by Atlantic Institute of Aromatherapy | Apr 1, 2022 | Nyssa Says
Running an aromatherapy business must be filled with calming music, soothing scents, and lots of relaxation, right? We can all use essential oils for work!
Sometimes. But mostly, it’s just like any other business. The only difference is that we get constant reminders that life is too short to worry about the small stuff, and that number one, it really is all about taking care of ourselves.
I mean, I can’t preach self-care all day and then not properly hydrate myself or work too many hours. Actually, I know that I CAN do that because I have. So what I actually mean is—it just doesn’t work.
That’s why simple tricks to help us stay on track and return back to what matters are essential. I’ve found that besides the ever-present opportunity to just sit back and take a deep breath, essential oils also help bring me back to a focused state.
I recently wrote an article for Massage Today on using essential oils to re-center while at work. Though this is geared towards massage therapists, the article is relevant to everyone. It will not only apply while at work, but the info is great for getting focused in general.
Read the whole article here.
My three go-to essential oils for work (right now) are: Eucalyptus, May Chang, and Spruce.
- Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus globulus) – Think of Eucalyptus as a breath of fresh air. This respiratory tonic and sinus opener will inspire you to breathe deeper. It helps to open the lungs to take in new air, and its expectorant qualities clear mucus from the respiratory passages.
- Spruce (Picea mariana syn. P. nigra) – Spruce, to me, is like strength and growth in a bottle. It’s great for those days when you feel heavy and bogged-down by tasks or responsibilities. Spruce is another respiratory tonic, inspiring a full breath as if we were on a walk in the woods.
- May Chang (Litsea cubeba) – May Chang smells like the excitement of a new day. It is a bright and uplifting, lemon-y smell that feels like the light of gold. It is a bit like Lemongrass but a little less irritant. (This is a super plus!)
These are three of SO MANY to choose from. I want to know, what is your favorite oil to use when you go to work? What about it works for you?
Thank you for letting me share my love for aromatics with you!
Aromatically Yours,
Nyssa
P.S. CALLING ALL MASSAGE THERAPISTS. I need your help! What questions would you like answered regarding massage and aromatherapy? I’ll be writing a few more articles for Massage Today this year, and I’d love to know any burning questions you might have. Leave me a comment on what future articles you’d like to see.
by Atlantic Institute of Aromatherapy | Jan 7, 2019 | Atlantic Aromatic Library Meditations
The fragrant green scent of Spruce has the ability to transport us beyond our usual ground-level thinking. This coniferous tree refreshes the mind while grounding us in the here and now.
by Atlantic Institute of Aromatherapy | Mar 2, 2016 | Smells Like What
As we slowly move towards spring, we can feel the stirrings of the earth in this time of new root growth. Now is the time for contemplating how to nurture the seeds that are sprouting in our lives. Lately, we are turning to earthy roots of Vetiver and Angelica for inspiration in our growth process.
BELOW: Botanical drawing of an Angelica plant with a Vetiver root basket and scented balls.
Vetiveria zizanioides
Vetiver (Vetiveria zizanioides) is a grass that grows in tropical climates. Instead of spreading horizontally underneath the ground as many grasses do, Vetiver roots grow straight downward. We obtain the medical and aromatic properties from this part of the plant, as well as the volatile oil. The roots are dug, dried, then chopped and soaked in water to create the oil, which may take up to 24 hours! For us, it is a superior oil for pulling us back to earth, or maybe as the root growth suggests, helping us dig deeper into the nutritious soil of our lives.
Angelica archangelica
Angelica Root (Angelica archangelica) oil is also grounding but in a different way. The Angelica plant’s most distinguishing feature is its burst of flowers, which grow out of its leaves and create a majestic canopy above the plant. In its first year, it produces only leaves, and its stem can reach six feet high. In the second year, the umbrella-shaped burst of flowers appears in the summer. These flowers yield seeds, which also create an oil.
The scent of Angelica root oil is deep like Vetiver, but it also contains a sweetness that propels us to venture forth on the next expansion of our journey.
Together in equal proportions, they make a light and airy scent, as the tenacious Vetiver holds back the ethereal Angelica. Use it for meditation, wear it in a necklace, or use it in inhalers. Caution as Angelica is phototoxic, so avoid skin use if you’ll be going out in the sun.
As you move onto new projects this year, use these oils to help keep you planted on earth while still reaching towards the sky.
Tidbits from Tony Burfield’s Second Edition Natural Aromatic Materials – Odours and Origins:
Vetiver (java type) – Red-brown to deep brown viscous liquid. Odour is heavy sweet woody earthy reminiscent of roots and wet soil with a rich undertone of precious wood. Long-lasting. Dry-out is woody-earthy and creamy with a slight smoky aspect.
Angelica Root – It is a pale yellow to brown oil, usually darker than the seed oil, with a pungent, heady, fatty, liqueur odour with some fruitiness, and peppery aspect. Dry-out is tobacco, fatty, spicy/cumin-like.
Natural Aromatic Materials, Second Edition
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