I’ve been a qualified aromatherapist for over 30 years, and I’ve always believed that fragrance should do more than simply smell beautiful. It should make you feel something.

For me, scent has always been connected to emotion, memory, nature and ritual. Long before the phrase functional fragrance became fashionable, I was creating essential oil blends with distinct intentions: to calm, uplift, comfort, ground or transport someone to a particular place, season or state of mind.

This way of thinking has shaped my recent collaboration with Sweet Bee Organics, where I have created a series of seasonal and functional fragrance blends for their beautiful magnesium butter collection. Each blend has been developed not simply to scent the product, but to deepen the self-care ritual around it.

In this article, I want to explore why scent can have such a powerful effect on how we feel, bringing together my own experience as an aromatherapist with what science is helping us understand about fragrance, mood, memory and wellbeing.

What is functional fragrance?

A fragrance is often created to be enjoyed for its scent alone. Functional fragrance is something more intentional.

Functional fragrance means combining beautiful aromatic ingredients for a specific purpose. It uses carefully selected natural ingredients to encourage a particular feeling, whether calm, focus, energy, comfort, harmony or restoration. It is, quite simply, scent with intention.

Every blend I create begins with a simple question:

How do I want someone to feel? What is the intention?

This means recognising that scent can help shape an atmosphere, support a ritual and influence the way we experience a moment.

Science is increasingly helping to explain what many cultures have understood intuitively for centuries: scent has a direct and powerful relationship with how we feel.

Why scent affects us so deeply

When we inhale an essential oil, tiny volatile aromatic molecules travel into the nose, where they bind with our olfactory receptors. These receptors send signals to the olfactory bulb, which is closely connected to the brain’s limbic system — the network involved in emotion, memory and instinctive responses.

This helps explain why scent can affect us so quickly. A fragrance can alter the atmosphere of a room, shift a mood or bring back a memory before we have even consciously identified what we are smelling.

The amygdala, one of the areas connected to scent, is involved in processing emotions such as comfort, pleasure, fear and reward. This is why lavender may feel calming, citrus notes may feel uplifting, tree oils may feel grounding, or the smell of wood smoke may evoke nostalgia.

At the same time, scent is deeply personal. Our responses are shaped by biology, but also by our own memories, associations, culture and life experiences. The same aroma can comfort one person and unsettle another, depending on the story their brain has attached to it.

The hippocampus, which plays an important role in memory, is also closely linked to the olfactory system. This is why scent is so often described as one of the strongest triggers of memory. A single aroma can carry us back decades to a grandmother’s garden, a childhood Christmas, a woodland walk or a favourite holiday.

As someone who creates scents with intention, this fascinates me. When we use a particular fragrance consistently during meditation, bedtime or moments of relaxation, the brain can begin to associate that aroma with a desired emotional state. Over time, simply smelling that blend may help guide us back towards that feeling more naturally. Repetition, attention and ritual all play a part.

Scent, stress and the nervous system

The olfactory system also communicates with the hypothalamus, a part of the brain involved in regulating hormones, sleep, appetite, body temperature and the autonomic nervous system.

Our autonomic nervous system has two primary modes:

• the sympathetic nervous system, often associated with the “fight or flight” response;
• the parasympathetic nervous system, often associated with “rest and restore”.

This is one of the reasons functional fragrance is so interesting in relation to stress, rest and relaxation. Many essential oils commonly used in aromatherapy, including lavender, frankincense, sandalwood and chamomile, are often associated with feelings of calm, stillness and restoration.

Research in this area continues to evolve, but what is clear from both science and lived experience is that fragrance can play a meaningful role in how we create environments that support emotional wellbeing.

More than chemistry: the power of ritual

Fragrance works through more than chemistry alone.

Our memories, culture, personal experiences and daily habits all shape how we respond to scent. When we diffuse the same blend each evening before sleep, use a favourite body product before bed, or light a particular candle during quiet time, the brain begins to form positive associations.
Over time, the fragrance itself can become a gentle signal: it is time to slow down, breathe deeply, soften and unwind.

This is one of the reasons scent is such a powerful wellbeing tool. It engages both our biology and our behaviour. It can become part of the rhythm of how we care for ourselves.

For me, scent is storytelling

Scent has the remarkable ability to transport us to a person, place, season or moment in time we thought we had forgotten.

It can reconnect us with the past, but it can also help us create new personal stories and memories. A bespoke scent can become part of a wedding day, mark a milestone birthday, or provide comfort and confidence during times of change, becoming forever linked to those meaningful moments.

I also create signature fragrances for spas and wellbeing businesses, designing each one to a unique brief that welcomes guests and evokes a distinct sense of place or mood. Whether inspired by a tropical Thai spa, a Himalayan retreat, or a wildflower meadow surrounding a yoga sanctuary, scent has the power to immerse people in an experience before they even realise it.

Fragrance can capture a season, evoke a landscape and carry us effortlessly to another place or time on an invisible breeze. Every formula I create is developed with intention and purpose, telling a story entirely its own.

Every essential oil has its own unique profile, but true artistry lies in the blending. A successful formulation is not simply a collection of pleasant aromas. It is a carefully balanced composition where each ingredient contributes to the overall intention.

Bringing the feeling of nature indoors

Many of us instinctively feel calmer when we spend time in woodland or natural environments.

In Japan, the practice of Shinrin-yoku, or forest bathing, encourages people to immerse themselves in nature using all their senses. Research suggests that aromatic compounds released by trees, known as phytoncides, may contribute to the restorative feelings many people experience in forests.

