The flower power of essential oils can lift your mood. Here’s how to enhance your quality of life with aromatherapy.
“Seeing, hearing, touching, and tasting are just not as powerful as smelling,” wrote Andy Warhol, who kept a bottle of every perfume he ever wore so that, with one breath, he could transport himself to some moment in his past. He called it his “permanent smell collection.” We may strive to live in the here and now, but we can still apply the power of scent to tweak the present. Fragrance can complement or change your mood, instill peace, spark romance, set a tone, or mark the seasons. There are so many possibilities. Let’s try and make scents of them, shall we?
Essential Oils Make Everything Better, Naturally
That fern on your windowsill and parsley on your potato aren’t just there for looks—they’re good for you! Houseplants clean the air, while herbs, with their infinite number of health benefits, purify the body. Essential oils are plant power in a bottle and are the basic tools of aromatherapy. Botanicals appear in products marketed for everything from facial wrinkles to dirty countertops.
But why let Freida, Joe, and Mrs. Meyer have all the fun? Freedom and creativity are fundamental to one’s well-being. We encourage you to build your own collection of pure essential oils. Dip your nose in and you’ll find familiar scents from the kitchen and garden and others you’ve come to associate with Christmas pageants or Grateful Dead shows. Expand your world of scents (take in frankincense and myrrh or patchouli and sandalwood).
Massage them into your face before bed, but please keep in mind that essential oils are concentrated and should never be used at full strength. Dilute a few drops in oil (one you may already have in your pantry, like grapeseed, almond or olive, will do the trick) or any unscented lotion. Remember, a little bit goes a long way. Patchouli might bring on an Andy Warhol memory—or maybe you don’t remember any of it—we’re not here to judge. We’re just here to tell you that hippie scents deserve a life beyond Phish concerts. Dot a little sandalwood oil on your yoga mat before class to release those good vibes. And while you’re at it, spark up some incense.
Once you get the hang of it, you’ll want to incorporate essential oils into all your daily rituals. Blend peppermint and coconut oil to make a rub to soothe sore muscles and achy feet. Ditch the chemical-smelling hand sanitizer and concoct your own with tea tree oil. Play with combinations; dare to mingle sweet with spicy, earthy with exotic. Mix them up in a spray bottle filled with water for a mist to freshen carpets, upholstery, and bed linens—even your skin. Add your bespoke creations to unscented laundry detergent to lift your spirits while you’re washing and folding clothes (not to mention wearing them).
Video didn’t actually kill the radio star and the light bulb didn’t put out the candle. And nothing compares to a flame for adding warmth and elegance to any environment. Even with a chandelier over our heads, we want candles on the table to make the meal more special.
When you’ve found the fragrance that really speaks to you, you’ll want to fill the entire house with it. For that task, nothing is as effective as an oil diffuser. Choose from a basic, decorative, or high-tech model. Add lavender oil to help you fall asleep or eucalyptus to boost your breathing. Above all, do what makes you happy, because that’s what aromatherapy is all about.
Candles, Then and Forever
Video didn’t actually kill the radio star and the light bulb didn’t put out the candle. And nothing compares to a flame for adding warmth and elegance to any environment. Even with a chandelier over our heads, we want candles on the table to make the meal more special. We recommend unscented candles during dinner—nothing should compete with the aromas of food. For other times of the day, like when you’re lying on the sofa listening to a podcast, a scented candle makes it all lovelier. They’re fantastic to bring along on trips to cheer up even the dreariest hotel room or rental, and make wonderful hostess gifts.
Warhol turned the ordinary soup can into extraordinary art. With aromatherapy’s palette at your disposal, you can transform your everyday into something a little more magical.