When it comes to choosing products for our homes and bodies, essential oils encapsulate much of what is important to so many of us right now – naturally derived, environmentally friendly, beneficial to our health and wellbeing. The beauty of essential oils is that they can easily be incorporated into our lives as part of our daily routine or self-care practice.

You might be wondering how essential oils have the power to influence your mood and, consequently, the trajectory of your day. Part of it’s down to our sense of smell. When we inhale their scent, it stimulates the olfactory nerves which send a message to the part of our brain that controls our emotions. They can also be absorbed by the skin, nourishing it in a number of different ways. This is all a form of aromatherapy, which, simply put, is using oils naturally extracted from plants for therapeutic purposes.

A small habit shift that will set the tone for your day, is rising a little earlier than the rest of your household and lighting a candle. Rather than relying (or only relying!) on your morning coffee to give you that much-needed boost, burning a candle infused with zesty essential oils like lemon or lime will help you start the day feeling refreshed and energised. Lemon is also good for your skin. Using a lemon-blend body wash during your morning shower, followed by a lemony lotion is a win for both your body and your mind – and will carry you through the day.

As your day continues, and your mood and energy levels ebb and flow, having a few go-to essential oils with fresh, uplifting fragrances can help keep you on the right track and feeling your best self. Washing and moisturising your hands with a geranium or lemongrass blend will perk you up in a jiffy. In your workspace, try a reed diffuser – its scent and active aromatherapeutic properties will envelop the room.

To keep stress and anxiety at bay opt for bergamot, and to reduce mental fatigue, try peppermint – both fragrances will also leave you feeling revitalised, giving you the energy to press on with the task in hand. If things suddenly feel too much and you need immediate relief, try dabbing an essential oil blend on your wrists, temples and behind your ears. Chamomile, with its calming, mood balancing properties, is a good one to have to hand.

Bedtime is lavender time. One of the most beloved essential oils; lavender helps you relax, say night-night to anxiety and drift into a peaceful sleep. Try spritzing a mist, either around your room or directly onto your pillow and be soothed by its warm floral, herbaceous scent. For a truly tranquil night’s sleep, rub lavender oil into the soles of your feet.

As you and your family begin to wind down for the evening, the essential oils you employ should reflect the shift in mood and help harness it. Jasmine and rosewood with their richer, more sensual floral scents and, of course, chamomile, are all good choices for this time of the day. If you’re in need of a little ‘me time’, burning one of these fragrances whilst you bathe by candlelight is the perfect way to slow down and bliss out.

Essential oils not only work as anchor points during your day but are also a wonderful way of embracing the current season. As spring gently awakens and that feeling of hope and renewal takes hold, clear away the cobwebs and fill your home with soft floral notes like geranium, and refreshing herbal scents such as rosemary – stimulating creativity and restoring mental clarity. The arrival of summer calls for lively fragrances like grapefruit, lime and verbena, whilst the slide into autumn as we begin to hunker down is all about warm, cosy scents—cinnamon, patchouli—as well as berries like juniper, reflecting nature’s bounty at this time of the year.

It’s the little things that make each day special and by weaving essential oils into your daily life, and creating rituals and traditions around them, you’re not only inviting in moments of joy but enhancing your overall health and wellbeing.

Nicola Bethell
Co-Founder of Hazel Copy