Fall Scents
RITUAL: Seasonal Scents | SEASON: Fall | MONTH: September
As soon as cozy season arrives, people begin shopping for and lighting Fall scented candles in their homes. Before I knew any better, my favorite candle smelled of hazelnut. However, most scented candles are made with synthetic fragrance oils that are highly toxic.
There are natural alternatives to scented candles that smell just as good. And while there might be a bit of an initial investment or a bit more effort required to make your home smell delicious, your health is worth it!
Homemade Candles
To make your own candles combine equal parts beeswax and coconut oil and add your favorite blend of essential oils. You can use the tempered glass and heat safe containers you already have. Just get a candle making kit with some wooden wicks. Then, once poured, let them cure for a few weeks before lighting them.
Essential Oil Blends
Instead of lighting scented candles, diffuse Autumnal essential oil blends. Give your essential oil diffusers a thorough cleaning before each new season, if not monthly. Use filtered or distilled water and 7-10 drops of your favorite Fall blend.
doTERRA has a Fall “Gathering Blend”, called Harvest Spice. I like to combine Harvest Spice with OnGuard in the Fall. Or, you can make your own Autumnal blend with Wild Orange, Cassia or Cinnamon Bark, Clove Bud, Ginger and Madagascar Vanilla. You could also add Cedarwood, if you like.
Pumpkin Spice Blend - 2 drops Cinnamon Bark, 2 drops Clove Bud, 2 drops Nutmeg and 2 drops Ginger. (Mountain Rose Herbs has Nutmeg Essential Oil.)
Masala Chai Blend - 2 drops Bergamot, 2 drops Cinnamon, 2 drops Cardamom, 2 drops Clove Bud, 2 drops Fennel and 1 drop Ginger
Simmer Pots
You can simmer Fall fruit and spices on the stove or in a small crock pot. Just add some water, apple and pear cores, a sliced orange, fresh ginger root, cinnamon sticks, whole cloves, allspice and star anise and a teaspoon of vanilla. Turn to low and leave the lid off so the warm and spicy scents can waft through the house.
Potpourri
Potpourri is making a comeback since it was popular in the ‘80’s. And it’s easy to make you own festive bowl to display on a coffee table, countertop, fireplace mantle or bookshelf. Collect some pinecones, acorns, walnuts, fall leaves and cedar chips. Add some dehydrated orange slices or dried orange peel, coffee beans, cinnamon sticks, whole cloves and star anise. Refresh the once a week with a few drops of your favorite Fall essential oil blend.
Coffee Bean Candle
Fill a glass vase with whole dark roast coffee beans. Add a few drops of Wld Orange, Cinnamon Bark or Madagascar Vanilla. Then, place an unscented votive in the coffee beans and light the candle to warm them and activate the rich aromas.
Baked Goods
Nothing makes you house smell better than the scent of fresh baked bread, cookies or pie. For the Fall, bake some pumpkin bread, cinnamon rolls, snickerdoodles or an apple pie. Try new recipes or make some of your family favorites during the cozy season.
Fall Coffee Flavors
If you like making coffee at home and you’d like to enjoy some Fall inspired flavors this time of year, but without all of the artificial flavorings, try adding some spices and essential oils to your grounds before brewing a pot or pouring hot water into your French press. Make sure to use only therapeutic grade essential oils. I like adding Wild Orange, ground cinnamon and a pinch of sea salt to the coffee grounds in my pour over. You could also add a drop of OnGuard or pumpkin pie spice to your coffee.
Autumnal Herbal Teas
This time a year, I like to make my own herbal tea blends with dried herbs and warming spices. Tea bags can be toxic, so it’s a good idea to begin collecting some loose leaf teas instead. You can also freeze-dry or dehydrate some herbs from your garden, orange or lemon peel, apple slices and ginger root.
Masala Chai - One of my favorite herbal blends is a masala chai, which means “mixed spice tea”. For a five-spice herbal masala chai, add 2 Tbs. of loose rooibos tea, 1 cinnamon stick, 3 whole cloves, 2 black peppercorns, 2 green cardamom pods and a 1 half-inch piece of fresh ginger to a tea pot. Pour in your hot water and let steep for 3 minutes. Use a strainer when pouring out your tea. Add your favorite milk, if you like and enjoy!
Fall Orchard Blend - I like to use rooibos as a base for my herbal teas. You can use hibiscus or chamomile, dandelion or lemon balm. To your loose tea, add 4-5 slices of fresh apple, 2-3 pieces of orange peel, 1 cinnamon stick, 3 whole cloves and some freshly grated nutmeg. Let steep for 3 minutes. Sweeten with some honey and enjoy anytime of day or in the evenings.
Seasonal Scent
You can create your own signature scent for Autumn with some of the same essential oils you might use to make a blend for your diffuser. Add your favorite Fall scents to a roller bottle and top off with fractionated coconut oil. I like to spike my doTERRA Passion Touch with a few drops of Wild Orange for Fall. This “Inspiring Blend” includes: Cardamom Seed, Cinnamon Bark, Ginger Root, Clove Bud, Sandalwood Wood, Jasmine Flower Absolute, Vanilla Bean Absolute and Damiana Leaf.
In the comments below, share how you plan to infuse your home with the Fall scents of the season.
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Dara Eden is the author of HER Rituals for the Divine Feminine, a periodical guide created in December of 2021. The 8 Elements, her life’s work, provides guidance about how to honor the essential needs and highest values of your personal feng shui element. Inspired by an Internet challenge designed for men, she created 365WISE, a daily self-care practice that supports women in honoring their needs and listening to their inner wisdom.
In HER Rituals, she offers insights, ideas and intuitive guidance about ways to honor your needs, values and unique expression of the divine feminine.
HER Rituals is a Womb Wisdom KeepHER’s guide to cyclical rituals for sovereign women. It provides insightful information, inspirational ideas and intuitive guidance on daily and seasonal rituals you can practice as a form of self-care. Read about ancient wisdom and philosophical principles, holistic approaches and traditional skills, slow work and intentional living, embodiment practices and immersive experiences.
