Gosh, the last few weeks I thought I was at an impasse. Scrap that. NEAR FUC@*N! END. LIFE’S OVER, DONTCHA KNOW? A violent scrap at the gym with a cable cord + forced bed rest = me wanting to crawl out the very skin I usually am flowing freely in. Movement is our superpower, the thing we can do at any time, anywhere, any which way we want. I do however subscribe to the fated and maybe romantic notion that life stops you in your tracks just when you need it most. Doesn’t mean I like it. One bit.

In these times of forceful resistance to the moment, when everything gets foggy, mired in the wavy abyss, the only thing that calms me is smell. Yup, I want to be one with the sentient beings, because then I get to be one with myself. I want to embrace my juiciness and absolutely everything that I deem emotionally broken in truly frightening periods of physical impediment. The challenge to listen to these feelings, yearnings and as-is’s ain’t easy, but I ask myself this: Can I be my community, my cheerleader, my Northern Star? Absolutely. All these sparkling acts of existing in the world bring me back to the very moment I’m in. You know, the one where potency feels as tangible as a hummingbird. Or if you’re feeling more low-key, as fizzy as a freshly poured Perrier. And boy do the oils help — a LOT.

Resistance Blend

• Rose, 2 drops

Ah, rose. Everyone has known one. Heart-soother, calmer, allayer of the freakiest of fears, the world’s fave flower connects us back to anything we may have forgotten or want to remember with one mere sniff or misty-eyed gaze. Plus, who doesn’t think of LOVE when they think of a rose. And love is always needed in a blend.

• Sandalwood, 13 drops

Grounding, warming, balancing, I dare you not to feel infinitely less stress-y and seduced after smelling the soaring (you’ll feel that deep down) creamy (smell) offerings from this resinously (and sadly increasingly rare) magical tree. 

• Blood Orange, 15 drops

Oooof, blood orange espouses joy and optimism like nobody’s business. Cheering everything she touches and everywhere she goes, this fruity number will also help you feel calmer and in the mood for a good night’s kip — where all the best healing happens.

• 60ml carrier oil of your choice

Blend the oils into your chosen carrier oil or scrap that, and pour a few drops of the mix into a ceramic burner/diffuser. I’m all about the 360-degree approach, which means that this combo goes in the bath, on my body, on tissues, heck, in every nook and cranny essential oils can be safely put. And as often as possible.

Image Source: VSCO/Image by laraaustinshoop

Hey hey, you beautiful aroma souls. It’s January, it’s 2019, and I wanted to wish you one heck of a New Year. Yes, that’s right. A year filled with aromatic wonders and permission to be gentle with ALL of your loveliness while you’re BECOMING (thanks, Mrs Obama). I hope there’ll be adventures in self-discovery, and a whole lotta LOVE; self-love first, tender, wild, and all the other kaleidoscopic emotions, they can follow suit. 

This month I’m blending zingy citrus oils with grounding sandalwood and soul-strengthening frankincense to imbue my world with metaphorical sunshine—it’s freezing and mighty dark here in New York—and truckloads of good vibes (see above). That means the uplifting mix goes something like this:

Sunshine in a Bottle

• Sweet Orange, 8 drops
• Bergamot, 8 drops
• Lemon, 4 drops
• Sandalwood, 6 drops
• Frankincense, 3 drops
• 60ml carrier oil of your choice (I used half coconut, half grapeseed)

P.S. I formulated this blend at a 5% dilution, which is definitely a stronger concoction. Typically, holistic aromatherapy blends are at a 2.5-3% dilution

See ya soon!

Kayla xx

Hey hey, aroma souls! It’s September. Finally. I actually couldn’t be happier that the ninth month of the year is here. The impending change of season and the chance to strengthen a connection with myself and the Earth is palpably exciting whenever it comes around as viscerally as it feels right now (more on that later this month).

With that in mind, I’ve concocted a blend that will support a change in all the pie charts spinning around in your precious life. Personally, when I want to be more present in my days, I’ll meditate for a few minutes before anointing (well who else is gonna think I’m a QUEEN if I don’t) my body with my blend, and then charge wholeheartedly out into the day or night; oils have a unique way of giving you a big dose of oomph!

Ninth Month Blend

• Cedarwood, 20 drops
• Fennel, 8 drops
• Bergamot, 19 drops
• Geranium, 10 drops
• 60ml carrier oil of your choice (I love the neutrality of grapeseed oil as a carrier)

Blend the oils into your chosen carrier oil and massage wherever you fancy, paying special attention to the back of the neck, behind the ears, jawline, and chest. If you’re confused about the essential-oil-to-carrier-oil dilution, have a read of this piece I wrote recently for British Vogue which explains it pretty simply! Would love to know if you make this blend and how you feel on it too…