When access to nature is not always possible, carefully crafted essential oil blends can help recreate some of that sensory experience.

Pine, fir, cedarwood, cypress and sandalwood can evoke feelings of grounding and restoration. Bergamot, grapefruit and sweet orange can bring lightness and optimism. Lavender and frankincense can invite stillness, comfort and reflection.

These are not simply pleasant fragrances. They are carefully chosen environmental cues that help shape how we experience a space.

Creating seasonal and functional blends for Sweet Bee Organics 

My recent collaboration with Sweet Bee Organics has been a true joy.

Together, we have created a series of seasonal and functional fragrance blends as limited-edition additions to their magnesium butter collection. Each scent was developed with intention, designed to complement the nourishing qualities of the product while enhancing the self-care ritual that surrounds it.

Working closely with founder Hollie King has been incredibly rewarding. My role has been to translate her thoughtful, creative vision into fragrances that capture the mood and emotion she wanted each collection to evoke.

Winter called for something grounding, cocooning and restorative — a scent that felt like slowing down, drawing inward and finding comfort. Spring invited something softer and more hopeful, with delicate floral notes that evoke renewal. Summer called for brightness, freshness and ease, with citrus and herbal accents that feel uplifting and cooling.

Each blend reflects the rhythm and character of its season. The fragrances are carefully crafted to invite people to pause, reconnect and experience a moment of wellbeing through scent.

Sweet Bee Organics’ magnesium butter is already part of a mindful daily ritual, where touch, relaxation and nourishment come together. The bespoke seasonal fragrances add another layer to that experience, encouraging a deeper connection with the natural flow of the year and the unique energy that each season brings.

Ancient wisdom and modern understanding

Although the phrase functional fragrance is relatively new, the concept itself is ancient.

Ancient Egyptians burned frankincense and myrrh in ritual and ceremony. Ayurvedic traditions have long valued botanicals such as sandalwood, tulsi, vetiver and jasmine for their balancing and restorative qualities. European herbal traditions have also recognised plants such as lavender, rosemary and chamomile for their calming, clarifying or uplifting associations.

Today, neuroscience is helping us understand why these traditions have endured. We now know that scent communicates closely with regions of the brain involved in emotion, memory and stress response. In this way, modern science offers a framework for something humanity has always experienced intuitively.

Functional fragrance sits at this meeting point between ancient wisdom, personal experience and modern understanding.

Why intention matters

Perhaps the most important ingredient in any blend is not found in the bottle at all.

It is intention.

Every fragrance we choose creates an atmosphere. It shapes our environment, influences our emotions and becomes woven into our daily rituals. When we consciously select scents that support the way we want to feel, we begin to use one of the most powerful sensory systems available to us.
After more than three decades of creating essential oil blends, I remain convinced that fragrance is one of the simplest yet most profound ways we can nurture our wellbeing.

My goal is always the same: to create scents that do not just smell beautiful, but help people feel more connected, more balanced and more at home within themselves.

Because the best fragrances don’t simply smell beautiful. They transform the way we experience our inner world and the world around us.

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The launch of this range was planned to coincide with the development of their new boatshed and commercial hub.  The purpose-built site houses their brand-new marina shop, chandlery, cafe and reception.  They also have meeting rooms and panoramic waterfront offices. 

This beautifully designed space, in such a stunning location really enhances the experience for boat owners and visitors alike, and it has been wonderful to design something unique and special for Beaulieu River. 

A Collaborative Creation: Rooted in Nature

This beautiful signature scent was jointly designed and crafted by our founder Debbie Mulkern, and the team at Beaulieu River. Their goal was to capture the fresh, green, woody, and floral atmosphere of the Beaulieu estate and riverbanks—and bottle that essence into a unique and memorable fragrance.

The finished scent now features in a range of natural hand wash, shower gel, and hand lotion, handmade by New Forest Aromatics in Brockenhurst, using natural and organic, ethically sourced ingredients and essential oils.

What is in The Beaulieu River Signature Scent?

This bespoke fragrance is layered and evocative, designed to reflect the landscape that surrounds the marina:

• Top Notes: Clean, uplifting – bergamot and sweet orange
• Middle Notes: Floral, green – geranium, linden blossom, and rhododendron
• Base Notes: Warm, earthy – cedarwood, rock rose, and balsam wood

Each element was chosen not only for its beautiful aroma, but for its connection to the local environment and its beneficial properties for both skin and mood

At the Heart: Linden Blossom

The signature scent’s key essential oil is linden blossom, drawn from the majestic lime (Tilia/Linden) trees native to the New Forest. These trees are steeped in local heritage—Lyndhurst, the heart of the New Forest, even takes its name from them (“wooded hill with lime trees”).

With their fragrant, pale-yellow blooms and heart-shaped leaves, linden trees support biodiversity  by providing shelter and food for pollinators like bees and butterflies and symbolise grace, love, and resilience in folklore. The oil itself has a honey-like floral scent known for its soothing, calming qualities—perfectly capturing the tranquil spirit of Beaulieu.

