Holistic Aromatherapy: The Bridge to Seasonal Wellness
The seasons are changing, and so should your skincare routine!
To acknowledge the change of season, adjust your routine and mindset from light summer care to rich, protective, and mood-boosting winter rituals, embracing the Danish concept of Hygge (coziness and well-being).
Aromatherapy is the perfect bridge for the seasonal change.
Essential oils have a unique role during the transition into winter. These plant essences connect our inner mental state with our outer physical environment. It's about shifting your mood and supporting your inner health to achieve a true, resilient winter glow.
The most powerful way aromatherapy acts as a bridge is through the olfactory system (our sense of smell), which is directly linked to the limbic system in the brain. The limbic system is the region that governs emotions, memory, and instinct. When you inhale the scent of an essential oil, the aromatic molecules send an immediate signal to this area. This allows aromatherapy to bypass conscious thought and quickly modulate neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine, helping to reduce anxiety, elevate mood, and combat Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), which is common in darker months. Use grounding essential oils like cedarwood, vetiver and ginger or uplifting oils like clary sage, grapefruit, juniper, mandarin, orange and ylang ylang.
Smells are powerful triggers for memory. Using warm, nostalgic winter aromas like clove, nutmeg, cardamom or cinnamon allows you to consciously create a positive association with the cold season, turning what might feel like a struggle into comfort and coziness (Hygge).
The beauty of aromatherapy is that it simultaneously treats your skin, mind and immune system.
Many winter essential oils like eucalyptus, tea tree and ravintsara contain active chemical constituents that have demonstrated antimicrobial, antiviral and anti-inflammatory properties. When diffused or applied topically (properly diluted), they purify the air and provide gentle, natural support to the body's defenses. This supports your immune system, preventing the "inner stress" of fighting illness that can lead to external signs of fatigue.
Topical application of oils mixed with rich carrier oils like avocado, jojoba or rosehip (they are like “sweaters for the skin”) allows the powerful anti-inflammatory and regenerative properties of oils like frankincense and German chamomile to sink directly into the skin. My clients use my anti-ageing and empowering organic face oil during the colder months of the year. This strengthens the skin barrier, creating a protective shield against harsh cold and dry indoor heat, while simultaneously reducing inflammation that might be related to internal stress.
The winter season often brings a hectic end-of-year rush and combined with shorter darker days that require extra rest (remember, winter is the season of hibernation). Aromatherapy helps balance this conflict.
Grounding rituals are important! Essential oils encourage us to slow down. I have a nighttime aromatherapy bath with 4-6 drops of essential oils. A mini meditation or simple deep inhalation with an aromatherapy diffuser are very effective.
My detoxifying organic cleansing oil is truly unique because it’s more than a cleanser. It purifies your skin on a deeper level, reigniting your radiance and rejuvenating your complexion. Your skin will feel nourished, restored, and truly alive. Experience a cleansing ritual that reconnects you to the present moment through its meditative aroma. This cleansing ritual will ground you, and it’s perfect for the seasonal change of our skin! I recommend using oils like geranium, lavender, vetiver, basil and neroli to help "anchor" the nervous system, preventing the scattered and overwhelmed feeling that can accompany seasonal transitions.
Essential oils are plant extracts, deeply connected to the rhythm of nature. By choosing scents aligned with the season like warming spices and earthy, grounding scents, you are subconsciously helping your body and mind align with the season's natural call for rest and reflection while preserving energy.
