A DIY Aromatherapy Toolkit Artists (and Writers) Shouldn’t Be Without
By Thea Fiore Bloom, Ph.D.
Want to enlist a gentle, fragrant force to help vaporize the stress and isolation that comes with being an artist or writer?
Make your own aromatherapy toolkit.
Keep it in your studio.
It’s the perfect way to turn the page of your art practice and create prosperity for your art business.
Use it when you need to clear out old stale energy and bring in new prosperous, genius vibes.
I reached out to wizard aromatherapist Sharon Mayberry and she kindly agreed to introduce us to what she thinks are the five perfect oils to include in a supportive studio toolkit just for artists and writers.
“These 5 oils have the chemical compounds proven to address the self-doubt, survival fear, money fear and general anxiety artists and writers can face,” says Mayberry.
5 Oil Aromatherapy Toolkit for Artists
First Oil for Your Aromatherapy Toolkit for Artists
Cedarwood for Centering Yourself in a Wild World
“Cedarwood essential oil is very soothing and centering when you’re in fight or flight mode, suffering from self-doubt, or are worried about your survival, ” said Mayberry.
“It has a beautiful, fresh, earthy, woodsy scent. And like all five oils in this money panic tool kit, it’s balancing, grounding and protective.”
“Cedarwood oil is extremely calming to the entire nervous system,” said Mayberry. “It can help you fall asleep and stay asleep if anxiety has kept you awake lately.”
Here is a link to a quality affordable cedarwood oil.
Second Oil for Your Aromatherapy Toolkit for Artists
Frankincense To Calm Money Fear and Invite Prosperity
“Frankincense gives great support to you when you need to feel grounded and safe,” said Mayberry.
(Note that if you aren’t a frankincense fan and you need help relaxing or staying positive, Rocky Mountain Oils suggests that Vetiver, Ylang Ylang, and Clary Sage will make great substitutes.)
There are several chemotypes (kinds) of Frankincense. The one that Sharon recommends for financial freak out is Frankincense carterii; a gorgeous, deep resinous oil with a pine heart note, high in boswellic acids which have been found to impart a feeling of emotional and physical comfort.
“What I love about this particular Frankincense is it’s very calming for racing thoughts at night or monkey mind during the day.”
Mayberry suggests this oil for artists or writers who need to feel better about themselves. Here is a frankincense oil I love that is high in quality and low on price.
“Use it when you want to switch out of fear mode and into a meditative mode,” said Mayberry.
Third Oil for Your Aromatherapy Toolkit for Artists
Rosemary To Raise Your Self-Esteem and Invoke Ideas
Rosemary is an inexpensive powerhouse of an oil.
It’s been revered since ancient Roman times and is still believed to sharpen mental acuity and memory.
“I love Rosemary, said Mayberry, “because it’s very warming to both the mind and the body. It has this lovely, fresh, truly uplifting aroma and it’s actually one of the most effective oils for boosting self-esteem.”
Here’s a lovely yet inexpensive Rosemary you might like.
Fourth Oil for Your Aromatherapy Toolkit for Artists
AgarWood (or Spikenard) for When You Need To Release Panic and Invoke Peak Creativity
“You only need just a bit of precious Agarwood oil to get you back in balance when you are out of whack, said Mayberry.
(Less is more in aromatherapy. You don’t need to spend a fortune on full bottles of each of the 5 oils here; even a tiny vial of 2 of the oils would be fine to start.)
Mayberry said, “Agarwood is worth the outlay because the smallest amount will last you such a long time, and it grounds the body, calm the mind and it also has the benefit for the artist of being a very introspective oil.”
Even so, you still might want to try another sacred, resiny yet less expensive base note instead; that being Spikenard. (Cleopatra used it and it also was the unguent in the Bible that the Magdalene employed to anoint the feet of Jesus.)
Mayberry believes Agarwood or Spikenard will help artists take their focus off of panic, and place it instead on creativity.
Agarwood would be a good oil for creatives on the verge of burnout.
Fifth Oil for Your Aromatherapy Toolkit for Artists
Buddha Wood (or Sandalwood) To Transform Your Studio Back Into A Sanctuary
Buddha wood is a delicious, sweet, nutty, relaxing, earthy oil from the Buddha shrub/tree of Australia where it’s still used today by indigenous people for its purported anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial wound healing properties.
“Chemically, Buddha wood is very close to agarwood, so those two oils blended together would be really heavenly.”
“But even a few drops of Buddha Wood in a diffuser or in a carrier oil in a roll-on perfume vial,” said Mayberry, “can make you feel like you’re in a warm little cocoon, totally protected from the outside world.”
It’s another one that’s not cheap. A sacred yet thriftier substitute for Buddha wood is Sandalwood. It’s purifying, cooling, and sanctifying. Great for rejuvenating yourself and your neglected studio.
3 Easy Ways To Put Your Aromatherapy Toolkit To Work
1. Cotton Ball Method
You could simply put a drop or two of one, or all the oils on a cotton ball you have placed on your desk or beside your bed.
