7 Surprising Uses For Bay Leaves

Bay leaves introduce an extra dimension to soups, stews, and roasts. The aromatic, savory leaves add notes of menthol, eucalyptus, and pine to simmering sauces while releasing a heady scent similar to thyme and oregano. Also known as bay laurel (Laurus nobilis), this herb is traditionally used in cooking in cultures all over the world.

But while you may be familiar with its uses in the kitchen, did you know that bay leaves have many other uses around the home? Like so many herbs, bay leaves have multiple applications, from repelling pests to skin care. Read on to learn the many surprising uses of bay leaves.

Repelling Pests

Bay leaf’s stringent scent is used to repel insects. In fact, the vital oil is an ingredient in some pesticides. Some cooks apply bay leaves in the pantry to deter moths, weevils, and other pests. A common trick is to place one bay leaf each on top of your flour, rice, and other grains.

Home Decor

In age-old times, accomplished athletes and poets wore crowns of laurel wreaths. If you are growing a shrub in your herb garden, fresh bay laurel also makes an attractive and aromatic wreath for your front door. A elementary arrangement of leaves has a classic look, but you can also weave in flowers and berries to represent any season of the year.

Potpourri

Place dried bay leaves in a satchel along with other aromatics to sweeten drawers, closets, and chests. You can also simmer it on the stove along with cloves, cinnamon sticks, and orange peel to make your home smell like the holidays.

Medicinal Tea

Bay leaf is full of antioxidants and compounds that may have health benefits. It is steeped as a tea in some cultures and used to treat stomachaches, congestion, and sore throats. To make your own, steep two leaves per cup of boiling water for five minutes. You can enhance the flavor with a squeeze of lemon and honey, cinnamon sticks, or mint leaves.

Skin Care

Bay leaf was used in classic medicine for skin rashes and has anti-viral and anti-microbial properties. Today you can find the vital oil of bay leaf in skin care products like salves, creams, and lotions. Bay leaf may have calming properties, and the vital oil can added to massage oil. Applying pure vital oils to your skin can cause irritation, so always dilute them before using.

Hair Products

Believed to enhance scalp health and reduce dandruff, bay leaf is an ingredient in some hair rinses and moisturizers. You can make your own hair rinse by steeping a forceful tea, using it after you shampoo, and then rinsing.

Freshening And Cleaning

The vital oil can be used in a diffuser along with other scents you enjoy to freshen your home. You can also add a few drops of bay leaf vital oil to pine-scented homemade cleansers.