Aromatherapy is an ancient holistic practice that harnesses the therapeutic power of essential oils to promote physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being. Through the use of natural plant extracts, aromatherapy can enhance sleep, reduce stress, improve mental clarity, and support the body’s natural healing process.
With its wide range of applications, from massage to customized perfume blends, essential oils offer numerous benefits that address specific needs. As featured on MysticMag, experts from various fields highlight how essential oils work synergistically with our body, helping to restore balance and encourage overall vitality.
Practitioner Teacher Star Riparetti: “Essential Oils Relax Body, Stabilize Emotions…”
Star Riparetti, owner of Star Essence and a Vibrational Medicine Expert and Practitioner Teacher, explains how essential oils can improve sleep quality and which oils are most effective for this purpose:
“Combining Lavender, Cedar, and Marjoram essential oils with specific flower and gemstone essences creates a holistic approach to enhancing sleep quality by addressing physical, emotional, and energetic imbalances.
- Lavender promotes relaxation and reduces anxiety, while Cedar offers grounding, calming mental chatter, and Marjoram acts as a muscle relaxant, easing physical tension.
- Aspen flower essence alleviates unknown fears and anxiety, calming the mind. Balance and Stability (Habenaria) supports emotional equilibrium, while Earth Is My Heaven (Sweet Pea) promotes a sense of grounding. Full Moonlight (Lavender) enhances tranquility by soothing overactive thoughts.
- Charoite clears negativity and emotional blockages, reducing nightmares. Chrysoprase calms stress and anxiety, fostering a secure, peaceful state. Green Moonstone aligns with natural rhythms for deep rest, while Howlite quiets the mind, especially helpful for insomnia caused by overthinking. Hypothalamus Modulator aids stress regulation, promoting relaxation. Lapis Lazuli reduces mental fatigue and emotional stress, encouraging restorative sleep, and Lepidolite, rich in lithium, stabilizes mood and eases anxiety.
This synergy of essential oils and essences works on our physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual aspects. They relax the body, stabilize emotions, and clear energetic blockages, creating an ideal environment for restful, rejuvenating sleep. They can be used through diffusion, massage, or baths to improve sleep quality naturally.
Holistic Practitioner Melissa Curran: “Different Oils Perform Different Functions”
Melissa Curran, a Holistic Practitioner, answers how essential oils interact with the body on a physiological level:
“Your body (specifically your liver) knows the difference immediately between synthetic chemicals and pure essential oils. Different oils perform different functions. Some help to relieve pain by “dulling” how your nerve endings sense it.
Many are anti-inflammatory and some help strengthen your immune system which helps you to fight off colds/flu/germs. There are essential oils that help calm your mind and some that help to stimulate your central nervous system. Even others can help you calm and strengthen your adrenal system – the system that is responsible for fight or flight.
There are essential oils that target sinus issues, some blends can help you with digestive or menopausal concerns. Got eczema? Blending skin nourishing oils together with a lotion/oil base can help with itching and inflamed skin. Joint or muscle pain? There are quite a number of essential oils, especially when blended together, that can help soothe chronic pain (and calm the emotional turmoil that many times goes with it).
Applied topically to your skin, properly diluted essential oil blends are absorbed into your system and go to work by circulating through your bloodstream. Inhaled, pure essential oils go through your limbic system to immediately go to work – whether it’s for pain, anxiety, or relaxing. Need to purify the air in your space? Pure essential oils can do that by diffusing them – you’ll smell them and receive their benefits.
Have a minor burn, cut or scrape? There are gentle skin-loving oils (hi Lavender and Helichrysum) that can help soothe the irritation.
Single essential oils are powerful in and of themselves however, when blended together, they are far more powerful at addressing physical, emotional, and spiritual concerns.”
Ayurveda Consultant Vandana Baranwal: “Ayurvedic Oil Massage Delays the Effects of Aging”
The question of how the aroma of essential oils contributes to the calming and rejuvenating effects of massage is addressed by Vandana Baranwal, Ayurveda Consultant and Educator:
“Abhyanga, Ayurvedic oil massage, when practiced regularly, delays the effects of aging by rejuvenation and repair. It enhances the nourishment of deep tissues and makes the skin healthy and the body strong. It reduces fatigue, induces sound sleep, and calms the mind.
