It’s been another challenging year as we adapt to life with restrictions, social distancing, missing loved ones overseas, and a severe lack of freedom to travel. These challenges make Chinese New Year celebrations even more important to us as we get ready to usher in the new year of the Tiger with good health and prosperity.
Here are my favorite oils and some simple tips for you to enhance the energy of your space and use positive aromas to welcome in the new year. May these essential oil aromatherapy diffuser blends bring you and your family happiness and prosperity!
8 essential oils for a prosperous Lunar new year
1. Tangerine (Citrus reticulata) Essential oil
Tangerine is bright, refreshing, and rejuvenating. Its brightness can help clear the mind and reduce nervous tension. It is also helping support the immune system. The tangerine essential oil can help support the digestive system, such as calming a queasy stomach, when added to a carrier oil and applied to the abdomen.
2. Ginger (Zingiber officinale) CO2 extract
Ginger is an herb that is used a lot in Asian cuisine and Traditional Chinese Medicine. The CO2 extract is energetically and physically warming; it is stimulating. The ginger CO2 extracts are even hotter than the essential oil since the CO2 extracts contain gingerols, which are warming/hot chemical constituents. Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioner, acupuncturist, and aromatherapy pioneer Peter Holmes recommend ginger essential oil for self-confidence, courage, and motivation[source]. Like the essential oil, I have found that ginger CO2 extract can be used to help stimulate the mind, courage, and willpower.
Ginger root (the herb) and ginger essential oil are used in western rituals for love, success, and wealth. I have used the CO2 extract for similar uses.
Check out my DIY beauty projects using Ginger Root CO2 Extract:
3. Lemon (Citrus x limon) essential oil
Lemon has a fresh, zesty citrus scent that is refreshing, energizing, and uplifting; this scent is invigorating to the senses and wonderful to smell. It has a bright, cheerful aroma which helps revitalize moods and bring more energy to your space. This strong, but refreshing scented aroma is known to support a healthy immune system, uplift and revitalize
4. Bergamot (Citrus bergamia) essential Oil
Bergamot Essential Oil is citrusy but the complex floral and warm accents are really what enhances the aroma. The bright scent of Bergamot is reminiscent of oranges, but with subtler notes. When taking it in, it is known to help boost and enlighten moods, especially during times of sadness or grief.
Check out my formulations using Bergamot Essential Oil:
- CITRUS HAIR-FORTIFYING LOTION SPRAY
- BERGAMOT TEA TREE HAIR CONDITIONING BAR
- GINGER BERGAMOT HAIR CONDITIONER
5. Kumquat (Fortunella japonica) essential oil
Kumquat Essential Oil is not just any citrus essential oil. Especially high in Limonene, it gives a bright, beautiful aroma, along with a bounty of benefits. When diffused, it can help uplift the senses and energize the mind. If you need a morning boost or an afternoon pick-me-up, Kumquat can get you going. Kumquat’s properties can help bring you back to calm when feeling flustered with emotions. In addition, it can help support a healthy immune system. The rich scent adds a remarkable freshness to clear a stale room while creating a positive environment.
6. Sweet Orange (Citrus sinensis) Essential Oil
Sweet Orange is most commonly known for its wonderful uplifting and calming scent. It just feels like a “happy” oil! When diffused, it can help with nervous tension, sadness, and can also improve the aroma of a stale room. It can also help support the normal function of the immune system.
7. Peppermint (Mentha x piperita) Essential Oil
Peppermint has been used for centuries for its revitalizing properties. Steam distilled from the leaves of the mint plant, Peppermint Essential Oil creates a strongly aromatic scent that has a fresh, cool, grassy-minty smell. This scent is invigorating to the senses and helps promote energy and alertness. Peppermint is a refreshing and stimulating oil that is both soothing and enlightening.
8. Lemongrass (Cymbopogon flexuosus) Essential oil
Lemongrass essential oil has been associated with attracting wealth and good fortune in my culture. It is refreshing and deodorizing when diffused, as well as being uplifting to the spirit. Simply diffuse Lemongrass to help revitalize the mind and body.
- RELATED POST: How to use essential oils as mosquito repellent
Why did I choose these essential oils
During Chinese New Year, we eat and give all types of oranges as gifts. This may include sweet oranges (Citrus sinensis), mandarins, clementines (Citrus x clementina), and tangerines (Citrus reticulata). Around Chinese New Year, you might see mandarins, clementines, or tangerines offered with the leaves still attached to the fruits in your local supermarkets. Sometimes mini orange or kumquat trees are given as gifts. Oranges, mandarins, clementines, tangerines, and kumquats represent good fortune, prosperity, good luck, wealth, and health.
Essential oils were not traditionally used in my culture. But I have found that citrus family essential oils seem to have the same energetics as their fruits, so I have included them in this blend. I recommend using citrus essential oils like tangerine, kumquat, lemon, sweet orange, and bergamot essential oil to help draw good fortune to you. To enhance the positivity I also included very uplifting essential oils like ginger CO2 extract, lemongrass, and peppermint essential oil.
Happiness & Prosperity Chinese New Year Aromatherapy Diffuser Blend
If you love to mix things up a bit and want to create some custom diffuser blends for your Chinese New Year gathering, here are some of our favorite combinations to inspire you. But don’t be afraid to tweak these recipes to suit your aroma preference. Blending different essential oils in your diffuser is a great way to customize an aroma for your home that you will love, and sparks joy over the holidays.
Lunar Celebrations
- 2 drops Tangerine (Citrus reticulata) essential oil
- 2 drops Sweet Orange (Citrus sinensis) essential oil
- 1 drop Peppermint (Mentha x piperita) essential oil
Prosperity Blend
- 2 drops Tangerine (Citrus reticulata) essential oil
- 2 drops Kumquat (Citrus japonica aka Fortunella japonica) essential oil
- 1 drop Ginger (Zingiber officinale) CO2 extract
Be Fearless Blend
- 2 drops Bergamot (Citrus bergamia) essential oil
- 2 drops Sweet Orange (Citrus sinensis) essential oil
- 1 drop lemongrass (Cymbopogon flexuosus) essential oil
Citrus essential oils represent sunniness and happiness in aromatherapy. They are refreshing and uplifting. These blends can be diffused day or night. For the oils that I recommended above without diffuser blend recipes, you can diffuse them as a single oil directly. I normally diffuse them 5~6 drops for a 250ml diffuser.
Research all essential oils and CO2 extracts well before use, to make sure they are safe to use for your specific situation. For example, many essential oils and CO2 extracts may be safe for most people, but they might not be the best choice for you.
Lastly…
I found that ever since I am in adulthood, new year and christmas are not as funny as when I was a kid, as we grow older, the more stressful it is during the preparation before the festive seasons. As a parent now myself, I discover that I barely have time to rest. One of my self-love goal in 2022, is to learn to relax and enjoy life better. After all, life is too short to be stressful all the time. These diffuser blends help me to stay positive and uplifting, and I hope it does the same to you.
And lastly, happy lunar new year drippers! May this year of tiger bring you more prosperity and be fearless like a tiger!
Calleigh
Hi, I am Calleigh, MEng Chemical Engineering and a process engineer, and I'm here to show you how to DIY your skincare and household products with the correct formulation and using only natural ingredients. I believe that eating good food (Yes I have cooking recipes too!) and living in a chemical-free environment are the keys to having a healthy lifestyle. And that doesn't need to be expensive.
