Posted August 2, 2015 in Essential Oil Basics by Rocky Mountain Oils

Essential Oils for the Holiday Season

The annual December holiday season goes by many names, depending on what you celebrate and what you believe in -- Christmas, Hanukkah, Winter Solstice, Mōdraniht, Soyal, Bodhi Day, Kwanzaa--to name a few. Also known as the crazy season, the season of giving, the season to be jolly, the season of food, the season of joy, the season of family.

The season is fun no matter how you do or don't celebrate. There are twinkle lights on people's houses. Children are playing and laughing in the snow. There's ice skating, skiing, caroling, gift giving, snowboarding, eggnog, family, concerts, gingerbread houses, fireplaces, snowmen, hot chocolate, candy canes, bells, wreaths, service, etc. It's hard NOT to enjoy the holidays! So let us help you get started. Here are some essential oils you can use to keep yourself calm, happy, focused, and able to enjoy this truly magical and wonderful time of year. And, for a limited time, we're selling our Christmas blends—Christmas Tree, Candy Cane, and Ginger Spice—which are great oils to help make your home feel festive. You don't want to miss adding these to your collection!

Oils For the Season

Here are some suggested oils for different feelings or needs you might have during the holiday season.

The Favorites

Singles: Frankincense, Myrrh, Cinnamon Bark, Clove Bud, Peppermint, Pine Needles, Black Pine
Blends: Ginger Spice, Christmas Tree, Candy Cane

Other Popular Scents

Singles: Orange, Bergamot, Tangerine, Wintergreen, Birch Bark, Lime, Black Pepper, Cucumber Seed
Blends: Orange Cream, Citrus Blend, Candy Cane

Increase Your Energy

Singles: Peppermint, Lime, Rosemary, Black Pepper, Wintergreen, Birch Bark
Blends: Citrus Blend, Focusing, Flu-Time, Candy Cane, Ginger Spice

Keep You Calm and Centered

Singles: Cedarwood, Sandalwood, Ylang Ylang, Blue Tansy, Lavender, Rose, Geranium, Roman Chamomile, Patchouli
Blends: Christmas Tree, Tranquility, Peace & Quiet, Orange Cream

Keep Your Mood Under Control

Singles: Sandalwood, Cedarwood, Patchouli, Rosewood, Frankincense, Cinnamon Bark, Spruce
Blends: Secret, Balance, Present Moments, Overcome

Holiday Oil Uses

If you are planning topical use, make sure you can handle the oils on your skin by testing on a small area first.
To keep your home calm, especially if you have excited children, diffuse the calming oils of your choice. You can also make a mist spray and liberally spritz the room. Add 60-80 drops of essential oil(s) of choice to 4 ounces of distilled water. Put in a 4 ounce, fine-mist spray bottle and liberally spritz the room as often as needed. Can refill the water 3-5 times before refilling the oils.
Remember that the holiday season should be enjoyable. Use some of the citrus oils or the mints to brighten the day of everyone around you.
Frankincense and Myrrh, as well as some of the spice oils, work so well together to create a warm, festive, holiday spirit. One thing to do is gather some pine cones, dry them out for a few days and then liberally sprinkle them with any of the oils you want to use for scenting your room. An added advantage of using Frankincense is the aroma will also help boost the immune system of all who breathe in the scent.
If your old pine cone decorations have lost their natural scent, you can refresh them by sprinkling several drops of Pine Needles, Pine, or Christmas Tree oil on them. You can also make your own Cinnamon pine cones by sprinkling several drops of Cinnamon Bark oil instead.
Add 10 - 20 drops of the oils of your choice to the last load of your laundry. This will help you have the holiday scent you want around the house.

Recipes

Use these recipes to create a holiday atmosphere in your home.

Festive Mist Spray

30 drops Clove Bud
40 drops Cinnamon Bark
20 drops Ginger Root
20 drops Orange
4 ounces pure water

Add all ingredients to a 4 ounce, fine mist spray bottle. Shake well before every use. Liberally spritz room many times during the day. Can usually refill water 3-4 times before you need to refill the oils.

Holiday Stress Relief Spray

70 drops Blend of Melissa
20 drops Fennel Seed
30 drops Cinnamon Bark
10 drops Roman Chamomile
10 drops Lavender
4 ounces pure water

Spicy Scent Potpourri

35 drops Anise Seed
35 drops Fennel Seed
75 drops Clove Bud
30 drops Cumin
20 drops Patchouli

Add all essential oils to a glass bottle. Shake well to help them synergize. Gather dried leaves, flowers, and wood shavings. Crush plant materials to the desired size. Place 1/2 cup of plant material in a wide-mouthed glass jar, add the essential oils to formula, and stir the contents well. Close lid tightly and let sit for several days to allow the scent molecules to be absorbed by the plant material.

Holiday Meditation Mix

3 drops Sandalwood
2 drops Cedarwood
2 drops Frankincense
1 drop Cinnamon Bark

Diffuse in the room you meditate in. You can also put them in a bowl of warm water and allow the aroma to flow around you.

Christmas Time Carpet Freshener

100 drops Christmas Tree, Candy Cane, or Ginger Spice
1/2 cup Baking Soda

Mix all ingredients in a ziploc type bag. Seal and massage bag until essential oils are thoroughly mixed in. Pour into a glass jar and seal with a lid. Sprinkle over carpeting, leave for 10–15 minutes and vacuum.

Christmas Scent Mist Spray

75 drops Candy Cane, Christmas Tree or Ginger Spice
4 ounces Distilled Water

Add all ingredients to a 4 ounce, fine mist spray bottle. Shake well before every use. Liberally spritz room as often as needed. Can refill the water 2-3 times before needing to refill the oil.

Other Suggestions

Here's what our friends on Facebook have said when asked what are their favorite oils to use during the holiday season:

"Patchouli, Grapefruit and Lavender"
"I like using Immune Strength and then diffusing Joyful Moments."
"I am using Sandalwood and Cardamom a lot now! I really like the scent of it. Very calming."
"I love all the fall oils. Clove. Cinnamon. Etc For health... Lots of lemon and a few blends."
"Tranquility....LOTS of Tranquility!"
"Immune Strength. It keeps me healthy and makes the house always smell like clovey cinnamony goodness."
"I love the spice oils. Cinnamon Bark, Clove Bud and Orange is what I like to put together."

Finally

What do you like to do? What makes you feel more festive during the holiday season? More calm? In control? Healthy? Please share in the comment section below. And when you get done commenting, go do something fun. You deserve it. As for me, I'm going to drink some cinnamon hot chocolate and go hang more twinkle lights.