
Picture yourself entering your favourite spa. Don't you just love the aroma of essential oils that greets you as soon as you walk in? It rejuvenates and relieves stress almost instantly. That is the power of aromatherapy. How about creating that same ambience in your home?
Indulging in aromatherapy brings wonders to the body, mind, and soul. Roberta Wilson, in the book Aromatherapy: Essential Oils for Vibrant Health and Beauty, defined aromatherapy as the "practice of using naturally extracted essences of aromatic plants to promote the well-being of your body, mind, and emotions. Aromatherapy offers a natural approach to wellness that can infuse your life with a new sense of vitality, vibrancy, and pleasure."
Essential oils used in aromatherapy can restore balance and harmony in a person, "while adding depth, dimension, and definition" to his life. The scents of these essential oils can put you in a better mood as they calm the body and soothe the soul.
Enhance your home's overall mood and turn it into a fragrant sanctuary with a little help from an oil diffuser or an oil burner. Let the fragrance of essential oils fill the corners of your living space with its relaxing—even healing—scents.
We've listed down some fragrances, their benefits, and which parts of the house you should best diffuse each specific scent.
Lavender
* Eases anxiety
* Calming effect
* Eases insomnia and promotes deep sleep
* Associated with feelings of contentment
Use in…
* Master's bedroom
* Kid's room
* Guest room
Chamomile
* Creates a relaxing atmosphere in any room
* Soothes irritability
* Eases depression
* Fights insomnia, resulting in calm slumber
Use in…
* Kid's room
* Master's bedroom
* Living room
Peppermint
* Strong physical and mental stimulant
* Helps in concentration
* Allows you to stay alert and awake
* Aids intestinal spasms, indigestion, and irritable bowel syndrome
* Antibacterial properties (complements homemade cleaning products)
* Natural pest deterrent
Use in…
* Study room
* Home office
* Library
* Bathroom
* Kitchen
* Garden
Eucalyptus
* Increases energy
* Increases brain activity
* Clears up nasal passages and opens up airways
Use in…
* Home gym
* Game room
* Kids' play area
* Entryway/ Foyer
Lemon
* Increases concentration
* Improves ability to memorise and reduces mistakes
* Calms emotions
* Produces clean smell in usually dirty areas
Use in…
* Study room
* Home office
* Library
* Kitchen
* Storage area
Pine
* Provides invigorating and clean feeling
* Relieves congestion and acts as expectorant
* Reminds you of Christmas and holiday season
Use in…
* Living room
* Fireplace
* Attic
Rose
* Boosts self-esteem and confidence
* Antidepressant and mood-boosting effects
* Increases feelings of love and romance
Use in…
* Bedroom
Cinnamon
* Stirs appetite
* Improve digestion
Use in…
* Dining room
* Outdoor dining area
Lemongrass
* Decreases exhaustion
* Relieves you from stress, fatigue, and headache
* Soothes irritability
* Relieves mental exhaustion and jet lag
* Acts as insect repellant
Use in…
* Living room
* Bedroom
* Entertainment room
* Garden
* Patio/Balcony
Vanilla
* Increases mental clarity
* Helps improve digestion
* Tranquillising effect
* Calming effect that provides relief from anxiety, anger, and restlessness
Use in…
* Bedroom
* Kid's room
* Guest room
* Patio/Balcony
Cover photo courtesy of thehealthyhavenblog.com