Winter Ready Aromatherapy Kit

This post is all about building your own winter-ready aromatherapy kit, packed with quick, easy, natural, and low-cost remedies for colds & flu, dry skin & chapped lips and other winter nasties.

The cautions to essential oils. 

Don't take essential oil by mouth. There is a lot of information out there saying it's safe and that you can add a few drops to a glass of water, but it can be very dangerous. People have been known to die from taking even a teaspoon of eucalyptus essential oil internally, and eucalyptus essential oil is extremely gentle. 

If you take an essential oil internally, It has to pass through your gut, through the mucous membrane, through the stomach, fighting off the hydrochloric acid and all the lymphocytes along the way. It's a very inefficient way of using essential oils. Very little of any essential oils that you ingest will actually reach the area they're intended for.

It's much more effective, efficient and safe to inhale the essential oils, using a burner, diffuser, or inhaler, or to rub them onto the skin, allowing them to enter the bloodstream and be carried where they need to go.  

Don't use essential oils undiluted on the skin. You need to mix them in a substance such as a vegetable oil, soap, shampoo, flower water, etc. 

Don't let essential oils come into contact with the eyes. They can be very stingy and uncomfortable. If I'm doing a facial using essential oils, I won't bring the oil directly underneath the eyes. And I also warn the client not to rub their eyes for a little while.

Four easy and effective ways to care for your respiratory system

• Steam inhalations,  

• Aromatherapy inhalers, 

• Mix the essential oils in a vegetable oil and apply them to the feet, 

• You can use them in burners and diffusers, 

• Each of those methods work very well, and you can use them in combination.

An Amazing Respiratory Blend

• Eucalyptus ticks all the respiratory boxes.  It's pain killing, anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, expectorant, (helps to kind of clear the respiratory passageways) mucolytic (helps clear mucus from the respiratory system) antiviral, it boosts the immune system, and it's antibacterial. There are no known contraindications to eucalyptus.

• Basil is antiseptic, painkilling, antispasmodic, prophylactic, (kills airborne bacteria and viruses), it's a very warming oil, it's cephalic (clears the head, i.e. eases congestion and helps with concentration) Basil is also a very good antiviral oil. Don't use basil for anyone who is pregnant, or has sensitive skin.

• Benzoin is a lovely, gentle, warming oil. It's expectorant, (clears respiratory passageways) analgesic, (pain killing) vulnerary (helps wounds to heal), very warming oil, calming, and sedative. There are no known contraindications to Benzoin. 

How to Make the Blend

You will need

• A dark glass or ceramic bottle 

• 7.5 ml (1.5 teaspoons) vegetable oil. I particularly like extra virgin olive oil, it's anti-inflammatory and pain killing, even on its own.

• 1 drop each of Eucalyptus, Basil, and Benzoin essential oils. 

• These proportions are for adults, which is anyone over 12, who are not pregnant and don't have sensitive skin 

• For everyone else, mix 15ml (3 teaspoons) extra virgin olive oil with 2 drops of Eucalyptus and 2 drops of Benzoin.

Caution - Don't use Basil essential oil for pregnant women or young children

Directions

• Mix the essential oils and the vegetable oil in the dark glass or ceramic bottle.

Shelf Life

The blend will last about 3 months if stored correctly, i.e. in a dark glass or ceramic container, away from light and heat. To extend the shelf life, add the contents of a vitamin E capsule. 

Massage gently onto the abdomen in circular motions to relieve discomfort. This blend is effective for soothing stomach ailments and promoting digestion.

How to Use the Respiratory Blend:

• Steam Inhalation: Add a capful of the blend to a bowl of hot water, cover your head with a towel, and inhale deeply. Another method it to put some boiling water to the bottom of a cup and add a capful of the blend, and you can inhale from the cup as you're going about your busy day. If you prefer, you can use up to 3 drops of undiluted essential oils instead of the blend. 

Just be aware that if you're using a cup, the smell can be quite intense, particularly for small children.  So test it yourself first, if it's too intense for you, it's too intense for a child.  

•  Aromatherapy Inhaler: Add 8 drops eucalyptus, 8 drops benzoin, and 4 drops basil to the inner pad of the aromatherapy inhaler. Inhale as needed, but don't insert into the nostrils.

• Apply to the feet: Massage the blend onto the feet twice daily, paying particular attention to the balls of the feet, at least twice daily. The reflex point for the lungs are the balls of the feet.  Lots of people find it more effective to use the essential oil on the feet, rather than on the chest. I use both because the more opportunities you have to zap that infection or prevent it, the better. 

