The Season is once again upon us. So much to do, and so many people to take care of. Through all the chaos, we'd like to always to a little something special to bring extra cheer to our gatherings of friends and family...but how? Ever tried ?real? aromatherapy? Not just a potpourri in the bathroom, or lemon-scented detergent. Real aromatherapy with pure essential oils. It can make a difference, creating a warm, friendly, familial atmosphere inspiring a smile on everyone's faces. There may even be some health supporting side effects as well, just from smelling something good...



Folks have used essential oils and natural aromatics to brighten their surroundings and lift their moods for many, many years. And over the last decade, scientific studies have shown the simple inhalation of essential oils to have measurable positive effects on our health. Like you'd expect from the happy and calm feelings they can bring about, essential oils have been noted to lower blood pressure, decrease stress hormone levels and improve the quality of rest. The use of essential oils as anti-depressants is on the rise, as more people are using nature's pure perfumes to bring smiles to their faces. What better time of year to surround yourself and your family with theses natural wonders.

Bringing the positive effects of essential oils into your home is very simple to do; you only need select the scent or scents you'd like to diffuse into the air, and an essential oil diffuser to make this happen. There is an incredible variety of aromas from which to chose, and you may want more than one to mix and match depending on your taste and mood (we'll look at several popular seasonal aromas in a moment). Then there are a few diffuser styles to select from: a warmer, either electric or with a candle; a fan style; a nebulizer and an ultrasonic nebulizer. These are not nearly as complex as they sound!

Warming diffusers do just that - warm the essential oils either from a cotton pad, or evaporate them from the surface of small bowl of water using a candle. These are inexpensive, easy to use, and make a smaller space smell wonderful. For a little larger area, a fan diffuser passes air over the oils and evaporates them more effectively. A little bit fancier still is an ultrasonic nebulizing diffuser, which is really a small humidifier specially made to make a mist of essential oils along with water. These are nice in dry areas or in homes with forced-air heat. Top-of-the-line are the cold-air nebulizing diffusers which make a mist of the pure essential oils themselves. Cold-air nebulizers can diffuse oils into a very large open area or at high concentrations if your therapeutic needs are such in the future.

As for the essential oils - it's especially delightful that the scents of the season have several timely qualities. Perhaps the most popular are the ?evergreen? oils like Balsam Fir, Spruce and Juniper Berry. These are all uplifting, bright aromatics that also have grounding, calming properties. Balsam Fir may be the favorite, with its complex, sweet, balsamic and woody scent; Black Spruce follows a close second, and Juniper Berry, when of fine quality, is also very well-loved. Pine needle is also a wonderful aroma, coming in the more common Scots Pine, with its simple ?piney? brilliance, and the more complex and exotic Pinus kessia. A fantastic feature of the evergreen oils is that they blend together so nicely. You may chose any two or more of the above, and blend them at almost any ratio and come out with something smelling really good.

More ?traditional? aromas may appeal more to the adult gatherings; these might include the oils of Frankincense, Myrrh or Sandalwood. These tend to be more grounding scents; very rich and earthy. Frankincense is both light and full at the same time, with its citrus and woody notes. Myrrh is more hypnotic and mysterious, useful in small amounts. Sandalwood is a classic favorite - while the Indian varieties are a little pricey, wonderful oils are coming from Australian and the South Pacific. Each of these oils makes wonderful additions to a blend containing primarily the evergreens described above; they can also be mixed together for an exquisite experience (try two parts each of Frankincense and Sandalwood to one part Myrrh).

Perhaps you want to get a little more creative? Choose some of your favorite aromas and experiment. Citrus oils like Sweet Orange and Bergamot are excellent, uplifting scents. Small amounts of oils like Clove or Cardamom can be added to spice things up (Cinnamon is not generally recommended for diffuser use, as it can be too potent even in very small amounts). The common floral aromas of Lavender and Chamomile can be useful for soothing the young ones. If you'd like to create your own blend, but don't have a recipe, its often best to make a small amount first, counting by single drops the amount of each oil until you like they way they're blending. Then make a larger amount based on the ratios of the drops you've used.

Just a little essential oil can bring a new kind of cheer to you and your family this season. One small bottle is often enough to scent your home for several days - more potent oils will last even longer. As you become familiar with the array of aromas available, you'll be able to pick and choose oils particularly suited to your needs. The effects of aromatherapy may surprise you; maybe enough to get you hooked and keep you smiling through the rest of the winter.