It’s Christmas! Have you thought of making your home a fragrant home and creating the right ambience for getting the family back together? Here is a selection of Essential Oils that can be used in diffusion during the Christmas period, while at the same time, enjoying their therapeutic qualities.
Balsam fir (Abies balsamea), will bring resinous and balsamic touches
Usage: in diffusion on its own or mixed with other Essential Oils
Effect: will make you feel like walking in a forest of conifers
Its benefits: good respiratory antiseptic (in cases of rhinitis, bronchitis, sinusitis), it helps to breathe more easily and soothes a cough.
For whom?
- Not advised for pregnant women or breastfeeding women
- Not advised for children under the age of 3
- Irritating if applied pure to the skin
- Care needs to be taken with people suffering from asthma
Cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum), a little sweet and cuddly touch to add to your Christmas mix
Usage: diffusion in very small quantities and always mixed with other EOs
- Very irritating EO (dosage 1 drop for 14 drops of any other EO)
Effect: warm, sweet smell added to the mix
Its benefits: anti-infectious
For whom?
- Not advised for pregnant women or breastfeeding women
- Not advised for children under the age of 6
- Very irritating if applied pure to the skin
Cloves (Eugenia caryophyllus), the spice of Christmas
Usage: diffusion in very small quantities and always mixed with other EOs
- Irritation EO (dosage 2 drops for 15 drops of other EOs).
Effect: brings a touch of spice to your diffusions
Its benefits: anti-microbe and a general stimulant
For whom?
- Not advised for pregnant women or breastfeeding women
- Not advised for children under the age of 6
- Very irritating if applied purely to the skin
- Great care should be taken with hypertension
Black spruce (Picea mariana), the stimulating one
Usage: It is a gentler EO than pine
Effect: You will have the feeling of being in a pine forest
Its benefits: can give you a boost when feeling tired or also when you need to concentrate.
For whom?
- Not advised in the first trimester of pregnancy
- Not advised for children under the age of 6
- Irritating if applied pure to the skin
- Great care should be taken with people suffering from asthma
The fine scent of sweet orange (citrus sinensis), a zest of tenderness
The orange is by excellence the fruit of Christmas. A long time ago, orange was the only gift a child would get as a Christmas present.
Usage: diffusion on its own or also mixed with other EOs
Effect: brings a pleasant sweet touch that is very pleasing
Its benefits: atmospheric antiseptic, soothing, also calms jangling nerves and stress
For whom?
- Not advised in the first trimester of pregnancy
- Not advised for children under the age of 3 months
- Irritating if applied purely to the skin and photo-sensitive if applied to the skin
- Care should be taken with people suffering from asthma
Variant: Mandarin (Citrus reticulata)
It resembles orange as far as the scent is concerned. It will be up to you which one you prefer.
Sylvester pine (pinus sylvestris), a fresh pine forest
Usage: diffusion or a few drops of EO on cotton balls hidden inside your pine tree
Effect: the exhilarating scent of a Christmas tree freshly felled
Its benefits: physical tonic, strengthens positive thoughts, antiseptic and decongestant of the respiratory tract
For whom?
- Not advised for pregnant women or breastfeeding women
- Not advised for children under the age of 12
- Irritating if applied pure to the skin
- Great care should be taken with people suffering from asthma, hypertension and epilepsy
For Christmas, the best essential oils synergies in diffusion
Some ideas of EO synergies for Christmas, to be used in several ways:
- Use them directly in your EO diffuser
- Making an ambience spray (by adding alcohol)
- Adding perfume to a potpourri, a table decoration or a Christmas tree
“Christmas spices” synergy
- 15 drops cinnamon bark (Cinnamomum zeylanicum)
- 10 drops cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum)
- 5 drops sweet orange (Citrus sinensis)
- 5 drops clove bud (Eugenia caryophyllata)
“citrus sweetness” synergy
- 30 drops sweet orange (Citrus sinensis)
- 20 drops mandarin (Citrus reticulata)
- 1 to 2 drops of cinnamon
« by the fireside » synergy
- 30 drops sweet orange (Citrus sinensis)
- 10 drops scotch pine (Pinus sylvestris)
- 2 drops cinnamon bark (Cinnamomum zeylanicum)
“Christmas spirit” synergy
- 15 drops cinnamon bark (Cinnamomum zeylanicum)
- 10 drops clove bud (Eugenia caryophyllata)
- 10 drops orange essence (Citrus sinensis)
“Christmas tree” synergy
- 20 drops white pine (Abies alba)
- 10 drops cypress (Cupressus sempervirens)
- 5 drops sandalwood (Santalum austrocaledonicum)
“Pine” scent
- 15 drops balsam fir (Abies balsamea)
- 15 drops black spruce (Picea mariana)
Or the Christmas Spirit essential oils (Forest) HERE
Home perfume with essential oils for Christmas
If you don’t have a diffuser, you can pour 4 or 5 drops of pine or spruce essential oil on pine cones and scatter them across the house.
You can also create your own ‘homemade’ perfume using essential oils reminiscent of the scent of pine. By diluting the previous synergies in cheap odourless vodka (or 70° alcohol) – about 50ml:
Firstly, leave to rest for 24 hours in the fridge and after that spray around the home.
This home perfume can be sprayed on the Christmas tree or other objects (non-electrical or not lit). You can similarly spray it in the toilet, in the hallway, on carpets (not fragile ones).
But, avoid spraying on leather, fragile textiles that could be stained.
IMPORTANT: Diffusion advice
- Essential Oils are not suited for everybody
- Not recommended for pregnant or breastfeeding women and also children under the age of 7.
- You should never diffuse in the presence of children or even pets.
- Avoid contact with both eyes and skin
- Not recommended for epileptics and also asthmatics
- Do not heat them or bring them close to a heat source.
- Look after the diffusion carefully: don’t leave the diffuser running continually. Ideally, try to program it if possible: set it to diffuse for 30 minutes and then repeat this several times throughout the day.
The benefits of Christmas Essential Oils in diffusion
- Cinnamon*: antiviral and antibacterial
- Lemon: antiseptic, antibacterial
- Cloves*: anti-fatigue, antiviral
- Mandarin: soothing, destressing
- Orange: antiseptic, soothing
- Balsam fir: stimulant, energizing
- Scots pine: anti-depression, opens up the respiratory tract
*To be used with care
Immune support
Essential oils such as cinnamon bark and cloves allow to stimulate the immune system naturally.
Respiratory function
Essential oils such as Sylvester pine and balsam fir will facilitate opening of the respiratory tract. They will also relieve sinuses and allow a healthy breathing function as well.
Relaxation and reduction of stress
Essential oils such as white pine, orange, cypress and sandalwood are particularly suited for relaxation. In addition, it is calming the nervous system and reduces stress overall.
Air cleansing
Essential oils such as orange, cinnamon bark or cloves help cleanse the air.
