Breathe in, breathe out

As a mum, wellness teacher and editor constantly toggling between creative and caregiving modes, I've learned that balance isn’t a fixed point. What's valuable is how smoothly I can switch gears. Reducing friction throughout the day is what helps me stay present and resourced, instead of feeling overwhelmed or empty. Scent can be a powerful tool in signalling what's next, whether you're looking to speed up or slow down, energise or unwind.

- Words by Dana Diament

Essential oils can shape a mood, ease tension or mark the beginning of a ritual. Used rhythmically, they can become cues throughout your day. When four essential oil blends from Oil Garden arrived - Vitality, Defence, Breathe and Headache along with a diffuser and a bottle of sweet almond oil, it felt like an invitation. Over the next week, scent became a subtle prompt to guide, ground or uplift, depending on the moment.

On a rainy or dull morning, the kind where the sky feels heavy and your body follows suit, a few drops of Vitality to the diffuser can help shift your whole being. Within minutes, the blend of orange, grapefruit, bergamot, lime, lemongrass and ginger creates a sense of brightness and warmth. It smells fresh and open, like sunshine in the background. There's a moment of noticing the joy and lightness in your body.

It's subtle, but it can make all the difference to how the day begins. Keep it diffusing through the morning, especially if you want to not rush or overthink.