At one time or another we've all awakened having to start our day feeling sluggish, lack luster and a little down.  Starting your day with aromatherapy will definitely help remove these physical and emotional feelings.

If you don't have essential oils, aromatic candles can help.  There are many stimulating and refreshing aromas available.  Any candle with a citrus base not only uplifts your moods, but also helps to clear you mind and give you a refreshed feeling.    Candles with a mint base also have the same stimulating effect.  Before taking your morning bath or shower, light the aromatherapy candle of your choice in the room you will spend time getting ready.  Once you return from your bath or shower, the room will be filled will the fragrance.  As you are dressing, apply makeup or doing your hair you will continuously smell the refreshing aroma and you will feel better.

If you do have access to essential oils, there are several options available.  First, you can create a mix of oils to put in an oil warmer.  You will want to start your oil warmer before showering or bathing just as you would a candle to give the aroma time to fill your room.  Second, you can create a spray spritzer to use after showering or bathing by mixing your choice of essential oils with water and adding to a sprayer.  The third option is to add a few drops of aromatherapy essential oils into the bottom of the bathtub.  Once you turn on the shower, the steam will release the aroma of the oil into the air, providing you the refreshing and uplifting feeling.

Some of the essential oils very good at helping to relieve fatigue are geranium, lemon, juniper, basil, and bergamot.  With the wide variety or aromatherapy essential oils available, there are endless possibilities of mixtures to create the perfect pick-me-up mixture to use as you choose.

A few of the uplifting and refreshing aromatherapy oil mixtures I like are:

• For an oil warmer or diffuser:   add 6 drops lemon and 4 drops peppermint
• For a refreshing bath:   mix together 10 drops bergamot, 10 drops lemon, 10 drops ginger and 10 drops geranium and add to warm/steaming bath water before getting in.
• For a pick-me-up spritzer:   add 40 drops grapefruit, 40 drops bergamot, 40 drops spearmint and 20 drops lavender to 4 ounces of water.  Put in a spray bottle and shake well.  You can spritz yourself on your arms, legs or face anytime of the day.