The cool, crisp smell of winter’s air. Every season has its smells and my favorite is winter. Pine needles, chestnuts, special holiday food, and the fresh air that comes in together when a loved one comes home. Here are some essential oils that will complement your winter memories.
Diffusers typically have around 100ml of water capacity; the recommended amount of essential oils would be 4-5 drops. If your diffuser has a 200ml water capacity, then you can use up to 6-8 drops of essential oils.
Pine + Lemon + Frankincense
Pine tree is a type of tree that is commonly used for Christmas trees. What better way to bring the holiday season to you than using pine essential oil? The sweet and woody scent combined with the sharp and refreshing scent of lemon automatically puts you in an uplifting winter holiday spirit. If desired for extra bit of warmth, add frankincense! Its sweet and balsamic aroma compliments pine and lemon beautifully. Here’s a few ways you can experiment:
| 100ml water | 200ml water |
| Option A 2-3 drops pine 2 drops lemon/frankincense | Option A 3-4 drops pine 3-4 drops lemon/frankincense |
| Option B 2 drops pine 2 drops frankincense/lemon 1 drop lemon/frankincense | Option B 3 drops pine 3 drops lemon 2 drops frankincense |
Ginger + Cinnamon + Clove
“Do you know the muffin man?”
Does it ever cross your mind how none of the characters in Shrek ate The Gingerbread Man? Considering he must smell delicious. If you’re a fan of ginger cookies, this is for you! The combination of ginger, cinnamon and clove creates a sweet, warm and subtly spicy scent, making your home smell like a Christmas bakery without needing to break a sweat in the kitchen. You can also add nutmeg for that extra kick:
| 100ml water | 200ml water |
| Option A 2-3 drops ginger 2 drops cinnamon | Option A 3-4 drops ginger 2-3 drops cinnamon/clove/nutmeg |
| Option B 2 drops ginger 2 drops cinnamon 1 drop clove/nutmeg | Option B 2 drops ginger 2 drops cinnamon 2 drops clove 2 drops nutmeg |
Vanilla + Sandalwood + Lavender
The strong and happy scent of vanilla can be too sweet for some. Combining it with the rich, woody and earthy qualities of sandalwood gives it more body. To balance out the intensity of the two, the soothing floral scent of lavender. All three oils are natural mood enhancers so not only will you stay warm and cosy, the long lasting and lingering scents of vanilla and sandalwood will promote feelings of relaxation and bliss:
| 100ml water | 200ml water |
| Option A 1-2 drops vanilla 1 drop sandalwood 1-2 drops lavender | Option A 4 drops vanilla 2 drops sandalwood 2 drops lavender |
| Option B 3 drops vanilla 2 drops lavender | Option B 3 drops vanilla 3 drops sandalwood 2 drops lavender |
Cocoa + Vanilla + Peppermint/Cinnamon
This blend is perfect for the colder days as well as Valentine’s Day because chocolate is indeed romantic. The warmth from the cocoa with the sweetness of the vanilla is to die for. You can add peppermint or cinnamon to the mix depending on which route you’re trying to go. If you desire invigoration, then add peppermint. If you desire extra warmth and a little spice, then add cinnamon. Furthermore, the antioxidants present in all four oils will also boost your immune system while providing warmth:
| 100ml water | 200ml water |
| Option A 2-3 drops cocoa 2 drops vanilla/peppermint/cinnamon | Option A 3-4 drops cocoa 3-4 drops vanilla/peppermint/cinnamon |
| Option B 2 drops cocoa 1 or 2 drops vanilla 1 or 2 drops peppermint/cinnamon | Option B 2 drops cocoa 3 drops vanilla 2-3 drops peppermint/cinnamon |
Patchouli + Cedarwood/Vetiver + Lavender/Lemon
An intense and distinctive blend, almost feels like you’re wearing a luxurious perfume. You get the lustrous intensity if you’ve opted for vetiver, a desirable quality for cold climates, woody and earthy tones from patchouli and cedarwood, beautifully softened with a touch of floral or a citrus such as lavender or lemon. Moreover, you should consider trying out this blend if you have trouble sleeping. Lavender, patchouli and cedarwood are natural relaxants that can induce a quicker and deeper onset of sleep:
| 100ml water | 200ml water |
| Option A 2-3 drops patchouli/cedarwood 2 drops lavender *For inducing sleep | Option A 2-3 drops patchouli 2 drops vetiver 2-3 drops lemon *Mood enhancer |
| Option B 2-3 drops patchouli 2 drops cedarwood/vetiver | Option B 2-3 drops cedarwood 2 drops vetiver 2-3 drops lavender/lemon |
| Option C 2-3 drops patchouli 2 drops lemon | Option C 2-3 drops patchouli 2-3 drops lavender 2 drops lemon |
Winter time is often associated with the holidays. Even if you’re big on festivities, you can still try out these blends as a means to stay warmer and cozy, especially if you’re living in a place with harsher winters. You can even try these out during autumn which will be coming very soon for some. Don’t forget to practice aromatherapy with care and diffuse in a well ventilated space for no more than an hour.