Aromatherapy • Jun 15, 2026
Staying Active: Aromatherapy Relief for Aches & Pains
Hormones & Health As the weather gets warmer, we’re naturally drawn to spend more time outdoors doing activities such as gardening, walking, running, swimming or playing sports. Exercise is not only vital to keep our body in optimum health, it also gives us a natural ‘feel-good’ boost due to a cocktail of hormones being released. During […]
Aromatherapy • Feb 5, 2026
Essential Oils for Keeping Winter Viruses at Bay… The Natural Way
Aromatic Botanical Prevention of Winter Viruses The winter months often present a challenge for our health in the northern hemisphere since illnesses such as colds, flu, covid and other respiratory infections proliferate. Often, it’s difficult to identify which bug we’re dealing with, as viruses tend to mutate and change over time. Plunging temperatures, lack of […]
Folklore • Nov 21, 2025
A Botanical & Aromatic Christmas with Festive Recipe Ideas
Ceremonies for the land no doubt existed, but it seems they did not survive … I think there is wisdom in regenerating them here, as a means to form bonds with the land. To have agency in the world, ceremonies should be reciprocal, co-creations, organic, in nature, in which the community creates ceremony, and the […]
Aromatherapy • Oct 10, 2025
Rosehip Seed Oil: A Regenerative Gift from Nature
Botanical, medicinal & therapeutic background Rosehips or rose haws, are the fruit produced by all types of rose of the Rosaceae family, this includes the common English dog rose, (Rosa Canina) which can be found growing in the wild amongst hedgerows and waysides in the countryside as well as in cities. The beautiful, rich-red rose […]
Aromatherapy • Jun 5, 2025
The Botanical Home
I’m delighted to announce the publication of my new book ‘The Botanical Home’. I’ve been researching this material for several years and I’m very happy with the finished product: a beautifully illustrated volume featuring stunning photographs, which have been largely taken or chosen by my daughter Tasha. Here is an excerpt from the Introduction: At […]
Aromatherapy • Mar 3, 2025
Springtime Renewal: An Aromatic Guide
The Spring Equinox The Spring Equinox in March brings with it the potential of new beginnings, warmer weather and days spent outdoors. This astronomical event marks the official beginning of Spring, when the sun crosses the equator, resulting in equal periods of day and night: it’s a moment of celestial balance and harmony. As the […]
Aromatherapy • Dec 5, 2024
Christmas DIY aromatherapy recipes, perfect for gifting
Here are a few festive aromatic recipes from my new beautifully illustrated book ‘The Botanical Home’ published by Hale coming out in April 2025. All these classic Christmas treats are easy to make and make wonderful gifts: a lovely and creative, craft-inspired pastime to do with children. Festive Scented Candles Why not try making your […]
Aromatherapy • Jun 4, 2024
Aromatherapy Support for Men’s Health & Wellness
Men’s Health Week Men’s Health Week falls this month between the 10th-16th June and is aimed at encouraging men to take responsibility for their health by promoting different means by which they can enhance both their physical and mental well-being. One of the first basic steps to a greater sense of fulfilment is that of […]
Aromatherapy • Apr 30, 2024
An Aromatherapy Approach to Supporting Woman’s Health
Female Hormonal Fluctuations & Changes Many of the health issues specific to women involve hormonal changes brought about by menstruation, which generally starts between the ages of 10 to 15, or by the menopause when the monthly cycle ends, between the ages of 45 to 55 years. Pain associated with menstruation is called dysmenorrhea and […]
Aromatherapy • Mar 1, 2024
The Vernal Equinox: Aromatic Spring Cleaning & Space Clearing
The Vernal or Spring equinox which falls between the 19th- 21st March every year is the time when the sun is exactly above the equator, so the day and night are of equal length. For the ancient Romans, the spring equinox was a day to celebrate the deity Cybele, a goddess closely associated with nature […]
Aromatherapy • Jun 6, 2023
Roses & the Aromatic Herbs of Shakespeare
‘I know a bank where the wild thyme blows, Where oxlips and the nodding violet grows, Quite over-canopied with luscious woodbine, With sweet musk-roses and with eglantine…’ – Oberon: A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Act 2, Scene 1 Elizabethan Gardens The plays of William Shakespeare reflect his great affinity for flowers and aromatic plants. Elizabethan […]
Aromatherapy • Jan 4, 2023
How to Make a Natural Aromatherapy Reed Diffuser
How to make a natural aromatherapy reed diffuser at home Homemade reed diffusers are easy to make, cost very little and make a lovely aesthetic alternative to the more standard oil burners or electric diffusers. Placed in a kitchen or bathroom, for example, they will emit an ongoing gentle fragrance and provide a healthy, hygienic […]
Aromatherapy • Oct 31, 2022
Creating Homemade Aromatherapy Christmas Gifts
Some ideas for hand-made aromatic Christmas gifts Herbs, spices and perfumes have traditionally played a major role during the festive season. The power of fragrance is well known for its ability to stir the creative imagination while the warmth of spices can help to ward off any colds and chills over the winter months. Perfumes […]
Beauty • Jul 2, 2022
Daily Skincare Rituals: Toning
Our top natural skincare toners Toners are light liquids that are applied to the face and neck directly or applied to a recyclable cotton pad (or ideally a reusable washable pad) to gently remove the last traces of a cleanser or any remaining make up before moisturising. Toners should always be applied directly after thoroughly […]
Aromatherapy • May 17, 2022
Hair Care: An Aromatherapy Approach
Looking after our hair can be a pleasurable and rewarding experience since our hair says a lot about how we feel about ourselves. The condition of our hair is also a good indicator of our overall state of health and well-being.
