6 Essential Oils to Shift Your Mood




But first, a little history... 


“Aromatherapy (the use of essential oils and plant extracts) has been a subject of interest for thousands of years. The ancient Greeks, Romans, Chinese, and Indians used essential oils for rituals and religious practices, recognizing the oils’ ability to influence human feelings. Even with this rich history of aromatherapy, the term wasn’t officially coined until the 20th century, and it took many years for the scientific community to recognize the emotional benefits of aromatherapy. After substantial research in the 1990s, biologists began to more fully understand how chemical sensors in the body respond to the effects of scent. This research has opened many minds to a concept that ancient civilizations discovered long ago: aromatherapy can have a remarkable effect on human emotion and mood.”
 
The above passage comes directly from a doTERRA brochure on emotional aromatherapy. You can read the full brochure by clicking the link below.  
 

 
 
Smell is one of the most powerful senses, smell helps connect us to other people and the world around us. One of the more common instances I’ve heard of smells is when people are reminded of loved ones they’ve lost by a certain smell. I’ve heard more than one person say that the smell of tobacco reminds them of a hugging a grandparent. 
 
You’ve probably had certain memories triggered through smell. Does the smell of fresh pine make you think of Christmas? Some people who have been through traumatic events will often not remember the scenes of the event, but will remember the smell. 
 
In fact, your sense of smell is 10,000 times more sensitive than any other senses. 
 
So why does smell have such an impact on us? 
 
Here’s a little physiology lesson... 
 
Our brains are wired to work directly with scent. It all starts with olfactory system, which is made up of all the organs that support the sense of smell. The second an aroma reaches our nose the olfactory bulbs inside the nasal cavity begin to decode the message to send to the brain. The primitive part of our brain, also known as the limbic system, houses all our memories, stores emotions, manages behavior responses, and influences mood, hunger, and sex drive. 
 
Essential oils have the power to give the limbic system something new to work with. If your natural response is to become withdrawn when you are sad, certain essential oils have uplifting effects on the limbic system. Instead of slipping into that sadness further, uplifting essential oils can support you in reacting differently and coming out of that place of withdrawnness. 
 
When you are experiencing a bout of anxiety or fearfulness, calming essential oils can send a signal to the limbic system to soothe your mind and to soothe that fear response within your body. Moods and emotions are formed within the brain and so our reactions to those moods can also be changed within the brain. 
 
The below information on calming and uplifting oils also comes as direct quotes from doTERRA’s brochure on emotional aromatherapy that is linked at the top. Due to the scientific nature of the explanations of these oils and their effects I did not feel comfortable paraphrasing. 
 

Calming Oils

 
“Essential oils in the floral category are typically composed of mono terpene alcohols, which hold calming properties. Tree, herb, and grass oils are known to promote grounding, soothing emotions and feelings of renewal, as they primarily include sesquiterpenes, esters, and oxides.”
 
 

Uplifting Oils

 
“With a high concentration of ketones, mint essential oils are commonly known to be energizing and uplifting. Citrus oils typically possess significant uplifting characteristics, with chemical components like limonene, beta-pinene, and monoterpenes. Many spice essential oils are known for their warming properties, which come from phenols.” 
 
 
How to Use Essential Oils to Support Different Emotions
 
doTERRA has a set of six essential oils that are specifically designed to be used as a system for emotional aromatherapy. 
 
 
Below you will find a chart that is referred to as an emotional therapy wheel created by doTERRA. 
 

 

To see a more in-depth wheel you can click the link below to down load the pdf. 

The doTERRA Emotional Aromatherapy System Wheel


Reading the chart can be a little tricky at first, basically each blend is made up of two plant families.  Motivate is a mix of mint and citrus. Cheer is a mix of citrus and spices. Passion is a mix of spices and herbs/grasses. Forgive is a mix of herbs/grasses and trees. Console is a mix of trees and florals. Peace is a mix of florals and mint. 
 

How to Choose a Blend

 
Here is how to use the chart. 
 
Start by identifying the emotion you are feeling. 
 

