The best Christmas essential oils and diffuser blends for the festive spirit

The festive season is nearly here. Crisp winter evenings, cosy log fires, the scent of your favourite Christmas candle burning in the background. It all sounds too cosy, and we can't wait to get into the holiday spirit.

Christmas is all about feeling warm, cosy, united and is altogether a magical time - no one can tell us differently - and one of the most distinctive things about Christmas is all of the smells. Freshly baked gingerbread, pine Christmas trees, spiced mulled wine ... is your mouth-watering yet?

The fantastic thing about scents is that they can transport you to a time and place in your memory. That is why aromatherapy is so upcoming in the health industry. You should never underestimate the power of essential oils.

Christmas essential oils and diffuser blends will transform your home into a festive wonderland - and you don’t even have to do any festive baking. With that in mind, here is our list of the top Christmas essential oils and diffuser scents you need in your home this season.

What is aromatherapy?

Have you ever smelt something and it immediately made you feel better? Certain smells can make you feel comforted and safe such as the smell of baking, clean laundry or freshly cut grass. No wonder everyone is so obsessed with Lush and Bath and Body Works.

Certain scents, ingredients and oils do more than just smell really good. They also have many medicinal properties. According to Aromatherapy Associates, aromatherapy is the "power of aroma, through essential oils to improve your wellbeing therapy."

"Used in ancient cultures for thousands of years, the term aromatherapy was named by a French perfumer and chemist René-Maurice Gattefossé in 1937."

Aromatherapy is now thought of as both an art and a science. In recent years, aromatherapy has gained more recognition in the fields of science and medicine to help with anxiety, wellbeing and general health.

The best Christmas essential oils for the festive spirit

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Benefits:

A festive warming and spicy scent.

It has anti-inflammatory properties that could be helpful in easing feelings of nausea or digestive issues.

Mixes well with lemon, rosemary, orange & frankincense essential oils to make your own blend.

Benefits:

Oranges are zesty, invigorating, bright, and welcoming.

The essential oil will lift your mood or reduce stress and can treat skin conditions such as acne.

Orange is perfect for blending with scents like ginger and citronella.

Benefits

Helps you to relax and unwind and get a better night’s sleep.

Floral and earthy tones.

Tried and tested by Ellen Kinsey, Commercial Content Writer for Closer Online: "I have used lavender to help me sleep since a child. Lavender is often an ingredient in pillow mists and sleeping spray as it is one of the most calming fragrances. Whenever feeling stressed or anxious I apply lavender to my wrists, behind my ears and on the lymph nodes on my neck. It helps me to feel calm and grounded again. Sometimes little rituals like these are the best remedy for anxiety."

Benefits:

It can help to relax your body and calm your mind.

Cinnamon has antibacterial and antifungal agents. As cinnamon oil is very strong do not rub or massage the oil directly on skin unless it’s diluted with a carrier oil such olive or jojoba oil.

Creates a warm and uplifting atmosphere.

Benefits:

Deeply comforting and can help with swelling, pain, and joint movement associated with arthritis.

Helps to find inner peace and enhance wellbeing.

Benefits

The oil is made with steam distilled from needles and twigs of wild firs.

This scent will help calm nerves and soothe anxious feelings.

The smell of fir creates a clean and inviting environment with a fresh, green fragrance.

Benefits:

Fresh, energising and a festive aroma to clear your mind and release tension

Can also help to keep away spiders (best news ever).

Tried and tested by Ellen Kinsey, Commercial Content Writer for Closer Online: "Peppermint is my number one go-to when I get tension headaches. Always taking a pain-killer isn't an option, so peppermint essential oil really helps to relieve the stress. I apply it to the nape of my neck, on both sides of my temples and either side of my jaw. It is extremely cooling and will feel tingly at first. The cooling properties work much the same as an ice pack when you have a migraine or headache. This brand is affordable, comes in a good size bottle, and I carry it around in my bag for travelling, for working and daily use."

Benefits:

Warm, comforting scents that will help you relax.

Vanilla essential oil offers antioxidants that help stimulate and repair the body's existing damages.

Benefits:

Known for its warming and stimulating properties.

It works as a great pain reliever for toothaches and muscle pain, upset stomachs and relieves respiratory conditions like coughing or asthma.

Clove is filled with anti-inflammatory compounds, which can aid sore throats, coughs and sinusitis add the essential oil to your diffuser if you feel like you have a bit of a sore throat.

The best Christmas diffuser oils for your festive sanctuary

Christmas diffuser blends:

Christmas Spice : Blend of Christmas spices, zesty orange and amber.

Aspen: Lush evergreen scent with fresh pine needles, and a hint of citrus.

Three Kings: An iconic mix of frankincense, myrrh, sandalwood, fruit and spice.

Tried and tested by Ellen Kinsey, Commercial Content Writer for Closer Online: "The Christmas inspired fragrances from Made by Zen will leave your house feeling warm, cosy and festive. Aspen has a lovely fresh scent, Three Kings has a deep and rich smell, and my personal favourite Christmas Spice smells exactly as you would envision Christmas. It is warming, spicy and zesty. Once you put on your diffuser,you won't be able to get enough of this gorgeous fragrance."

Christmas diffuser blends:

Gingerbread: The smell of baked gingerbread with spiced nutmeg, cinnamon, brown sugar and vanilla.

Fig and Cassis: A sweet treat made with ripe figs, damsons cassis and white scented flowers.

Winter Berries: Created with sweet red berries, pine, patchouli and vanilla.

Christmas diffuser blend:

Made from black spruce fresh aroma that will leave you feeling energised, cedarwood that has a grounding woody aroma and juniper berry has a sweet fragrance that will stimulate your senses.

Christmas diffuser blend:

Made of frankincense has sweet notes that promote tranquillity and calm. Black pepper has a hoppy warming aroma that helps restore energy, and mandarin has a festive classic that brings subtle brightness and balance to the blend.

How to use essential oils:

1. Aromatically (in a diffuser or smelling it directly). If you have a diffuser apply a few drops to yours and inhale the scent. The easiest way to get the aromatic benefits of essential oil is by simply taking a few drops from the bottle into your hands. Cup your mouth, put it to your nose and inhale.

2. Topically (directly on your skin). Topical use of essential oils is one of the most popular ways of using essential oils. You can apply it to your pressure, point, feet or anywhere on your body.

3. Internally (ingesting the oil), you can add a drop or two of your favourite oil to water or even add it to your food.

Here is a video from Yogi Approved showing the basics of essential oils:

Read more:

The best scalp oils to soothe your itch

The best aromatherapy diffusers to make your house feel like a spa

Ylang-ylang essential oil benefits - could it help your sex life?

Our top 3 festive essential oil and diffuser blends you can make at home

Here are some of our favourite Christmas essential oil blends you can put in your diffuser or apply to yourself:

Christmas cottage: 3 drops orange + 1 drop clove + 1 drop cinnamon

Icy fresh: 2 drops of peppermint + 1 drop fir + 1 drop vanilla

Fresh gingerbread: 2 drops clove + 2 drops cinnamon + 3 drops ginger