• Diffuser: Add 1 drop of each oil with water to your diffuser or burner and use according to manufacturer's instructions.  Don't use essential oils that are mixed in a vegetable oil in a burner, it will be like heating oil in a pan, and taking the lid off.  The vegetable oil will splatter, and it's practically impossible to get rid of. A friend of mine did exactly that, her chimney breast was destroyed, and she had to repaint the entire room.
  
  

Tummy Bug Zapper

A simple yet powerful remedy for nausea, cramps, and digestive upsets:

• 2 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil

• 2 drops Lavender essential oil

• 2 drops Eucalyptus essential oil

Both Lavender and Eucalyptus are painkilling, antibacterial, anti-viral and good for nausea.

Shelf Life

The blend will last about 3 months if stored correctly, i.e. in a dark glass or ceramic container, away from light and heat. To extend the shelf life, add the contents of a vitamin E capsule. 

Massage gently onto the abdomen in circular motions to relieve discomfort. This blend is effective for soothing stomach ailments and promoting digestion.

Caution - Don't use Lavender essential oil for pregnant women.

Here's how this blend quickly eased the discomfort of a tummy bug

This blend typically eases pain and discomfort very quickly. One of the first times I used it was for a friend of mine. We were working in a day spa and there was a nasty tummy bug going around. My friend was feeling a little bit queasy, I suggested that she should go home, and I offered to make her up a blend of essential oils. 

I met her a couple of hours later, and I was surprised that she was still in work. But she said she had felt better as soon as she used the essential oil blend. And I have had similar results with toothache and earache. Though, you will need to refer to a doctor or dentist for earache and toothache. 

So, an aromatherapy inhaler is also a very good way of using essential oils for tummy bugs, either to ease or prevent them.  

To Make the Aromatherapy Inhaler

Add 10 drops each of Eucalyptus and Lavender essential oil.

To Use the Aromatherapy Inhaler

Waft the inhaler under your nose for a few minutes every hour.  Despite the Vick's like shape, don't insert it in your nostrils. 

Shelf Life of Aromatherapy Inhalers

Aromatherapy inhalers last about three months once you store them away from light and heat. 

Sugar Scrub for Radiant Skin

You'll need:

• 2 tsp castor sugar

• 2 tsp extra virgin olive oil 

• 2 drops lemon essential oil

• 2 drops lavender essential oil

• Optional: A vitamin E capsule for added nourishment and to extend the shelf life.

Sugar is a very gentle exfoliant and moisturiser, extra virgin olive oil balances sebum and is a fantastic cleanser. Lemon essential oil is amazing for reducing hard skin, and Lavender balances sebum and moisturises the skin.

Cautions - Don't use Lemon essential oil on skin that will be exposed to bright sunlight or a sunbed within 48 hours, and don't use Lavender essential oil for pregnant women.

To make the sugar scrub

Put the sugar in the bowl and cover it with the olive oil. The mixture should have a thick, gooey consistency—somewhere between a liquid and a solid. It should be easy to rub into your skin, like a smooth, runny, sugary paste—not too watery, but not too firm either.

Add two drops each of Lemon essential oil, and Lavender essential oil.  Adding the contents of a vitamin E capsule will help extend the shelf life and nourish the skin. Store the sugar scrub in a dark glass or ceramic container. 

How to use the sugar scrub

You could use it as a foot scrub, a hand scrub, or all over the body. It's cleansing, it's nourishing for the skin, and it feels absolutely amazing.  

For a foot scrub, massage it into the feet, cover your feet with socks and leave it on overnight, if possible.  In the morning, to avoid slipping, take don't take your socks in the shower. 

Wash the sugar scrub off and then wash your feet as normal.

To use it as an all over body scrub, massage it into your body in the shower and rinse it off.

A nourishing moisturiser for dry skin.  

You will need: 

• 6 teaspoons of non perfumed cream such as aqueous lotion, silcox base, or emulsifying ointment. You can get those in most chemists, but you will need to ask.  They're generally not out, out on display. 

• 2 drops of Lavender essential oil, 

• 2 drops of Chamomile essential oil,

• 2 drops of Geranium essential oil,

• A glass or a ceramic container.  

Why those particular oils?  

• Lavender balances sebum.  And it balances the mood, so it will help anxiety or depression. 

• Chamomile, particularly German Chamomile, is probably the most anti-inflammatory of all the essential oils.  However, German Chamomile has a very powerful aroma and a lot of people don't like it for that reason.  Chamomile is also very calming and soothing.  

• Geranium balances sebum, lifts the mood, and it's great for any kind of hormone issue, so helpful for PMT/PMS or the menopause.

