Easy to recognize, rosemary is commonly used in cooking, landscaping, medicinal remedies, and skin-care recipes. An aromatic, evergreen herb, fresh or dried rosemary as well as the essential oil form contain numerous beneficial properties for the skin, including anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antifungal properties. The essential oil not only helps physical ailments, but it can also work to strengthen your mental health. Make sure to properly dilute rosemary essential oil or use it with a carrier oil, and avoid using it while pregnant. Here are a few basic ways to incorporate rosemary into your daily routine.

How to Use Rosemary Essential Oil

• • Soothe muscle aches, sprains, and joint pain: Mix a couple drops of rosemary and peppermint essential oils with 1 teaspoon of coconut oil, and massage on pain-afflicted areas.
• • Stimulate hair growth and help treat scalp issues: Add rosemary essential oil to 1 tablespoon of castor oil and 2 tablespoons of coconut oil, massage into hair, and rinse.
• • Boost oral health and foul odor: Combine a few drops of rosemary essential oil with 1 cup of distilled water, and gargle the homemade mouthwash to help prevent bad breath and gingivitis.
• • Help reduce stress: Diffuse rosemary essential oil in an aromatherapy diffuser to help correct a hormonal imbalance.

Rosemary ginger Foot Soak

by Kristen Wood from Willow and Sage Winter 2023

You Will Need

• • Bowl
• • 1 cup Epsom salt
• • 1 cup dried rosemary
• • ½ cup baking soda
• • ½ cup dried ginger root
• • Airtight container

To Make

In a bowl, add the Epsom salt, dried rosemary, baking soda, and dried ginger root, and mix until well combined. Store the foot soak in an airtight container for up to one year until ready to use. To use, fill a basin with very warm water, add ⅓ cup of foot soak, let it dissolve, and soak.

Handmade gifts: gardener’s Hand Scrub

by Kristy Doubet Haare from Willow and Sage Summer 2026

You Will Need

• • Bowl: small
• • ½ cup granulated sugar
• • 2 TB. unrefined coconut oil
• • Whisk/Fork
• • Orange: (½)
• • ¼ tsp. rosemary leaves
• • Glass jar: 6-oz.
• • Dried orange slice

To Make

In a small bowl, add the granulated sugar and unrefined coconut oil, and use a whisk or fork to blend together until a scrub forms. Squeeze the fresh juice from half of an orange into the scrub mixture, gently whisk to combine. Add the rosemary leaves, and stir to combine. Scoop the scrub into a glass jar. Cut a dried orange slice into small triangles, tuck them into the jar, and place the lid on top to seal until use.

Find more recipes with rosemary in our newly released Willow and Sage Summer 2026.

Danielle Williams is the managing editor for Willow and Sage, The Natural Home Issue, Mingle, and Art Quilting Studio. She lives with her growing family in Orange County, California.