We continue the “JOY” in January Blogging Event of the Natural Perfumers Guild, Suppliers and Associates to discuss uplifting scents and products to help those who suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder or SAD.
Citrus essential oils are considered energizing aromas that lift the spirits by opening the heart and communications while easing stress and tensions. Did you know in a study using lemon oil in offices, there was a decline in clerical errors of 53%? Citrus oils help to create balance and harmony in blends, but lemon and grapefruit are also utilized for their detoxifying properties. Mandarin is used for its gentle properties for children, the elderly and pregnant women. Citrus oils have a rejuvenating effect on the skin and they are used in many skin, bath and hair care preparations. Citrus oils are also natural antiseptics, making them ideal for cleaning in the home.
Hello Sunshine
(An energizing and refreshing morning synergy for the shower or use as a diffuser blend)
■ 8 drops Lemon ■ 5 drops Lime ■ 8 drops Grapefruit-Pink or Mandarin-Red and
■ 8 drops Rosemary .
Mix essential oils and add to amber bottle.
Add 3-4 drops of above synergy to floor of a warm shower. Breathe in deeply.
You can also add 8-12 drops of this synergy into your diffuser before work.
Lemon – Energizing, clean & lively scent dispels sluggishness and lack of humor;
Lime – Refreshing and uplifting to a tired mind; revitalizing for depression;
Grapefruit – Uplifting, balancing to the emotions, brightening up dark depressive moods, promotes confidence.
Mandarin-Red – Strengthening, inspiring, and soothes frayed nerves.
Rosemary – Although not a citrus oil, used in this recipe to compliment the citrus oils. It’s stimulating, uplifting, revitalizing, and aids concentration.
The topical use of citrus oils needs to be used with caution regarding the sun and tanning beds. Do not apply directly on the skin before going out into the sun or using a tanning bed as it can cause a severe sunburn. I can’t stress enough about reading and checking out the properties of any essential oil you are going to use. This is where knowing whether it is an expressed or distilled oil would be beneficial, but I still think it is better to be safe and not use them before venturing out for an all day marathon at the beach or tanning salon.
Here’s an interesting study using Bergamot essential oil to diminish stress in the workplace: http://www.hindawi.com/journals/ecam/2011/946537/
I just could not resist adding this comment from my sister-in-law, who is also an elementary school teacher, after she read the above research:
“Sounds great!!!! We need it in giant salt-lick form!!!!!!
We could set up stations in the teacher’s lounge, the cafeteria, and the ladies room!!!!!
Be sure to sign up for our free monthly e-newsletter at www.arlysnaturals.com and keep up to date on the latest Arlys happenings. This month focuses on Seasonal Affective Disorder and recipes to bring aromatic “JOY”using essential oils.
Please join us in sharing this blogging event. Just be sure to post your comment and be automatically entered to win a prize daily. I’ve copied the blogging requirements below:
Tuesday – January 17th – The Arlys Naturals – Aromatherapy Contessa prize give-away is: One Red Travel Pocket Diffuser and 4 ml. of Revive Synergy.
1. When you comment, just give your first name and first initial of last name or a nickname (ISP eg., gmail) and location. That way, when we announce the winners on Thursday January 19th, we’ll make sure we have the correct participant. You must claim your prize by email by midnight on Saturday, January 21st. At that time and we will exchange full name and shipping information.
2. A participant can post as anonymous, but that will make you ineligible for the prize drawing.
3. There is a prize give-away each day beginning Monday, January 16th through Wednesday, January 18th. You will need to post a comment each day to be eligible for the prizes. Winners announced on Thursday – January 19th.
4. Arlys Naturals is located in the U.S. and ships to U.S. addresses only, so we will only be able to ship to participants in the U.S. At this time, we do not ship to Canada or any other international country – sorry.