Traditionally, Ayurveda emphasizes using oils extracted through processes like cold pressing. Nowadays, essential oils are added to enhance the benefits and experience. Essential oils are concentrated botanical tools that align with Ayurveda’s therapeutic principles and, can support the mind-body connection, especially through its aroma or Gandh. These oils add a therapeutic layer to support mental and emotional well-being.
In Ayurveda, the specific aroma of each essential oil possesses unique qualities that balance specific doshas. For example, essential oils like rose, sandalwood, jasmine, or chamomile help soothe Pitta imbalances and promote inner peace, invigorating aromas like eucalyptus can counter sluggishness often associated with Kapha, tulsi (holy basil) is warming and helps calm Vata while sweet, floral scent of lavender is known for its ability to relieve anxiety and promote relaxation.
By integrating both olfactory stimulation and touch, essential oils deepen the therapeutic impact of the massage, providing holistic nourishment and a rejuvenating experience that extends well beyond the treatment itself. The olfactory system is closely linked to the limbic system, the brain’s emotional center. When inhaled, these scents can immediately influence mood, reduce stress levels, and evoke a sense of calm.”
Intuitive Perfumer Allie Deglomine: “Each Perfume Is Designed as a Personal Talisman”
Allie Deglomine an Intuitive Perfumer & Botanical Distiller explains how she integrates energetic and emotional healing into crafting custom natural perfumes at Resonance Perfumery:
“At Resonance Perfumery, crafting custom natural perfumes is a transformative journey that blends scent with energetic and emotional healing. Each perfume is designed as a personal talisman, aligning with the client’s intentions and supporting their unique path. The process begins in a sacred space of deep listening, where I connect with the client’s energy and emotions to uncover the story they wish to express or the healing they seek—whether it’s cultivating self-love, finding balance, or embracing change.
Central to this approach is aromatic attunement, a practice of exploring the energetic resonance of each botanical essence. Clients are invited to engage their senses and intuition, observing how specific aromas—like the grounding stability of vetiver, the heart-opening quality of rose, or the uplifting brightness of bergamot—resonate emotionally and energetically. This exploration fosters a deeper understanding of how scent can support their well-being.
Using these insights, I intuitively blend chosen essences, weaving their energetic properties into a harmonious composition. The resulting perfume is more than a fragrance—it becomes a tool for emotional healing, self-reflection, and daily rituals that inspire balance and growth. This collaborative process empowers clients to co-create their scent and develop a lifelong relationship with their sense of smell as a healing modality.
At its heart, Resonance Perfumery is about cultivating connection, self-awareness, and empowerment through the ancient, transformative language of scent.”
Reign Body & Soul Aromatherapist Tierra Robinson: “Identify Barriers First”
Tierra Robinson, a Reign Body & Soul Aromatherapist explains her approach to identifying and removing barriers to the body’s natural healing process:
“As a certified clinical aromatherapist and herbalist, I approach identifying and removing barriers to the body’s natural healing process through a holistic lens. The first step is conducting a thorough assessment, which includes understanding the individual’s physical, emotional, and environmental factors. This often involves reviewing their health history, lifestyle, diet, stress levels, and exposure to toxins or allergens.
Once potential barriers are identified, I create personalized wellness plans. For example, if stress is a barrier, I might recommend stress-relieving essential oils like lavender or chamomile in aromatherapy blends, paired with mindfulness practices. If inflammation is an issue, I might suggest anti-inflammatory herbal teas or oils, such as turmeric-infused products.
Environmental toxins can also hinder healing, so I educate clients about reducing exposure to harmful chemicals and incorporating natural alternatives into their routines.
Beyond physical barriers, emotional blocks are equally important to address. I use tools like journaling prompts, mindfulness exercises, and aromatherapy to support emotional release and balance.
Ultimately, my goal is to empower clients to work in harmony with their bodies by providing them with natural, customizable solutions that support the body’s innate ability to heal. This individualized approach ensures that each person can address their unique barriers effectively and holistically.”
