9 Cypress Essential Oil Benefits, Uses & Safety Tips

QUICK SUMMARY

Cypress essential oil is steam distilled from the evergreen Mediterranean cypress (Cupressus sempervirens), and lab studies from 2021 to 2026 show it fights bacteria and fungi, repels mosquitoes, and works as a strong antioxidant. Families have used it for generations for hemorrhoids, varicose veins, coughs, and oily skin, and in a Korean study a massage oil with grapefruit and cypress trimmed belly fat in postmenopausal women. Our two favorite ways to use it are the Hemorrhoid Cream and the Fat-Burning Roll-On from our books, always diluted on the skin and never taken by mouth.

Cypress essential oil has a distinctive fresh, woody fragrance, and it has drawn steady research attention over the last five years.

The Mediterranean is well known for its aromatic plants, including the tall, coniferous Cupressus sempervirens, or cypress tree. Here is what its oil does, what the studies found, and the two recipes we reach for most.

What Is Cypress Essential Oil?

Cypress essential oil is steam distilled from the needles of the cypress tree Cupressus sempervirens. The oil is also referred to as Mediterranean or Italian cypress, named for the region where it is commonly found. (1)

Not to be confused with blue cypress, or Callitris intratropica, which comes from the same family but is a very different plant cultivated in Australia. Each oil has unique constituents as well as distinctive properties and aroma. This article will focus on Mediterranean cypress.

Two compounds lead the chemistry: α-pinene and δ-3-carene, followed by limonene. In a 2024 Tunisian sample, α-pinene made up 59 percent of the oil and δ-3-carene about 21 percent, (2) while a 2023 sample was nearly half δ-3-carene. (3) The mix shifts with where the tree grows and when it is harvested, which is one reason studies on cypress oil do not always agree.

Today, cypress is used commercially in fragrances and shampoos. In folk medicine, its cones and leaves were used for coughs, colds, and bronchitis, for hemorrhoids and poor vein circulation, and for bladder tone and bedwetting. (1)

Cypress is also one of the healing oils of the Bible, named in modern translations from Isaiah to Zechariah. Its Latin name, sempervirens, means “evergreen,” and that is exactly the picture God uses of Himself:

“O Ephraim, what have I to do with idols? It is I who answer and look after you. I am like an evergreen cypress; from Me comes your fruit.” (Hosea 14:8)

9 Benefits of Cypress Essential Oil

Most cypress research so far comes from the lab and from animal studies, alongside one human massage study and centuries of traditional use. Here is what each study found, and how we put it to work at home.

1. Fights Harmful Bacteria

In a 2023 study, an international research team tested cypress oil against five bacteria, including Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and E. coli. The oil killed the bacteria rather than just slowing them, rapidly cut the number of living Bacillus subtilis and P. aeruginosa within eight hours, and broke down their biofilms; the researchers reported that its effects “surpassed those of conventional antibiotics.” (3)

Tunisian researchers went a step further in 2024. They tested cypress oil against E. coli from sick farm animals that no longer responded to colistin, a last-resort antibiotic, and found that cypress oil and colistin worked together, cutting the amount of each needed by 3 to 32 times. (2)

A 2023 European study added that cypress oil disrupted Salmonella biofilms, the slimy layers bacteria build to protect themselves on surfaces. (4) These are petri dish results, and they are the reason cypress shows up in our cleaning recipes.

Application: For the Juniper Toilet Deodorizing Spray from The Healing Power of Essential Oils, combine 1 ounce witch hazel, 10 drops vitamin E oil, 20 drops juniper berry, 20 drops cypress, and 10 drops pine essential oil in a 2-ounce spray bottle and top it off with distilled water. Two sprays does the job. For more ideas, see our homemade bathroom cleaner.

2. Fights Fungi and Candida Biofilm

A 2021 systematic review gathered seven studies on Cupressus oils and Candida, the yeast behind thrush and many skin infections, and concluded that they showed in vitro evidence for treating Candida infections. (5) In 2025, Turkish researchers grew Candida albicans on the acrylic resin used to make dentures, and a 2 percent cypress oil solution kept the yeast from forming a biofilm, though a commercial denture cleanser did even better. (6)

Cypress protects plants, too. In a 2026 Algerian study, oil from cypress leaves held back two Fusarium fungi that attack crops, and the researchers called it an eco-friendly alternative to synthetic fungicides. (7)

For more oils that fight fungi, see our full guide. Learn more about growing your own food with our Organic Gardening Made Easy With Mama Z, part of our Bible Health Academy!

Application: Add a few drops of cypress and lavender essential oils to your kitchen cleaning solutions.

3. Respiratory Support

Cypress oil has a long traditional use as an antispasmodic for stubborn coughs. (1) The best modern work on it tests cypress the way aromatherapists actually use it, in blends.