Essential Oils with Intention

This unique scent doesn’t just smell great—it’s purposeful. Each essential oil brings natural wellness benefits:

• Linden Blossom: Calming and graceful, brings a peaceful energy
• Geranium: Harmonising and skin-nourishing; relieves emotional tension
• Cedarwood: Grounding and moisturising; naturally insect-repelling
• Rhododendron: Soothing and antioxidant-rich; eases stress and muscle tension
• Bergamot & Sweet Orange: Uplifting and joyful citrus notes
• Ylang Ylang: Exotic and calming; harmonising for emotions
• Rock Rose (Labdanum): Warm, ambery and resinous; decongests and soothes
• Amyris Balsam: Rich, woody scent of summer evenings; calming and skin-loving
• Palmarosa: Gentle floral with grassy notes; balancing and anti-inflammatory

We delivered the first order just before the official launch a few weeks ago. The opening was attended by Lord Montagu (above) and Olympic sailor Vita Heathcote (an old school friend of Debbie’s daughter Kaia) (in photo). Most importantly just after the launch Debbie’s mum Patricia went along to the shop to sample the new range! (below)

The Beaulieu River Signature Scent Collection is now available exclusively at the marina shop, offering a chance to take a little piece of the forest—and its calm, grounding presence—home with you.

Image credits: All product and Lord photos courtesy of Beaulieu River.

The post Bespoke Signature Scent Range for Beaulieu River – Buckler’s Hard Yacht Harbour appeared first on New Forest Aromatics.

I thought this would be a great time to write a blog about why we are a passionate champion of sustainability.

The initial inspiration for starting our brand was to create beautiful, naturally scented products, using ethical and sustainable ingredients, that reflect our wonderful National Park and local countryside, bringing nature into our homes and enhancing mood and wellbeing. All of our products are handmade at our unit, at Setley Ridge Vineyard, Brockenhurst, in the heart of the New Forest.

Our ethos is to source as many local ingredients as we can and to supply local shops and hospitality businesses, plus online customers.

We use New Forest Spring Water in our water-based products, including our bestseller ‘Organic Hampshire mint, lime and lemongrass Hand Wash.’ We buy 20 litre reusable and refillable water containers from them, and they pick up the empties and reuse, creating a closed loop bottle recycling process.

We also use the wonderful, local, Noble Bee, beeswax and honey in all our lip, hand and foot balms and scrubs. Their hives are distributed in different places around the national park.

We use Summerdown mint, lavender, dill and parsley essential oils, grown on their farm in the north of Hampshire, in many of our products, including our Organic Hampshire mint, lime and lemongrass toiletry range, ‘Hampshire peppermint foot balm, Hampshire lavender candles, and gardeners hand products.

We grow our own lavender and rosemary which is then dried for our scented sachets.

Ingredients that we can’t source locally, we buy from suppliers who share our principles of natural and sustainable ingredients. Many of our ingredients are certified organic or from wild grown sources.

Our packaging is either in glass, tin or recyclable plastic and we have switched to bioplastic for our refillable plastic bottles. We also have a bottle return scheme for trade customers. Clients can send back their used 1L and 5L bottles, which we will sterilise and reuse. We also send, used printer ink cartridges back to the manufacturers to be recycled and use paper bubblewrap, maize chips, ecofriendly packing tape and Sellotape for our outer boxes. We are looking for ways to improve this more …

To cut our carbon footprint further, I’ve recently acquired an electric vehicle which we use for all local deliveries and meetings.

When it comes to waste, we try to have creative ways to minimise it. We reuse packaging received from suppliers to send out our own orders, and any extra packaging gets passed on to our next-door neighbour – a hi-tech camera company, to pack their precious cameras. Even bottle caps and cardboard tubes don’t go to waste – they’re donated to a local artist who turns them into art projects for schools.

We also produce natural products for other brands in the New Forest, Senspa at Careys Manor, Yellow Forest, The Noble Bee, The Menopause Boutique, Made in Here Southampton, Moonshack, Wallops Wood, Braido Organics (Brockenhurst and Sweden) and follow the same ethos when designing and manufacturing their products.

What’s Next?

We are always keeping an eye on how we can improve. We regularly review our current initiatives and keep up with the latest ideas in sustainability and ethical practices.

At the end of the day, sustainability is a core part of our identity. We are a small business, but we try make a difference, not just to the local area, but to the wider world too.

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I’m turning 55 next month and while looking back over the last ten years, I reflect on the fact that I’ve had a quite a bumpy ride through my perimenopause and menopause transition.

Menopause is a significant phase in a woman’s life, a rite of passage, marking the end of her reproductive years. While it is a natural transition, it often brings with it a host of physical and emotional challenges, including hot flushes, night sweats, mood swings, sleep disturbances, brain fog, loss of confidence, anxiety, muscle pain, but so many more symptoms too.

Thankfully, in recent years there is more information and support available, from both the medical profession and the holistic world. I have certainly learnt a lot over the past few years about how to support myself and others through the ups and downs of the menopause.

Aromatherapy is a wonderful tool for managing menopause symptoms and promoting health and well-being. I’ve been more grateful now than ever for my natural toolkit and I’ll share here some practical tips for incorporating essential oils into your daily routine, I’ve also created products for both New Forest Aromatics and The Menopause Boutique designed specifically for perimenopause, the menopause and beyond.

Perimenopause

Perimenopause, or the menopausal transition, is the period leading up to menopause when a woman’s body begins to undergo hormonal changes. This phase can start several years before menopause and is characterised by fluctuations in oestrogen and progesterone levels, women may still be having periods during this time, but they may become more irregular or sporadic. Many of the symptoms known during the menopause listed below, actually start during these years leading up to menopause.

