Paradise Found: Elevating Your Space with Essential Oils
With the wintery weather upon us, and the continued directive from our local health authority to stay home, spending time in our own humble abodes has become an inevitable reality. Our recommended at-home mood booster is simple, all-natural, and cost effective—and it engages your sense of smell! Can you guess what it may be?
If you guessed essential oils, you guessed correctly! While these aromatic compounds have been used for over 5,000 years as natural remedies, they’ve made a recent rise in popularity in the consumer market. Essential oils are favoured by many wellness practitioners for their ability to support digestive health, reduce stress levels, improve sleep quality, stimulate energy, and so much more. Our Natural Health Team has compiled a list of ways that you can incorporate these small but mighty aromatic compounds into your life and home to enhance your wellbeing.
Methods of Use:
There are a number of ways that you can enjoy the benefits of essential oils, and our team’s favourites include:
1. Breathing into the Hands
Place 3-5 drops of the essential oils into the palms, rubbing together, and cupping your hands around your nose and mouth, then breathing deeply.
2. Spritzing from a Spray Bottle
Add 15-25 drops of the essential oils to distilled water and place into a spray bottle, spritzing the room, wrists, and pillow cases.
3. Direct Skin Application
Add 15-25 drops of the essential oils to a carrier oil (ie: coconut, jojoba, or sweet almond massage oils) and place into a roller bottle before applying directly to the skin surface.
4. Adding to Diffuser Stones
Add oil drops to diffuser stones and place in your shoe/wardrobe closets, in the shower, desk drawer, or car. To learn how to make your own diffuser stones from scratch, check out this Youtube Tutorial.
5. Adding to a Diffuser
This is the best way to transform any room into an instant sanctuary (calling all remote employees!) Simply add 3-5 drops per 100ml of water to your diffuser and let the scent fill the room. Don’t forget to be mindful of animals and small children when diffusing essential oils. If you are in need of a diffuser, visit the store and shop our collection of AROMA diffusers, boasting a variety of styles to enliven your space.
6. Bath Time 2.0
Turn up the heat on your bathing ritual with a little touch of luxury! Upgrade your bathing routine with a little DIY aromatherapy. Start with your carrier oil (coconut, almond, or jojoba) and add in up to 20 drops of essential oil(s) of your choice to 2 teaspoons of carrier oil, then add to your bath water. Try adding to the bath water right before you get in, to prevent the oils from evaporating too rapidly. If you’re feeling ambitious, try making your own bath bombs (perfect for gifts) using this Epsom Salt Council DIY Bath Bomb Recipe. Some of our favourite essential oils for relaxation in the bath, include: ylang ylang, chamomile, lavender, frankincense, and eucalyptus.
Recipe Round-Up
Spoil yourself with these recipes that have been created by our Natural Health Consultant Cindy Walker to spark joy seasonally, or year-round.
Christmas Tree Essential Oil Diffuser Blend
10 drops pine essential oil
4 drops frankincense essential oil
4 drops orange essential oil
Peppermint Candy Cane Essential Oil Diffuser Blend
14 drops peppermint essential oil
4 drops orange essential oil
Holiday Spices Essential Oil Diffuser Blend
6 drops cinnamon essential oil
6 drops clove bud essential oil
6 drops orange essential oil
Frankincense & Myrrh Essential Oil Diffuser Blend
8 drops frankincense essential oil
6 drops myrrh essential oil
4 drops lemon essential oil
Calming Lavender Essential Oil Diffuser Blend
10 drops lavender essential oil
4 drops vanilla essential oil
4 drops orange essential oil
Stocking Stuffer Alert!
Give the gift of well-being to yourself or your loved ones this holiday season, and shop our variety of NOW Foods essential oil blends. We have a variety of blends specially crafted to enhance mood, reduce stress, boost immunity, and more. Pair your selected blends with the calming Warm Buddy microwavable aromatherapy heart-shaped pillow for the ultimate gift set.
Deep Breathing Exercise
We invite you to give this essential oil meditation a try at home, using breath work while the essential oils stimulate the senses. This act of self-care promotes a sense of balance and rejuvenation, and takes just a few short minutes to complete:
- Find a comfortable position sitting or lying down, and softly close the eyes, allowing the tongue and jaw to soften.
- Using the method of usage that you prefer from the above options, inhale your essential oil blend, drawing in deep breaths through the nose (feeling the rise in the belly and chest).
- Exhale out through the mouth.
- Repeat for 3 minutes or as you deem fit.