2. Roll-On Method
Aroma Roll-Ons: Place a few drops of essential oil and carrier oil (like sweet almond or jojoba) in a perfume vial with a rollerball top and glide blend over your wrists. This article will teach you the basics of making your first roll-on.
3. Diffuser Method
For the best possible therapeutic results, Mayberry recommends you buy a plug-in diffuser and place a few drops of oil in the diffuser’s water well and press go.
Mayberry turned me on to an affordable diffuser I love. This Aromasoft diffuser can subtly scent an entire apartment, has a lifetime warranty, and is only around $18. I have had it for a year, no problems.
Other $100-$200 diffusers I have purchased in past, clogged quickly and ended up as expensive clutter.
Give True Aromatherapy a Try
For less money than I used to spend on a so-so bottle of wine a month, I get to be an alchemist.
I get to increase courage and decrease doubt.
I hope aromatherapy will support your art business and art practice in the same way.
______________________________________________________________________________
Other Relaxing Resources
If you liked this piece or want more ideas on how you can best let go of stress and come back home to yourself and your art, check out these other Charmed Studio posts:
- How Tea Helps Artists: & Tea Lovers Booklist
- Top 5 De-Stressing YouTube Yoga Picks For Artists and Writers
- Meditations For Artists: Reduce Your Fear and Ignite Your Creativity
- Transform Your Art Newsletter in 3 Questions
Check out The Charmed Studio’s Mostly Free Resources for Artist’s Page to get a link to my favorite free meditation app.
_________________________________________________________
Aromatherapy Toolkit Safety Warnings
Essential oils are often written off as nonsense. But non-synthetic oils are the real deal. And as such can be as dangerous as they are efficacious.
So never ingest oils. Don’t use oils if you are sensitive, pregnant, nursing, have epilepsy, asthma, health challenges or doubts, before consulting a medical professional.
Kids and cats are sensitive to oils! Some sources say certain oils can give cats Upper Respiratory Infections and lead to liver problems. Other animals are sensitive to essential oils as well so avoid using them too near other pets as well.
Robert Tisserand wrote the bible on aromatherapy & safety. If you use oils daily on yourself or others pick up a copy of Essential Oil Safety.
(Banner photo of artist and Charmed Studio subscriber Marli Thibodeau.)
________________________________________________________________________
What’s your favorite essential oil? Let me know in the comments below.
Want To Share A Quick Video Version of This Article With A Friend?
The Charmed Studio is on YouTube. This video is around three and a half minutes.
______________________________
If you need more help getting your art motivation back try these two posts of mine:
What Causes Artist Burnout? 10 Top Causes and 10 Top Antidotes From 10 Top Artists
Why Go Away? 6 Ways To Use Travel to Transform Your Art Practice
You may also feel supported by The Charmed Studio’s articles on:
The Jonah Complex: How Artists Can Overcome Fear of Greatness,
How To Set Up a Hummingbird Feeder and Gain Peace of Mind
Top 5 YouTube Yoga Picks For Artists and Writers
10 Tell-Tale Signs of Burnout For Artists
Why You Need a Feel Good File: The Emotional Rescue Tool No Creative Should Be Without,
3 Podcasts That Will Elevate Your Art Business
Artists and ADHD: Myths, Realities, True Stories & Resources,
or Letting Go of Approval: A Story for Artists.
Thank you for writing this Thea! You are the most wonderful blogger ever. I have long, stressful work days. I tried out several of the aromatherapy suggestions in this article and they have proved really helpful for me. I am always glad to read your blog, it never fails to be of help to me.
Christine, I am blushing after reading your kind comment. So glad this was of use to you. I, like you, have found essential oils to be such a support in my life. I have been experimenting with them since my twenties. I bet you have too. For more support you may want to check out this cool article by Renii, it’s called 5 Essential Oils to Diffuse After a Long Work Day.
I loved this blog post! Super helpful. Can’t wait to try the cedar wood. Thank you! I lay awake and make jewelry in my head but sleeping would be great.
Thanks so much for reading and leaving such a wonderful comment. I love that you make jewelry in your head when you can’t sleep, brilliant! I do that with wording for titles of articles, but I bet that like you, the creating of something new in the imagination leaves us too to sleep. 🙂
I’ve never tried this, but I might give it a go. It sounds beneficial.
Thanks Sara,
I am a bit of a cynic and it’s worked surprisingly well for me. I did another interview/blog post with the same aromatherapist you might like on the oils to use when you feel reluctant to do the office / marketing end of one’s art business.
https://www.artsyshark.com/2017/11/29/hate-marketing-your-art-this-aromatherapy-toolkit-can-help/
Thank you for this enjoyable and informative blog. It inspired me to explore these scents from a health and well being aspect as opposed to just something that smell lovely. also, I’m now discovering the “art of scents”.
Thanks Raven, you are the best. Learning more about the subtleties and impact of scent been an eye-opening or I should say nose-opening journey for me as well. You speak of the “Art of Scent” and it reminded me of a story I read about the first museum show that focused on that very topic.https://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/the-first-major-museum-show-to-focus-on-smell-1787124/
I have found aromatherapy to be really helpful for me in my work as designer. Thanks for all the detailed information here.