Aromatherapy & Essential Oils at Home

Life has become so different to what was the norm until very recently.

None of us imagined we would be spending so much time hibernating in our own homes. 

And it's all, well, a little stressful.  So much uncertainty out in the world.

At times like this, it's the little things that matter. 

Beating the stress, the anxiousness, staying positive, resilient in the face of uncertainty.

Scent is one of those little things that can make a difference.

 A scented candle with pure essential oils can energise, calm, or de-stress.  Or a sneaky dance of an aromatherapy roller ball across your pulse points for an instant scent blast.+ It's just a matter of finding the essential plants oils that speak to you. 

How Does Aromatherapy Work?

Aromatic essential oils have been used for centuries to enhance health and wellbeing, and long recognised as has having the ability to affect mood and our environment.

 Aromatherapy is the ancient practice of using these aromatic plant oils,  essential oils, to harness their powerful effects on emotional and spiritual well being.

 The oils are extracted directly from the plant, and because they are the essence of that plant, they're super concentrated and extremely powerful.

 Case in point,  it takes about 60 roses to produce just one drop of rose essential oil.  Yup, seriously.

 Studies have shown that aromatherapy oils can have a stimulating and sedative effect on both our nervous and immune systems.

 And, let's be honest, right now, we could all use a little emotional help!

Aromatherapy & Emotional Wellbeing

It's thought that the fragrant essential oils positively impact the part of our brain called the limbic system which helps control our emotions and behaviour.

 The limbic system interacts with our brain and helps control breathing, stress levels, memory and balances hormones.

 When you breathe in that first hit of scent, that's the volatile compounds doing their thing.

 The word 'olfactory' comes from the Latin 'olfacere' to smell, and it is via the olfactory nerve that the magic happens.  The inside of your nose is formed of special nerve cells that connect direct to the brain via the olfactory nerves.

Essential Oils & The Mind

Balancing, healing, and I think, happiness inducing, essential oils have the power to impact our state of mind.  Oils with stimulating properties can be used to aid concentration.  Oils that are calming help us to relax and combat the effects of stress.

Need a spot of relaxation?

Try lavender to deeply relax

Need to concentrate?

Pick a blend that includes rosemary to clear and focus the mind.

Need to lift the spirits?

Try incorporating uplifting geranium into a routine.

Using Essential Oil Candles Around Your Home

More than a quarter of British households now buy scented candles, according to research company Kantar -  as a nation, we love burning candles.

 But how can this help us right now?

 Using essential oil candles allows us to tap into the power of scent to create a soothing sanctuary at home.

 Because different scents have different emotional effects, it's important to choose the right aromatherapy candle for each environment to help you achieve the desired effect.

Not a candle fan, want a more immediate scent hit?

If candles, aren’t your thing, or your emotions are somersaulting and you need a hit of scent hit right now, try an aromatherapy roller ball.

 I've designed my blissful aromatherapy roller ball treatments  to Calm, De-Stress or Soothe you when you need it most.  Think instant gratification without chocolate.

 I make these award winning little gems with pure essential oils and organic jojoba.  Simple but powerful. 

 Essential Oils For Your Bedroom?

Choose oils with calming properties.   I like sweet, floral summer scents like lavender, geranium and ylang ylang.

 If you're struggling to fall asleep, these are some of my favourite essential oils with the power to induce that soporific feeling; lavender, frankincense, neroli, vetiver, or chamomile.

 Try my Luxury Aromatherapy Candle No 5, it's my favourite to help lull your mind and body into a night of restful sleep.  It's packed with generous quantities of lavender and citrus notes.

An uplifting blend of organic orange, lemon, and lime with that calming organic lavender and a touch of organic rosemary to calm your mind.

 Or dance my Soothing Aromatherapy Roller Ball across your pulse points or cupped hands and breathe in slowly and let the aromatic oils do their magic.

Essential Oils for Working From Home?

If you're needing to say calm and manage those stress levels try a blend with geranium to  help ground your mind.  I've designed my No 1 candle with a unique essential oil blend to de-stress naturally. 

With copious amounts of organic geranium, it’s the perfect choice for reducing feelings of stress, anxiety, sadness, fatigue, and tension.

 It also enhances concentration, improves cognitive function, and balances the emotions and the hormones. Handy when you need to concentrate.

 Patchouli acts as an antidepressant and juniper has a much-needed calming and grounding effect.

 Plus, bonus, as the candle gently burns and releases those aromatic compounds,  it helps to cleanse and purify the air.

Essential Oils for Your Living Space?

If you're using your living room as a space to wind down at the end of a long day, and you need to banish work stress,  pick  scents to create a calming environment there too.

 My Rose Tree No. 7 - Calm, for example, is deeply calming and soothing. It contains the deliciously feminine ylang ylang and beautiful geranium, which can help you to release anxiety and anger and to combat depression.

 It's the perfect candle to envelop you in a beautiful blanket of calm.

During the day, you'll want to use essential oils with uplifting and motivating properties. So if you're looking for scents that will enhance your productivity, positivity, and focus, try citrus oils, like lemon, orange, grapefruit, tangerine, or mandarin. Or rosemary, which aids focus and helps to clear the mind. Rose Tree No 1 and No 5 are my top picks.

 I make my candles by hand, because I believe that makes a difference, the antithesis to a shop bought paraffin monstrosity filled with toxic synthetic scents. 

 All my award-winning aromatherapy candles are made from a 100% pure vegetable wax blend and are scented with pure essential oils.

 There is no paraffin or lead in my wicks, so they burn cleanly.  I'm much less about a perfect looking candle, with a veil of pastel colour and a sprinkle of glitter and much more about pure ingredients and imperfection. 

More mother nature in all her glory, no two flowers are exactly the same.  But they are real, and all the more beautiful for that. 

 For more about how I  make my candles and getting the best out of them see my Aromatherapy Candles - The Ultimate Guide

The same applies to my aromatherapy roller balls, where less is more.  Pure organic jojoba and pure essential oils.  None of the crap, no synthetic ingredients, just pure, natural aromatic compounds with the ability go inform your mood.

 No one is quite sure when the current lockdown will end.

 At the end of the day, we all have to find our way of coping. 

It's not magic. But the essential oils help.

 I'm feeling grateful that for now I can continue getting parcels of organic goodness out to you, and hoping that it continues.

 I hope that you are find strategies to cope with the madness.  I'd love to hear.  Let me know in the comments :)