Menopause

Menopause typically occurs between the ages of 45 and 55, though it can happen earlier or later. It is officially diagnosed after 12 consecutive months without a menstrual period. The symptoms of menopause result from the body’s decreasing production of oestrogen and progesterone, which affect every system in the body and can lead to a wide range of symptoms, especially as the mind and body adjust to this new life phase:

• Hot Flushes and Night Sweats: Sudden feelings of heat, often accompanied by sweating.
• Sleep Disturbances: Difficulty falling or staying asleep
• Mood Swings: Increased irritability, anxiety, or depression.
• Brain Fog: Difficulty concentrating, memory lapses, and reduced mental clarity.
• Vaginal Dryness: Reduced moisture and elasticity in the vaginal tissues.
• Reduced Libido: Decreased sexual desire.
• Migraines
• Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause (GSM)

These are some of the most common symptoms, but I’ve learned that there are so many others too!

Aromatherapy: A Natural Ally for Menopause Relief

Essential oils extracted from plants, are one of nature’s most powerful healers and support and promote physical and emotional well-being. These oils can be inhaled, applied topically, or used in baths and massages. For women experiencing menopause, aromatherapy offers a gentle, non-invasive way to manage symptoms and improve overall quality of life. Here are some of my favourite oils:

Essential Oils for Menopause Relief

1. Clary Sage: Known for its hormone-balancing properties, clary sage can help reduce hot flushes and night sweats. It also has calming effects, which can alleviate mood swings and anxiety. Eases aches and pains.
2. Geranium: This essential oil is beneficial for balancing surging hormones and can help with mood swings, hot flushes, and irritability. Also, for fluid retention, poor
   circulation, stress, nervous tension, erratic menstruation
3. Spanish Marjoram: Lifts feeling of lethargy and eases aches and pains and cramps. Great to ease pre-menstrual cramps, restless leg, headaches. A good all round pain reliever and balancer, helps us to be more in rhythm with our nature cycles, ideal for irregular or heavy periods, etc
4. Copaiba: Known for its anti-inflammatory properties, copaiba oil can help alleviate joint pain and discomfort, which some women experience during menopause. It also promotes relaxation.
5. Linden Blossom – Eases nervous tension, cramps and indigestion. Very feminine, brings a sense of grace, gentleness, and mercy, when we are challenged from all that life throws at us.
6. Ylang Ylang – harmonising, aphrodisiac, anti-depressant, eases hypertension and irritability, helps us love our bodies and ourselves, through the changing times of our lives.
7. Bergamot – Citrussy and elevating, useful to lift depression, and bring back a sense of joy. For low mood and to ease the day’s anxieties.
8. Lavender: Soothing and calming effects, lavender oil can promote relaxation and improve sleep quality. It is also effective in reducing anxiety and irritability.
9. Rose: Rose oil is excellent for emotional balance and can alleviate feelings of sadness and anxiety. It is also beneficial for skin health, helping to maintain hydration and elasticity.
10. Roman Chamomile: Calming properties that can help reduce stress, anxiety, and improve sleep quality.

Incorporating Aromatherapy into Your Routine for Menopause Relief

Inhalation

One of the simplest ways to use essential oils is through inhalation. Add a few drops of your chosen oil to a diffuser or a bowl of hot water and breathe in the soothing vapours. You can also place a few drops on a tissue or cotton ball and inhale as needed. A great addition to a meditation ritual, or just when you need a quick reset.

Topical Application

Essential oils can be applied to the skin, but they should always be well diluted with a carrier oil or cream.

Aromatherapy Baths

Adding a few drops of essential oils to your bathwater can create a relaxing and therapeutic experience. Combine the oils with a carrier oil or bath salts to disperse them evenly in the water.

Massage

Aromatherapy massages combine the healing benefits of touch and scent. Use a blend of essential oils diluted in a carrier oil to massage areas of tension and promote relaxation. Massage is so nurturing and supporting as our body experiences change over this time of
life.

Women’s Harmony Products from New Forest Aromatics

Our Women’s Harmony range includes carefully crafted blends including essential oils: clary sage, geranium, marjoram, ylang ylang, copaiba, linden blossom and bergamot. These oils are known for their hormone-balancing and mood-enhancing properties that support the ebbs and flows of life and overall well-being.

Women’s Harmony Roller Scent

The Women’s Harmony Rollerscent is a portable and easy-to-use blend designed to help balance hormones and manage menopause symptoms on the go. Simply apply the rollerball to pulse points such as the wrists, temples, and neck, and breathe for instant relief and a harmonising effect.

Women’s Harmony Bath Salts

The Women’s Harmony Bath Salts contains our beautiful essential oils in Himalayan
Magnesium and Himalayan rock salts. Perfect to give you a soothing bath experience. The
salts help to ease tensions, aches, pains and restless legs, while the scent carries you away
and then brings you back to your sense of true self.

Women’s Harmony Body Butter

Our deeply nourishing body butter is very special! It includes our Women’s Harmony blend of essential oils, plus mango, shea and cocoa butters whipped together with deeply nourishing and regenerating rosehip, camellia, calendula, apricot oils and locally sourced rapeseed oil. Amazing for dry, maturing, stretched or sagging skin.

Our …And Sleep range of products are a wonderful support for sleep issues during perimenopause and menopause, read my previous blog for more advice.

Time for Me Products from The Menopause Boutique

I also developed a range of body and hair oils for Lynda Allison of the Menopause Boutique. I particularly love their Nourishing Hair Oil, great for fizzy, brittle, thinning hair, or itchy scalp (menopause just keeps on giving)!