Aromatherapy • Aug 4, 2021
Ayurveda & Aromatherapy: The Science of Longevity
In March this year, I participated in an Ayurvedic workshop to coincide with the Spring Equinox. Ayurveda is a very ancient Indian health system, also known as the ‘science of longevity’, since it guides the individual on how to live a long life using a variety of naturopathic techniques: ayur means ‘life or longevity’; veda […]
Beauty • Jul 25, 2021
Summer Extremes: Heat Protection Using Aromatics
July has seen unprecedented heat waves and wild fires in the US and Canada while catastrophic floods hit Germany and Belgium in recent weeks. Late July also brought some very hot weather to the UK and early August is predicted to bringing more spells of strong heat. Although the sunshine is most welcome after our […]
Aromatherapy • Aug 28, 2019
Capturing the Scent of Summer: My new ‘Essential Aromatherapy Garden’ book
In August, during the heat of the summer, many of the most highly fragrant plants are in full bloom. Here in Tuscany, the warm air is suffused with the richly perfumed scents of damask roses, sprays of classic lavender and mountain herbs such as wild thyme, marjoram and sage. I find it impossible to walk […]
Aromatherapy • Nov 7, 2018
The ‘Botanical Bible’ & a Winter Body Oil Recipe
I was fortunate to attend the launch of the ‘Botanical Bible’ in London recently, a beautifully illustrated book written by Sonya Patel Ellis which has just been published by William Collins. It represents a very ambitious project in that it covers not only the evolutionary history of botanical plants but also their prominent cultural role […]
Aromatherapy • Aug 21, 2018
Mountain Treasure: Aroma-therapeutic Benefits of Juniperberry
Here in Colorado, on the slopes of the Rocky Mountains, the trees need to be tough to survive the hard winters and the parched dry summers of this high- altitude terrain. The highest-known juniper forests occurs at altitudes of over 16,000 feet in south-eastern Tibet and the northern Himalayas, creating one of the highest tree-lines […]
Aromatherapy • May 23, 2018
Yoga & Aromatherapy: Make your own Bespoke Yoga Mat Spray
What does Yoga mean to you? Yoga is everywhere nowadays! You can find yoga classes on every street and the benefits of yoga are broadcast far and wide on the internet: but what is yoga? To some people it is simply an exercise as a means to promote physical flexibility or to lose weight; to […]
Aromatherapy • Nov 15, 2017
The Allure of Spices & How to Make a Warming Winter Body Oil
The changing seasons are something to be enjoyed and celebrated in the UK. Winter brings with it the promise of clear frosty nights and the festive cheer of Christmas with the pleasure of traditional warm spicy scents, such as cinnamon, ginger and clove mixed with aromas of pine needles and oranges. It is no wonder […]
Beauty • Feb 8, 2017
How To Make Your Own Facial Serum
Facial Oils & Natural Skincare DIY natural skincare is growing in popularity because of how effective it is at dramatically improving the health of our skin. One product that has attracted a great deal of attention in recent years is the increased use of botanical facial oils – or skin serums – as opposed to […]
Aromatherapy • Dec 19, 2014
The Perfect Aromatic Winter Gift
Making your own hand-made gifts in the run up to Christmas is fun, especially for children. Here is a recipe for creating a Christmas pot-pourris blend that is delightful yet simple to make: Collect autumn leaves, petals and decorative seed heads while out walking. Dry the selected seeds, petals and leaves by laying them on […]