There’s something about changing the aroma of a space that can change your entire experience of the space . . . and sometimes your experience of yourself.
Maybe that’s why many people throughout history have used aromatherapy in sacred contexts, for rituals and ceremonies. It can help shift our minds into deeper states of meditation, concentration, inner contemplation, and peace.
Incense and oils can be used when you want to deeply connect with yourself. If you’re journaling, they can help you access deeper levels of self-reflection. If you’re getting a massage, they can help your mind release worry and relax. If you’re practicing yoga, they can help you stay centered and uplifted. This chapter is called “Meditation and Contemplation,” but you really can use these blends for any personal practice.
There are recipes to make your own loose incense with raw resins, such as frankincense and myrrh, and you can customize them with ingredients like wood chips, dried herbs, or flowers. There are also diffuser blends and body oils in this chapter.
Many of the essential oils in these recipes have resinous, woody, or earthy aromas. Base notes are popular in blends for meditation because they have the ability to ground you in the present moment, helping you feel more connected with your body and surroundings. I love the idea that “grounding is the first step toward soaring”! Floral aromas add notes of beauty and harmony, while lighter notes such as the citruses can help you feel uplifted as you focus your mind.
As with most aromatherapy recipes, it all depends on what you want to experience! Have fun with these blends.
Before you make any of the following recipes, be sure to check the shelf lives of your ingredients so you know how long your product will last, and any safety considerations for the essential oils.
FRANKINCENSE ’S “EXOTIC HYPNOTIC ” DIFFUSER BLEND
Frankincense visited its friend Ylang Ylang in Madagascar, and was deeply inspired by the exotic and peaceful location. It made this diffuser blend to re-create that atmosphere.
Use this recipe: to create an exotic aroma and a relaxing atmosphere.
8 drops frankincense
2 drops ylang ylang
DIRECTIONS
Simply drop the essential oils into the diffuser.
FOR KIDS 
Substitute:
4 drops frankincense
1 drop ylang ylang
BERGAMOT MINT ’S “GO WITH THE GLOW ” DIFFUSER BLEND
Bergamot Mint diffuses this blend in its yoga classes to feel energized and centered, and to get that “yoga glow.”
Use this recipe: to feel energized and centered during yoga, tai chi, or another movement practice.
4 drops gingergrass
4 drops bergamot mint
2 drops lavender
DIRECTIONS
Simply drop the essential oils into the diffuser.
FOR KIDS
Substitute:
2 drops gingergrass
2 drops bergamot mint
1 drop lavender
JUNIPER ’S “BREATHE IN INSPIRATION ” DIFFUSER BLEND
Juniper created this blend because it loves environments that are full of vibrant energy and the feeling that anything is possible.
Use this recipe: to get your energy flowing and feel uplifted.
3 drops juniper
3 drops piñon pine
3 drops lemon
DIRECTIONS
Simply drop the essential oils into the diffuser.
FOR KIDS
Substitute:
1 drop juniper
2 drops piñon pine
2 drops lemon
PATCHOULI AND MYRRH ’S “PEACE ON THE GO ” INHALER
Patchouli and Myrrh love to “commit random acts of peace,” including giving flowers to others and handing out these inhalers to help people feel calm if their schedules are busy.
Use this recipe: to feel peaceful in the middle of a busy day.
6 drops patchouli
6 drops myrrh
1 drop rose
2 drops Roman chamomile
DIRECTIONS
Add the essential oil drops to the cotton component of an aromatherapy inhaler.
FOR KIDS
Substitute:
3 drops patchouli
3 drops myrrh
1 drop rose
1 drop Roman chamomile
BERGAMOT MINT ’S “POCKET OF PEACE ” INHALER
Bergamot Mint carries this inhaler in its pocket to use anytime it wants to take a few minutes to breathe in an aroma it loves. It’s like having a pocket of peace and relaxation!
Use this recipe: to calm your nervous system and uplift your heart.
6 drops bergamot mint
3 drops spikenard
3 drops cedarwood
3 drops frankincense
DIRECTIONS
Add the essential oil drops to the cotton component of an aromatherapy inhaler.
