There can be something magical about winter evenings – lights glowing, blankets inviting, candle flames swaying hypnotically to the backdrop of a roaring fire making us feel warm and comfy, especially after drawing the curtains to the cold evening or a grey, rainy day which are plentiful in the UK.
Aromatherapy weaves beautifully into this season, offering grounding, comfort, and a deep sense of nourishment. And when we not only work with the plant magic of essential oils, but also include beautiful, self-care rituals into the winter months, we can really embrace and begin to enjoy the longer evenings.
But before we dive into blends and rituals, it’s worth exploring why these matter — why rest is so vital, how winter can help us embrace it, and how simple rituals can become anchors of wellbeing during the darker months.
Why rest matters (especially for our mental wellbeing)
Rest is not something we earn — it’s something we need.
It plays a crucial role in emotional balance, stress recovery, and overall mental health. When we allow ourselves real, intentional rest:
- Stress hormones naturally reduce
- Mood becomes steadier and more resilient
- We become calmer, less reactive, and more centred
- Sleep quality improves, supporting emotional wellbeing
Without rest, the body can stay in “doing mode” far too long. Muscles tighten, thoughts keep spinning, 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 offers the perfect environment to welcome it in.
How winter supports restful living
I wrote in a previous article about how winter can help us to slow down, and we only need to turn to nature to see how rest can be a beautiful experience in winter. Trees withdraw their energy inward, animals slow or hibernate, and the landscape becomes softer and quieter. As part of that same natural cycle, we — humans — are meant to follow that rhythm too.
Winter gives us:
- More darkness, encouraging earlier winding down
- A naturally slower seasonal pace
- Cosy indoor spaces that support self-care
- A sense of turning inward emotionally and spiritually
When we honour this shift rather than resist it, winter becomes less of a challenge and more of a gentle sanctuary — a time to restore, reflect, and soften. Essential oils can help us to do just that.
Essential oils to help embrace winter and create mindful rituals
Clary Sage is the ultimate essential oil to help you embrace an evening of self-care along with a great night’s sleep, thanks to its sedative properties.
Another restorative herbal essential oil is Sweet Marjoram, known to support restless sleep and help calm a busy mind.
Juniperberry is not only cleansing and clarifying for the mind, but it can also be supportive for winter sluggishness thanks to its detoxification properties.
If you need an uplift during the winter months, then look no further than the bright, zingy and refreshing scent of Grapefruit – often used to support Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). A great oil to gently nudge you towards an evening of ritual.
Another oil to help lift your spirits after a cold winter’s day, and to soften emotional tension while easing you into a relaxing night, is the warming and joyful aroma of Sweet Orange.
Frankincense, with its woody aroma, is a must for an evening of ritual. It is a meditative oil which helps to slow the mind, ground you and deepen the breath.
Sandalwood has been used for centuries to calm and soothe the mind – it can help to support anxiety, depression and other nervous system disorders. Its 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 to help you begin to 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 begin choosing a ritual.
What is a ritual?
A ritual is simply a small, intentional act that invites you to pause.
It doesn’t need to be elaborate or mystical — it’s a moment just for you, a way of saying: “I’m here, and I’m choosing to care for myself.”
Rituals help us slow down and step 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 winter evenings
Aromatherapy rituals can:
- Create warmth and emotional comfort
- Ease the heaviness or low mood that winter sometimes brings
- Help you unwind earlier and sleep more deeply
- Support reflection, journaling, or simply being still
- Bring a sense of enchantment back to the evenings
Aromatherapy rituals help us to turn winter nights into something soothing, intentional, and nourishing.
Winter aromatherapy rituals
Below are a series of supportive rituals built around the essential oils listed above.
Snowglow Evening Bath Ritual
Add 3 drops Lavender, 3 drops Clary Sage, and 2 drops Sweet Marjoram to 50g of Epsom Salt or Himalayan Pink Salts. Mix and add to a warm bath. Mix the essential oils into 15ml of Bath Oil first to help them disperse well into the water.
This bath ritual softens tension, warms the heart space, and helps transition into a restful night. You may like to add a candle, dim lights, or listen to gentle soothing sounds.
Winter Hearth Grounding Ritual
A beautiful pre-bed ritual if someone feels scattered or overwhelmed.
Diffuse 2 drops Sandalwood, 2 drops Sweet Orange, and 3 drops Frankincense in water, in either an electrical aromatherapy diffuser or candle burner, and diffuse into your chosen room for a maximum of 20 minutes. Sit near a soft light or flame. Place hands over the chest and breathe deeply.
Nightfall Journaling Ritual
Simply diffuse 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 releasing tonight?
- What was one moment of beauty today?
- What do I need more of this winter?
Restorative Winter Foot Massage Ritual
Add 2 drops Grapefruit and 1 drop Juniperberry to 5ml of Rosehip Seed Carrier Oil, mix, and massage into feet – slowly and intentionally.
This ritual brings calm through touch — especially lovely if your feet are aching after a busy day or feel tense at night.
Aromatherapy Sleep Stone Ritual
Natural volcanic Aromatherapy Sleep Stones infused in organic Lavender and Chamomile essential oils to support more restful sleep can be a beautiful experience and ritual for your winter’s evening. Simply place the stones close to your bed 30 minutes prior to sleep and let their calming aroma fill your room. Breathe in and let them work their plant magic to ease 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 settle your mind and body prior to beginning the ritual.
Mindful meditation to use before any ritual
Sit, lie, or stand comfortably and begin to feel gravity settle you. Perhaps noticing your feet on the ground or your back touching a chair or mattress.
Let your shoulders soften and settle into this moment.
Begin to notice the rhythm of your own breathing — no need to increase it or slow it down, just follow its natural rhythm, its natural flow.
Take a moment to notice how you are feeling right now in this moment.
Returning to your breath, silently offer yourself a soft phrase with each inhale and exhale:
- May I feel safe
- May I feel rested
- May I embrace winter just as it is.
If there is a phrase which resonates with you, repeat it as many times as you want and let it settle in.
As this short meditation begins to draw to a close, take a moment to notice how you are feeling now. You may feel softer, calmer, or you may not notice any change.
Lastly, begin to bring small movements back into your body — a wiggle of your toes or fingers, a stretch, or moving your head from side to side.
When you feel able to do so, I’d invite you to open your eyes.
You are ready to start your chosen ritual.
Final thoughts
As the nights grow longer, winter gives us a rare chance to slow down and return to ourselves. Aromatherapy, paired 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 acts become gentle anchors that carry you through the season with warmth and ease.
Kirsty Summerbell
Consultant Aromatherapist
Disclaimer & Safety Advice