Discouraged, gloomy, and distressed all fall under the citrus category. Whereas fearful, worried, and hurt fall under the floral category. You may find that you are feeling fearful and distressed in this case you could blend the two corresponding emotional blends for ultimate relief. So, for fearful the corresponding blend would be Peace and for distressed the corresponding blend would be cheer. 
 
Research shows that varying aromas stimulate different pathways in the brain. Some aromas are calming while others are uplifting, but because everyone’s brain chemistry is different you may find that when you are feeling distressed you actually prefer a mix of minty and citrusy aromas and in that case, you would chose Motivate. This is why the blends are placed into a circle graph with corresponding feelings that can overlap. 
 
If you prefer to watch the video of my review of these 6 blends you can watch that here. 

 
 
 

The 6 Blends 

I'm going to share with you a little bit about some of my favorite blends in the aromatherapy emotional kits. I will also discuss the different single oils that make up each proprietary blend and how to use them.  
 
 
Each set contains the following blends Motivate, Cheer, Passion, Forgive, Console, and Peace. 
 
There are two options for purchasing these oil blends in a set. 

 

doTERRA Emotional Aromatherapy Touch Kit  

This kit comes pre-diluted with fractionated coconut oil and in roller bottles for the 
convenience of just rolling these oils whenever you feel like you need some emotional support 

There are 6 10mL Roll-ons in this kit 

Retail price is: $133.33

Wholesale price is: $100.00  
 
 

doTERRA Emotional Aromatherapy System Kit 

This kit contains the same six blends as the Aromatherapy Touch Kit, but
 instead of roll-on bottles, this kit comes with 6 5mL bottles of undiluted oil. 
This is the perfect kit if you want to be able to diffuse these oils. 

I love the roll-on bottles, but if you only have the budget to purchase one of these kits, 
I would purchase this kit and make your own roll-on bottles with fractionated coconut oil 
and about 20-30 drops of whichever oil you want to make into a roller. 

Also, when you diffuse oils throughout your home the entire family gets to reap the 
benefits of whichever oil you are diffusing, which means their limbic
 systems will be stimulated along with yours. 

I say start with 20-30 drops, but doTERRA does not release the information of how 
much oil is in each roller, so start with 20-30 drops and play around with it. 

This kit retails for $212.00 

Wholesale price is: $159.00 

 






 
 

If you need help selecting a diffuser here is a link to my blog post where I review all of doTERRA’s diffusers: doTERRA Essential Oil Diffuser Review. 


Motivate

 
Up first we have the Motivate Blend, this is the blend you will find at the top of our wellness circle. Motivate is a combination of citrus oils and mint oils. 
 
Motivate Ingredients: Peppermint Plant, Clementine Peel, Coriander Seed, Basil Herb, Yuzu Peel, Melissa Leaf, Rosemary Leaf, Vanilla Bean Absolute

 
Aroma: Fresh, Clean, Minty 
 
This blend smells uplifting, I would consider putting in my diffuser or putting on if I'm getting ready to work on a task, I want to focus for the day, or I'm getting ready to do a workout. 
 
This blend can be used aromatically or topically; if you have sensitive skin, I recommend either using the roll-on Touch blend or diluting this oil yourself. 
 
I like to apply this directly to my hands and take a deep breath in. I even occasionally will roll this on my chest. If you know this is an oil you will use exclusively on your body, go ahead and get it in the Touch version, but if you know you will occasionally want to diffuse it, get the 5mL bottle. 
 
I have included a free download with print at home stickers that you can use to to label your DIY rollers and make them more aesthetically pleasing. Just click the link below and print them on round sicker paper. 
 

Free Printable Stickers

 

Cheer

 
Up next, we have the Cheer Blend. Cheer is a combination of citrus and spices. This is a really playful fun blend it smells spicy and citrusy just like it's supposed to. 
 