Beyond Menopause.

As many of you know who are going through their menopause years or who have come out the other side, this transition can be relatively smooth or full of bumps in the road. But there is help, support and light at the end of the tunnel. Beyond menopause, beyond raising children, or beyond the people pleasing and caring years, we move into our wise woman phase. This is a time for ‘me’, a time to care less about what other people think and to truly step into our power. This is the time, after so much life experience, we become the experts, mentors, consultants, advisors, we can speak our truth with authority and without fear! So, there is much to look forward to and to embrace as we step beyond the menopause.

My expertise is in sharing the benefits of essential oils and creating natural products that support women through the ebbs and flows of life, and I hope this has given you some tips. There will be more products and aromatherapy advice coming for the wise woman phase, I’ll keep you posted…

I’ve read books, listened to podcasts, watched Instagram lives, spoken to lovely GPs, gynaecologists, nutritional therapists and holistic women’s health experts, all of whom have supported my menopause journey and I’m very grateful to them all. Here are some resources below that I recommend if you would like to know more.

I loved Davina McCall and Dr. Naomi Potter’s Book Menopausing. (My husband read it too)

Dr. Louise Newson is such an inspiration and wealth of knowledge on all things women’s health. She has a team of menopause trained doctors around the country too.
Dr. Louise Newson also has a regular podcast on women’s health and the menopause.

Lynda Allison is an expert nutritionist and has a wealth of knowledge and advice.

A book by Alexandra Pope and Sjanie Hugo Wurlitzer. Wise Power: Discover the Liberating Power of Menopause to Awaken Authority, Purpose and Belonging This is a trailblazing guide to menopause, filled with nourishing wisdom and practical advice to help you thrive as your empowered, confident self.

Safety Considerations

While aromatherapy is generally safe, it is essential to use essential oils properly:

• Dilution: Always dilute essential oils with a carrier oil before applying them to your skin.
• Consult a Professional: If you have any underlying health conditions or are If you are taking medication, consult with a healthcare provider before using essential oils.
• Patch Test: Perform a patch test to check for any allergic reactions. Quality: Use high-quality, pure essential oils from reputable sources.

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Over the years, one of the questions I get asked most is, can you recommend essential oils that help with sleep?

We all crave a good night’s sleep and know how it feels when our sleep is disturbed. It may be stress and worries, work shift patterns, hormone changes, or children or pets that wake us in the night (thinking of my little dog Jasper, who woke me up twice this week in the middle of the night).

Now I’m in my menopausal years, I’ve also experienced hot flushes in the night and restless legs which all add to disturbed sleep. I have a lot of friends and customers of a similar age who also have these issues and often ask me for recommendations.

Whether it’s having trouble getting to sleep or waking in the night, a combination of good sleep hygiene, relaxation techniques and specific essential oils can really help improve the quality of our rest.

When creating the scent for our sleep range, my focus was on choosing essential oils which aid relaxation, help us to unwind, and detach us from the day’s stresses. I also wanted to use oils that help to cool down night sweats. Here’s what I included:

• Lavender – The most popular scent to calm and relax. It is also soothing and anti-inflammatory, great to cool the skin on warm evenings and for hot flushes.
• Vetiver – Very soporific, grounding and eases nervous tension. From the roots of a tropical grass, this earthy, resinous scent, helps the mind to slow down and let go of the day’s worries.
• Neroli– From the orange flower, this softly floral, fruity scent is luxurious and feminine. It instils a sense of peace and joy, like a summer holiday evening. A real emotional supporter
  to help ease stress and anxiety.
• Marjoram (Sweet) – Gentle and sedative, harmonising and eases aches, pains and cramps. It is an immune booster and mild expectorant, helping you to breathe deeply.
• Clary Sage – A great harmoniser when you are feeling out of your natural rhythms. Wise, tranquil, euphoric, carrying you away from the logical mind. It also helps to ease muscle
  cramps, aches and pains, or poor circulation.
• Roman Chamomile– Cooling to the skin, gentle, soporific, anti-inflammatory. Anti-spasmodic, so helping to relieve tension.

This lovely blend of essential oils is in all products in our …And Sleep range and can be used in different ways to incorporate into your sleep rituals.

Rollerscent – Use on pulse points, under the nose or temples (avoid eyes), Take a deep breath, inhale the beautiful aroma and relax. Keep by your bedside and if you do wake in the night, put more under your nose and around your temples to ease you back into rest.

Pillow Spray – Spray lightly onto your pillow before you go to bed to create a soothing atmosphere for you to unwind in.

Bath Salts – After a stressful day, perfect for some ‘me’ time. Magnesium and Himalayan rock salts have been blended with our …And Sleep scent, to give you a deeply relaxing bath experience. The salts help to ease tensions, aches and pains, while the scent soothes the
day away.

Body Butter – our deeply nourishing body butter is very special! Mango, shea and cocoa butters are whipped together with deeply nourishing and regenerating rosehip, camellia, calendula and apricot oils and locally sourced rapeseed oil. Amazing for dry, maturing, skin and especially good to apply to your legs and feet, it you are feeling restless, hot or achy. Apply to chest area to cool hot flushes. Great to use all over your body after a soak in our…And Sleep Bath Salts.

Candle – Light this beautiful soya wax candle, when in the bath, or in the evening to create a calm environment. (Always extinguish a candle before you go to bed).

Sleep Hygiene and Relaxation Techniques

I spoke to Lynda Allison, nutrition and wellbeing expert from the Menopause Boutique who also gave me these great tips on creating good sleep hygiene practices and improving the quality of sleep.

