Every Aufguss tells a story, and this one begins with a chill in the air.
For Nicolina Melito, who became a Ritual Artisan a little under a year ago, inspiration struck on the first brisk morning after summer. Her autumnal Aufguss, The First Cold Day of Fall, captures the feeling of warmth returning after the season’s first shiver.
Here’s a look behind the scenes at how she transformed that moment into a ritual.
For Nicolina, The First Cold Day of Fall is more than a title: it’s a feeling. It’s that first moment of noticing the chill after months of sunshine: the wind stinging your cheeks, the cold pinching your ears, and the tip of your nose beginning to freeze.
The inspiration struck her one workday as she supported a meditation session in the sauna. “It was the first time I had to put on my big coat, my fuzzy hat, and get cozy outside because it was so chilly and windy,” she recalls. “It was the first cold day of fall after a long, hot summer.”
Every Aufguss tells a story, and Nicolina’s unfolds through sound as much as scent. Her ritual begins with Hiding Tonight by Alex Turner, a song about choosing to stay in rather than go out, perfectly fitting for that instinct to seek comfort indoors.
Next comes First Day of My Life by Bright Eyes, a song she describes as warm and cozy, about sharing quiet moments with someone you love. The ritual ends with Rise the Moon by Liana Flores, which Nicolina calls “the most peaceful song of the three.” It represents the moment you’ve fully settled in feeling ultimate warmth and comfort.
Nicolina’s essential oil choices mirror the story’s sensory progression, going from the brisk outdoors to the comfort of being inside.
The ritual begins with bergamot, a scent that reminds her of lighting a candle after coming inside after having been out in the wind. The second infusion layers cedar virgins with a blend of thyme, black pepper, juniper, and cade (Aromen’s own Fire Blend) to represent lighting a fire in the hearth. The final round combines cinnamon, golden everlasting, and yellow mandarin, evoking the aroma of a warm cup of apple cider.
Each step is deliberate. “Bergamot is a lighter top note, cedar is heavier, and cinnamon is the heaviest,” she explains. “It’s about both the oils and the story and how each layer builds in intensity.”
For Nicolina, creating rituals is a deeply personal process. “I like to make my rituals true to my heart and my life, true to what is really happening for me,” she says. “Guests should know that I’m being my authentic self when I create these stories, they’re always drawn from real experiences.”
That authenticity, paired with the blending of music and aroma, is what gives this ritual the essence of autumn. “It’s about bringing together different sensory experiences to spark a feeling or to make people think of the season in a fond way.”
After her ritual, Nicolina recommends cold plunging “wherever your heart desires,” though she admits she’ll personally be embracing the cool fall breeze for as long as it lasts.
For the rest step, she chooses something cozy: “somewhere near a fire, like inside Tellura, or perhaps outside by the fires, wrapped in a couple of blankets.”
As for what’s next, Nicolina already has ideas brewing. “I’d love to create something medieval-inspired with whimsical music,” she says. “Using oils like clove and bergamot, which were used as perfumes in the Renaissance. I’d also love to come up with something Nordic, it feels like such a natural fit for a spa like ours.”
As the days grow shorter and a crisp chill creeps into the air, our bodies brace for cold and flu season. We stock up on vitamin C, pull out cozy blankets, and remind ourselves to get enough rest. But there’s one time-honored ritual—steeped in both tradition and science—that might be the missing piece in your winter wellness routine: the Finnish sauna.
As the days grow shorter and a crisp chill creeps into the air, our bodies brace for cold and flu season. We stock up on vitamin C, pull out cozy blankets, and remind ourselves to get enough rest. But there’s one time-honored ritual—steeped in both tradition and science—that might be the missing piece in your winter wellness routine: the Finnish sauna.
Every Ritual Artisan has their own story: a first encounter, a spark of curiosity, a moment when everything suddenly feels right. For Quincy Hiebert, that moment came the first time she stepped into the sauna as a performer.