Be sure to visit the links below for more uplifting information on the power of scent and free give-aways:
http://anyasgarden.blogspot.com/
http://bellyflowers.blogspot.com
http://ellenoire.blogspot.com/
http://oneseedperfumes.wordpress.com
http://perfumebynature.blogspot.com
http://sororiaorganics.blogspot.com/
http://www.aromatherapycontessa.com
http://www.aromaticsinternational.com/blog
http://www.dameclemence.blogspot.com
http://www.joannebassett.com/natural_perfumes
http://www.matriarch.biz/blog.html
http://www.providenceperfume.com/blogs/news
http://www.roseenbos.com/category/blog
http://www.stephanieknaturals.com/blog/
For further reading on Seasonal Affective Disorder, click on these links:
http://www.nami.org/Content/ContentGroups/Helpline1/Seasonal_Affective_Disorder_%28SAD%29.htm
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/seasonalaffectivedisorder.html
http://www.webmd.com/depression/tc/seasonal-affective-disorder-sad-topic-overview
http://www.nmha.org/go/sad
Aromatherapy Contessa 
oooo! rosemary and citrus! such a classic blend both aroma therapeutically and as in colognes! uplifting/fresh. great link on bergamot- i have always referred to bergamot as “sunshine bottled.”
~einsof
einsof in wyoming that is. very cold and white wyoming.
I used to live in an apartment with a tiny garden. I planted rosemary and lavender in it (along with a few other things – a rose bush and basil, I think). I would take my indoor cat our for a walk in it, and she would wander back and forth through the rosemary and lavender, and come in smelling so nice. 🙂
Thanks so much for the great tips on SAD and the citrus oils!
I’m taking the article to school this morning!
I wish work places really would use all these wonderful small things that can make their workers feel so much better, and work better too.
although, just leting more fresh air into offices is a nice and small way to start, also, sorely neede 🙂
thank you for this information
I love Mandarins, me and my 10 month old daughter have been eating a ton of them these past weeks
Hello Contessa,
I definitely follow you on using citrus as uplifters.
I am very interested in your sister in law comment.
Did she try the blend yet? Any reaction from the students?
Or anything else you’ve tried in a classroom. I’d love to know more about this. My own experiences did not bring me very far yet.
Thanks for sharing
Thank you for your comments. One of the oils to use first to get the attention focused on aroma is Peppermint or Spearmint, then add the other oils. Scent is a memory so it may take a few times to get feedback on the scents.
Another great read! Thanks for sharing;)
Thank you for this blog post… I was going though some of the natural perfume blogs for the SAD project, and I realized how often I think of lime and the other citruses when I want to clear the cobwebs out of my head – the study you site completely backs this up, so there’s definitely SOMETHING to be said about these properties. I like the idea of being more pro-active about this, though – sometimes I’ve put some lavender essential oil on a pillow to help with sleep, but why not wake up with the scent of lime and grapefruit? Great post, thanks again.
Citrus oils like blood orange, bergamots, and lime, also spark creativity!
Thank you for your comments and come back and visit us.
Just reading about these uplifting scents every day is already helping my S.A.D! Thank you again for this draw. This combo sounds amazing!
Thank you for sharing these uplifting essential oil blends!
Amy H. in Philadelphia
Thank you for another great suggestion and for the cautionary information on the citrus oils!
Michael S
Colorado
Thank you for sharing this wonderful citrus Rosemary blend! I think it will definitely brighten the cold winter days.
Great blog and an interesting study on Lemon in the office. Enjoyed reading that. I also like your Citrus/Rosemary blend. Sounds fabulous!
Fascinating fact about lemon oil and office error rates 🙂
So great to find a natural/healthy help for SAD!
Robin C
Santa Cruz, CA
Citrus has been a part of my smell lexicon ever since I can remember – from my Mom cooking with fresh lemons and lemon oil in my childhood, to my mixing my own natural lemon counter cleanser (mine didn’t clean very well, but it smelled great ; ] )
Lemons have helped me with my SAD for years – in both the strongish SAD I experienced when I lived in the U.S. east coast, and with the milder form I experience living in California (surrounded by lemon trees, which help.)
The bergamot-workplace study was fascinating – thank you. (I’ve been spraying both lavender and citrus in my office for as long as I’ve been able to have my own office – and it’s been such a blissful help…)