Every winter, January and February feel like they must be the longest months of the year. Itching for sunshine and longer days, the dark and gloomy days of winter can begin to take a toll on our moods and mental health. In Canada, about 15% of people experience a mild form of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) in their lifetime. Aromatherapy has been shown to reduce symptoms and feelings of SAD, as well as improve mood and focus, and we wanted to share a few of our favourite ways to use aromatherapy to beat the winter blues.
Citruses
Everyone loves a good citrus! They’re bright, light, and refreshing. The right citrus blend can transport you to summertime with one sniff, and we love diffusing them in our stores during the winter months.
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Bergamot: We love to feature this powerful oil as an essential oil of the month due to its uplifting properties and fresh aroma. Bergamot has anti-anxiety and antidepressant properties, and is often referred to as “the happy oil”.
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Sweet Orange: Not only beneficial for boosting your mood and reducing symptoms of anxiety and depression, Sweet Orange is a go-to for household cleaning. Using this oil in your cleaning routine will help to fight dirt and grime while leaving behind a fresh, uplifting scent to brighten your day.
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Happy Blend: We like to refer to our Happy blend as “sunshine in a bottle” because it’s so bright and uplifting. A sunny blend of grapefruit, lemongrass, and palmarosa, this blend is perfect to add to your diffuser rotation. No diffuser? No problem! We also have this blend available in a therapeutic roll-on for a mood boost on the go.
Florals
We love using florals in our skin care and body care products due to their many skin care benefits. Florals are known to help with hormonal imbalances, hormonal breakouts, and their rich aromas really uplift the heart.
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Rose: This beautiful essential oil is a staple in many home apothecaries. It is believed that Rose essential oil helps to balance the heart chakra, which is associated with love and self-love. This oil promotes emotional wellbeing, and is particularly helpful for those who may be grieving. It’s also great for reducing cramps and low mood during menstruation. You can also find this oil in our Rose Natural Perfume.
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Ylang Ylang: While Lavender essential oil is the most commonly used to aid in sleep and relaxation, Ylang Ylang essential oil actually has amazing sedative properties. It is often used to help reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression, and works wonders for relieving stress.
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Forest & Flowers Blend: This robust blend is a perfect combination of florals and citruses, making it one of our favourites for relaxation and uplifting the mood. Ylang ylang, bergamot, jasmine and Himalayan cedarwood come together in this grounding, yet uplifting aroma. You can find Forest & Flowers in an essential oil, a hand & body lotion, and in a massage oil. A few drops of this blend in your diffuser before bed will help you wind down and catch some Zzz’s!
The Ritual
The easiest and most common way to reap the benefits of aromatherapy is to add drops of essential oil to a diffuser. Diffusing an uplifting essential oil will give you mood-boosting perks while also making your home smell fresh and bright. It is important to consider pet safety when diffusing essential oils, especially citruses! Check out our Pet Safety blog for more information.
If you don’t have a diffuser, don’t worry! You can also add a few drops of essential oil to your bath water, or a massage oil or lotion to experience the same benefits. Many of the oils and blends featured in this blog can also be found in our other home and body care products, like our soaps, cleaning supplies, and bath products.
Final Thoughts
Whether you’re new to the world of aromatherapy, or a seasoned essential oil user, using simple oils and blends to encourage positivity and uplift your mood is easy and accessible. All of our essential oils are sustainably and ethically sourced, so you can rest assured that our products and blends are made with you and our environment in mind!
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