FOR KIDS
Substitute:
3 drops bergamot mint
1 drop spikenard
1 drop cedarwood
1 drop frankincense
FRANKINCENSE ’S “AWAKE AND ATTENTIVE ” ROOM AND BODY SPRITZ
Frankincense is a master of meditation. It’s good at focusing its mind even in unlikely situations, such as when it’s very tired but still has some work to complete.
Use this recipe: to feel focused and alert when you’re tired but still have a lot to do.
3 oz (90 ml) frankincense hydrosol
1 oz (30 ml) peppermint hydrosol
DIRECTIONS
Simply blend the hydrosols in a 4 oz (120 ml) glass spray bottle.
I recommend making this blend fresh every few weeks.
FOR KIDS
The blend for kids is the same as the one for grown-ups.
PEPPERMINT ’S “PEP YOUR ENGINES ” CAR SPRITZ
Peppermint loves road trips! It can drive for a long time without getting tired. How does it keep its energy up? It sprays this fresh, revitalizing car spritz all around its car and on the back of the neck.
Use this recipe: to stay energized, alert, and enthusiastic on long road trips, especially during hot days.
4 oz (120 ml) peppermint hydrosol
DIRECTIONS
Simply pour the hydrosol in a 4 oz (120 ml) glass spray bottle.
Be sure to check with your supplier about the shelf life of your hydrosol. This blend may not be right for cars with leather upholstery.
FOR KIDS
The blend for kids is the same as the one for grown-ups.
OPOPANAX ’S “ANCIENT PRINCESS ” PERFUME BALM
Opopanax developed this perfume on an archaeological dig in the palace of an ancient princess. It wore its new perfume and noticed that it was able to settle into its work more deeply.
Use this recipe: as a perfume that makes you smell sweet and helps you feel grounded.
½ oz (15 ml) neroli-infused jojoba
1½ oz (42 g) beeswax
18 drops opopanax
8 drops palo santo
10 drops neroli
DIRECTIONS
Make the blend in a 2 oz (60 ml) glass jar.
Set up the Stovetop Melting Method . Melt the beeswax in the Pyrex measuring cup. Add the neroli-infused jojoba. When the beeswax and jojoba are melted together, remove the blend from the heat and add the essential oils. Pour the blend into the jar and wait for it to cool (about 15 minutes).
FOR KIDS
Substitute:
½ oz (15 ml) neroli-infused jojoba
1½ oz (42 g) beeswax
7 drops opopanax
2 drops palo santo
3 drops neroli
VETIVER ’S “GROUNDED IN LOVE ” PERFUME OIL
Vetiver made this perfume to keep itself feeling grounded in all the love in its life. It never forgets the support of its friends!
Use this recipe: for a natural, earthy, soft perfume.
0.35 oz (10 ml) vanilla-infused jojoba
3 drops vetiver
1 drop bergamot mint
1 drop rose
DIRECTIONS
Make the blend in a 0.35 oz (10 ml) glass roller-top bottle. Pour the vanilla-infused jojoba into the bottle and add the essential oils.
FOR KIDS
Substitute:
0.35 oz (10 ml) vanilla-infused jojoba
1 drop vetiver
1 drop rose
FRANKINCENSE ’S “MY BODY IS A TEMPLE ” BODY OIL
Frankincense knows when people take care of themselves, they begin to feel their own beauty. It made this body oil to help them do that.
Use this recipe: to moisturize your skin and inspire deep appreciation for your own body.
1 oz (30 ml) jojoba
5 drops spikenard
3 drops neroli
8 drops frankincense
DIRECTIONS
Make the blend in a 1 oz (30 ml) glass bottle. Pour the jojoba into the bottle and add the essential oils.
FOR KIDS
Substitute:
1 oz (30 ml) jojoba
1 drop spikenard
1 drop neroli
4 drops frankincense
DIRECTIONS FOR BATH SALT BLENDS
Use a 2 oz (60 ml) glass jar for this blend.
