The energy of Spring

Spring is such a welcome relief after what can often feel like a long winter. Feeling the warmth of the sun on your skin, catching flashes of yellow as you drive past roadside daffodils, and hearing the first gentle buzz of early bumblebees emerging to feast on nectar.

If I could describe spring in one word, it would be promise.

The promise of warmer days and long golden evenings, blossom returning to hedgerows and gardens, seeds quietly pushing through the soil, fresh green shoots and longer, light-filled mornings, time spent outdoors again — and the earth waking up.

This sense of promise often inspires us to get outside: tending our gardens, stepping into a springtime walk, or bringing nature indoors. Aromatherapy offers a beautiful way to turn these small seasonal acts into gentle rituals, helping us slow down, reconnect with nature, and set intentions for the months ahead.

In this article, I will share three spring-inspired rituals, essential oils to enhance them and simple recipes inspired by each ritual.

Three Spring rituals

A ritual is simply a small, intentional act that invites you to pause. It allows us to slow down and really appreciate what we are doing in the moment. Including the promise of spring and essential oils it can be such a wonderful experience.

So, let’s get started.

Planting Intentions: Growing your Garden

Inspired by blooming blossoms, longer days and the warmth of the sun returning, many of us have had itchy fingers as we wait for sowing season to arrive so we can finally turn those itchy fingers into green ones.

Planting seeds is also the perfect time to plant any intentions you may have for spring or the year ahead, whilst becoming more mindful as we sow seeds or imagine what our gardens will look like in the months to come.

To help make this moment more meaningful, or to inspire you as you begin sowing, here are three essential oils that are perfect companions when planting your intentions.

Patchouli essential oil has what can only be described as a deeply earthy aroma. Its intoxicating scent can help calm worries or anxieties while gently centring any spiralling thoughts, making it a wonderful oil to reach for when grounding your intentions.

If your mind has been racing with thoughts about what seeds to sow, what plants you still need to order, and how you will fit everything into your busy schedule, then reach for Frankincense essential oil. Its grounding and soothing aroma can help quiet a busy mind and bring a sense of calm clarity.

With its beautiful floral mid-note, Geranium essential oil may have you dreaming of summer gardens in full bloom. At the same time, it helps bring emotional balance, encouraging you to begin your sowing or start writing your planting list with a sense of gentle focus.

Planting Intentions Ritual

Sowing seeds or simply dreaming about what you would like to plant in your garden this year, is closely linked to growth and intention — making it the perfect moment to plant any intentions you may have been thinking about. Here is a simple ritual to help you begin.

Take a short pause before planting or deciding how you would like to create your garden. Begin by noticing your breath and following its natural rhythm for a few moments.

Next, slowly reach for your chosen essential oil. Remove the lid and take a gentle breath in, allowing its beautiful aroma to settle your mind.

Close your eyes and think of something you would like to nurture this season. It might be something simple, such as seeing your garden bloom, or perhaps nurturing an aspect of your life — becoming more mindful, slowing down, or spending more time outdoors. There is no right or wrong way to do this; simply choose what feels right for you.

You may wish to write down your intention or simply hold it gently in your mind.

As you move on to sowing your seed, you could place your written intention into the pot beneath the soil along with the seed. Once planted, water the soil and imagine both your seed and your intention beginning to grow.

Alternatively, if you are visualising the plants you would like to grow in your garden, imagine the different plants beginning to take shape in the soil. As they grow in your mind, send your intention into the garden and visualise it blooming and flourishing alongside the plants.

As you continue to water your seeds or begin planting flowers in the weeks ahead, take a moment to reconnect with the intention you planted alongside them.

Planting Intentions: Gardeners Soothing Hand Balm Recipe

Add 8g of Beeswax and 60g Shea Butter, 10ml of Grapeseed Carrier Oil and 5ml of Calendula (Marigold) Infused Oil to a bain-marie on a low heat. Once the beeswax has melted turn off the heat and add 3 drops of Patchouli essential oil, 3 drops of Lavender and 4 drops of Geranium. Stir and pour the liquid into a 60ml jar.  Leave to cool. Apply when your hands are feeling dry or need a helping hand after a busy day in the garden.

A Spring Walk: Awakening the Senses

I’m a big believer in the benefits of walking or simply spending time in nature. As a mindfulness teacher, I often find that when we are outside in nature it becomes much easier to be mindful, as we can naturally tune into our senses. Spring is the perfect season for this, as wildlife is emerging and the natural world is becoming increasingly active.

Before heading out for a walk, essential oils can give us a gentle nudge to leave the comfort of our homes, help focus our minds, or uplift our energy levels.

Lemon essential oil is a wonderful oil to reach for if you are yet to fully embrace that spring feeling. Its fresh, zingy aroma has a gentle warmth that can help lift your mood and awaken the senses.

Rosemary essential oil has long been associated with plant magic and clarity of thought. Its herbaceous aroma helps to focus the mind and encourage concentration, making it the perfect oil to use before beginning a mindfulness walk.

