as part of a Grilling Marinade for steak, chicken, pork, and more 
• Warm soup is so comforting on a cold day. Black Pepper Vitality makes it even better! This Creamy Chicken Mushroom Soup incorporates the rich flavors of butter and cream which are enhanced by the black pepper
• Black pepper adds the right amount of flavor to these Homemade Dill Pickles. It blends perfectly with dill vitality and fresh peppercorns. 
• During the spooky month of October enjoy these Halloween Diffuser Blends featuring black pepper 
• Beat the midday slump with an Energizing Roller Blend. Mix black pepper with citrus fresh and spearmint for a lively blend to keep you moving
• Keep your emotions in check with an Emotional Balance Roller Blend. Sacred frankincense and black pepper will help balance your energy

Find all of our recipes using Black Pepper essential oil by clicking here.

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*Disclaimer: The statements made on this site have not been evaluated by the FDA. This information is intended for educational purposes only. It is not intended to substitute for medical care or to prescribe treatment for any specific health condition.