Welcome back to the fragrant world of the Spa Village. In this second part of our essential oils journey, we dive deeper into nature’s aromatic encyclopedia. From calming herbs to revitalizing citrus, these oils not only awaken the senses but also enhance your wellness rituals. Each oil carries its own story, benefits, and perfect pairings for you to explore whether at the Village or at home.
All of our essential oils are sourced from Aromen, who share our passion for authentic Aufguss rituals.
Fragrance: fresh, woody, sweet and balsamic.
Benefits: revitalizes, purifies, helps sleep and eases stress.
Complementary oils: benzoin, bergamot, cypress, frankincense, geranium, grapefruit, lemongrass, melissa, rosemary and sandalwood.
Essential oil profile: Juniper is an evergreen shrub of the Cupressaceae family (the cypress family), native to the Northern Hemisphere. It can grow up to 6 metres tall, with narrow, needle-like green-blue leaves and blue-violet berries. These berries are not only visually striking but also flavourful. They are the reason gin gets its signature taste. The name “gin” comes from “jenever,” a Dutch word derived from juniper.
You won’t find an essential oil that begins with “K” at the Spa Village, but Katafray is the one we’d choose to fill the void with its dry, woody scent and calming effect.
Fragrance: fresh, balsamic and herbaceous.
Benefits: purifies, harmonizes, supports the immune system, supports airways and energizes.
Complementary oils: cypress, juniper, frankincense, pine, ravintsara and citrus.
Essential oil profile: Laurel is an evergreen tree from the Lauraceae family (the laurel family), native to the Mediterranean. Growing up to 20 metres, it bears dark green leaves and black berries. Historically, laurel leaves symbolized victory, crowning Olympic champions and Roman rulers alike.
Fragrance: floral, sweet and herbaceous.
Benefits: relaxes, purifies, harmonizes, supports the immune system and supports airways.
Complementary oils: citrus, lemongrass, mandarin, bergamot, eucalyptus, peppermint, tea tree, rosemary and thyme.
Essential oil profile: Lavender is a low-growing evergreen shrub from the Lamiaceae family (the mint family), native to the Mediterranean. Cultivated primarily in France, Spain and Italy, it reaches about 1 metre in height, with narrow leaves and fragrant blue-violet flowers.
Fragrance: sweet, floral and herbaceous.
Benefits: relaxes, purifies, harmonizes, supports the immune system and supports airways.
Complementary oils: almost every essential oil.
Essential oil profile: Lavandin, also called Lavender Hybrida, is a shrub from the Lamiaceae family, cultivated mainly in France, Spain and Italy. Slightly less refined than true lavender, it shares many of the same soothing and purifying properties, and its aroma is versatile enough to blend with nearly any other oil.
Fragrance: citrus, fresh and fruity.
Benefits: purifies, harmonizes, revitalizes, supports the immune system and supports airways.
Complementary oils: benzoin, chamomile, eucalyptus, frankincense, geranium, juniper, lavender, neroli, sandalwood and ylang-ylang.
Essential oil profile: Lemon is an evergreen tree from the Rutaceae family (the citrus family), originally from Eastern India. Cultivated mostly in Italy, it grows up to 6 metres tall, with woody bases, oval leaves, and fragrant flowers.
Fragrance: citrus, fresh, strong and herbaceous.
Benefits: purifies, revitalizes, soothes aching muscles, calms headache pain and invigorates.
Complementary oils: pine, eucalyptus, geranium and lavender.
Essential oil profile: Lemongrass is a tall, grass-like plant from the Poaceae family (the true grasses), native to Sri Lanka. Grown mainly in Madagascar and Guatemala, it reaches 1.5 metres in height, with long green leaves and fibrous roots. While it shares some traits with citronella, its aroma is fresher and brighter.
Fragrance: citrus, fruity, tart and zesty.
Benefits: purifies, revitalizes, supports the immune system, supports airways, uplifts and invigorates.
Complementary oils: tea tree, amyris, citronella, lavender, neroli, rosemary, salvia and other citrus.
Essential oil profile: Lime is a small evergreen tree of the Rutaceae family, cultivated mainly in Mexico and South Florida. Growing up to 4 metres, it has woody bases, smooth oval leaves and small white flowers.
Fragrance: citrus, intense, strong and earthy.
Benefits: purifies, harmonizes, supports airways and rejuvenates.
