Rooted Aromatherapy Blend | A Grounding Essential Oil Blend for September

Rooted: An Aromatherapy Blend for Foundation, Grounding & Coming Home to Yourself

There are seasons in life when we are called to grow.

And there are seasons when we are called to root.

September feels like a little of both.

The leaves are beginning to change. The mornings feel different. Summer slowly gives way to autumn, and there is an invitation to pause and ask:

What is holding me steady?

What are the values, practices, people, rituals, and simple moments that make up my foundation?

This month, my theme is Rooted in Foundation.

And I created this aromatherapy blend to accompany that theme.

It is earthy, resinous, warm, herbaceous, and deeply grounding—a blend created not to help us escape where we are, but to invite us to come home to ourselves.

Meet the Rooted Blend

This blend brings together:

 Black Spruce
 Frankincense
 Blue Tansy
 Blue Chamomile
 Cassia

Each oil contributes something different to the overall aroma.

Together, they create a blend that feels like stepping into a quiet evergreen forest, breathing deeply, and remembering where your roots are.

Black Spruce — The Roots

Black Spruce brings a fresh, green, woodsy character to the blend.

Its aroma immediately brings me to the forest—quiet trees, cool air, and that feeling of being surrounded by something much older and steadier than ourselves.

For me, Black Spruce represents connection to nature and the reminder that trees don’t have to hurry.

They simply grow.

Rooted.

Steady.

Present.

Frankincense — The Sacred

Frankincense adds a warm, resinous depth.

It has such a beautiful connection to meditation, reflection, and spiritual practices, making it a natural part of this foundation-inspired blend.

I think of Frankincense as the center of the foundation.

The invitation to pause.

To breathe.

To become quiet enough to hear yourself again.

Blue Tansy — The Calm

Blue Tansy brings a complex herbal, sweet, slightly fruity note to the blend.

It adds softness while still maintaining the grounded character of the woods and resins.

For me, it represents calm within the foundation.

Because being grounded doesn’t mean being rigid.

A strong foundation can still be soft.

It can bend.

It can breathe.

Blue Chamomile — The Gentle Heart

Blue Chamomile brings a deeply herbal, sweet, calming aroma to the blend.

It softens the stronger forest and spice notes and creates a sense of quiet warmth.

I think of it as the gentle heart of the blend.

A reminder that we don’t have to be strong every moment.

Sometimes our foundation is simply the ability to pause, breathe, and offer ourselves a little grace.

Cassia — The Warmth

Cassia brings warmth, spice, and an unmistakable autumn feeling.

It is a powerful oil, so just a little goes a long way.

And perhaps that is another beautiful lesson about foundation:

We don’t need more of everything.

We need the right things in the right proportions.

One small drop can change an entire blend.

Just like one small daily practice can sometimes change the way we move through our lives.

My Rooted Blend

For a personal diffuser blend, try:

  • 3 drops Black Spruce
  • 3 drops Frankincense
  • 2 drops Blue Chamomile
  • 1 drop Blue Tansy
  • 1 drop Cassia

The result is earthy, resinous, woodsy, herbal, warm, and gently spicy.

It smells like autumn roots.

Like coming back to yourself.

A Simple Rooting Ritual

You don’t need a complicated ritual.

Place your diffuser somewhere you will spend a little quiet time.

Add your Rooted blend according to your diffuser’s recommended amount of water and essential oil.

Then sit comfortably.

Place your feet on the floor.

Take a slow breath in.

And as you exhale, imagine roots extending from the soles of your feet into the earth.

You don’t have to force yourself to feel grounded.

Simply notice what is already holding you.

Then ask yourself:

What makes up my foundation?

Maybe it is gratitude.

Maybe it is family.

Maybe it is nature.

Maybe it is creativity, movement, community, spirituality, or simply the commitment to keep showing up for yourself.

There is no wrong answer.

A Foundation Doesn’t Have to Be Perfect

I think we sometimes imagine that being grounded means having everything figured out.

It doesn’t.

Trees lose branches.

Leaves fall.

Seasons change.

Storms come.

And yet the roots remain.

Our lives can be much the same.

Our foundation isn’t about creating a life where nothing ever shakes us.

It is about knowing what we can return to when life does.

That is what Rooted in Foundation means to me.

Not perfection.

Not certainty.

Presence.

September Intention

This month, instead of asking:

“What else do I need to add?”

Perhaps we can ask:

“What already holds me?”

What practices keep you connected?

What values guide you?

Where do you feel most like yourself?

What helps you return to center?

Those are your roots.

And when we know our roots, we can grow in almost any direction.

Stay rooted. Stay soft. Stay connected to what matters.


Essential Oil Safety

Essential oils are highly concentrated and should be used thoughtfully.

Cassia is particularly potent and can be irritating or sensitizing to the skin, so I recommend keeping this particular blend primarily as an aromatic/diffuser blend unless you are experienced with appropriate essential-oil dilution and safety practices.

If using essential oils topically, use a properly diluted preparation appropriate for each individual oil. Avoid using essential oils internally.

When diffusing, follow your diffuser manufacturer’s recommendations and provide appropriate ventilation.