In a 2021 study of 369 essential oil combinations used for the respiratory tract, cypress paired with tea tree was one of the five most promising blends. Together the oils fought germs linked to respiratory infections more strongly than alone, with less toxicity to cells and better anti-inflammatory results. (8)

Application: Diffuse 2 drops each of orange, mandarin, and cypress essential oils when struggling with colds, coughs, and other minor respiratory issues. We also like to pair cypress with tea tree oil, just as the researchers did.

4. Antioxidant Protection

Antioxidants help stave off the damage done by free radicals, which can cause oxidative stress. This is linked to disease and unhealthy aging.

Cypress oil brings real antioxidant power. A 2023 study from the Slovak University of Agriculture rated its free-radical scavenging as strong in two standard tests, (4) and in 2024 Tunisian researchers found that oil from the Bizerte region was the strongest of three regional samples. (9) A 2025 study of three Tunisian varieties found the pyramidalis cypress gave the most antioxidant oil. (10)

The quercetin and other flavonoids you may read about come from cypress plant extracts, not the distilled oil. (11)

Application: Diffuse 2 drops each of cypress, frankincense, and lime essential oil for a refreshing woody-citrus aroma.

5. Skin Care for Oily Skin and Aging

Cypress has a traditional reputation as an astringent and antiperspirant, which is why it shows up in toners and deodorants. (1) The 2025 Tunisian study adds a reason for skin care: oil from the horizontalis variety blocked tyrosinase, the enzyme behind dark spots, and collagenase, an enzyme that breaks down the collagen that keeps skin firm. (10)

That is why we add cypress to blends for oily skin and acne. It also belongs in our homemade deodorant blends.

Application: Make a DIY toner by diluting 6 drops of cypress and 6 drops of lavender in half an ounce of 190-proof alcohol. Then slowly add half an ounce of witch hazel and 1 ounce of distilled water. Spritz on skin. Store in a cold place and discard after 1 month.

6. Natural Mosquito Repellent

In a 2025 study published in Scientific Reports, Egyptian-led researchers found that cypress oil at just 1 percent gave complete protection from Culex pipiens, the mosquito that spreads West Nile virus, for 150 minutes in laboratory repellency tests. The same oil killed the mosquito’s larvae. (12)

A 2022 study from Saudi Arabia found that cypress oil killed and repelled Culex quinquefasciatus, another disease-carrying mosquito, while proving safer for a non-target fish. (13) For a full family recipe, see our homemade bug repellent spray.

Application: For the DEET-Free Bug Spray from The Healing Power of Essential Oils, add 3 drops each of citronella, eucalyptus, tea tree, peppermint, cypress, and lemon myrtle essential oils to 1 ounce of carrier. Spritz it on your body and reapply every couple of hours.

7. Hemorrhoid Relief

Hemorrhoids are swollen veins, and cypress has been a go-to plant for them for generations. Traditionally, people sat in a sitz bath of cypress leaves and cones three times a day for a week, and cypress ointments and suppositories were used for hemorrhoids. (1)

No clinical trial has tested cypress oil for hemorrhoids yet, but we trust this time-tested use, and the Hemorrhoid Cream below puts cypress front and center. Heavy bleeding, or bleeding with dizziness or a change in your bowel habits, needs your doctor.

Application: For the Hemorrhoid Sitz Bath from The Healing Power of Essential Oils, mix 1 cup Epsom salt, 1 ounce evening primrose oil, 1 ounce jojoba oil, 1 ounce unscented Castile soap, and 1 drop each of cypress, frankincense, lavender, and Roman chamomile essential oils into a sitz bath, and sit for 15 to 20 minutes.

8. Varicose Veins and Tired Legs

Cypress is a classic leg-massage oil, and cypress preparations have long been used on the skin for varicose veins and poor vein circulation. (1) No trial has measured whether it shrinks varicose veins, but a gentle cypress massage feels wonderful on tired, heavy legs.

Avoid massaging a leg that is newly swollen, painful, red, or warm; these symptoms need medical evaluation the same day.

Application: Create a 2% dilution (12 drops per 1 ounce of oil) with your favorite carrier oil and massage into your legs.

9. Belly Fat Support

The one human study with cypress oil on this list comes from Korea. In 2007, postmenopausal women received a weekly whole-body aromatherapy massage for six weeks and massaged their own bellies twice a day, five days a week, with 3 percent grapefruit, cypress, and three other oils, while a control group used plain grapeseed oil. CT scans showed that the essential oil group lost significantly more fat under the skin of the belly and more off the waist, and they felt better about their bodies. (14)

Animal research on citrus oils, like the grapefruit and lime in our roll-on, points the same way. In a 2025 study, middle-aged mice that inhaled bitter orange essential oil for seven weeks carried less body fat for their weight and had lower triglycerides than mice that did not. (15)

Cypress is one of the six oils in our Fat-Burning Roll-On below. Of course, there is no oil for a fast-food lifestyle, so we pair it with real food, movement, and sleep. For more oils that help, see our guide to essential oils for weight loss.

