One way we embrace the holiday spirit is by creating an atmosphere full of Christmas scents. I used to love my holiday candles but stopped burning them when I discovered the chemicals and toxins they release into the air. I’m currently experimenting with making my own candles from soy wax or beeswax.
Until I perfect that, I’ve switched to diffusing essential oils to create a holiday mood instead. Orange, cinnamon, peppermint, and frankincense are some of my favorite oils for this time.
These diffuser combinations are for my 120mL diffuser so adjust accordingly for your own. A good guideline is to start with 3 to 5 drops of oil per 100mL of water. It’s always easier to start on the lighter side and add more drops of essential oil if needed. Consider the size of the room you’re diffusing in and who will be in it.
Something to Keep in Mind: Diffusing essential oils is one of the safest ways to use them but always be cautious when diffusing around children, pets, and those with asthma or allergies.
Here are four of my favorite diffuser blends for the holidays:
2 Drops Sweet Orange and 2 Drops Peppermint
These two oils combine into a wonderful balance of icy and sweet. Together they smell like candy. Sweet orange has a light citrus scent that is calming and uplifting. Peppermint has a fresh and cool scent that is both stimulating and soothing.
2 Drops Sweet Orange, 1 Drop Cinnamon, and 1 Drop Cedarwood
In this blend the sweet orange and cedarwood mellow the spicy cinnamon scent. I use cinnamon leaf essential oil because it has a slightly lighter scent than cinnamon bark or cinnamon cassia. Diffusing it creates a warm atmosphere and can help seasonal illness. Cedarwood atlas supports respiratory health and also promotes a calm, positive atmosphere along with the sweet orange.
1 Drop Peppermint, 2 Drops Bergamot, and 1 Drop Ylang Ylang
When I originally played with the combination of peppermint and ylang ylang, the scent reminded me of black licorice. Which is great if you like that flavor, but I don’t. Adding a couple of drops of bergamot to this blend balances the other two. Bergamot eases anxiety, sadness, and even grief. Ylang Ylang is known as an aphrodisiac and helps reduce worry and uplift mood while peppermint stimulates alertness and energy.
2 Drops Sweet Orange, 2 Drops Cedarwood, and 1 Drop Frankincense
I generally use frankincense serrata for diffusing. It is known as a meditative, mind-clearing oil and also helps breathing. The earthy scent blends well with cedarwood atlas and sweet orange. Cedarwood has a woodsy smell that promotes respiratory health and a calm atmosphere. Sweet orange gives the room an uplifting citrus boost.
Synergy Blends:
I have a couple of synergy oils from Plant Therapy that I’ve diffused for holiday scents. One is called Holiday Season. It’s a blend of warming spice oils and uplifting citrus ones. I find Germ Fighter to be a great one to diffuse with it’s hints of cinnamon and clove. Sometimes I combine it with Immune Aid to add more citrus scents. Both are great for promoting health.
Other Essential Oils to Create a Holiday Atmosphere:
- clove
- ginger
- fir
- juniper berry
- wintergreen
- myrrh
- grapefruit
Other Recipes that Use These Oils:
- I use peppermint in a few of my roller bottle recipes, one for headaches, one for sinus relief, and one for helping with seasonal allergies. It’s also my favorite scent to use in my natural body wash.
- In one of my diffuser combinations for morning energy, I add a drop each of peppermint, sweet orange, cedarwood and ylang ylang.
- I use cedarwood, sweet orange, and bergamot in some of my diffuser blends for air purification.
Essential Oil Resources:
Beginning with Essential Oils: A Basic Guide
Modern Essentials: The Complete Guide to the Therapeutic Use of Essential Oils
Do you diffuse essential oils? What are your favorite combinations for the holidays?
