Saying goodbye to summer can be a difficult venture. No more long, lazy days, impromptu trips to the beach, or relaxed backyard gatherings. But for many of us, autumn comes with its own enticing charms.
Crisp air tinged with woodsmoke, bursts of red leaves and orange pumpkins, cozy sweaters, and, of course, the warming spices of fall baking.
While baking is a wonderful way to perfume your home with the comforting aromas of cinnamon, cloves, ginger, and nutmeg, if you baked every day of autumn you:
A). Might alarm your friends and family.
B). Wouldn’t have enough time to get outside and enjoy the season.
C). Would disappear under a mountain of bread, and muffins, and cookies, (I mean, your neighbors can only handle so much overflow).
When you don’t have time to bake, or simply don’t need anymore pumpkin apple scones lying around, essential oils are a great way to invite a little fall into your home. Essential oils also allow you to carve out a little time for self care, which is, well, essential for going into the holiday season rested and recharged.
Read on to learn about some of our favorite ways to use essential oils to bring a touch of that crisp, comforting fall goodness into your space.
Instant Foot Warmers
While cooler fall temperatures are a welcome change from summer heat, no one likes cold toes. Mix a few drops of black pepper and a few drops of patchouli essential oil into scentless foot cream, apply to your cold feet, add some warm socks, and voila! Instant coziness!
Fall Soak
Add a few drops of nutmeg, cinnamon, orange, and cedarwood (or any other spicy and/or woodsy combo you like) to your bath. You can also add your favorite mixture of fall essential oils to scentless shower gel for an invigoratingly autumnal shower.
Soothe Fall Colds
Colder weather means more time spent indoors, which often comes with more airborne illness. Add a few drops of cypress oil, a few drops of eucalyptus oil, and a few drops of peppermint oil to just-boiled water, and inhale the steam for instant lung, throat, and nasal passage relief.
Clean Your Home
You can clean your home, and infuse a whiff of fall into the air at the same time. Simply add some orange or bergamot oil, clove oil, and cinnamon oil to some apple cider vinegar and get to scrubbing. If you don’t like the above scent combo, other great essential oils for cleaning are: lemon, eucalyptus, sage, thyme, tea tree, lavender, pine, and peppermint.
Scent Those Linens
How about slipping into a fragrant forest each night before you fall asleep? Combine a few drops of cedarwood, sandalwood, cypress, or pine essential in a spray bottle with a cup of water. Add a citrus note from orange, lemon, or bergamot, and a spicy note from nutmeg, black pepper, allspice, or clove (or a mixture of these). Shake the bottle well and spray it on your sheets and pillowcases. Wait for it to dry before climbing into bed. Note that linen spray can also be used on towels, clothing, most curtains, cloth furniture, and fabric holiday decorations. Always spot test first in a hard-to-see area to avoid staining or other damage.
Make Autumnal Potpourri
Put some orange and/or lemon peels in a bowl. Add some whole spices such as cinnamon sticks, star anise, and bay leaves. Scent the combo with your favorite fall oils, being sure to combine warming scents like cinnamon, cloves, and black pepper with woodsy scents like pine and fir. Finish it off with a drop or two of your favorite citrus oil. Gently massage the blend with your fingers and enjoy all season long, making sure to keep away from pets and kids.
Diffuse, Diffuse, Diffuse
There is no shame in falling back on your essential oil diffuser when you don’t have the time or energy to make linen spray or potpourri (or pumpkin bread). For the best fall smells, go with the spices you’d use in muffins, pies, and lattes: cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, ginger, cardamom, allspice, and anise. These spices all pair wonderfully with any form of citrus oil and woodsier scents like cypress and cedarwood as well.
Whether you’re still mourning dwindling summer days or champing at the bit for sweater weather and the first pop of autumn color, there is no wrong way to usher in fall. It’s a season that’s about taking stock, renewing what’s important, letting go of what isn’t, and welcoming the beginning of a more restful time of year. What’s not to like?
Drop by our North Loop shop today and stock up on all your favorite essential oils for fall. We find beauty and promise in every season, and fall is no exception. Currently, our Autumn Essential Oil bundle, which contains Cardamom, Bergamot, and Ginger essential oils is on sale for just $18.
Our knowledgeable staff is happy to talk with you about how to use the oils at home, and also suggest complimentary scent combinations. You’re also welcome to peruse our essential oils online.
We proudly hand-mix PureomEO™ Essential Oils, which contain the highest-quality ingredients available from eco-friendly and small-scale farms, distilleries, and producers. All of our products contain only all-natural, plant-based ingredients with no animal products, preservatives, or synthetics. Every batch of PureomEO™ Essential Oil is lab tested and analyzed for quality assurance.
May all your lattes be spicy, your leaves be crunchy, and your socks be toasty!