8 ESSENTIAL OIL BLENDS TO HARNESS THE ESSENCE OF SPRING SEASON

IN ESSENCE...

Spring is in the air, but it may not always feel like it! Depending on your geographical location, your experience of Spring may be an uncertain one, with weather conditions constantly changing from double-digit temperatures and sunshine to below zero with flurries. Such drastic changes in climate can be disorienting. You never know how warm it is going to be once the Spring Equinox comes to pass. However, when the weather is permitting, it can be one of the most beautiful times of the year. The Spring season is associated with comfortable warmth, fresh rainfall, the regrowth of the leaves, flowers blooming, longer days, and holidays such as Easter and Mother's Day. It is a time of change, of renewal, and rejuvenation, which is why so many give their homes, diets, skin care regimens, and lives the "Spring Refresh" treatment.

The fresh air of Spring provides a wonderful opportunity for other natural aromas to come out of hiding. If you need more of a "Spring" in your step, aromatherapy can help enhance the beauty of the season and bring floral, citrus, and fresh scents into your home. Essential Oils such as Lavender, Eucalyptus, Lemon, Bergamot, Grapefruit, Lime, Frankincense, and Ylang Ylang have unique scent profiles and constituents that can invigorate your senses, enhance your mood, brighten your space, and harness the essence of Spring!

WHY IS SPRING AN IDEAL TIME FOR AROMATHERAPY?

While the benefits of NDA's vast selection of Essential Oils can be felt at any time of the year, Spring is an especially unique time to harness the power of aromatherapy. Spring is when the snow melts and the days are longer, allowing an abundance of flowers, plants, and herbs to thrive after months of harsh weather conditions. Floral aromatherapy blends emit the essence of the season's most prominent flowers. If you have been in hibernation mode over the frigid cold months, Floral Essential Oils can add a pleasant and welcoming atmosphere to your space. Citrus is believed to energize and brighten the mood, so Citrus Essential Oils are ideal to beat the last of the winter blues and rejoice in the longer, warmer days ahead.

Aromatherapy can also aid in alleviating the symptoms that are associated with the changing of seasons, such as allergies, headaches, mental fogginess, nasal congestion, and stuffiness. The rising temperatures can trigger seasonal allergies, while the alternation in the air pressure from sunshine to cloudiness can cause headaches in some people. Essential Oils such as Lavender, Eucalyptus, Tea Tree, and Peppermint possess anti-inflammatory benefits that may help ease seasonal allergies when diffused into the air, while Citrus Essential Oils such as Lemon can potentially reduce sinuses and congestion. Peppermint Essential Oil has long been associated with reducing the severity of headaches. It can be diffused in a room or blended with a carrier oil and applied topically at the base of the neck for optimal results. Find out more about peppermint oil uses. 

Essential Oils such as Geranium, Grapefruit, Juniper Berry, and Rosemary, as well as the ones listed above, are believed to possess detoxifying properties, making them an ideal companion to any "Spring Refresh" rituals. Many of NDA's selection of Essential Oils possess antifungal, antiseptic, astringent, and antibacterial properties. When used in a diffuser, these oils can help purify the air you breathe, as well as your respiratory pathways. These oils can also emit gentle antifungal and disinfecting properties when incorporated into natural cleaning recipes for surfaces around the home, such as all-purpose cleaning sprays, bathroom cleaners, toilet cleaners, and other disinfectants. Essential Oils can potentially perform the same cleaning benefits as their conventional counterparts without the harsh chemicals.

THE BEST ESSENTIAL OILS FOR SPRING

Floral Essential Oils

Floral Oils, most notably Lavender, Geranium, and Ylang Ylang, are commonly used in aromatherapy to treat feelings of stress and anxiety, as well as mental fogginess and tension in the body. As the most versatile Essential Oil in aromatherapy, Lavender possesses beautifying, therapeutic, and healing properties that can support your mental and emotional well-being with its soft, calming scent. Geranium has balancing, anti-inflammatory, astringent, and uplifting properties that make it perfect for renewing your space or personal care regimen. Along with their soft, powdery scents, Floral Essential Oils are antifungal, antiseptic, and astringent, perfect for purifying the air you breathe!

Minty Essential Oils

Oils hailing from the Mint Family are particularly beneficial for Springtime use due to their astringent, antiseptic properties, and fresh, minty scent profile that is stimulating to the senses. Peppermint Oil may ease the symptoms of seasonal allergies when blended and diffused with other anti-inflammatory oils. Their antifungal properties also make Mint Oils beneficial for cleaning surfaces around the home. Essential Oils in the Mint Family include Peppermint, Spearmint, and Wintergreen.

Herbaceous Essential Oils

For a blend that is reminiscent of dewy, freshly cut grass, Herbaceous Essential Oils are extracted from the leafy green part of a low-growing plant. These oils include Eucalyptus, Tea Tree, Rosemary, and Chamomile Roman. The scent profile of the oils in the Herbaceous category ranges from refreshing, sharp, and green Eucalyptus and Tea Tree Oils, to crisp and clean Rosemary Oil, to warm, subtly fruity, and herbaceous Roman Chamomile Oil. Herbaceous Essential Oils are great for eliminating unpleasant odors, uplifting your mood, promoting a sense of relaxation, and even possess cleansing properties when applied to the skin or when added to solutions for cleaning various surfaces.

