There can be something magical about winter evenings – glowing lights, inviting blankets, candle flames swaying hypnotically against the backdrop of a roaring fire, making us feel warm and comfortable, especially after we’ve drawn the curtains against the chilly evening or gray, rainy day that abounds in Britain.
Aromatherapy fits beautifully with this season, offering grounding, comfort and a deep sense of nourishment. And if we not only work with the plant-based magic of essential oils, but also incorporate beautiful, self-care rituals into the winter months, we can really embrace and enjoy the longer evenings.
But before we delve into blends and rituals, it’s worth exploring why they’re important: why rest is so important, how winter can help us embrace it, and how simple rituals can become anchors of well-being during the dark months.
Why rest is important (especially for our mental well-being)
Rest is not something we deserve – it is something we need.
It plays a crucial role in emotional balance, stress recovery and overall mental health. When we give ourselves real, intentional rest:
- Stress hormones reduce naturally
- The mood becomes more stable and resilient
- We become calmer, less reactive and more centered
- Sleep quality improves and supports emotional well-being
Without rest, the body can remain in ‘doing mode’ for far too long. Muscles tense, thoughts spin, and we lose touch with the grounded parts of ourselves that help us cope and feel safe.
Rest is nourishment. Rest is healing. And winter provides the perfect environment to welcome it.
How winter supports a restful life
I wrote in a previous article about how winter can help us slow down, and we only have to turn to nature to see how winter rest can be a beautiful experience. Trees draw their energy in, animals slow down or hibernate and the landscape becomes softer and quieter. As part of that same natural cycle, we – humans – must also follow that rhythm.
Winter gives us:
- More darkness, encouraging to taper off sooner
- A naturally slower seasonal pace
- Cozy indoor spaces that support self-care
- A feeling of turning inward emotionally and spiritually
When we honor this shift rather than resist it, winter becomes less of a challenge and more of a gentle refuge – a time to recover, reflect and soothe. Essential oils can help us with this.
Essential oils to embrace winter and create conscious rituals
Clary Sage is the ultimate essential oil that helps you combine an evening of self-care with a good night’s sleep, thanks to its calming properties.
Another restorative herbal essential oil is sweet marjoram, which is known to support restless sleep and help calm a busy mind.
Juniper berry is not only cleansing and clarifying for the mind, but can also support winter sluggishness thanks to its detoxifying properties.
If you need a pick-me-up during the winter months, look no further than the bright, zesty and refreshing scent of Grapefruit – often used to support Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). A great oil to gently push you towards an evening full of ritual.
Another oil that will help cheer you up after a cold winter day, and soothe emotional tension as you head into a relaxing night, is the warming and joyful aroma of sweet orange.
Frankincense, with its woody aroma, is a must for an evening full of rituals. It is a meditative oil that helps to slow the mind, ground you and deepen breathing.
Sandalwood has been used for centuries to calm and soothe the mind; it can help support anxiety, depression and other nervous system conditions. The grounding scent will have you feeling relaxed in no time.
It would be remiss of me not to include Lavender in this list – perhaps the best known essential oil for helping you feel calm, soothed and comforted after a busy day.
Each of these oils brings its own kind of winter magic – and once you’ve chosen one that speaks to you, you can start choosing a ritual.
What is a ritual?
A ritual is simply a small, intentional act that invites you to pause for a moment.
It doesn’t have to be elaborate or mystical; it’s a moment just for you, a way to say, “I’m here and I choose to take care of myself.”
Rituals help us slow down and get back into our bodies after busy, overstimulating days.
When you add aromatherapy, you deepen the sensory experience, grounding the mind, relaxing the nervous system, and creating a sense of comfort and presence.
How aromatherapy rituals help us embrace the winter evenings
Aromatherapy rituals can:
- Create warmth and emotional comfort
- Relieves the heaviness or gloomy mood that winter sometimes brings
- Helps you relax sooner and sleep more deeply
- Support reflection, journaling or just being quiet
- Bring back a sense of enchantment to the evenings
Aromatherapy rituals help us turn winter nights into something soothing, intentional, and nourishing.
Winter aromatherapy rituals
Below you will find a series of supporting rituals built around the essential oils mentioned above.
Snow Glow Evening Bath Ritual
Add 3 drops of lavender, 3 drops of clary sage and 2 drops of sweet marjoram to 50 g of Epsom salt or Himalayan pink salt. Mix and add to a warm bath. First mix the essential oils in 15 ml of bath oil so that they can be well dispersed in the water.
This bath ritual soothes tension, warms the heart space and helps transition to a restful night. You may want to add a candle, dim the lights, or listen to soft, soothing sounds.
Grounding ritual for the winter fireplace
A wonderful ritual before going to bed when someone is feeling scattered or overwhelmed.
Diffuse 2 drops of sandalwood, 2 drops of sweet orange and 3 drops of frankincense in water, in an electric aromatherapy diffuser or in a candle burner, and diffuse in your chosen room for up to 20 minutes. Sit near a soft light or flame. Place hands on chest and inhale deeply.
Diary ritual at nightfall
Simply distribute 7 drops of frankincense into your chosen diffuser (see above on how to diffuse) and choose one or all of the prompts for your journal:
- What am I letting go of tonight?
- What was a good moment today?
- What do I need more of this winter?
Restorative winter foot massage ritual
Add 2 drops of grapefruit and 1 drop of juniper to 5 ml of rosehip seed carrier oil, mix and massage into the feet – slowly and deliberately.
This ritual brings peace through touch – especially wonderful if your feet hurt after a busy day or are tense at night.
Aromatherapy Sleep Stone Ritual
Natural volcanic aromatherapy sleeping stones infused with organic essential oils of lavender and chamomile to support a more restful sleep can be a wonderful experience and ritual for your winter evening. Simply place the stones close to your bed 30 minutes before bedtime and let their soothing aroma fill your room. Breathe in and let them work their plant magic to put you into a restful sleep.
Once you’ve chosen your ritual for the evening, a short mindful meditation can help you take a moment to calm your body and mind before beginning the ritual.
Mindful meditation to use before every ritual
Sit, lie or stand comfortably and begin to feel gravity calm you down. You may notice that your feet are on the floor or your back is hitting a chair or mattress.
Let your shoulders soften and relax in this moment.
Begin to notice the rhythm of your own breathing – there is no need to speed it up or slow it down, just follow the natural rhythm, the natural flow.
Take a moment to notice how you feel in this moment.
Return to your breathing and silently offer yourself a gentle phrase with each inhalation and exhalation:
- May I feel safe
- May I feel rested
- May I embrace winter as it is.
If there is a phrase that appeals to you, repeat it as many times as you like and let it sink in.
As this short meditation begins to draw to a close, take a moment to notice how you feel right now. You may feel softer or calmer, or you may not notice any change.
Finally, start bringing small movements back into your body – a wiggle of your toes or fingers, a stretch, or moving your head back and forth.
If you feel able to do so, I invite you to open your eyes.
You are ready to begin your chosen ritual.
Final thoughts
As the nights grow longer, winter gives us a rare opportunity to slow down and return to ourselves. Aromatherapy, combined with simple rituals, helps us create moments of peace that feel both grounding and deeply restorative. Whether you choose a quiet meditation, a scented bath or a few mindful breaths, may these small actions become gentle anchors that carry you through the season with warmth and ease.
Kirsty Zomerbel
Advisor Aromatherapist
Disclaimer and safety advice