Welcome to the final instalment of our essential oils encyclopedia! After exploring the vibrant aromas, benefits, and perfect pairings of parts 1 and 2, we invite you to complete the alphabet and embark on the next step of your sensory journey: whether it’s with an Aufguss ritual at the spa or with the help of your diffuser at home.
All of our essential oils are sourced from Aromen, who share our passion for authentic Aufguss rituals.
Fragrance: sharp and warm.
Benefits: harmonizes, supports the immune system and supports airways.
Complementary oils: lavender, bergamot, cedarwood, rosemary, sandalwood, ylang-ylang and citrus.
Essential oil profile: Common sage (Salvia officinalis) is a perennial bushy herb of the Lamiaceae family (the mint family), originally from the Mediterranean Basin. Cultivated today mainly in Spain and France, it grows up to 80 cm high with woody stems at the base, silver-grey oval leaves, and spikes of vivid blue to violet flowers.
Fragrance: fresh, woody, balsamic and earthy.
Benefits: purifies, revitalizes, supports the immune system, supports airways and clears the mind.
Complementary oils: tea tree, sage, niaouli, eucalyptus, cedarwood, rosemary and juniper.
Essential oil profile: Scotch pine, also called Scots pine, is a tall evergreen conifer from the Pinaceae family (the pine family), native to Eurasia. It often reaches up to 40 m in height and is easily recognized by its reddish-brown bark and long, rigid needles.
Fragrance: woody, fresh and balsamic.
Benefits: purifies, harmonizes, supports the immune system and supports airways.
Complementary oils: pine, fir, juniper, sandalwood and benzoin.
Essential oil profile: The Siberian fir (Abies sibirica) is a stately evergreen conifer of the Pinaceae family (the pine family), native to the cold expanses of Siberia and Mongolia. It can reach up to 30 m in height, with grey-green to grey-brown bark, resin-filled blisters, and flat, soft needles marked by two pale stomatal bands beneath. Its upright reddish-brown cones distinguish it from other firs.
Fragrance: woody, fresh, sweet and balsamic.
Benefits: purifies, revitalizes, supports the immune system, supports airways, grounds and calms.
Complementary oils: lavender, lemongrass, peppermint, rosemary, sandalwood, laurel and sage.
Essential oil profile: The silver fir, sometimes known as the white fir, is a stately conifer from the Pinaceae family found across northern Europe. Reaching up to 50 m, it grows with dense needles and upright red-brown cones. Often referred to as the “King of the Forest,” the tree symbolizes resilience and renewal.
Fragrance: fresh, strong, herbaceous and minty.
Benefits: revitalizes, supports airways, calms, soothes and uplifts.
Complementary oils: lavender, rosemary, thyme, oregano, peppermint and citrus.
Essential oil profile: Spearmint is a perennial herb from the Lamiaceae family, cultivated widely across Asia and Europe. It grows up to a metre tall, with bright green leaves and spikes of soft pink, white, or purple flowers. Known since antiquity, its essential oil is prized for a gentler, sweeter mint profile than peppermint.
Fragrance: spicy and sweet.
Benefits: purifies, harmonizes, supports airways, relieves stress and anxiety.
Complementary oils: cinnamon, clove, spices, cedarwood, sandalwood and citrus.
Essential oil profile: Star anise (Illicium verum) is an evergreen tree of the Schisandraceae family (the star anise family), native to southern China and Vietnam. It can grow up to 12 m tall, bearing glossy green, lance-shaped leaves and clusters of small yellow flowers that give way to its distinctive star-shaped fruits. While most familiar in the West as a spice used in mulled wine or Southeast Asian cuisine, star anise has a rich history in traditional Chinese medicine.
Fragrance: herbal, medicinal, fresh, balsamic and herbaceous.
Benefits: purifies, harmonizes, revitalizes, supports the immune system and airways.
Complementary oils: lavender, eucalyptus, peppermint, citrus, and rosemary.
Essential oil profile: Native to Australia, the tea tree is a hardy shrub from the Myrtaceae family (the myrtle family), growing up to 5 m tall with narrow, pointed leaves and fluffy white flower heads. Also known as Melaleuca, it has a long history in Aboriginal medicine, where crushed leaves were used for their cleansing and soothing effects.