2 Cypress Oil Recipes From Our Books

These are the two cypress recipes we come back to most. Make them exactly as written.

Hemorrhoid Cream

From The Healing Power of Essential Oils. Cypress is the star here, with peppermint for a cooling feel.

• 2 ounces Mama Z’s Oil Base
• 15 drops cypress essential oil
• 10 drops peppermint essential oil
• 5 drops frankincense essential oil
• 5 drops lavender essential oil

Stir the essential oils into the base, store the cream in the refrigerator, and apply a small dab.

Fat-Burning Roll-On

From The Essential Oils Apothecary, and also in our earlier books.

• 4 drops lime essential oil
• 3 drops peppermint essential oil
• 3 drops grapefruit essential oil
• 2 drops cypress essential oil
• 1 drop eucalyptus essential oil
• 1 drop cinnamon bark essential oil
• Carrier oil to fill a 10 ml roller bottle

Apply to problem areas after a shower, 3 to 4 times a week. Test it on a small patch of skin first.

Safety Tip: Cold-pressed lime and grapefruit oils are known to be phototoxic, so if you apply this roll-on to your skin, choose steam-distilled lime or avoid direct sunlight on those areas for at least 12 hours if your skin is prone to a photosensitive reaction.

How to Use Cypress Oil Safely

These are the safety tips we follow with cypress:

• Dilute it for your skin. For everyday body care, 2 percent (12 drops per ounce of carrier) is the standard adult strength; remedies like the ones above run stronger for a short time. Learn how to dilute essential oils step by step.
• Go lower for children. In The Essential Oils Apothecary, we put it this way: “0.5 percent is for children under three years old. 1 percent is for children three to ten years old.”
• Patch test first. Try a diluted drop on the back of your hand and stop using it if irritation develops.
• Keep it on the outside. Cypress oil is not one to take by mouth. In a 90-day study, mice given cypress oil orally showed raised liver enzymes (ALT and AST) and LDH. (1)
• Use fresh oil. Store it in dark glass, tightly capped. Oxidized cypress oil can pose a greater risk of skin sensitization; you’ll know it has oxidized if the smell or color changes or it has expired.
• Pregnancy. Cypress is not on the list of oils to avoid in pregnancy in The Healing Power of Essential Oils. Use it diluted, as with any oil.
• Asthma and allergies. Diffuse a small amount first if you have asthma or respiratory allergies to make sure it does not bother you.
• Rotate your oils. Switch your protocol every few weeks, and stop using cypress right away if you notice any reaction.

If you want to use other oils internally, read how to ingest essential oils here first.

Cypress essential oil generally has a thin consistency and a fresh, woody aroma. It blends well with other woody or resin-based oils, such as frankincense or myrrh, florals such as lavender or geranium, and with the citrus family of oils.

Cypress Essential Oil FAQs

What is cypress essential oil good for?

Cypress oil is best known for hemorrhoids, varicose veins, coughs, oily skin, and natural cleaning. Lab studies show it fights bacteria and fungi and repels mosquitoes, and in one human study a grapefruit and cypress massage oil trimmed belly fat.

Is cypress oil good for varicose veins?

Cypress is the traditional oil for varicose veins and tired legs, although no trial has tested it yet. Massage a 2 percent dilution into your legs, and skip any leg that is suddenly swollen, red, warm, or painful.

Does cypress oil help with bedwetting?

Cypress has a traditional use for bladder tone and bedwetting, and many parents online swear by it, but no clinical study has tested it. If you try it, dilute it to 1 percent for children three to ten, and see your pediatrician if bedwetting starts again after a long dry stretch or comes with pain or fever.

Is blue cypress the same as cypress oil?

No. Blue cypress is Callitris intratropica from Australia, a different plant with a different oil. In a 2023 Australian study, blue cypress oil gave volunteers some protection from mosquito bites that faded within an hour, while 20 percent DEET held at full protection for the whole hour. (16)

Can you put cypress oil directly on your skin?

No. Always dilute cypress in a carrier oil first, at 2 percent for everyday use, and patch test before using a new blend.

We pray this evergreen oil becomes a faithful helper in your home. For more on caring for the body God gave you, join us at Bible Health.

Keep reading: Myrtle Essential Oil Benefits: 9 Research-Backed Uses & Safety · Juniper Berry Essential Oil Benefits: 9 Uses, Research & Safety · Pine Essential Oil Benefits for Breathing, Cleaning & Stress