Easing Wintertime Blues

Hello Friend!

Sunlight is one of our most basic needs and is as essential as water, sleep, or breath. Its role goes far beyond lighting our days; it feeds our rhythms, supports our hormones, and helps our bodies produce the vitamin D that steadies mood and immunity. It’s no surprise that when the days get shorter, many of us feel the heaviness, the slow dimming of energy, or the tinge of Seasonal Affective Disorder that settles in like a fog.

Some people I know actually move to warmer places during the winter months to soak up more sun. For those of us who don’t have that option, there are ways to support ourselves. Small, intentional shifts can help and I’ll be sharing a link to a blog below with a few simple strategies that can really make a difference.

I’ve been thinking lately about the way the sun shows up for us, whether we see it or not. Even on cloudy days, it’s still there, doing its quiet work. I remember once, years ago, standing in a grove of bare trees on a deep winter morning. The sky was thick with clouds, but just for a moment, the light broke through creating the most beautiful golden light flooding everything in amber. It only lasted a few minutes, but I remember how much it changed my body. My shoulders dropped. I could breathe again. Sometimes that’s all it takes.

If you’ve been feeling a little off, a little out of sorts, it might be your body simply craving light. Be gentle with yourself. Get outside when you can. Sit near the windows. Light a candle. Bring in the warmth in whatever ways are available. Aromatherapy, of course, can play a role, but more on that below.

And always, to come back to the practice of gratitude regardless of what shows up for us.

And here’s a way to greatly support yourself and you can still sign up! Today is the last day!

And I can’t wait to introduce you to our newest Aromatherapy Tool - Thymely Aromatherapist, just for our Thriving Aromatherapist Membership Program. I’ll explain how useful this amazing tool is at this event.

On December 13 at 1 PM ET, Jenny and I will host a special behind-the-scenes look at Thrive.

We’ll show you around the community, share what makes it such a supportive space for aromatherapists, and answer your questions to help you see if Thrive is right for you.

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Upcoming Events

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Join us live for your chance to win FREE giveaways

We will dive into four beautiful ways to work with frankincense:

 ✨ Frankincense Essential Oil – including a tour of the different varieties and how to choose the right one for your needs
✨ Frankincense Resin – we’ll demonstrate how to use it as an all-natural incense to create a grounded, peaceful space
✨ Frankincense Powder – a traditional ally for topical blends, especially when you want to elevate skincare rituals
✨ Frankincense Hydrosol – gentle, versatile, and amazing as a facial toner, room spray, and everyday refresher.

We’ll blend a few recipes live, talk through why frankincense works so well in each form, and share easy, safe ways to use it at home — whether you’re brand new to frankincense or already obsessed. Bring your questions — we’ll be answering them in real time!

Be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel to receive a notification when we go live. See you there!

Aromatic Creations Recipe

Seasonal Change Diffuser Blend

When the seasons shift, our energy often does too. That’s why I like to keep a few blends on hand that feel both comforting and gently uplifting — something that can meet the moment without overwhelming the senses.

The oils in this blend work well together in helping to bring relief when the darkness becomes too dark. Bright citrus notes offer lightness and lift, while cardamom and patchouli bring depth, warmth, and a sense of grounded steadiness. It’s beautifully balanced — and a helpful ally in those times when your system needs just a little more support.

Seasonal Change Diffuser Blend

To make a 5 ml stock blend:

• 35 drops Bergamot (Citrus bergamia)

• 30 drops Orange (Sweet) (Citrus sinensis)

• 15 drops Cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum)

• 10 drops Neroli (Citrus aurantium var. amara)

• 10 drops Patchouli (Pogostemon cablin)

Blend directly into a 5 ml essential oil bottle and use 5-8 drops at a time in your diffuser, 15-18 drops in a personal inhaler, or create a beautiful room spray. Having a stock blend ready makes it easy to bring aromatic support into your day without having to reach for five different bottles.

If using topically, use no more than 5–6 drops of the stock blend per 1 fl oz (30 ml) of carrier to stay within the safe topical dilution of 2 drops of bergamot.