• The environment you sleep in is important and should be restful. Create a dark, quiet and cool space to sleep in.
• Maintain a regular sleep pattern and ensure there is sufficient time to wind down before bed.
• Screen time before bed is a stimulant, so cut out screens in the bedroom at least 30 minutes before going to bed. Disconnect from all devices, tablets, laptops and phones.
• Think about cutting down on caffeine, alcohol, products containing nicotine and rich fatty foods several hours before bedtime. Ideally you shouldn’t go to bed hungry or very full.
• Try relaxation and breathing techniques to unwind in the evening, meditation, baths, relaxing music are all helpful.

Menopause and Sleep

Lynda gave this advice especially for women going through peri-menopause and menopause.

Changes in hormone levels as we age can cause sleep disturbances, and sleep disturbances can alter hormone levels, turning into a vicious cycle. Shifts in hormones can cause changes to your appetite, mental wellbeing, heart health and even fertility. So how can we help ourselves?

• Create a restful environment, keep your bedroom quiet, calm and dark.
• Keep a cool temperature in the bedroom and use light, cotton or bamboo bed linen and nightwear.
• Eat a healthy balanced diet and stay hydrated.
• Avoid late night meals and spicy food, this could have an influence your body temperature. Avoid alcohol and caffeine too close to bedtime.
• Include a quality supplement like magnesium to aid a restful night’s sleep. (For me this has really relieved my restless and achy legs, that was affecting my sleep patterns).
• Exercise regularly.
• Practice relaxation techniques, meditation or mindfulness to help reduce stress and
  worries of the day. I find yoga nidra practice really helps too.

And finally, be kind to yourself, breathe in these beautiful scented products in our range …and sleep.

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My natural perfumery workshop is a day to immerse yourself in the beauty of natural scents and it will take you on a sensory journey like no other. Deepen your understanding and confidence of using natural essential oils and absolutes to create your own unique fragrance.

During this workshop you will create your own personal eau de toilette using only the finest natural essential oils and plant extracts, in an organic alcohol base and New
Forest spring water. But, this workshop is more than just a lesson in perfume-making; it’s a voyage into the rich the history and folklore of aromatic plants. From ancient medicinal practices to sacred rituals and magical traditions, these plants have woven themselves into the essence of human culture for many centuries. As you sample many different beautiful scents, you’ll deepen your understanding and the personal connection you have to each one.

A personal connection to scent

Our connection to scent is so subjective, it is a combination of what the physical chemical characteristics of the individual essential oil are and how that affects our inner biology and our minds. But we will also have an individual emotional connection to that scent and the feelings it evokes.

Scent is also linked to memory and emotions, so our response to a particular scent may include past experiences during our lifetime, places we have visited, foods we
have eaten. This personal connection may also include our individual cultural reference, the type of society we have been brought up in, our families, faith or religion.

Popular aromatic oils may also convey contrasting reactions in different age groups. Lavender is a great example where sometimes people of my generation and culture associate it with older ladies, maybe your Granny had lavender bath salts or drawer liners? This may make you feel instantly comforted and happy when you smell this, or if you didn’t like your grandmother much, it could have the reverse reaction! My daughter’s age group (who is in her twenties) on the other hand, do not really seem have this scent memory or association to older people and often react quite differently when they smell this scent. These personal experiences can all have a positive, nostalgic or negative effect when we smell that scent again. This will help to inform us which scents we are drawn to when creating our final, personal fragrance.

Creating your scent in our Natural Perfumery Workshop

As you learn more about the properties and qualities of each essential oil, throughout the day, your confidence and understanding will grow about how to harness these qualities within yourself to create your unique aromatic message.

Throughout the day I’ll talk about intention, what do you want your perfume to say, how do you want it to make you feel? Your perfume is more than just a fragrance; it’sa reflection of your innermost self, a way to share your essence with the world around you. We’ll also explore different fragrance families and accords, guiding you to build, top, middle and base notes to create your own fragrant accords and final perfume. You also have opportunity to name your scent giving it it’s final stamp of personality and intention. You will leave with your own 50ml bottle of eau de toilette.

The day is fun, inclusive and a great way to learn more about nature’s vast palette of beautiful aromas. Book onto one of our upcoming natural perfumery workshops.

Read some of the latest reviews from customers below…

I loved every minute of this day. It was hands on. I was interested in learning the history of perfume up to the present day. I found it thought-provoking thinking about what intention I wanted to put into my perfume.
It was great fun playing around with all the different smells and trying to pinpoint what they were.
Debbie is extremely knowledgeable, warm patient and great fun!
My son and I both came away with our own unique perfume.
I recommend going on one of these workshops, or buying one as a gift for someone.
Thank you very much, Debbie.
Sophia

I went along expecting to learn about scent and learn how to make a perfume. However this workshop is so much more it’s also about your personal journey and throughout the day you are totally absorbed into the world of scent and also how certain fragrances bring wonderful memories and emotions into life. A skilled and passionate teacher Debbie brings fragrance to life. A MUST DO for anyone interested in this fascinating subject.

Jacqui

The post Introduction to Natural Perfumery appeared first on New Forest Aromatics.

Most commercial perfumes available on the market contain a combination of synthetic and natural ingredients. They are designed to create a scent that we are drawn to, or to evoke a feeling, or to provoke a reaction and make a statement about who we are, or who we aspire to be like.