Put the salt into the jar. Blend the jojoba and essential oils in a separate bowl before adding to the salt. Stir with a glass stirring rod or the handle of a stainless-steel spoon.
Each recipe makes enough for one bath, though you can make more and store it in a glass jar. The jojoba provides a skin-nourishing carrier to distribute the essential oils.
Pay attention to your skin’s responses when using essential oils in a bath. What’s comfortable for you may be different from what’s comfortable for other people. You may want more jojoba, less essential oil, or different essential oils from the ones in the recipes.
I suggest using about five drops of essential oil total in a bath. When using only floral oils in the recipe, I use even less.
I recommend making these blends fresh every few weeks.
PATCHOULI AND YLANG YLANG ’S “SMOOTH HARMONY ” BATH SALT
Patchouli and Ylang Ylang are the most harmonious pair! They invite you to put on your favorite music, sit back in a warm bath, and let the good vibes take you away.
Use this recipe: to wind down in a tub of warm water at the end of the day.
2 oz (56 g) salt
1 teaspoon (5 ml) vanilla-infused jojoba
3 drops patchouli
2 drops ylang ylang
FOR KIDS
Substitute: 2 oz (56 g) salt, 1 teaspoon (5 ml) jojoba, 1 drop patchouli, 1 drop ylang ylang
LAVENDER ’S “LOVE THE TUB ” BATH SALT
Lavender loves relaxing in the tub after a long day . . . or after a peaceful day, or after a busy day, or after a day spent with friends. No matter what kind of day Lavender has, there’s no better way to end it than a warm bath.
Use this recipe: for a warm bath that centers you and makes you feel good through and through.
2 oz (56 g) salt
1 teaspoon (5 ml) jojoba
3 drops lavender
2 drops vetiver
FOR KIDS
Substitute:
2 oz (56 g) salt
1 teaspoon (5 ml) jojoba
1 drop lavender
1 drop vetiver
DIRECTIONS FOR INCENSE BLENDS
Put the loose resin in a bowl that holds at least 1 oz (30 ml). Drop the essential oils onto the resin, stirring the loose resin gently with a glass stirring rod or the handle of a stainless-steel spoon. Leave the container open to let the blend dry for about two days, stirring once or twice a day, and then pour it into a 1 oz (30 ml) glass jar with a lid for storage.
To burn the incense, use a heat-safe incense burner and larger-size natural bamboo charcoal. Unlike self-igniting charcoal, natural bamboo charcoal is free of chemicals. It’s also free of fragrance and irritants, and reduces environmental pollutants.
Bamboo’s extraordinary microstructure makes it highly absorbent when made into charcoal. It’s ideal for burning loose incense, wood chips, resins, and herbs. To light the charcoal, hold a tab of it with a small pair of tongs or set the tab up vertically in your incense burner. Hold a flame to the charcoal until it ignites. The bamboo won’t spark, but you’ll be able to see it is lit when the edge begins smoldering bright red or orange. You can blow on it gently to see the smoldering edge more easily.
Lay the tab of charcoal down in your incense burner and sprinkle a pinch of the loose incense over it. You don’t have to get every piece of incense on top of the charcoal. As long as it’s touching the charcoal, it will burn.
FRANKINCENSE ’S “IT ALL MAKES SENSE ” INCENSE
Nobody understands quite like Frankincense how much it can help to find a calm, reflective place in your mind when you want to figure something out.
Use this recipe: to clear your mind and spend time in reflection.
1 oz (28 g) loose frankincense resin
3 drops frankincense
3 drops palo santo
3 drops opopanax
MYRRH ’S “MAKE THIS ROOM A TEMPLE ” INCENSE
Myrrh loves creating small pockets of beauty everywhere it goes, reminding us of the goodness in everyday life. This incense is one of its favorite blends for making any room feel special.
Use this recipe: to fill the air with a beautiful aroma and create an atmosphere of peace and contemplation.
1 oz (28 g) loose myrrh resin
5 drops spikenard
4 drops frankincense