Fragrance: woody, fresh and medicinal.
Benefits: revitalizes and supports airways.
Complementary oils: camphor, cypress, juniper, pine, ravintsara, rosemary, spicy and citrus.
Essential oil profile: Thuja, often called white cedar, is a towering evergreen from the Cupressaceae family (the cypress family). Native to North America but also found in Asia, some species can reach 60 m in height. Its flattened sprays of foliage and small woody cones give it a distinctive shape.
Essential oils beginning with “U” are quite rare. If we had to add one to our repertoire, it might be ugni molinae, also known as Chilean guava or uva ursi, more commonly known as bearberry.
Fragrance: woody and sweet.
Benefits: relaxes, purifies, supports airways and relieves stress.
Complementary oils: benzoin, bergamot, cypress, jasmine, juniper, rosemary, ylang-ylang and citrus.
Essential oil profile: Virginia cedar, a majestic conifer of the Cupressaceae family, is native to North America. It can reach up to 35 m and is marked by its reddish bark and aromatic wood. Sometimes referred to as Virginia’s “jungle tree,” it has been appreciated for centuries as a durable timber source.
Fragrance: herbaceous, fresh, minty and strong.
Benefits: revitalizes, supports airways and refreshes.
Complementary oils: tea tree, benzoin, citronella, juniper, lavender, marjoram, pine, rosemary, spices and citrus.
Essential oil profile: Wild mint is a low-growing perennial from the Lamiaceae family, found across Europe and Asia but now also cultivated in China and Brazil. Reaching about 60 cm, it spreads quickly with underground rhizomes and bears lilac-hued flowers.
Fragrance: balsamic, warm and minty.
Benefits: revitalizes, stimulates, uplifts and invigorates.
Complementary oils: pine, lavender, cypress and juniper.
Essential oil profile: Wintergreen, or Gaultheria, is a small evergreen shrub of the Ericaceae family (the heath family), originally from North America and now cultivated in Nepal. It grows only about 15 cm high, with glossy leaves and delicate white-to-pink blossoms. Traditionally, Indigenous peoples used its leaves for teas and poultices.
“X” is another tricky letter when it comes to essential oils, xanthoxylum essential oil, sometimes called prickly ash oil, is a fresh, spicy and peppery fragrance that would fit in nicely at the Spa Village.
Fragrance: floral, spicy, sweet and sensual.
Benefits: relaxes, lifts mood and alleviates anxiety.
Complementary oils: bergamot, geranium, citrus, marjoram, sandalwood, vetiver, lavender and spices.
Essential oil profile: Ylang-ylang (Cananga odorata) is a tropical tree from the Annonaceae family (the custard apple family), most abundantly cultivated in Madagascar and Southeast Asia. It grows up to 20 m tall, producing large, star-shaped blossoms that range from pink to yellow, with the yellow flowers most valued for distilling. Known as the “flower of flowers,” ylang-ylang has been celebrated in perfumery for its lush, exotic aroma.
Fragrance: fresh, fruity, sweet and citrus.
Benefits: purifies, revitalizes, reduces stress and enhances mood.
Complementary oils: tea tree, amyris, citronella, lavender, melissa, neroli, rosemary, salvia and citrus.
Essential oil profile: Yuzu (Citrus junos) is a citrus fruit belonging to the Rutaceae family (the citrus family). Originally from China but deeply rooted in Japanese tradition, it grows on small trees about 6 m high with glossy leaves and pale blossoms. Looking like a small, uneven orange, its sour taste is reminiscent of grapefruit and mandarin. In Japan, yuzu has been cherished not only in cuisine but also in seasonal bathing rituals.
And finally: “Z.” A bit of a cheat, but zingiber officinale essential oil, better known as ginger, is one warming oil we’d be happy to add to our Village Rituals.
You’ve reached the final letters of our essential oil encyclopedia—immerse yourself in the scents, benefits, and harmonies that make every Spa Village experience unforgettable.
The Weekend of Giving 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 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.