In my consultancy, I only use essential oils and natural ingredients to create my perfumes. Essential oils work on many different levels, their properties affect us, mind, body and spirit. Their unique qualities can also evoke a feeling or memory and they have the added advantage that they can also enhance mood, emotions and our general well-being. By choosing your own unique blend for your perfume, you can personalise your scent to include qualities and feelings that you would like to enhance in yourself and create this feeling in the space around you.

A bespoke natural perfume can be created for lots of different occasions or purposes, a perfume for a wedding, an anniversary, or for a special birthday.

I have designed perfumes for writers, to help them get into the creative flow, or for people to use when public speaking, or in front of audiences to help boost confidence. I have also created seasonal scents, and everyday or evening perfumes. The choice is yours and the big question I ask during the consultation is what do you want your perfume to say about you?

After filling out your consultation form, I will help you to start to slowly build a fragrant picture. You smell each individual scent without knowing what it is first, so to avoid any preconceived ideas you have about scents you like or don’t like.
During the session, we create three separate accords (combinations), containing top notes, middle notes and base notes, before combining these together. Your perfume evolves throughout the session, and you get to tweak and refine the scent at each stage to create a final scent. Once you are happy with your fragrance it is then added to our natural alcohol and water base to complete your unique 50ml bottle of eau de toilette, to take home with you.

This session takes two hours and is a wonderfully affirming and holistic process. You can name your finished perfume and I keep a record of the final formulation if you would like to order again in the future.

This session makes a wonderful gift or treat for a loved one, or to treat yourself.

The post Creating a Bespoke Perfume appeared first on New Forest Aromatics.

In these difficult times, the two issues that people have asked me to create products for again and again are something to help to get a better night’s sleep and for women dealing with stress and anxiety and the emotional and physical symptoms that these can create. These issues are often exacerbated during pre-menstrual days of the month and during peri-menopause and menopause.

Prioritising well-being and taking time out for yourself is so important, to help deal with what the world and life throw at us.

We developed our new Well-Being range to specifically help anyone get a better night’s sleep and for women to feel more balanced and get back to their own innate rhythm and sense of self.

…And Sleep range to aid a restful night’s sleep.

As part of your sleep ritual, use this deeply soothing range to unwind for bed, or to help you to get back to sleep if you wake in the night. Eases aching muscles, helps your mind to slow and feel more meditative and able to switch off. We blended these essential oils together for their specific therapeutic properties:

• Lavender – To soothe, calm and relax.
• Roman Chamomile– cooling, gentle, soporific, anti-inflammatory. anti-spasmodic.
• Neroli– luxurious, feminine, instils a sense of peace and joy. A real emotional supporter helps to ease stress and anxiety.
• Vetivert – very soporific, grounding and eases nervous tension. Helps the mind to slow down.
• Marjoram (Sweet) – gentle and sedative, harmonising and eases aches and pains and cramps, expectorant – helps you take a deep breath, immune booster
• Clary Sage – harmonising, wise, tranquil, euphoric, affinity with female reproductive hormones, eases aches, pains, cramps and poor circulation.

Products in the …And Sleep range:

Rollerscent

The rollerscent is in a light oil base of locally sourced rapeseed oil, plus fractionated (unscented) coconut oil, which is easily absorbed into the skin.

How to use:

Use on pulse points, under the nose or temples (avoid eyes), when ready for bed. Take a deep breath, and inhale the beautiful aroma. Keep by your bedside if you wake in the night, and re-apply to ease you back into sleep.

Pillow Spray

A natural pillow spray made with New Forest Spring water and our …And Sleep blend.

How to use:

Spray in your bedroom, or lightly over your pillow (avoid direct contact with delicate fabrics), to help you drift away…

Body Butter

Our deeply nourishing body butter is very special!

…And Sleep blend, includes mango, shea and cocoa butter whipped together with deeply nourishing and regenerating, rosehip, camellia, calendula, apricot oils and locally sourced rapeseed oil. Amazing for dry, maturing, stretched or sagging skin.

How to use:

Use before bed, all over your body, focusing on feet and legs, (especially if you suffer from restless legs) and luxuriate in the scent as you drop off to sleep.

Bath Salts

Magnesium and Himalayan rock salts have been blended with …And Sleep scent, to give you a deeply calming bath experience. These salts help to ease tensions, aches and pains, while the scent helps you to truly unwind.

How to use:

At the end of the day, add to a bath to help you unwind, ready for a good night’s sleep.

Candle 

Made with non-GM Soya wax and our special blend of oils.

How to use:

Why not light your candle when in the bath, or in the evening to help you to relax.

The Women’s Harmony Range is great for all Women

Get back into your own innate rhythm & harmony. Life often throws a lot at us women. We can wear many ‘hats’ during our day; wife, partner, mother, daughter, friend, lover, boss, employee, etc. We can be pulled in many different directions and it’s easy to lose a sense of our true selves.

Use this range of products when you feel out of step with yourself, anxious, overwhelmed, or exhausted. Helps you to reduce anxiety, stress, fear, and promotes feelings of calm and harmony, for the mind, emotions and body.

Particularly useful pre-menstrually, or during perimenopause, menopause &  beyond.

