Time Travel

Remember the smell of summer? The scent of wildflowers on the breeze, the dew lifting off the forest floor, and the smell of rain. If you long for the easy warmth of summer instead of the cold of a Canadian winter, then invite uplifting essential oils into your life.

My favourite summertime scent is juniper (Juniperus communis). A whiff of this aromatic oil with its rich, earthy base notes and its clearing top notes reminds me of sun-warmed woods in summer. Use juniper to strengthen the spirit during times of anxiety and low energy.

Or imagine inhaling the scent of cooling peppermint (Mentha piperita). You’ll feel the essential oil stimulate your energy while helping to clear your mind and soothe your emotions.

The scent of essential oils can have a powerful effect on our emotions and help to calm the spirit, relax the body, and relieve stress. Our olfactory system carries the aromatic molecules of an essential oil to the limbic system, the area of the brain connected with the body’s basic drives for hunger, thirst, breathing, sleep, emotion, libido, and memories.

Stimulate these drives by putting a few drops in your bath. Create a therapeutic massage oil by combining a few drops with a carrier oil such as olive, almond, grapeseed, or sunflower oil. Massage the scented oil onto your skin after a shower, or give a massage to someone you love to help alleviate sore muscles and joints.

Travel in time with your favourite summer scent. Try these two essential oil combinations to warm your winter days.

Lime (Citrus aurantifolia) has an enlivening scent that helps to stimulate and refresh the air. Like all citrus essential oils, be sure to blend lime with a carrier oil.

Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) has a sweet, herbaceous, floral fragrance. It is balancing for the body and emotions, and helps to relieve anxiety, nervous stress, and headaches or insomnia caused by tension.

Camomile, German (Matricaria recutita) has a pronounced effect on the mind and nervous system. Its scent is intense, herbal, and sweet, and can help uplift and soothe irritability. It is calming and promotes restful sleep.

Geranium (Pelargonium graveolens) has a strengthening effect, balancing the emotions and raising energy reserves while soothing the mind and body.

Bergamot (Citrus bergamia) has a fresh, sweet, fruity scent. It’s often described as sunshine in a bottle due to its uplifting, cheerful effect. Bergamot can help with anxiety, stress, tension, agitation, depression, and insomnia. It can also be used in a diffuser, bath, or on the skin with a carrier oil. Do not apply bergamot directly to skin as it may increase photosensitivity.

Bouquet Milk Bath for My Love

Combine the perfume of summer blossoms for an out-of-season bath experience. This recipe makes enough powder for two separate milk baths, or use the whole batch and share the bath with someone special.

½ cup (125 mL) powdered milk
½ cup (125 mL) baking soda
5 drops bergamot (Citrus bergamia)
5 drops camomile (Matricaria recutita)
5 drops geranium (Pelargonium graveolens)
5 drops lavender (Lavandula angustifolia)

Combine powdered milk and baking soda in a small bowl. Add essential oils and knead them into the mixture until it is well blended. Add to hot bath water.

February Energizer

Boost the energy in every wintry room with this summer-scented room diffuser.

1 drop peppermint (Mentha piperita)
2 drops grapefruit (Citrus paradise)
2 drops bergamot (Citrus bergamia)
2 drops lime (Citrus aurantifolia)

Add this combination of essential oils to the water in your aromatherapy diffuser.