On Sunday the 25th of October, the clocks go back an hour. I'll be honest, I have mixed feelings about it every single year! On the one hand, there's that glorious extra hour in bed. On the other, I know that from Monday the darkness will be drawing in by teatime and many of us will be leaving work or doing the school run as the light fades. If you find this shift a little hard, you are certainly not alone and I'd love to share some of the ways we make these evenings feel softer, cosier and more nourishing.
One of my very favourite tools for this time of year is aromatherapy. Our sense of smell is beautifully direct. It's closely linked to the parts of the brain that deal with memory and emotion, which is why the scent of a certain perfume can take you straight back to your grandmother's house, or why freshly baked bread instantly makes a kitchen feel like home. When we use essential oils with intention, we can gently shift the feeling of a room, and of ourselves, in a matter of minutes.
A little bit about essential oils
Essential oils are concentrated aromatic extracts from plants: flowers, leaves, bark, resins, peels and roots. People have been using plant aromas for wellbeing for thousands of years, from the frankincense burned in ancient temples to the lavender bags our great-grandmothers tucked into their linen drawers. Today, they're one of the simplest and most affordable ways to bring a little self-care into everyday life.
A quick but important note on safety before we begin. Essential oils are very potent, so they should never be swallowed or applied undiluted to the skin. Always dilute them in a carrier oil for massage or bathing, keep them out of reach of children and pets, and do check with your GP or midwife before using them if you're pregnant or have a medical condition. Our roller ball oils are already blended and ready to use, which makes them a lovely, easy place to start.
Five oils for autumn evenings
Lavender is the oil I'd take to a desert island. It's soft, floral and deeply calming, and it's wonderful for helping you unwind at the end of a long day. A couple of drops in a diffuser an hour before bed, or on a tissue tucked into your pillowcase, can make bedtime feel like a treat rather than a chore. If you love incense too, Stamford's lavender incense cones have been a customer favourite for years.
Bergamot is the citrus oil that gives Earl Grey tea its distinctive flavour. It has a beautifully balanced scent, uplifting and calming at the same time, and it's lovely when you're feeling a bit flat or out of sorts. Bergamot can make skin more sensitive to sunlight, so it's best enjoyed in a diffuser rather than on the skin.
Eucalyptus is the fresh, clearing scent that so many of us reach for once the cold and flu season arrives. A few drops in a diffuser can make a stuffy room feel fresh and open again.
You'll find our full range of essential oils and our oil burners and diffusers online and in the shop.
Simple aromatherapy rituals for the darker months
Rituals don't need to be complicated. In fact, I think the most powerful ones are the little things we do every day, with love and attention. Here are a few of my favourites.
The morning wake-up. When it's still dark outside as the alarm goes off, it can be hard to get going. Try a few drops of sweet orange or bergamot in a diffuser in the kitchen while the kettle boils. It's a small, bright moment that says good morning to the day.
The coming-home ritual. When you get home in the dark, before you take off your coat and dive into the next thing, light an oil burner with a few drops of your favourite oil. That gentle flicker and the scent rising through the room is a lovely signal that you've arrived, that the busy part of the day is done and that it's time to come back to you.
The candlelit bath. Once a week, run yourself a warm bath, add a few drops of lavender blended into a tablespoon of carrier oil, dim the lights and light a candle. Put your phone in another room. Even twenty minutes can feel like a mini retreat.
The bedtime wind-down. An hour before bed, switch off the big lights, diffuse lavender or frankincense, and do something gentle. Read a few pages of a book, write in your journal, or pull an oracle card and reflect on it. Your nervous system will thank you.
Why slowing down matters
There's a reason so many of us feel tired at this time of year. Nature is slowing down, and our bodies feel it too. Instead of pushing against it, what if we leaned in? The Danish have their hygge, the art of cosiness, and I think we could all do with a little more of it: candles, blankets, warm drinks, beautiful scents, good books and good company. None of it costs very much, yet it can make an enormous difference to how we feel.
It's so easy to spend the winter months rushing from one thing to the next, leaving home in the dark, coming home in the dark, and barely noticing the seasons at all. Growing up around Quest, one of the things I've learnt is how much wisdom there is in following nature's rhythm instead. Rest isn't laziness. It's how we restore ourselves, and how we make space to hear our own quiet inner voice beneath all the noise.
Come and smell for yourself
One of the joys of working in the shop is watching people's faces light up when they smell an oil they love. If you're nearby, do come in and try our testers. We're always happy to help you find a scent that feels right for you. And if you're shopping online, everything is sent out the same day, so your autumn cosiness is never far away.
Wishing you warm, fragrant, candlelit evenings this autumn and a gentle reminder that the peace you're looking for is already within you. 🕯️
With love, Amelia x 🌸