If you are pregnant, caring for a young child, have a medical condition, take medications, or have concerns about essential-oil safety, consult an appropriately qualified healthcare professional before use.

Enjoying this content? My book 52 Weeks of Wisdom & Wellness goes deeper — find it here.

Arrive Here: An Aromatherapy Blend to Anchor You in the Present Moment

An Aromatherapy Blend for the Present Moment

Scent is the fastest route to the nervous system. Before the mind has time to interpret or resist, a breath lands — and something in the body responds. This is why aromatherapy and a slowing practice belong together.

This week’s blend was built for one purpose: to help you arrive.

It is rooted, resinous, and quietly alive. Nothing sharp or demanding. Nothing that asks you to move faster. Just a scent that says — you can put it all down now.


The Blend: Arrive Here

This combination moves through three layers the way a slow exhale does — top note releases, middle note settles, base note holds.

Top note — Bergamot Bright without being jarring. Bergamot lifts the mood gently and eases the mental chatter that keeps us one step ahead of ourselves. It is the first breath of permission.

Top note — Wild Orange Warm, soft, and grounding in its simplicity. Orange brings you into the body without effort. It is presence without pressure.

Middle note — Clary Sage The nervous system exhales here. Clary sage is deeply calming, slightly euphoric, and beautifully suited to restorative practice. It bridges the busy mind and the quiet body.

Middle note — Lavender A foundation of stillness. Lavender needs no introduction — it is the scent of permission to rest. Used here not as a sleep aid but as an invitation to soften.

Base note — Frankincense Sacred and ancient. Frankincense slows the breath naturally, deepens meditation, and carries a quality of reverence that matches this week’s theme exactly. The pause made tangible.

Base note — Vetiver The deepest root in this blend. Vetiver is earthy, smoky, and profoundly grounding. If frankincense opens the inner space, vetiver anchors you inside it.

Accent — Roman Chamomile A single drop is enough. Roman chamomile is one of the most calming oils available and adds a gentle sweetness that softens the whole blend. Optional, but beautiful.


Recipes


Diffuser Blend

Use in any ultrasonic or nebulizing diffuser. Run for 30–60 minutes during your morning practice, journaling, or evening wind-down.

  • Bergamot — 3 drops
  • Sweet Orange — 2 drops
  • Clary Sage — 2 drops
  • Lavender — 2 drops
  • Frankincense — 2 drops
  • Vetiver — 1 drop
  • Roman Chamomile — 1 drop (optional)

Total: 12–13 drops

Diffuse before your yoga session to signal the nervous system that it is time to shift gears. Let the scent fill the room before you step onto the mat.


Roller Bottle Blend (10ml)

A portable version to carry through your week. Apply to pulse points — inner wrists, base of throat, behind the ears — before practice, before a meeting, or any time you need to come back to yourself.

  • Fractionated coconut oil — fill to shoulder of bottle (approx. 8.5ml)
  • Frankincense — 5 drops
  • Lavender — 4 drops
  • Clary Sage — 3 drops
  • Vetiver — 2 drops
  • Bergamot — 2 drops
  • Roman Chamomile — 1 drop (optional)

Total essential oils: 16–17 drops (approximately 5% dilution — suitable for daily use on adults)

Roll onto wrists and pause. Bring hands to your face, close your eyes, and take three slow breaths before beginning anything. This becomes a ritual fast.


Body Oil Blend (30ml)

A nourishing blend to use after practice, after a bath, or as part of your evening nurture ritual. Massage slowly into legs, feet, and lower back — the areas that carry the most tension and respond most to grounding touch.

Carrier base (30ml total):

  • Jojoba oil — 20ml (absorbs well, suitable for all skin types)
  • Sweet almond oil — 10ml (softening, slightly richer)

Essential oils:

  • Frankincense — 8 drops
  • Lavender — 6 drops
  • Vetiver — 4 drops
  • Clary Sage — 4 drops
  • Bergamot — 4 drops (use bergapten-free if applying before sun exposure)
  • Sweet Orange — 2 drops
  • Roman Chamomile — 2 drops (optional)

Total essential oils: 28–30 drops (approximately 3% dilution — safe for full body use)

Apply with slow, intentional strokes. No rushing. This is not maintenance. This is tending.


How to Use This Blend This Week

Diffuse it during your morning practice or meditation. Keep the roller on your desk and use it as a reset before transitions — before a call, before school pickup, before the part of the day that typically speeds you up. Use the body oil in the evening as your closing ritual, the physical equivalent of the mantra: I am already enough, right here.

When scent becomes part of a consistent practice, the body begins to associate it with a particular inner state. By the end of the week, a single breath of this blend will begin to bring you home before you have even tried.

Safety

These blends are formulated for healthy adults. Avoid clary sage during pregnancy. Perform a patch test before full body application of the body oil if you have sensitive skin. Keep all essential oils away from children and pets.


This post is part of The Sacred Pause, a four-week May yoga and wellness series. Each week pairs a yoga theme with an aromatherapy blend designed to carry the practice off the mat and into daily life.


Enjoying this content? My book 52 Weeks of Wisdom & Wellness goes deeper — find it here.