Certified Aromatherapist Kathleen Flanagan: “Adding Oils to Your Routine Is Easy”
Discover how essential oils can enhance mental clarity and focus, as shared by certified aromatherapist and licensed esthetician Kathleen Flanagan:
“Essential oils can be a way to improve mental clarity and focus naturally and holistically by stimulating the olfactory system that connects directly to the brain’s limbic system which controls our emotions, memory functions, and cognitive processes. Using these oils in your daily routine can help create an atmosphere for concentration, productivity, and mental sharpness.
Peppermint and rosemary are well known to stimulate the mind. Peppermint’s invigorating scent wakes the senses and enhances alertness. Rosemary boosts memory recall and cognitive function. Using these oils in a diffuser while studying or working can aid in clearing haze and staying focused.
The refreshing scents of lemon and grapefruit enhance clarity as they help relieve stress and boost focus and motivation while working on tasks. Lavender oil can help reduce anxiety and balance your energy to aid concentration without feeling stressed or overloaded with tasks.
Adding oils to your routine is easy! You can use a diffuser to spread the scent around your space or gently apply oils to your pulse points. You could also take a whiff directly from the bottle for a pick-me-up! Incorporating these practices into your day by creating a morning blend or a midday refresher ritual helps you reap the benefits effortlessly. Consistent use of oils can help sharpen your focus and bring about a sense of calm and productivity.
Certified Aromatherapist Dr Amber Robinson: “Number One Essential Oil Is Frankincense
Dr. Amber Robinson, Ph.D. and certified aromatherapist, explains the role essential oils play in skincare and how they can help with conditions like acne and dry skin:
“I turned 40 in March 2024, and as a middle-aged woman, I take pride in my skin by using natural remedies to keep it fresh and youthful. Over the years, many people have asked about my skincare routine, and I love sharing my favorite herbs and essential oils.
My number one essential oil is frankincense. I dilute it in jojoba oil (a 20% dilution is my go-to ratio). Jojoba is lightweight, hydrating, and doesn’t clog pores. It spreads evenly on the skin without making it oily and has a longer shelf life than other carrier oils. Frankincense contains antioxidants that penetrate deep into the skin, helping to tone, tighten, and soothe.
Lavender is another staple in my skincare. It’s gentle yet effective for dryness, redness, rashes, and irritations. In summer, I mix lavender with aloe vera gel to soothe sunburns, reducing redness and promoting healing. Its antimicrobial properties also make it great for acne scars and prevention. A blend of three drops each of lavender and tea tree oil with a teaspoon of lightweight carrier oil, like grapeseed, can kill acne-causing bacteria and even skin tone.
Tea tree oil is also highly effective for acne due to its antimicrobial properties. It pairs well with lavender for acne treatments.
It’s important to use essential oils mindfully. Some oils, like citrus oils, can cause photosensitivity, so avoid using them before sun exposure. Always perform a patch test by applying a small amount of any blend to your forearm and waiting 24 hours for a reaction.
Having distilled my own essential oils from plants on my farm, I understand their potency. While they’re powerful and effective, they should always be used with care, intention, and education.”
Conclusion
Aromatherapy’s diverse benefits make it an accessible and powerful tool for enhancing both mental and physical health. By incorporating essential oils into your daily routine, you can experience improvements in sleep, focus, and emotional well-being. Whether through diffusers, massage, or personalized treatments, aromatherapy offers a holistic approach to self-care. Its ability to address both the mind and body makes it a timeless, transformative practice that continues to gain recognition for its healing potential.
CREDITS:
Star Riparetti | Star Essence | www.staressence.com
Melissa Curran | Scented Balance | www.scentedbalance.com
Vandana Baranwal | Ayurvedatri | www.ayurvedatri.com
Allie Deglomine | Resonance Perfumery | www.resonanceperfumery.com
Tierra Robinson | Reign Body and Soul | www.reignbodyandsoul.com
Kathleen Flanagan | Awakening Spirit | www.awakeningspirit.com
Amber Robinson | The Bitter Harb Academy | www.thebitterherb.com
