But first I want to highlight a few brands I have been loving lately.  Because let's be honest -- there are SO many essential oils out there, and just as many places selling them, so it can be confusing and intimidating when you're first starting out.  How do you know what to look for?  What makes a great essential oil??  So many questions, and it's a lot to figure out which can feel overwhelming.

First things first: find a brand you trust.  This can mean they have certain certifications, or you have shopped with them before and trust their credentials, or you are comfortable with their level of transparency.  Chances are that third party seller on Amazon offering a box of 20 oils for under twenty quid ISN'T the best bet, as the oils could be low quality (meaning the aromatherapeutic qualities are less effective and not as beneficial), controversially sourced (sustainability for many ingredients is a huge issue!), or are just simply not what you think they are (with many low cost options containing synthetics and additives or posing as a more expensive oil).

You don't have to pay an arm and a leg for great essential oils, as I will show in a moment, but as Jessica Chia writes, "While high cost doesn’t signify high quality, it’s smart to be wary of an essential oil with a super-low price tag. Essential oils are almost inevitably pricey: It can take a roomful of plant material to fill just one bottle of essential oil, and if the botanical is scarce, it further drives up cost. 

Lately, I have been loving a few brands in particular.  I find their ethos aligned with mine, the price point is right for me, and the quality is brilliant, and between them all I have managed to find every essential oil I have needed for my festive home fragrance blends:



Tisserand sources pure essential oils in either organic, wild-crafted, or ethically harvested conditions, meaning that the product is as high quality as possible without tampering with the environment or endangering the sustainability of the resources.  All of their product ranges include the holistic power of plants, and are expertly blended to create the effect you desire, whether that is mental or physical.  I've been so impressed by this brand, and have been a solid supported for several years now!

Balm Balm is a certified 100% natural and 100% organic brand with a whole host of products ranging from perfumes to body balms.  Each of the many items is free from common nasties like parabens, SLS, and synthetic preservatives, and is gentle on the skin, plus they are super budget friendly while not skimping on quality.  Their range is pure, simple, and effective, and I have had such a great experience with pretty much everything I have tried.

Pure Anada is a Canadian brand that creates high quality formulas that are inexpensive and free from the "dirty dozen" ingredients.  They use organic botanicals, focus on fair trade all the way through the supply chain, and support ethical sources like the women's co-op in Africa where they get their shea butter from and the self-owned mica mine in India that funds daycare centres.  They're so upfront about their initiatives and aims, and I really appreciate that!

SOIL is an organic aromatherapy brand from South Africa that offers a wide selection of mists, essential oils, carrier bases, rollerball remedies, and massage oils.  All of their products are natural, certified organic, and have a strong focus on quality, efficacy and purity.  I've been so impressed with all the oils I have tried so far, and this has quickly become a favourite of mine this year as they offer such a variety of products and everything has proved to be highly effective.



I've also tried a selection from Miaroma which I picked up at Holland & Barrett, and while they are not organic (and several of the oils in the range are not pure essential oils - be careful when buying to check the ingredient list first!) I have found them to be decent quality for the price point.  One other affordable brand I've tested extensively is Mystic Moments as I was given a set as a present.  While they do have some good options (their organic EOs in particular I would recommend), I find some of them either weak or very in your face.  The best from this range tend to be the more accessible oils like sweet orange, lavender, and mint, so do keep that in mind if browsing.

I've got a decent collection of essential oils at this point, and over the last few weeks I started to focus on using them all to create distinctive holiday scents that we can enjoy during the winter season.  I've made adjustments to certain recipes based on oils I couldn't easily get a hold of (for some reason fir is nowhere to be found at the moment, plus vanilla CO2 is always crazy expensive) and some blends I made up all on my own, but overall I'm so happy with how all of these turn out.

Check out some of my favourites!



Just a quick note to say always be careful when mixing up and using essential oils, as these are highly potent ingredients and can cause reactions if not used appropriately or if you have a sensitivity.  Always check if the oils you are using are safe for use during pregnancy, for any pets you have, and if you have any medical conditions.  Also, check the restrictions of your diffuser, and try not to exceed 6-8 drops to avoid clogging the machine.

10 Easy Natural Essential Oil Blends for Winter:

Candy Cane:
3 drops peppermint
2 drops spearmint
1 drop wintergreen

Christmas Spice:
3 drops blood orange
2 drops nutmeg
1 drop ginger
1 drop cinnamon bark
1 drop clove

Warm Chai:
2 drops sweet orange
1 drop nutmeg
1 drop cinnamon bark
1 drop clove
1 drop ginger

Holy Night:
3 drops frankincense
1 drop myrrh
1 drop sweet orange

Christmas Cookies:
2 drops lemon
2 drops cinnamon bark
1 drop nutmeg


Frosty:
3 drops peppermint
2 drop eucalyptus
1 drop tea tree

Christmas Eve:
2 drops frankincense
2 drops myrrh
1 drop sandalwood
1 drop roman chamomile
1 drop spearmint

O Christmas Tree:
3 drops black spruce
2 drops pine
1 drop juniper berry
1 drop cedarwood

Gingerbread Man:
3 drops ginger
2 drops cinnamon bark
1 drop clove
1 drop nutmeg

Mulled Wine:
3 drops blood orange
2 drops cinnamon bark
1 drop clove
1 drop black pepper
1 drop nutmeg



Do you have any favourite Christmas scents that you find gets you feeling festive??  I would love to hear, as I'm so up for trying out even more essential oil blends!  It's been such fun trying out new fragrances and experimenting with different combinations over the last few weeks, and it would be great to add even more to my holiday recipe book!

And I would also be curious to read what brands are your go to for essential oils.  Do you have any you would recommend I try?  Or have you tried any of the ones I have been loving??  Let me know! xx