Wintergreen essential oil is steam-distilled from the organic leaves of the Gaultheria fragrantissima which grows in Nepal. It has an intense sweet-aromatic odor and is used as a flavoring in toothpastes, chewing gum and soft drinks. Wintergreen oil is also used extensively in liniments because of its anti-inflammatory and antirheumatic properties. It is a strong oil that must be used with care and, like all oils, diluted when used topically.