The Art of Rest and Self-Restoration

Hello Friend!

Just the other day, I was speaking with someone who was finishing up the last of their autumn gardening. Their kitchen was filled with baskets and crates, and they were in the midst of deciding what to freeze, what to can, and what to store in the cold room. This kind of seasonal work always reminds me of October. There’s movement, a sense that there’s still one more thing to get done before the season changes for good.

And then November arrives. Quietly. It tends to feel more relaxed. For many people, that shift can feel disorienting. The momentum of fall gives way to the stillness of early winter. And our nervous systems aren’t always ready for the change. 

In this month’s pillar blog, we wrote about the Art of Rest. It’s a subject that often comes up during this time of year, when the light shifts, the pace slows, and the nervous system needs a different type of stimulation (or lack thereof). Rest, in its truest form, can be deeply supportive when it’s intentional. Aromatherapy supports this process gently. It helps create an environment that encourages the body to relax and settle. 

As the seasons shift, many of our plants have been harvested and transformed into essential oils. In a way, we’ve stored their presence for the months ahead, until they return again as part of the earth’s natural cycle. Oils like linden blossom CO₂ can offer a sense of comfort and continuity during this time. And when I think about rest, I think of beauty, which the linden blossom provides. I’ll talk more about this below.

Keep reading!

What You’ll Discover In This Newsletter:

Upcoming Events (Free & Paid)

Free
November 5 1:00 PM ET Your Seasonal Shield: Protecting Your Health with Essential Oils

November 21 1:00 PM ET If you’re curious about the Thriving Aromatherapist Membership Program, stay tuned for a special event. I’ll be inviting you to learn more about what it’s all about—and how you can be part of it. More later!

Paid Events
November 4 ACP Companion - part of ACP: Ester Resting in Calm on Skool!

November 25 1:00 PM ET Thrive LIVE with Rosalina

Sign up now and gather your supplies for this workshop! December 18, 2025 at 1 PM ET Natural Perfumes for Emotional & Physical Well-Being 1.5 hr Workshop
A recording will be available if you are unable to attend the live event.

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

Aromatic Creations Recipe

Invitation to Rest Mist

When I think about rest, I often return to the idea that rest doesn’t come from shutting everything down. It comes from creating the right conditions: ones that feel calm, clear, and beautiful enough that the body no longer feels the need to keep bracing itself.

This month’s blend was created with that in mind. It’s a gentle invitation to slow the pace and exhale. The aroma is floral and familiar, with just enough brightness to lift the spirit while helping you to relax.

Invitation to Rest Mist

In a 2 fl oz (60 ml) spray bottle, combine:

• 2 fl oz (60 ml) Blood Orange Hydrosol (Citrus sinensis)

• 10 drops Linden Blossom CO₂ Select (Tilia cordata)

Because linden blossom CO₂ select is water soluble, we don’t need a Solubol dispersant. (We only need Solubol when we’re blending oils into water-based carriers.) The combination of blood orange hydrosol with linden blossom is so beautiful! Spray it on yourself or through your space several times at the end of the day. 

Notes of Discovery

The Forgotten Art of Rest

We live in a culture that rewards motion, even when we’re exhausted. In the push to be productive, it’s easy to forget that sleep is a foundational part of being human. And when it’s disrupted, everything else becomes harder.

This month’s pillar blog, Sleep & Renewal: Embrace Rest with Aromatherapy to Pause, Reflect, and Restore, is an invitation to pause and reconnect with what real rest looks like. You’ll find clear, supportive information on sleep cycles, the role of the nervous system, what commonly disrupts deep rest, and how essential oils can help shift the body into a more relaxed, restorative state.

The post also includes practical recipes with essential oils for sleep, which are easy to integrate into your daily life.

If rest has felt out of reach lately, this is a good place to start.

Product Spotlight

Linden Blossom CO₂ Select (Tilia vulgaris)

Linden Blossom CO₂ is a select extract produced from the certified organic flowers of Tilia cordata trees grown in Bulgaria. The select-grade CO₂ captures a wide spectrum of aromatic and therapeutic compounds while remaining lighter than a total extract. This makes it a versatile ingredient for both emotional and topical formulations.

The oil has a complex, balanced aroma that is floral and honeyed, with subtle notes of spice, and is known for its calming, heart-centered effects.

A few key characteristics:

• Botanical source: Tilia cordata

• Extraction method: CO₂ (Select)

• Solubility: Water-soluble, suitable for use in water-based carriers

• Origin: Certified organic blossoms from Bulgaria

• Primary component: Phenylethyl alcohol (73.31%), also found in high percentages in rose absolute

• Therapeutic uses: Emotional balance, nervous system support, skin care

• Aromatic profile: Soft floral, slightly spicy, with a honey-like sweetness

• Usage tip: Effective in very low concentrations due to its strong aromatic and therapeutic profile

Linden blossom pairs well with citrus oils, rose, and other soft, floral notes.

From The Vine

Understanding CO₂ Extracts: Select vs. Total

CO₂ extracts are produced using carbon dioxide under pressure to pull aromatic compounds from plant material. This method offers several benefits: it avoids high heat, preserves delicate constituents, and yields a product that closely reflects the plant’s natural chemistry.

There are two main types of CO₂ extracts for linden blossom: Select and Total.

• Select CO₂ Extracts
  These are designed to capture the more volatile, aromatic compounds. The result is a liquid extract that is easy to work with and blends well into various carriers. Linden blossom CO₂ Select is a fluid, water-soluble product ideal for topical and water-based applications.
  

• Total CO₂ Extracts
  These include both volatile aromatic compounds and the heavier, non-volatile constituents, such as waxes and resins. As a result, totals are often semi-solid or completely solid at room temperature. To use them, they must be gently melted before blending. They are rich and complete, but can be more challenging to work with in formulation, as they are oil-soluble rather than water-soluble. 
  
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Stay Inspired!

Rest invites us back into a true relationship with the world. To lie still in the grass or look up at the stars is to remember that our bodies are part of the living landscape. It’s a type of needful communion.