Cautions -Don't use Lavender, Chamomile, or Geranium essential oils for pregnant women.

To Make the Cream 

Mix the oils and the cream really well, making sure the essential oil is completely covered.

To Use the Cream

Apply daily, or as required. Try making a sugar scrub and a cream with the same essential oils, and apply the cream after you remove the sugar scrub. Your skin will feel amazing!

Nourishing Lip Balm

Combat dry, chapped lips with this easy DIY balm:

• 1 teaspoon non-fractionated coconut oil (melted)

• 1 drop benzoin essential oil (for chapped lips)

• 1 drop lemon essential oil (for cold sores—avoid direct sunlight after application)

To Make the Lip Balm

Place a container with one teaspoon of non fractionated (solid) coconut oil in a larger container of warm water and allow it to melt, making sure that the water does not cover the container of coconut oil. 

Add the essential oil, mix well, and allow the coconut oil to solidify again.

Benzoin essential oil is absolutely fantastic for chapped skin.  I used to suffer a lot from chapped lips, sometimes they were so bad they would bleed.  Since I started using Benzoin lip balm, I have never had a problem with chapped lips. 

To prevent or treat cold sores, use a drop of lemon essential oil in the lip balm. Lemon is a powerful antiviral oil. 

It's much easier to use a small jar rather than a lipstick type container.

Cautions - Don't use lemon within 48 hours before exposure to bright sunlight or a sunbed because it can cause severe burns.  

Buying Coconut Oil

Try to buy it in a supermarket, because the supermarket brand is more likely to be the best quality non fractionated (solid) cold pressed, and extra virgin. And it also tends to be a lot cheaper than the coconut oil you might buy in a health food store or chemist. 

Boosting the Immune System with Essential Oils

There are lots of oils you can use to boost your immune system and some I really like are Grapefruit, Cypress and Lavender. Combined, they make a really nice blend. 

• Grapefruit gently boosts the immune system.  It's also beautiful, uplifting oil. And anything that lifts the spirits is going to help the healing system as well.

• Cypress has a beautiful, calming, woody aroma.  It relieves anxiety, and it's great for the respiratory system.

• Lavender is antibacterial and antiviral, and it boosts the immune system.

Cautions - Don't use grapefruit oil on skin that will be exposed to bright sunlight or a sunbed within 48 hours, and don't use Cypress or Lavender for pregnant women.

To use the oils to boost the immune system

Add one drop of each essential oil to a burner or diffuser, following the manufacturer's instructions.

So, for your clients, how would you use this particular blend to help your clients?  Non aromatherapists can use one drop of each oil in a burner or diffuser, or in a bowl directly under the massage table.

That's a  nice way to do it if someone's having a back massage and they're lying face down, and you have a person in a bowl with the oils in it. But just, first of all, try it yourself and test it and make sure that the aroma is not too overpowering.  Aromatherapists can sell blends in a carrier oil to apply to the chest and feet. 

How might you use the recipes to help your clients and boost your income?

Selling Aromatherapy Blends or Products

Aromatherapists can sell bespoke (specially made) essential oil blends and products to their clients or off the shelf products for shops, markets etc. Non aromatherapists can sell bespoke products that don't include essential oils

The Legalities

• Non aromatherapists can't sell essential oil products unless they have been made by a qualified aromatherapist or esthetician. But they can use essential oils in burners, diffusers or other methods in the therapy room.

• Qualified aromatherapists can sell bespoke blends (specially made) after a consultation to check for contraindications and make sure it's suitable for the client's needs. 

• To sell "off the shelf", in shops, markets, holistic centres etc you need to get your blends or products tested which does involve some record keeping and paperwork, but it is doable. 

Tips for selling products

• Always cover your costs and factor in your time and expertise.

• To make your products look inviting, you can get reasonably priced, pretty, containers in shops like Tiger.

Here are some ideas to spread the word.

• Advertise on your website,

• Send texts and emails to your clients. 

• Post on social media with a link to your website.

• Post on Google My Business.

A sugar scrub treatment upgrade.

You could offer a foot or hand sugar scrub with massage or reflexology.

Here's how to give a sugar scrub treatment:

1. Put some extra towelling under the hands feet, that you can remove when you finish your sugar scrub.  

2. Gently massage the sugar scrub into the hands and feet.  

3. Remove the sugar scrub with warm, damp towels. To prepare the hot damp towels, use a towel warmer if you have one, if not, put your rolled up face cloths or small hand towels in a bowl of warm water. You'll probably need about 4 towels.