Notes of Discovery

13 Essential Oils for Seasonal Affective Disorder

If you’ve been feeling the weight of the season such as low energy, sluggishness, mood swings or sleep disruption, you’re not alone. Many people experience symptoms of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) during the fall and winter months. The shift in light and temperature affects more than we sometimes realize from serotonin production to circadian rhythms and even immune function.

The good news is that small, nourishing practices can make a difference and aromatherapy is one of them.

In this beautiful and practical article from our friends at Aromatics International, you’ll find:

• A clear breakdown of what causes SAD and how it impacts the body and mind

• Practical suggestions for support, including essential oils, light therapy, and more

• A list of 13 essential oils known to uplift mood, restore balance, and support emotional resilience

• Ideas for how to use the oils from diffusers to body butters to aromatic baths

Here are a few oils featured in the article:

• Bergamot – comforting, restorative, and gently uplifting

• Cardamom – brings mental clarity and supports the immune system

• Sweet Orange – a bright burst of positivity and light

• Jasmine & Rose – deeply nurturing for the heart and nervous system

• Vetiver – grounding, protective, and calming when everything feels a little too much

You don’t need all 13!  Even one or two can become steady companions this winter.

Product Spotlight

Bergamot Essential Oil

Bergamot (Citrus bergamia)

During the winter months, bergamot is one of the oils I work with most. It’s a citrus oil, but the aroma is softer and more layered than some of the brighter, more pungent citruses. It has a gentle floral note alongside its citrus peel character, which makes it particularly suited for emotional and nervous system support.

Bergamot is often helpful when stress, low mood, or emotional unease are present. I turn to it when I need to settle and feel more regulated. I use it in the diffuser during work sessions, or in a personal inhaler for moments when I feel mentally scattered or emotionally heavy.

It’s also a wonderful oil to include in blends for digestive tension, mild muscle discomfort, or to support immune function during high-stress times.

Our certified organic bergamot essential oil is cold-pressed from the rinds of citrus fruits grown in Italy.

Key properties:

• Nervine and calming — supports mood and emotional balance

• Antispasmodic — may ease digestive and muscular tension

• Antibacterial and antifungal — supports skin and immune health

• Aroma: sweet citrus with light herbal and floral tones

Safety: Bergamot is phototoxic if used topically above a certain dilution. For daytime use on exposed skin, keep your blend at no more than 2 drops per 1 fl oz of carrier oil. If using more, just apply it to skin that will be covered by clothing. Diffusion and inhalation carry no phototoxic risk and are safe ways to enjoy its benefits.

From The Vine

A Ritual for Supporting SAD with Essential Oils

Over the years, I’ve learned that what helps most on the harder winter is creating small, doable rituals that help anchor the day. Here's one I return to when I feel the familiar pull of Seasonal Affective Disorder.

This simple practice takes about ten minutes and helps me reconnect with my body and breath while bringing in aromatic support:

1. Choose your oil
I reach for bergamot most often, but any oil that supports your mood and feels grounding or uplifting is perfect such as orange, cardamom, neroli, patchouli, or a blend you already love.

2. Use an aromatic anchor
Place a drop or two on a cotton round or use a personal inhaler. Hold it near your nose and take a few full, intentional breaths. 

3. Add gentle movement
Stretch your arms up, roll your shoulders, bend gently side to side. This is a way to invite circulation and bring you back into your body.

4. Step into natural light
If it’s daytime, move near a window. Even cloudy light helps regulate the circadian rhythm. If it’s dark, consider turning on a warm light or light a beeswax candle.

5. Close with gratitude or intention
Even one sentence can shift the tone of the day. Something like: “I’m doing what I can to care for myself today.”

With consistency, it becomes something your body recognizes as support.

We’d love to hear from you! Join inspiring conversations inside the NLC group! If you aren’t a member, it’s only $24 a year or $3/month!

Bonus Blend 💕

Needing a deep green clean? We got a recipe for you!

So much of what nourishes us doesn’t have to be complicated. Simple can be profound. And you’re allowed to start exactly where you are.

Stay Inspired!

This might mean lighting a candle before you start your day, reaching for a familiar essential oil, or simply standing still in front of a window and taking a breath. Sometimes we have to create our sunshine from within