Citrus Essential Oils

Fresh, fruity, and invigorating, Citrus Essential Oils are the heart of Spring-inspired diffuser blends. Including oils such as Lemon, Bergamot, Lime, Grapefruit, and Wild Orange, Citrus Oils add the bright, uplifting, and energizing effect needed to make the most of Spring's promise of a new beginning. With their cleansing and purifying constituents, oils such as Lemon, Lime, and Bergamot can support immunity and ease symptoms of seasonal colds and allergies with their antifungal and antibacterial properties. Citrus Oils are also beneficial when added to natural cleaning products due to their astringent effects and their brilliant scent profile, which masks the harsh odors of cleaning agents, leaving a breath of fresh air.

Woodsy Essential Oils

Extracted from the roots, leaves, branches, or resin of tree species, Woodsy Essential Oils possess an earthy scent profile that epitomize the essence of a walk in the woods.

Essential Oils such as Cedarwood, Frankincense, Tea Tree, and Sandalwood are types of Woodsy Oils that provide a grounding effect and balance any diffuser blend, woodsy essential oils blend especially well with floral oils such as Lavender and Eucalyptus, enhancing their relaxing and calming effects. Cedarwood and Tea Tree are believed to support a healthy respiratory system and protect the skin from environmental stressors, while Frankincense and Sandalwood can promote a sense of relaxation and mood balance. Properties of woodsy Essential Oils include antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, astringent, and antiseptic.

Cedarwood also acts as a natural bug repellent, perfect for topical application and garden use, as insects become more prominent in the Springtime.

A NOTE ON BLENDING ESSENTIAL OILS

As discussed in our blog post about synergy blends (add hyperlink here), the different types of Essential Oils can be categorized as top, middle, and base notes depending on their potency and scent profile. Mint and Citrus Essential Oils possess a fresh, zesty, or peppy scent profile that has an immediate kick upon the first whiff, making them effective top notes. Herbaceous and Floral Oils are softer and can have a lasting impact when diffused or blended with other oils. This makes them the ideal middle note. Due to their grounding, earthy nature, Woodsy Essential Oils can act as middle notes or assume the role of base notes to support the other oils in the blend.

Typically, the middle note assumes the largest amount of a diffuser blend, occupying 75% of the formula. Meanwhile, the top note takes up 20%, and the base note only 5%. This is not the only composition for diffusing Essential Oils. For a more balanced blend, another ideal ratio is the 3:5:2, or 30% top note, 50% middle, and 20% base note.

DIFFUSER BLENDS FOR SPRINGTIME

Immunity Now - Are your allergies springing up on you? Keep the symptoms at bay and give your immune system the boost it needs with this invigorating blend!

• 4 drops Lemon Essential Oil
• 3 drops Rosemary Essential Oil
• 2 drops Frankincense Essential Oil
• 1 drop Eucalyptus Essential Oil

Comforting Clean - Reminiscent of the fresh Spring air, these oils come together to bring a clean aroma that is subtly sweet.

• 2 drops Lemon Essential Oil
• 2 drops Lavender Essential Oil
• 2 drops Eucalyptus Essential Oil

Lavender Nights - A romantic, relaxing blend of florals and a touch of citrus. Perfect for a candlelit spring evening.

• 3 drops Grapefruit Essential Oil
• 3 drops Lavender Essential Oil
• 3 drops Ylang Ylang Essential Oil

April Showers Bring May Flowers - Recreate the calming smell of the Spring rain.

• 3 drops Cedarwood Essential Oil
• 2 drops Rosemary Essential Oil
• 2 drops Ylang Ylang Essential Oil
• 2 drops Patchouli Essential Oil
• 1 drop Spearmint Essential Oil

Razor-sharp Focus - Spring is all about renewal, so get focused on what you want with this simple blend.

• 3 drops Eucalyptus Essential Oil
• 3 drops Spearmint Essential Oil

Spring Cleaning - Purify the air around your home while you tackle your annual Spring-cleaning rituals.

• 3 drops Lavender Essential Oil
• 2 drops Rosemary Essential Oil
• 3 drops Lemon Essential Oil
• 3 drops Lime Essential Oil

Flower Power - This diffuser blend is reminiscent of the best flowers the season has to offer!

• 2 drops Geranium Essential Oil
• 2 drops Lavender Essential Oil
• 2 drops Chamomile Roman Essential Oil

Morning Dew - Diffuse this awakening blend in the morning to shake off the slumber and take on the brand-new day.

• 3 drops Bergamot Essential Oil
• 2 drops Grapefruit Essential Oil
• 1 drop Ylang Ylang Essential Oil

CONTRAINDICATIONS FOR ESSENTIAL OILS

As with all NDA products, Essential Oils are for external use only and are not recommended to be ingested. Although it is rare to experience adverse effects from using Essential Oils, possible symptoms of negative side effects include: rashes and/or gastrointestinal distress (such as stomach pain, nausea, and hyperacidity).

Pregnant women are strongly advised against using certain Essential Oils due to their potential emmenagogue effects. If you are pregnant or nursing and insist on using these oils, it is recommended that you seek the medical guidance of a physician prior to use. The oils should always be kept out of reach of children.