The Four Thieves Oil (Part 2) – The Blend
The well-know Four Thieves blend combines Cinnamon, Clove, Eucalyptus, Lemon, and Rosemary in a beautifully aromatic, uplifting, and supportive blend. Whether they’re Four Thieves or Five Musketeers, an essential oil blend or simmer pot, these herbs pack a powerful cleansing punch!
In Part 1 of this topic we talked about the fanciful history of the Four Thieves. You’ll find many essential oil suppliers have a version of this beloved blend. In this post you’ll get a recipe to make your very own.
Plus you have the fun of coming up with a whimsical name! I call mine The Five Musketeers!
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In this Post:
⭐️The Five Musketeers Recipe
- 7 drops Lemon essential oil (Citrus x limon)
- 5 drops Clove bud essential oil (Eugenia caryophyllata)
- 4 drops Eucalyptus essential oil (Eucalyptus globulus or E. radiata)
- 4 drops Rosemary essential oil (Rosmarinus officinalis/Salvia rosmarinus)
- 2 drops Cinnamon bark essential oil (Cinnamomum zeylanicum or C. cassia)
[Learn more about these oils in Part 1]
Optional Add-Ins
- Thyme essential oil (Thymus vulgaris)
- Lavender essential oil (Lavandula angustifolia)
- Lavandin essential oil (Lavandula x intermedia)
- Sweet Marjoram essential oil (Origanum majorana)
- distilled Lime essential oil (Citrus x aurantifolia)
🌺See my Recommended Suppliers below
Learn more about using the Lavender essential oils in your green cleaning products in my book Lavender: Lavender Recipes & the Plant Behind the Oil. You’ll find Lavender at:
- My Etsy Store (signed paperback, US)
- Amazon (paperback & Kindle Unlimited, international).
Using the Five Musketeers Blend
This powerful combination of essential oils can be quite irritating to the skin, so my recommendation would be to avoid topical use. Instead, use the Five Musketeers Blend in an inhaler or diffuser, to refresh the air or linens, or as a great germ-busting surface cleaner.
Make an Aromatherapy Inhaler
Add 10-12 drops of the blend to the inhaler wick. It will help open the breath and enhance positive outlook. Also, the antimicrobial action of the blend makes it excellent to have on hand during cold and flu season.
Add to Your Diffuser
Add a few drops to your essential oil diffuser to help cleanse and freshen the air. This is a great choice when someone in the household is sick. Combine with the Five Musketeers Simmer Pot below.
Make a Deodorizing Spray
This simple spray will refresh stale air or upholstered furniture. To a 2oz glass bottle with a spray nozzle:
- Add 24-30 drops of Five Musketeers blend.
- Add a solubilizer.
- Top with distilled water.
Shake well before use. If using on fabric, test on an inconspicuous area first.
What’s a Solubilizer? A solubilizer is an ingredient that helps suspend essential oils in a water base. Examples include grain alcohol, isopropyl alcohol, polysorbate-20, and solubol.
NOTE: Using grain alcohol or isopropyl alcohol at 20-25% of the blend “preserves” the spray, extending the shelf-life. Otherwise use or replace within a week.
Make an All-Purpose Surface Spray
This is one of my top blends to clean kitchen counters and bathroom surfaces. I also spray this on my dry mop pad to help keep my floors clean and dust free.
To a 4oz glass bottle with a spray nozzle:
- Add 48-60 drops of Five Musketeers blend.
- Fill 1/4 with Isopropyl Alcohol.
- Fill to half with white Vinegar.
- Fill remaining half with distilled water.
Shake well before use and please wear gloves. Test on an inconspicuous area before using over an entire surface. Make in small volumes and use rapidly.
The Five Musketeers Herb Simmer Pot
Next time someone in your household is feeling ill, try this simmer pot blend. It will help cleanse the air and provide some breath-opening support.
- 8 cups water
- 2 Cinnamon sticks
- 1 teaspoon Clove buds
- 1 Lemon, sliced into rounds or thin wedges
- 1-2 sprigs fresh Rosemary or 1 Tablespoon dried herb
- 1 Tablespoon Eucalyptus leaf tea
In a medium sauce pan combine water and herbs. Bring to a gentle simmer, then reduce heat so the water is just steaming. Refresh the water as needed to keep the pot from boiling dry. Compost the ingredients at the end of the day.
Mom’s Shopping List
You can find the essential oils used in the Four Thieves blend along with others I use for cleaning on my Green Clean list at Amazon (featuring Plant Therapy and Edens Garden essential oils).
The Five Musketeers Simmer Pot herbs and other supportive products can be found at Mom’s favorites for Cough & Cold Care on Amazon.
- Pre-Made Four Thieves Oil Blends:
- Aromatics International‘s Mountain Bandits blend
- Plant Therapy‘s Germ Fighter blend
- Edens Garden‘s Fighting Five blend (on Amazon)
- Cinnamon Bark essential oil (Cinnamomum cassia / C. zeylanicum):
- Aromatics International, organic
- Plant Therapy, organic (Direct and Amazon).
- Clove Bud essential oil (Eugenia caryophyllata):
- Aromatics International, sustainably wildcrafted
- Plant Therapy, organic (Direct and Amazon).
- Eucalyptus globulus essential oil:
- Aromatics International, organic
- Plant Therapy, organic (Direct and Amazon).
- Lemon essential oil (Citrus x limon):
- Aromatics International, organic
- Edens Garden, sustainable (on Amazon)
- Plant Therapy, organic (Direct and Amazon).
- Rosemary essential oil (Rosmarinus officinalis / Salvia rosmarinus):
- Aromatics International, organic, Rosemary camphor and Rosemary verbenone
- Edens Garden, sustainable, “Spanish” Rosemary camphor (on Amazon)
- Plant Therapy, organic, Rosemary 1,8-cineole (Direct and Amazon).
- Lavender essential oil (Lavandula angustifolia):
- Aromatics International, organic artisan (grown and distilled in Montana)
- Plant Therapy, organic (Direct and Amazon)
- TIP: Plant Therapy’s Lavender Hydrosol (Direct and Amazon) is lovely for skin care and general aromatherapy.
- Lavandin essential oil (Lavandula x intermedia):
- Lime essential oil (Citrus x aurantifolia):
- Aromatics International, organic, distilled
- Plant Therapy, sustainable, distilled (Direct and Amazon)
- Edens Garden, sustainable, distilled (on Amazon).
- Sweet Marjoram (Origanum majorana):
- Aromatics International, organic
- Plant Therapy, organic (Direct and Amazon).
- Thyme essential oil (Thymus vulgaris) – both chemotypes:
- Aromatics International, ct linalool (gentle), organic
- Plant Therapy, ct linalool (gentle), sustainable (Direct and Amazon)
- Aromatics International, ct thymol (powerful), organic
- Plant Therapy, ct thymol (powerful), organic (Direct and Amazon).
This information has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. It is for educational purposes only.
All recipes provided are for personal use and are not designed for re-sale or large-scale manufacturing.
Please consult your doctor, naturopath, herbal practitioner, or other qualified health professional for medical advice and before starting any herbal regimen, particularly if you are pregnant or nursing, have any existing medical conditions, or are taking any medications.
Chris P | Author, Certified Aromatherapist, Natural Skin Care Formulator
Chris (“Mom”) enjoys formulating bespoke aromatherapy, skin care, and herbal products to support her family, pets, friends, and clients. She also loves experimenting with recipes in the kitchen. An avid reader, writer, and lifetime learner, Chris enthusiastically explores research rabbit holes and then writes about her discoveries.💚 (Learn more >>)