Complementary oils: bergamot, geranium, lavender, rosemary, ylang-ylang, petitgrain and sandalwood.
Essential oil profile: Litsea is a small tropical tree in the Lauraceae family, native to Eastern Asia. Cultivated primarily in China, it grows up to 5 metres, with yellow-white fragrant flowers and vibrant green leaves.
Fragrance: citrus and delicate.
Benefits: relaxes, supports the immune system, supports airways, soothes and relieves stress and pain.
Complementary oils: other citrus, floral, spices and woods.
Essential oil profile: Mandarin (Citrus reticulata) is a small evergreen tree of the Rutaceae family, cultivated mainly in Italy and Spain. Growing up to 6 metres, it has shiny leaves, soft flowers and tender, juicy fruits.
Fragrance: sweet, medicinal, herbaceous, herbal and balsamic.
Benefits: purifies, revitalizes, supports airways, provides clarity and strengthens immunity.
Complementary oils: chamomile, coriander, geranium, lavender, rose, sage, spices and citrus.
Essential oil profile: Niaouli is an evergreen tree from the Myrtaceae family (the myrtle family), native to New Caledonia. Cultivated mainly in Madagascar and Australia, it can reach 20 metres and produces linear leaves and fragrant flowers with a strong balsamic aroma.
Fragrance: warm, floral and sweet.
Benefits: relaxes, purifies and supports airways.
Complementary oils: tea tree, amyris, sweet fennel, geranium, lavender, ho, melissa, myrrh and citrus.
Essential oil profile: Palmarosa is a tall, grass-like plant from the Poaceae family, native to India and Pakistan. Cultivated mainly in India, it grows 1–2 metres tall with slender stems and fragrant floral tops. Rich in geraniol, its essential oil closely resembles the scent of rose.
Fragrance: strong, minty, herbaceous and fresh.
Benefits: revitalizes, purifies and supports airways.
Complementary oils: lavender, eucalyptus, rosemary and citrus.
Essential oil profile: Peppermint is an herbaceous plant in the Lamiaceae family, cultivated widely in Europe. Growing up to 1 metre, it has upright stems, spreading roots and fragrant green leaves.
Fragrance: citrus, woody and floral.
Benefits: relaxes and supports airways.
Complementary oils: tea tree, cedar, eucalyptus, juniper, lavender, marjoram, niaouli, rosemary, salvia, citrus and spices.
Essential oil profile: Petitgrain is an essential oil distilled from the leaves, green shoots and buds of the bitter orange tree (Rutaceae family). Cultivated mainly in Italy and France, it produces aromatic dark green leaves and fragrant white flowers.
Quite rare but delightful, the fruity quince is the niche essential oil we’d choose to add “Q” to our encyclopedia.
Fragrance: fresh, herbal, eucalyptus-like, balsamic, herbaceous and medicinal.
Benefits: relaxes, purifies, supports the immune system and supports airways.
Complementary oils: clove, pine, lavender, marjoram, oak moss, sage, ylang-ylang and spices.
Essential oil profile: Ravintsara is an evergreen tree of the Lauraceae family, native to Madagascar. Produced from the cineole chemotype of camphor, its leaves yield a fresh, medicinal oil. The Malagasy name means “tree with good leaves,” reflecting its long-standing use for respiratory health and immune support.
Fragrance: woody, medicinal and balsamic.
Benefits: revitalizes, supports the immune system, supports airways, grounds, comforts, refreshes and relieves stress.
Complementary oils: cedarwood, lavender, lemon and other citrus.
Essential oil profile: Rosemary is an evergreen shrub from the Lamiaceae family, native to the Mediterranean. Cultivated mainly in France and Morocco, it grows up to 2 metres tall with silver-green needle-like leaves and blue flowers.
Explore the final letters of the alphabet in part 3 of our Spa Village essential oil encyclopedia and complete your aromatic journey.
The Weekend of Giving (now extended) is our way of sharing a little more wellness this holiday season. Wondering how it works? Here’s everything you need to know to get started gifting and receiving.
The Weekend of Giving (now extended) is our way of sharing a little more wellness this holiday season. Wondering how it works? Here’s everything you need to know to get started gifting and receiving.
Every year, as the holidays approach, I find myself craving a slow day of relaxation amongst the heightened busyness of the season. This year, I found that slow day at Thermea Spa Village Whitby, and I’m still thinking about it days later.
