Black pepper essential oil is strong and has a sharp, spicy smell, and is faintly reminiscent of clove oil, yet more refined. It can range in color from light amber to yellow-green and has a watery viscosity. The essential oil is composed of various chemical constituents and includes thujone, A-pinene, camphene, sabinene, B-pinene, A-phellandrene, myrcene, limonene, caryophyllene, B-farnesene, B-bisabolene, linalool and terpine-4-ol.

The therapeutic properties of black pepper oil include the following:

analgesic
antiseptic
antispasmodic
antitoxic
aphrodisiac
digestive
diuretic
febrifuge
laxative
rubefacient
tonic (especially the spleen)
Black pepper oil can be used to help in the treatment of pain relief, rheumatism, chills, flu, colds, to increase circulation, relieve exhaustion, calm muscular aches, physical and emotional coldness, as a nerve tonic and to relieve fevers.

It is especially effective when treating bruises on the skin, and it rubefacient property makes it very valuable when you wish to increase circulation to the skin and the supportive tissue underneath the skin. Black pepper essential oil helps to boost circulation and has a "warming" action on the skin, therefore, it is great to use it in formulations for reduction of cellulite.