Essential Branch

Blend recipes

Essential Oil Blends for Seasonal Comfort

A star anise pod resting on a row of cinnamon sticks in warm light.
A star anise pod resting on a row of cinnamon sticks in warm light. Photo: Retro Lenses, CC BY 4.0

When the weather turns cold, many people reach for warm spice and cool, open scents: eucalyptus and peppermint on one side, orange, clove, cinnamon leaf and ginger on the other. These oils are traditionally used to make a room feel cosy or the air feel clearer, and they are a pleasant part of a winter routine. They are not a treatment for a cold, a cough or a blocked nose, so see a doctor about symptoms that worry you. This goal needs the most care with children and pets: eucalyptus and peppermint are not for young children's faces, and the spice oils irritate skin, so the roller keeps doses low.

Diffuser

Clear-air diffuser

Oil Note Drops
Eucalyptus 2
Lemon 2
Peppermint 1

No carrier oil: add the drops to the diffuser water.

Diffuse for 30 to 60 minutes, then pause. Not for a room with children under 10, a cat or anyone whose asthma reacts to strong scents. Eucalyptus is listed as toxic to dogs as well as cats.

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Diffuser

Spiced orange

Oil Note Drops
Sweet orange 3
Clove bud 1
Cinnamon leaf 1

No carrier oil: add the drops to the diffuser water.

Clove and cinnamon leaf are powerful, so keep them to one drop each. Cinnamon is listed as toxic to dogs and cats, and clove and orange to cats, so diffuse where pets cannot go. Store the bottles out of children's reach.

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Roller bottle

Warming roller

Oil Note Drops
Ginger 2
Frankincense 1
Eucalyptus 1

4 drops in 10 ml of carrier oil: about 2%.

For adults only: eucalyptus should not be used on or near the faces of children under 10. About 2% in 10 ml of carrier oil; roll onto the upper back or chest, away from the face. Eucalyptus is listed as toxic to dogs and cats, so do not let pets lick treated skin.

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Bath

Winter woods bath

Oil Note Drops
Frankincense 2
Cedarwood (Virginian) 1
Ginger 1

4 drops in 15 ml of carrier oil or bath gel: about 1.3%.

Stir the oils into 1 tablespoon (15 ml) of carrier oil or unscented bath gel first. Keep clove, cinnamon leaf and peppermint out of the bath, as they irritate skin and mucous membranes.

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Sources

  1. Peppermint and eucalyptus for children, Tisserand Institute
  2. Appropriate use of essential oils and their components in the management of upper respiratory tract symptoms in patients with COVID-19 (J Herb Med, 2021), safety table for Eucalyptus and Mentha x piperita, PubMed Central (NIH)
  3. Safety guidelines, Tisserand Institute
  4. Safety, National Association for Holistic Aromatherapy (NAHA)
  5. Updates on essential oils, Pet Poison Helpline