Aromatherapy & Essential Oils: Holiday Scents With Health Benefits
It’s almost like you can smell the holidays in the air. Of all our five senses, the sense of smell has been most closely linked with memory. That may be why the smell of cookies baking or the scent of a pine tree can bring back happy memories of childhood holidays. But our olfactory sense can be used to trigger more than just nostalgia and that’s the basis of aromatherapy. Aromatherapy encompasses a wide range of traditional, alternative or complementary therapies that use essential oils.
If it feels like you’ve been seeing essential oils everywhere, that’s because there is a huge global market for this new-old trend. Whether you’re new to aromatherapy or you’ve been using essentials for years, the holidays are the perfect time for aromatherapy products and essential oils. They make great gifts and many of the season’s most iconic scents have practical uses and health benefits.
Here are 8 essential oils that are ideal to experiment with during the season to create a holiday atmosphere or as a thoughtful gift.
Peppermint
Peppermint oil is derived from the peppermint plant.
Scent: Cool and minty, like candy canes.
Helps With: Relieving muscle pain, opening airways, increasing energy, alleviating headaches, freshening breath, promoting hair growth.
A Great Gift Using Peppermint Oil: Peppermint Shaving Cream
A Fun DIY Project: Homemade Peppermint Mouthwash
Clove
Clove oil is an essential oil that's derived from clove trees
Scent: Aromatic, warm spice with hints of cinnamon and ginger.
Helps With: Toothaches, skin health, fighting candida, digestive health, boosting the immune system.
A Great Gift Using Clove Oil: PLANTLIFE Cassia Clove Aromatherapy Soap Bar, 4 Ounce
A Fun DIY Project: Orange Clove Sugar Scrub
Eucalyptus
Eucalyptus oil is extracted from the leaves of the Eucalyptus tree.
Scent: Minty and piney, like walking through a eucalyptus forest
Helps With: Improving many respiratory conditions, relieving a cough, helping allergy symptoms, reducing inflammation, alleviating headaches, boosting mental clarity.
A Great Gift Using Eucalyptus Oil: Workvie Soothing Eucalyptus Gift Set
A Fun DIY Project: Eucalyptus, peppermint massage oil
Cinnamon
Cinnamon essential oil is made from the bark or the leaves of the cinnamon tree.
Scent: Warm, woody, spicy and sweet, like warm cinnamon buns baking.
Helps With: Decreasing inflammation, increasing circulation, fighting viruses, fights parasites.
A Great Gift Using Cinnamon Oil: Immortal Bath bomb - Essential Oil Bath bomb - Clove Cinnamon
A Fun DIY Project: Cinnamon Orange Cleaner
Cedarwood
Cedarwood essential oil is made from the wood of the cedar tree.
Scent: Woody, sweet like evergreen woods.
Helps With: Improving skin conditions, promoting hair growth, natural antiseptic, increased focus, stress relief.
A Great Gift Using Cedarwood Oil: Woods Of Windsor Cedar Woods Moisturizing Hand & Body Lotion
A Fun DIY Project: 3 Ingredient DIY Rosemary Cedarwood Facial Toner
Juniper Berry
Juniper berry essential oil typically comes from the fresh or dried berries and needles of the Juniper tree.
Scent: Slightly sweet, fruity, woody, like a mix of berries and greens
Helps With: Improving skin conditions, heart-health, natural antiseptic
A Great Gift Using Juniper Berry Oil: Capri Blue Alpine Juniper 8Oz Petite Jar Candle
A Fun DIY Project: Walk Through The Woods Air Freshener
Tea tree
Tea tree oil is an essential oil that comes from steaming the leaves of the Australian tea tree.
Scent: Piney, herbal and a bit woodsy
Helps With: Fighting acne, improving dry scalp, soothing skin, fighting infections, freshening breath.
A Great Gift Using Tea Tree Oil: Tea Tree Oil Foot Soak with Epsom Salt
A Fun DIY Project: Tea Tree Oil Face Wash
Frankincense
Frankincense, also known as olibanum, is made from the resin of the Boswellia tree.
Scent: Warm, slightly spicy, woody with a deep incense-like smell
Helps With: Reducing stress, killing germs, healing skin, anti-aging, easing digestion
A Great Gift Using Frankincense Oil: Frankincense Premium Natural Incense Gift Box
A Fun DIY Project: Frankincense & Myrrh Beauty Face Cream
Essential oils can evoke strong feelings, help with certain health conditions and make a home (or a person) smell delightful. But if they are not used carefully there can be some drawbacks. Certain essential oils are toxic to pets and, if used incorrectly, can be dangerous to people. It’s important to understand the proper uses of the oil you’re working with and make sure to store them in a safe place and keep away from children. One time someone mistakenly took my oregano essential oil (HOT!) for their CBD oil bottle and let’s just say, it wasn’t pretty. But when they’re used well, essential oils and aromatherapy may be exactly the last-minute gift idea you’ve been looking for!