We blended these essential oils together for their specific therapeutic properties:

• Geranium – harmonising, nurturing, feminine, affinity with female reproductive hormones, for fluid retention, poor circulation, stress, nervous tension, erratic menstruation. Also for menopausal symptoms, such as hot flushes, surging hormones and mood swings.
• Ylang Ylang – harmonising, aphrodisiac, anti-depressant, eases hypertension and irritability, helps us love our bodies and ourselves, through the changing times of our lives.
• Clary Sage – harmonising, wise, tranquil, euphoric, affinity with female reproductive hormones, eases aches, pains, cramps and poor circulation.
• Copaiba– The oil is extracted from the resin of a tree native to South America, but I think smells like a summer meadow, with a hint of honey in the air! A powerful anti-inflammatory, pain relieving, and emotionally uplifting helps to ease stress and anxiety, light and outdoorsy.
• Bergamot – Citrussy and elevating, useful to lift depression, and bring back a sense of joy. For low mood and to ease the day’s anxieties.
• Spanish Marjoram –Lifts feeling of lethargy and eases aches and pains and cramps. Great to ease pre-menstrual cramps, restless legs, and headaches. A good all-round pain reliever and balancer, helps us to be more in rhythm with our natural cycles, ideal for
  irregular or heavy periods, etc
• Linden Blossom – Eases nervous tension, cramps and indigestion. Very feminine; brings a sense of grace, gentleness, and mercy, when we are challenged by all that life throws at us.

Products in the Women’s Harmony range:

Rollerscent

In a light oil base of locally sourced rapeseed oil, plus fractionated (unscented) coconut oil, which is easily absorbed into the skin.

How to use:

Use on pulse points, under the nose or temples (avoid eyes), when ready for bed. Take a deep breath, and inhale the beautiful aroma, to instantly help you feel more balanced and able to carry on.

Body Butter

Our deeply nourishing body butter is very special!

Our Women’s Harmony blend, plus mango, shea and cocoa butters whipped together with deeply nourishing and regenerating rosehip, camellia, calendula, apricot oils and locally sourced rapeseed oil. Amazing for dry, maturing, stretched or sagging skin.

How to use:

Use on all over your body and luxuriate in the scent and feel of this special product.

Bath Salts

Magnesium and Himalayan rock salts have been blended with our Women’s harmony scent, to give you a soothing bath experience. The salts help to ease tensions, aches and pains, while the scent carries you away and then brings you back to your sense of true self.

How to use:

After a stressful day, add to a bath, perfect for some ‘me’ time.

Candle

Made with non-GM Soya wax and our special blend of oils.

How to use:

Why not light your candle when in the bath, or when you need to get back to a sense of self.

To start prioritising your well-being shop our well-being range now.

The post Prioritise Your Well-Being appeared first on New Forest Aromatics.

Rosemary – Latin name Rosmarinus officinalis is a shrubby evergreen herb, that can grow up to 2 metres high, with silvery-green needle-shaped leaves and small, pale blue flowers.  The whole plant is wonderfully aromatic. Native to the Mediterranean it is now cultivated worldwide in China, USA, England and across the Mediterranean, including Italy, Spain, Morocco and France. 

It has a distinctly strong, fresh herby/minty scent with a woody undertone; rosemary is one of the earliest plants to be used for food, medicine, magic and ritual.  It is considered a sacred herb in different cultures and has traditionally been used to drive away evil spirits and protect against the plague and unwanted visitors to your home.  Still today you will often see pots of rosemary either side of the entrance to a home, as a symbol of protection.

Rosemary is also known as the oil of Remembrance, helping us to remember who we really are and to remember and honour others.  It is traditionally placed onto coffins to symbolise remembering the dead; a sprig is still worn on Anzacs day to remember those who died at Gallipoli in Turkey, during the First World War. Rosemary grew on the hillsides where so many where killed in that terrible battle.

Rosemary Essential Oil Uses

The essential oil is extracted from fresh flowering tops by steam distillation and its predominant chemical constituents are pinene, camphene, limonene, cineol and linalool.

Rosemary is a very versatile essential oil, it is uplifting and stimulating to mind and body, great to use as a study aid or for preparation or revising for exams, presentation, etc.  It is also strengthening and protection for our body and energies, helping to protect us from both disease and negative energies.

Rosemary essential oil is analgesic, antiseptic, fungicidal, anti-oxidant, diuretic, rubefacient, stimulant and hepatic.  It is great for chest infections, flatulence, poor circulation and lung conditions.

Rosemary has been used for centuries for many different skin and hair complaints. It promotes healthy hair, reduces dandruff and greasy hair, regulates sebum so also good for acne and oily skins, it also has insect repelling qualities. 

Rosemary Essential Oil in Perfumery

In perfumery, it is a striking, clean, green, top/middle note, with a soft balsam undertone. It is very popular in both male and female Chypre and outdoorsy fragrances.

New Forest Aromatics Products that contain Rosemary:

Hand and Body Products:

Gardener’s Hand Balm

Gardener’s Hand Scrub

Forest Essence Room Products – candles, room fragrances and reed diffusers.

This wonderfully green ‘walk in the forest’ scent includes: Rosemary, fir, Cypress and Cedarwood

Warm Hug Products –

The blend created for these products is designed to help you feel uplifted, refreshed and joyful.

The scent includes: Ginger, Rosemary, Juniper, Lemon Myrtle and Cardamom.

Warm Hug Bath Foam

Warm Hug Body Oil

Warm Hug Candle

Please note: As with all essential oils – always dilute first before applying to the skin and consult a qualified aromatherapist if you are uncertain of how to use or dosage.  If you have a specific allergy or contra-indications avoid use.

The post Rosemary Essential Oil – Oil of the month appeared first on New Forest Aromatics.