4. Dry the hands or feet with a dry towels or face cloths.

I had a student who learned how to make the sugar scrub and wanted to use it as a treatment upgrade. She tried it on herself, thought it was lovely, and offered it to one of her favourite clients, who absolutely loved it.

She emailed all of her clients to say that her reflexology sessions now included this beautiful sugar scrub and that her prices were increasing from €50 to €60.  

She wasn't practicing that long at the time, and she normally had about five clients.  But when she sent this text, instead of her normal five clients, she had ten clients who were happy to pay €60. In her first week offering the sugar scrub upgrade, she earned an extra €360!  

Using products or upgrades as a reward scheme

Lots of therapists offer the 6th treatment free. 

But there are some problems with that. 

First, anything that's free is seen as having low or no value and lots of therapists have told me that clients, who are always on time for paid treatments, will often forget or be late for the free sessions.

Second, you have the same costs for a free treatment as you do for a paid one - room rent, travel, laundry, child care etc. Plus, the free treatment is using a slot that you could fill with a paid booking.

Boost Your Bookings with Simple Enhancements Products & Upgrades

Instead of giving away a free 6th treatment, why not offer a treatment upgrade or a bespoke product? It's unique, it makes your clients feel valued, yet it costs you very little in terms of time or money. 

You probably already ask your clients to refer their friends, and most clients are happy to. But there are many more who fully intend to but forget (life is busy!)

But if you offered both the new and the existing client a free nourishing and uplifting sugar scrub

"When you refer a friend, you BOTH get a free hand & foot sugar scrub treatment + a take-home product!"

Suddenly, they won’t forget—because they’re not just talking about how great you are, they’re getting something extra for spreading the word.

And let’s be real—a free 6th treatment costs you more than you think. You still have to pay room rent, use products, and potentially lose a paying client in that time slot. A simple enhancement—like a sugar scrub, a nourishing moisturizer, or a winter wellness blend—adds value without cutting into your income.

Need an easy product idea? Try a hydrating moisturizer:
✔ 6 teaspoons of a non-perfumed cream (aqueous lotion, silcox base, or emulsifying ointment—ask at the chemist).
✔ Add essential oils for dry skin or relaxation.

Small, thoughtful extras like these make clients feel special, boost referrals, and increase income—without giving away free treatments!

Enhancements/Products vs Free 6th Treatment

 But if you said that when they came for their sixth treatment,  you were going to give them  a sugar hand and foot scrub that leaves the skin  beautifully soft and that is so relaxing.

And you can talk about essential oils you're going to include if you're an aromatherapist.  And that when they come for their sixth treatment, they will get a free sugar foot scrub.  And  a little supply to take home that they can use in the shower and their hands and feet are all over their body.  Another thing, I think that's really good too,  we all, well most of us generally could do with some more bookings. 

And I'm sure you all  ask your clients regularly, would you mind spreading the word to your friends? Or here's some business cards if you wouldn't mind passing them on to your friends etc.  And most clients will fully intend to.  But they meet a friend and then they remember something that happened down the road.

They start talking about that and then there's a great deal up in the shop. Let's go up there. Do you hear what happened to Sandra there? And they forget.  Life is busy. There's a lot going on.  But if you say to your client  that whenever you refer a friend.  Both you and your friend, husband, partner, whatever,  will get a free hand and foot sugar scrub treatment and a beautiful sugar scrub to take home. 

And that is really going to help them. They're going to remember then to tell Mary  about this lovely therapist.

Because they're not just talking about the lovely therapist and the great treatment. They're saying, you know what, if you go there, you and I are both going to get this absolutely gorgeous sugar scrub and  a lovely hand and foot treatment.

So why don't you book in?  It just makes it kind of stick in their mind. It makes it so much easier for them to remember to tell their friend, etc.  And it's such a simple thing to do. 

And just another thing about that actually, Um,  when you're going to  offer a free 6th treatment,  that free 6th treatment is going to cost you in a number of different ways. If you're paying room rent, you still have to pay the room rent. That's taking a chunk.  of the profits you would make for the five treatments. 

You might be using um, products  they still have to be paid for.  You might have to pay for child care. That's not going to go down. 

And there's also a possibility that you might be missing out on a client. So if you're only going to do five clients in a day and one of those is free.  That means you're missing out on  the potential of a new, another client booking in with you. So another reason to use an enhancement, there's lots of different enhancements you can use. 

A sugar scrub is one of them. A  nourishing moisturizer for dry skin.  You will need  6 teaspoons of non perfumed cream.  So an example of this would be aqueous lotion, silcox base, or emulsifying ointment. You can get those in most chemists, but you will need to ask.  They're generally not out, out on display.