Cheer Ingredients: Wild Orange Peel, Clove Bud, Star Anise Fruit/Seed, Lemon Myrtle Leaf, Nutmeg Kernel, Vanilla Bean Extract, Ginger Rhizome, Cinnamon Bark, Zdravetz Herb
 



Aroma: Fresh, Spicy, Warm 
 
 
I use this blend when I'm feeling down, having an off day, or if it's rainy and dreary outside. This is one that I absolutely love to put in my diffuser because it smells cheerful, it's fun, it's playful, and it uplifts the mood of the whole house. 
 

Passion

 
The next blend is an absolute favorite of mine.

Passion Blend is a combination of herbs/grasses and spices. 

This is an oil I like to wear daily as a perfume. It smells sexy and even has a bit of a floral scent to me, even though that is not the description. The floral scent comes from the Jasmine oil. 
 
Passion Ingredients: Fractionated Coconut Oil, Cardamom Seed, Cinnamon Bark, Ginger Rhizome, Clove Bud, Sandalwood Wood, Jasmine Flower Absolute, Vanilla Bean Absolute, Damiana Leaf
 



Aroma: Spicy, Warm, Rich
 
I like to wear Passion on my pulse points and for date nights I like to wear rose oil over my heart and passion on pulse points. I know I'm in for a really good evening when I combine the two oils. 
 

Forgive

 
The next blend on our graph is the Forgive Blend. 

This oil has a combination of herbs/grasses and trees aroma. I love diffusing this oil throughout my house. 
 
Forgive Ingredients: Spruce Leaf, Bergamot Peel, Juniper Berry Fruit, Myrrh Resin, Arborvitae Wood, Nootka Tree Wood, Thyme Leaf, Citronella Herb



 
Aroma: Herbaceous, Fresh, Woody 
 
 
This is a really healing oil it smells grassy and sweet at the same time. Forgive is one that helps just kind of release any of those emotions where you don't feel like yourself or feel like you are carrying a lot of heavy emotions. 
 
This is another oil that I like to combine with Rose oil. Rose oil also has an emotional component, so I like to use Rose oil over my heart and Forgive on the bottoms of my feet. When I wear the two oils together and go out in public, I am often complimented on how good I smell, and people ask what perfume I am wearing. 
 
When my daughter is fussy, I will put Forgive on the bottoms of her feet to calm her down. 


Console


The second to last oil on our chart is the Console Blend. 

This oil is a combination of trees and floral scents. Console has a very earthy smell to me. I keep extras of this oil to give as gifts to people who are grieving either the loss of a job, a loved one, or a pet; there is nothing that can replace those grievances, but I like to let people know I am thinking about them and I care. This oil is really beneficial from someone who is on a journey of healing.  
 
Console Ingredients: Frankincense Resin, Patchouli Leaf, Ylang Ylang Flower, Labdanum Stem/Twig, Amyris Bark, Sandalwood Wood, Rose Flower, Osmanthus Flower
 



Aroma: Sweet, Musky, Floral 
 
While the description is earthy and floral smelling, it definitely smells more earthy to me. I prefer to use this oil on the bottoms of my feet due to the earthy aroma. I love the effects of this oil on my mood, but I don’t really want the scent on my pulse points. 
 

Peace


The last oil on our chart is Peace. 

This is a really fun oil this is a combination of the florals and mint aromas. This one is also very grounding, a very earthy oil, but a little bit brighter with some of those florals compared to the Console blend.
 
Peace Ingredients: Vetiver Root, Lavender Flower, Ylang Ylang Flower, Frankincense Resin, Clary Sage Flower, Marjoram Leaf, Labdanum Leaf/Stalk, Spearmint Herb
 



Aroma: Sweet, Rich, Minty 
 
This has been one of my daughter's favorite since she was a baby. I am linking a video of her as a baby, she was incredibly fussy and I just opened a bottle of peace, put it under her nose, and she just started smiling and stopped crying. 
 
I like to use this oil before yoga on the bottoms of my feet. Sometimes I like to put it up my forehead or anywhere that I feel like I could use a little bit more Peace. 

I love that essential oils help to enhance my holistic health and that of my family. So much of our physical health depends on our mental health. I would love to help you reach your wellness goals with essential oils as well, so if you have any questions or need help getting started do not hesitate to contact me. 

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