Uplifter Spritzer For Keeping Blues Away

Most people in the Northern Hemisphere need a little uplifting in February.  Even where I live, in the desert where the sun shines most of the time, this time of year can come with a bit of exhaustion and winter blues.  There’s often the energetic let down after a big kicky start to a new year and the nagging little judgments that pop in and out of your busy mind about new year goals or intentions. 

This year we all still have the added stressors of life in the midst of a pandemic, much political unrest, too many social injustices, and various other challenging world events.  On top of all that, so many people are grieving right now.  While too many of us are grieving in the typical sense of the word as we mourn the deaths of loved ones, many more people are grieving without even realizing it—grieving the losses of expectations and norms, time with friends and family, the ability to make and stick to future plans.  All while still trying to chug along, getting through our days even though our nervous systems could really use a break.

It’s always a good idea to work regular meaningful breaks into your life, but what do you do when your going along and sadness or an unexpected blues-y feeling comes over you and you aren’t able to stop and process for a good chunk of time?  This Uplifter Spritzer is awesome then and anytime you just need a little joyful kick in the pants!

This is a lovely room spray or personal spritzer offering support for blues, sadness and grief.  The essential oils chosen for this aromatherapeutic blend all have an uplifting effect on your mood.

Because the base of this wonderful concoction is witch hazel it’s nourishing for your skin*—safe enough to spritz your face with!

Simply spray into the air around you or directly onto your body and take 3-5 deep, slow breaths in and out through your nose. 

In my experience this spritzer can help sustain you through the day to day when you’re not sure how to process emotions.  It can help you feel refreshed and cared for.  It can serve as a reminder that all is well and you’re going to get through. 

While it’s scent is refreshing and mentally clarifying, it’s not energizing.  Rather, it’s soothing, centering, calming and peace-bringing.  So go ahead and try it as a linen spray or when you’re washing up before bed.

Elizabeth Lesser says that “grief is a steppingstone out of the mind-maze and into a bigger, brighter world” and that how it works this way is one of life’s great mysteries.

Regardless what’s causing your down feelings, this spritzer can be like a gentle calming breeze while you traverse those stepping stones.

If you don’t have any witch hazel, you can use water instead (preferably distilled, at least well-filtered).  Another option would be to omit the witch hazel altogether and instead of using this with a spray bottle, simply drop the essential oils in the amounts listed into a cool-steam oil diffuser to keep the scent sweetly infused into your environment throughout the day.

This Valentine’s Day, shower love upon yourself.  Taking just the few minutes required to make this little love potion will be so worth it.  A little goes a long way and just 2 ounces of this will last you quite a while.  Plus, making your own essential oil blends is much more cost-effective than buying pre-made ones so go ahead, make yourself a little gift!

Lovely glass bottles like this one are usually available at amazon — search “2 ounce glass spray bottles”

Here’s what you need to make Uplifter Spritzer:

1, 2oz glass spritzer bottle (like this)

1 tiny funnel (like this)

1 pipette (like this)— optional

Ingredients:

12 drops Geranium Essential Oil

10 drops Bergamot Essential Oil

5 drops Clary Sage Essential Oil

4 drops Palmarosa Essential Oil

1-2 drops German Chamomile Essential Oil

Witch Hazel

• Drop essential oils one at a time into a 2oz glass bottle with a spritzer/spray top.

• Leaving enough room for the spritzer tube so your mixture doesn't overflow, fill bottle with Witch Hazel.

• Seal spritzer top onto bottle, shake well and spray into the air or onto yourself anytime you need a little loving pick-me-up.

Let me know how you’re enjoying this hOMemade aromatherapy.  May it bring you peace, calm and a joyfully uplifted sense of spirit!

NamastYAY!
Maggie

*A little herb-reverence and knowledge from yours truly about witch hazel:

We use witch hazel to suspend, disperse and maintain the freshness of essential oils.  Witch hazel is typically blended with alcohol and distilled water after the twigs have been steamed to release and concentrate their pungent extract, and alcohol does a fine job of keeping essential oils in their natural, fresh form for a long shelf life.  Witch hazel makes that even more effective while adding healing benefits to the blend.

While this is intended as more of a sacred space spray, it’s totally safe to spray directly onto your body or hair as a perfume.  In fact, traditionally witch hazel has been used through the ages as a topical remedy and a major ingredient in skincare products.  Typically grown in the northeastern United States, settlers learned to use witch hazel from Native Americans.  Pond’s Cold Cream came to market in 1846 (under the name, “Golden Treasure”) and was the first successful mass-produced skin care product in the US.  The product blend is based on witch hazel which the company’s founder learned how to use from Native Americans. 

The name witch hazel probably comes from the Old English term “wicke” which meant “lively” and/or the traditional Anglo-Saxon term “wych” meaning “bend” because the lively flowers explode each fall, throwing their seeds up to 30 feet away and the branches bend down drastically toward the ground.

Filled with tannins making it astringent, witch hazel is used to constrict the skin, as well as treat things like acne, bruising, burns, hemorrhoids, inflammation, bug bites and varicose veins. 

Amazing, huh?!