Another beautiful holiday season is upon us, and this time we'd like to do a little something different. A different decor, a different meal, maybe a whole different attitude...What simple thing can one do to make the season special? Bring a little extra cheer to the family? Perhaps even sneak it in to the festivities so they don't even know it's happening, but they're a little happier and healthier? A naturopath's suggestion: consider aromatherapy. With the chaos of shopping, cooking, cleaning and visiting family, bringing an uplifting, warming atmosphere to your home with the touch of lovely aromas can really make a difference. And pure, real essential oils are a truly effective way to do this - natural aromatics can have a profoundly positive effect on our spirits and the spirits of those around us.
Natural aromatics have been used as mood lifters and to create warm and comfortable atmospheres for many years. Thousands, even. The methods are tried and true. Our olfactory sense and our psyche have an affinity for things that smell nice. Science says they even make us healthier - essential oils have been shown to lower stress levels, blood pressure, help us get better rest and even make us stop fighting - well, they've been shown to stop rats from fighting, anyway. We can hope for the best when using them in our own homes!
Getting started with aromatherapy is a very simple process - you'll need just a bottle of essential oil (single or blended - we'll get to some suggestions in a moment) and a means to diffuse the aroma into your living space. Many great 'seasonal' essential oils are available at local health food stores or over the internet. Essential oil diffusers are often found at the same stores, with a wide selection of prices and style to suit your needs.
Diffusing essential oils, which really means evaporating them from their oil state into the air around you, can be done in a number of ways. The least complex of all might be making your own potpourri, adding several drops of oils to the bowl or basket. Other folks add a few drops of oil to pinecones and place them about the house. Using this diffusion method, you may want to mix a small amount of a vegetable oil with the essential oil, as to slow the oil's evaporation rate, and lengthen the time you'll be enjoying the aromas. As for the more modern devices, there are warming diffusers which just plug into an outlet and evaporate the oil from a cotton pad. There are 'fan' models which blow air over a similar, but often larger pad. Then there are the high-end units of nebulizing diffusers which make a mist of the essential oils to get higher concentrations into larger areas. ANY of these will work for making your home smell lovely for the holidays; if you think you may want to pursue aromatherapy in the future, you may consider investing in a nebulizer-style diffuser, as they generally have a more broad range of therapeutic possibilities.
As for the essential oils - it's especially delightful that the scents of the season have several timely qualities. Perhaps the most popular are the 'evergreen' oils like Balsam Fir, Spruce and Juniper Berry. These are all uplifting, bright aromatics that also have grounding, calming properties. Balsam Fir may be the favorite, with its complex, sweet, balsamic and woody scent; Black Spruce follows a close second, and Juniper Berry, when of fine quality, is also very well-loved. Pine needle is also a wonderful aroma, coming in the more common Scots Pine, with its simple 'piney' brilliance, and the more complex and exotic Pinus kessia. A fantastic feature of the evergreen oils is that they blend together so nicely. You may chose any two or more of the above, and blend them at almost any ratio and come out with something smelling really good.
More 'traditional' aromas may appeal more to the adult gatherings; these might include the oils of Frankincense, Myrrh or Sandalwood. These tend to be more grounding scents; very rich and earthy. Frankincense is both light and full at the same time, with its citrus and woody notes. Myrrh is more hypnotic and mysterious, useful in small amounts. Sandalwood is a classic favorite - while the Indian varieties are a little pricey, wonderful oils are coming from Australian and the South Pacific. Each of these oils makes wonderful additions to a blend containing primarily the evergreens described above; they can also be mixed together for an exquisite experience (try two parts each of Frankincense and Sandalwood to one part Myrrh).
Perhaps you want to get a little more creative? Choose some of your favorite aromas and experiment. Citrus oils like Sweet Orange and Bergamot are excellent, uplifting scents. Small amounts of oils like Clove or Cardamom can be added to spice things up (Cinnamon is not generally recommended for diffuser use, as it can be too potent even in very small amounts). The common floral aromas of Lavender and Chamomile can be useful for soothing the young ones. If you'd like to create your own blend, but don't have a recipe, its often best to make a small amount first, counting by single drops the amount of each oil until you like they way they're blending. Then make a larger amount based on the ratios of the drops you've used.
Just a little essential oil can bring a new kind of cheer to you and your family this season. One small bottle is often enough to scent your home for several days - more potent oils will last even longer. As you become familiar with the array of aromas available, you'll be able to pick and choose oils particularly suited to your needs. The effects of aromatherapy may surprise you; maybe enough to get you hooked and keep you smiling through the rest of the winter.
About the Author:
For lots more information about the use of essential oils for both the professional practitioner and the home user, visit The Ananda Apothecary
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