We live in a world where we’re often racing from one thing to the next — juggling to-do lists that never seem to end, 24-hour news cycles, and a society that rewards busyness over slowing down.

Many of us already know that time in nature is good for our mental health. Putting our phones aside to have a picnic at the park, heading out for a hike, or bracing ourselves for a chilly lake swim helps us drop into the moment and feel connected. Who hasn’t felt their shoulders loosen and their whole-body exhale when breathing in pine needles on a forest walk, or catching a whisper of lavender on the breeze?

And while I’ll always encourage getting outdoors, the truth is it doesn’t always feel possible. Time in nature has become something we treat as a luxury instead of the necessity it truly is.

That’s where aromatherapy comes in — as a beautiful way to bridge the gap between our busy modern lives and our deep-rooted need to connect with the natural world. It’s more than pretty scents or pampering moments (though I’m definitely here for those too); it’s about welcoming nature back into our daily lives, one plant-powered drop at a time.

Plant, tree and flower magic

Every essential oil starts with a plant, tree or fruit which is grown, gathered, and carefully distilled. When we work with essential oils, we are becoming one with nature. Breathing in the heart of that oil, its essence, can be transformational. It connects us not just to our own memories, but to the ancient stories and magic of the plant itself.

Breathing in the scent of Bitter Orange essential oil can whisk us away to a beautiful sun-warmed orchard in Sicily, with dappled light dancing amongst the leaves of the Citrus × aurantium tree, its sunshine-like oranges inviting us to pick and taste its golden delight.

Reawakening the senses

One of the things spending time in nature gives us is the ability to slow down and aromatherapy offers us the ability to do just that, too. It allows us to breathe deeply, to feel, to return to our bodies. In a world of fast scrolling and mental overload, that’s no small thing.

Using essential oils to connect with nature and the memories it may evoke can lift, stabilise and calm our emotions.

• Breathing in forest essential oils before a busy day can help to ground us.
• Uplifting citrus blends help to brighten a grey and drizzly morning.
• Choosing floral essential oils can take us to a summer meadow when we need to pause and can help bring a feeling of calm.

When we awaken our senses, we naturally become more present—and presence is the first step back to belonging in the natural world.

Essential oils to connect with nature

Here is a list of my favourite oils to support you mentally and help you to reconnect with nature:

• Bergamot is like a sunbeam through citrus trees. It’s light aroma eases anxiety, lifts low moods, and gently encourages emotional release.
• Breathing in Cedarwood with its earthy scent is like walking through ancient woods. It is grounding and calming for scattered minds.
• To support hormone harmony, reach for the herbal aroma of Clary Sage, its slightly musky scent is like wild herbs on a hillside.
• Take a deep breath in of the sacred oil of Frankincense to calm and pause. Perfect for sky-gazing or quiet reflection.
• Geranium is both balancing and sweet, like summer petals warmed by the sun. It helps regulate emotions and fosters a sense of inner harmony.
• Rose essential oil can comfort grief, nurture emotional wounds, and bring gentleness to the heart. Rose is a must for any garden or essential oil enthusiast.
• Rosemary is a herb garden delight and pollinator magnet, with its herbaceous and strong aroma. In aromatherapy Rosemary helps to bring focus, clears mental clutter, and boosts memory.
• Sandalwood is another sacred oil which encourages inner stillness and spiritual connection.
• Sweet Orange with its uplifting scent is like peeling fruit in the sunshine. It brings joy, boosts energy, and relieves emotional heaviness.
• Breathing in Vetivert is grounding, like bare feet on damp soil. It is deeply calming, perfect for overwhelm or when life feels unsteady.
• Ylang Ylang is exotic, like tropical blossoms at dusk. It calms tension, lifts self-esteem, and encourages sensuality and joy.

Bringing nature & aromatherapy together 

Blending aromatherapy with nature rituals can feel truly magical — small, everyday moments that quietly make a big difference. Think of them as little rituals where scent and nature meet. Simple, natural pauses that bring you back to yourself.

• Diffuse a seasonal blend while you potter around the house, bringing the wild indoors.
• Start a scent journal: jot down which oils you're drawn to and the memories or landscapes they stir.
• Create a nature altar with fresh flowers, foraged finds, and a blend that speaks to the season.
• Treat yourself to a botanical bath with your favourite essential oil blend and seasonal flowers or herbs from your garden.
• Create a scented sit spot – Bring a calming oil like Cedarwood or Lavender to a spot near a window. Sit, breathe in the calming aroma and let the aroma help you settle into stillness.

These little rituals don’t just soothe—they root us. They remind us that we’re not separate from nature. We are nature.

Reconnect with nature recipes

Calming Bath Blend – Sink into Stillness

For when your body feels weary and your spirit a little untethered.

Mix 3 drops of Frankincense, 2 drops of Lavender and 1 drop of Ylang Ylang with 10ml Borage Carrier Oil and blend into 50g of Epsom and Himalayan Pink Salts, sprinkle in rose petals, lavender buds, or other herb garden treasures. Add to a warm bath and let the blend soothe you.

Slowing Pulse Point Blend – Earth Beneath Your Feet

For when life moves too fast and you need to feel your feet on the ground again.

Mix 2 drops of Frankincense, 2 drops of Cedarwood, and 1 drop of Clary Sage essential oil with 10ml of carrier oil such as Sweet Almond or Walnut, or a combination of both. Pour into a 10ml rollette bottle and roll onto the pulse points on the wrists and temples when you want to connect with the stillness of the forest.

Uplifting Diffuser Blend – Sunlight Through Leaves

To lift the fog on grey days and remind you the sun is always there, even behind the clouds.

Diffuse 2 drops of Geranium, 1 drop of Rosemary and 3 drops of Sweet Orange, in water, in either an electrical aromatherapy diffuser or candle burner into your chosen room for a maximum of 20 minutes, to uplift and focus your mind.

Reconnecting with nature doesn’t always mean hiking mountains or hugging trees (though I highly recommend both!). Sometimes it starts with a single drop of oil and the willingness to slow down and listen.

Take a breath. Pick a blend. And let yourself be gently guided back nature.

Kirsty Summerbell
Consultant Aromatherapist

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