The holiday season is the perfect time to add a touch of joy to your home. One great way to create a sense of holiday spirit is by using essential oils. These five essential oils are proven to bring out the best in any holiday gathering—they smell great and offer more benefits than just a pleasant aroma. Cinnamon and clove essential oils, for example, contain powerful antibacterial properties that can help keep us healthy during cold and flu season.
Adora Winquist, author of Detox, Nourish, Activate: Plant and Vibrational Medicine for Energy, Mood, and Love is an expert in the field of aromatherapy. Here, she shares her top picks for essential oils at Christmas:
1. Cinnamon Cassia.
Warming and stimulating, cinnamon infuses your environment with coziness and invigorating positive energy. Cinnamon is also aphrodisiac in nature and ignites passion in love and all aspects of life.
* This is best avoided for topical use as it can be irritating to the skin and mucous membranes.
2. Blood Orange.
Bright and uplifting blood orange brings a sense of joie de vivre (joy of life) to any space. It is also an excellent aromatic for Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). And for those of us who miss out on the sun’s vibrant rays during the year, orange essential oil is a must have for your aromatic arsenal.
3. Cardamom.
Refreshing and invigorating, cardamom is an aromatic of inspiration, bringing fresh ideas, energy, and insights about life. Often used as a flavor and digestive in Asian cuisine and medicine, cardamom offers more than spice in your life. It is an excellent aromatic to increase our energy and enthusiasm when feelings of fatigue and overwhelm set in.
*Tasty tip: Add a little ground cardamom to your next whip cream recipe for apple or chocolate pie.
4. Clove.
Spicy and warming, clove is deeply comforting. This aromatic relieves tension, uplifts the emotions, and ignites a sense of renewed purpose in life. It is also an excellent digestive aid, and it increases circulation and has been used historically for toothaches.
*Best avoided for topical use as it can be irritating to the skin and mucous membranes.
5. Pine.
Opening and energizing, pine is a wonderfully uplifting aroma. It is also used for respiratory complaints and to energize the body, mind, and spirit after a cold or flu. This versatile aromatic is reminiscent of a refreshing evergreen forest.
Spread the Cheer Room Mist
Want to create your own seasonal blend? Here, Adora shares her recipe below:
- 2 drops of cinnamon cassia essential oil (Cinnamomum cassia)
- 15 drops of organic orange essential oil (Citrus sinensis)
- 4 drops of cardamom essential oil (Elettaria cardamomum)
- 3 drops of clove (Syzygium aromaticum) essential oil
- 9 drops of pine (Pinus sylvestris) essential oil
Mix into a glass spray bottle filled with 60 ml of distilled water, and shake well before use.
Mist your home, office, and car, and bring on the cheer.
Be sure to avoid spraying in the eyes and face.
Top Tip:
Don’t have these essential oils? Don’t worry! Check your spice rack for cardamom, clove, and cinnamon. Add a tablespoon of each to a pot of water and cut up a fresh orange and simmer. Within about 20 minutes your home will smell warm, inviting, and filled with cheer.
