Our Easy Guide to Essential Oils
Whether you’re a novice or connoisseur of the essential oil world, there’s always room to find your favourite. While we’re quite fond of eucalyptus and lavender, there is a myriad of options to choose from. Extracted from plants for the most part, these potent oils have been around for centuries—and show no sign of slowing down.
What are essential oils?
In brief, essential oils are highly concentrated liquid plant extracts—which means that a little goes an extremely long way. They are usually obtained by using the most aromatic part of the plant to capture their essence. In the case of lavender, the flower spikes are used, whereas for grapefruit and other citrus, the rind is preferred.
Essential oils are commonly used in aromatherapy—that is to say, they are inhaled through various methods. It can stimulate parts of your brain that play essential roles in behaviours, long-term memory, and emotions.
At the spa, you’ll find beautifully scented and incredibly beneficial oils all around. During the Aufguss rituals, essential oils enrich snowballs become benefit-rich vapour in our sauna. Whilst in Banyä, the oils are mixed with exfoliating salts that leave you feeling reinvigorated. Every massage or body–care treatment is also accompanied by our own signature essential oil combo, to better relax each and every sense.
Keep in mind
Although essential oils are natural and very safe to use, a few basic should be kept in mind when entering their world:
- Should you apply oils topically, always dilute them in a carrier oil such as coconut, jojoba, sweet almond, argon, avocado or trusty olive oil;
- Always do a patch test before applying a diluted oil to the skin;
- A large majority of essential oils should not be ingested;
- And finally, if you have animals at home, do consult a specialist before using essential oils at home for aromatherapy.
Oils & their benefits
Here at the spa, we use aromatherapy to help our guests embark on their wellness journey. Over the years, we’ve gathered a collection of our favourite oils, both for their lovely scents and their holistic benefits. To help you recreate the spa experience at home, we’ve compiled below the essential oils used at Nordik Spa-Nature along with their benefits!
Sweet Orange
This sweet citrusy scent is known as a mood booster and is frequently used to reduce stress, pain, and inflammation—or simply as a way to freshen up a room!
Grapefruit
Quite differently from the previous essential oil, grapefruit has a more bitter and fresh scent. It is said to help balance moods, reduce stress, lower blood pressure, and regulate appetite. It is also antifungal.
Peppermint
A cross between spearmint and watermint, peppermint essential oil is used to relieve headaches, muscle pain and nausea. The fresh scent is also a great mood booster!
Rosemary
While taste is certainly one of them, this shrub holds many other benefits. Rosemary essential oil eases stress, reduces joint inflammation, boosts your mood and may even help your memory.
Eucalyptus
Our signature scent at the spa is eucalyptus globulus. This chest clearing essential oil is great at silencing coughs. Eucalyptus is also known to ease joint pain, release tensions and promote relaxation. As a bonus, it also keeps bugs at bay!
Tip: place a drop or two onto your shower floor to create a beautifully scented steam that will help you breathe easier and sleep better.
Tea Tree
This versatile essential oil is antibacterial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, and antiviral. It is often featured in natural deodorant and skin products.
Lavender
It’s no surprise that lavender finds itself on this list—after all, the subtly floral scent is synonymous with relaxation. Lavender essential oil is mainly used to relieve stress, alleviate headaches, and facilitate a good night’s sleep.
Cedarwood
This evergreen is heavily featured in cologne for its woodsy scent. However, cedarwood essential oil is a mood booster, reduces anxiety and sets the tone for a great night’s of sleep.
Pine
With the added benefit of making your house smell like a forest, pine essential oil is also known for reducing inflammation, relieving muscle fatigue, enhancing circulation and eliminating fatigue.
Ho Wood
For those who have never had the chance to smell Ho Wood essential oil, it is woody and floral with a bit of sweetness and citrus—somewhat similar to rosewood. It is mostly used to promote relaxation and tranquility.
Fragrance is strongly linked with our memories and emotions. It’s why we use essential oils at the spa to take you on a wellness journey from the moment you step through our doors. The aroma in a sauna during an Aufguss ritual or wafting through the air during your massage can help soothe and calm your senses.
Which scent brings you to your happy place?