I’ll never forget my first experience with essential oils. I was getting my very first facial, and the service began with a massage and some aromatherapy. I closed my eyes as the esthetician waved blends of bergamot, rose, eucalyptus, and lavender under my nose. My airways opened right up, my lungs filled with cool air, and I felt a wave of relaxation roll over my entire body. As a teenager, that initial facial opened my eyes to a whole other realm of wellness. And ever since, I’ve been into essential oils and expanding my knowledge of aromatherapy.

I’ve kind of gotten the rep at W&D for being the go-to gal on everything from having your aura read to holistic healing. I’m always the first to recommend Eastern over Western ways of thinking about wellbeing. And I’ve always believed ailments are mostly caused by repressed emotional issues that can be healed naturally through herbs and resources from the Earth. Those are just a couple of ways outside of my everyday wardrobe that I live up to my preference for all things bohemian. You could say I’m kind of a hippie.

Lately, I’ve been taking this vested interest to a whole other level. In addition to using moisturizing oils on my face (which I’ve recently replaced my daily lotion with), I’ve been really into using a diffuser to emanate all of those good scents and vibes into the air both at home and work. It helps me to relax before bed and stay calm and focused while I work from home so I finally decided to take this experience into the office. Ever since I brought my diffuser into the studio, everyone’s been following suit.

With a large industrial communal office space, it can be difficult to make it feel especially cozy, warm and homey. But as I come up on a year and a half of working at Wit & Delight, the team and I have finally mastered the feel of relaxation paired with an underlying tone of energized motivation. The road to creating this special atmosphere took a turn for the best not long ago when we discovered Aura Cacia. Since beginning our partnership, the team has been experimenting and exploring with the 100% pure essential oils they’ve sent us and learning all about their many benefits. In hopes of inspiring others to give essential oils a try, I’ve gathered information on five of our favorite oils. Catch our absolute favorite oils and combinations to use or diffuse in the office below!

Peppermint

Key Benefit/Use: Cooling

Aroma: Suave and minty with a leafy top note

My favorite way to use it: To awaken the senses and give myself a refreshing boost, I reach for the peppermint roll-on oil and rub a few applications into the center of my hands and rub them together. Then, I cup my hands and inhale the aroma (while avoiding my eyes, of course).

Lavender

Key Benefit/Use: Relaxing

Aroma: Floral top note

My favorite way to use it: To calm my mind, I apply the lavender roll-on in my cupped palms and inhale the scent.

Bergamot

Key Benefit/Use: Uplifting

Aroma: Fruity top note

My favorite way to use it: When I hope to create an uplifting and positive environment, I diffuse 18 drops of bergamot oil in an essential oil diffuser.

Lemon

Key Benefit/Use: Renewing

Aroma: Fruity top note

My favorite way to use it: First thing in the morning, I like to make an invigorating aroma and diffuse 18 drops of lemon oil in an essential oil diffuser.

Geranium

Key Benefit/Use: Comforting

Aroma: Rose-like with minty undertones

My favorite way to use it: To promote tranquility and peace (usually near the end of the day), I like to add 18 drops of geranium oil in an essential oil diffuser.

As a team, we’ve signed up for the Daily + at Noteworthy, which we hope everyone will check out! Here you’ll find daily positive notes and ideas, essential oil recipes, and an amazing community of women that inspire one another through storytelling. I think signing up for these daily touchpoints has influenced everyone at W&D to live more consciously and consider aromatherapy as a part of their daily wellness routine. Here are some of our favorite go-to essential oil recipes we’ve learned to make through Aura Cacia.

Organic Body Mist with Lemon Eucalyptus and Frankincense Essential Oils

Ingredients:

8 drops of Aura Cacia Organic Frankincense Essential Oil

8 drops Aura Cacia Organic Lemon Eucalyptus Essential oil

8 drops Aura Cacia Organic Distilled Lime Essential Oil

2-ounce Aura Cacia Amber Mist Bottle with Writable Label 2 fl. Oz.

2 fluid ounces water

Directions:

1. In bottle, combine essential oils.
2. Top off with water, replace lid and shake well.
3. To use, shake bottle and mist exposed skin, avoiding eyes.

Rosehip Geranium Face Mist

Ingredients:

1 teaspoon Aura Cacia Organic Rosehip Skin Care Oil

24 drops Aura Cacia Geranium Essential Oil

2-ounce Aura Cacia Amber Mist Bottle with Writable Label

1 ½ fluid ounces water

Directions:

1. In bottle, combine rosehip oil and geranium essential oil.
2. Add water until bottle is full, replace lid and shake until well blended.
3. To use, shake bottle and mist face, avoiding eyes.

Frankincense Temple Massage Oil

Ingredients:

2 teaspoons Aura Cacia Jojoba Skin Care Oil

7 drops Aura Cacia Frankincense (in jojoba oil)

2 drops Aura Cacia Peppermint Essential Oil

1 drop Aura Cacia Lavender Essential Oil

.31-ounce Aura Cacia Amber Roll-On Bottle with Writable Label

Directions:

1. In roll-on bottle, measure oils and top off with jojoba, replace cap and shake until well-blended.
2. To use, apply 3-4 swipes to each temple and massage with fingertips. Re-apply as needed.

Aromatherapy to me is like wine, in that there is an endless array of information to absorb and learn. Because oils derive from plants – hundreds of organic ingredients within these plants provide beneficial properties to us when inhaled or applied. With that, the team and I are still learning new qualities and characteristics every day. It feels good to work alongside team members that are so dedicated to both health and well-being.

What essential oils are you drawn to lately? And what is your favorite homemade scent or recipe for setting a specific mood?

Stefani Ellenbecker is the Editorial Director at Wit & Delight. When she’s not feverishly editing or writing about style and interiors, she runs her bohemian shop  Arden Trading Co. where she sells artisan-made home goods. She lives in Minneapolis with her fiancé Muhamed.