Ahh, Peppermint essential oil is wonderfully refreshing and uplifting. When you breathe in its minty top note, you may feel your energy levels beginning to rise, helping you step outside feeling energised and ready to explore.

A Spring Walk: Mindful Walking Ritual

Inhale your chosen essential oil before leaving home or take a rollerball blend (see recipe below) with you on your walk.

Take three mindful breaths before stepping outside your front door.

Once you are surrounded by nature, or when the moment feels right, begin to gently tune into your five senses.

• Sight – What can you see? Perhaps new blooms, emerging flowers, or fresh leaves appearing on the trees. Notice the colours, shapes and movement around you.
• Touch – Perhaps you can feel the ground beneath your feet or the rough bark of a tree. Take a moment to truly connect with nature through the sense of touch.
• Smell – You may notice the earthy scent of the ground warming in the spring sunshine or the delicate fragrance of nearby flowers.
• Hear – Can you hear leaves rustling in the trees, the sweet song of birds, or perhaps a moment of peaceful silence? Simply notice what is present in that moment.
• Taste – If you have a drink with you, take an opportunity to really notice its flavour. Is it warm or cool? Can you feel it on your tongue or as it moves gently down your throat?

When we work with aromatherapy to focus our minds or give ourselves a small boost, scent can help prepare us for a mindful walk. It gently centres us, allowing us to open up to the sights, sounds and sensations of a spring day.

A Spring Walk: Mindful Rollerball Recipe

You can take your ritual essential oils with you whilst out on your mindful walk. Mix 1 drop of Rosemary, 1 drop of Peppermint and 2 drops of Lemon essential oil with 10ml of carrier oil such as Borage seed, Jojoba or Peach. Pour into a 10ml Rollette bottle and roll onto the pulse points on your wrists and temples before heading out for your walk, or during your walk whenever you need a moment to refocus and reconnect with your senses.

Bringing Spring Indoors: A Nature Ritual at Home

One of the things I love about aromatherapy is that not everyone is able to spend time outside — whether you are unable to leave your home, dealing with an illness, or simply don’t have the time to step outdoors. Similarly, not everyone has a garden or access to a space where you can sow seeds or choose plants. Yet there is still a way to enjoy the spring season: by bringing nature to you.

Whether you treat yourself to a bouquet of spring flowers, buy some herbs for your kitchen windowsill, or simply open a window to let the sounds of spring fill your home, you can also reach for your favourite spring-inspired essential oils.

May Chang will brighten your day. If I could describe it in relation to spring, I’d say it’s like the first time you feel the warmth of the sun as it emerges from its winter rest. Just like that gentle sunshine on your face, this oil can fill you with joy and tranquillity.

Technically, Lavender isn’t a spring flower, but is there anything more joyful than breathing in its calming, soothing aroma? Its scent can transport you to a country garden from the comfort of your own home.

Another herb garden classic is Melissa True, also known as lemon balm. This beautiful aromatic herb helps lift the spirits and open the heart space, creating a sense of lightness and joy.

Gratitude for Nature Ritual

For those without a garden, or for days when stepping outside isn’t possible, bringing elements of nature indoors can still help us connect with the energy of spring.

Begin by gathering a small piece of nature — a few fresh flowers, a sprig of herbs, or a leafy branch. As you gently arrange them in a vase or bowl, pause and take a slow, mindful breath.

Allow the scent of your chosen essential oil to fill the room — whether bright and uplifting like May Chang, soft and floral like Lavender, or the diffuser blend suggested below.

Focus your attention on the life you’ve brought inside — the delicate curve of a petal, the vibrant green of a leaf, the subtle fragrance of herbs, or the aroma filling your room. 

Reflect on the qualities of these natural gifts: their resilience, their beauty, and the energy they carry.

As you hold your attention on them, you may silently repeat a short phrase, allowing your heart to open with gratitude:

May the life I bring into my home fill me with joy.
May the beauty before me remind me of the small wonders around me.
May I nurture this presence as I would a living seed.

Allow this simple ritual to become a daily reminder that even indoors, we can honour and connect with nature, appreciating the life we invite into our homes.

Bringing Spring Indoors: Diffuser Blend Recipe

Diffuse 2 drops of May Chang or Melissa True, 2 drops of Lavender and 3 drops of Sandalwood essential oil, in water, in either an electrical aromatherapy diffuser or candle burner into your chosen room for a maximum of 20 minutes. Let its plant magic fill your heart with the promise of spring.

Final thoughts

Whether you are planting seeds, creating a garden, stepping outside for a walk, or bringing the outdoors in, pairing these moments with mindful rituals and the power of scent allows the promise of spring to truly be felt. Spring is a season of growth, renewal, and new beginnings. It invites you to slow down, open your senses, and fill your heart with gratitude for the beauty and energy of the natural world.

Kirsty Summerbell
Consultant Aromatherapist

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