Celebrating Andrea Butje: A Guiding Light in Aromatherapy Education

Andrea Butje: A Gentle Force in the World of Aromatherapy

There are people whose presence changes the course of your life—even if you never meet them in person. For me, Andrea Butje was one of those people. She came into my life at a time when I was lost in deep despair. Her gentle guidance, wisdom, and warmth became a light in one of the darkest chapters of my life.

In this Post:

• My Tribute: The Light in My Darkest Days
• Ways to Honor Andrea
• Andrea's Favorite Essential Oils
• Where to Find Andrea Butje's Books
• Remembering Andrea Around the World
• More Tributes: What Andrea Butje Means to Us
  • She Brought Aromatherapy to Life – Renata Sobral
  • She Changed the Course of My Whole Being – Nancy Oates
  • She Guided Me on My Aromatherapy Journey – Wendy Smith
  • She was a True Light in the World – Shelley O'Dell-Brock
  • She Made Everything Feel Possible – Lisa Chan
  • She was Full of Joy and Passion – Denise Sanders

My Tribute: The Light in My Darkest Days

I first discovered Andrea at a moment when everything around me felt like it was falling apart. I was separated from my family in another state to care for my daughter, who was at times on the edge of life itself. At the same time, my mother’s health was deteriorating, and I wasn’t able to be there to give her the care and comfort she deserved. While I sat by my daughter’s hospital bed, grieving the helplessness I felt as a mother and daughter, my own mom passed away. I was heartbroken, overwhelmed, and disconnected.

During this time, I was introduced to essential oils with a simple bottle of Lavender given to me by an aromatherapist in a support group. Something about the aroma provided me with some much needed moments of peaceful thought. I wanted to know more—not just how to use them, but why they worked, and how they might become part of my healing. That’s when I found Andrea.

From the very first moment I heard Andrea speak, I felt held. Her voice—steady, soft, and full of compassion—was unlike any other. She spoke with the voice of Love. Like a big sister or wise auntie, Andrea made me feel like everything was going to be okay. Along with my small collection of aromatherapy books, Andrea became my lifeline.

A Legacy of Learning, Love, and Essential Oils

Andrea Butje was more than an aromatherapist. She was a pioneer. The founder of Aromahead Institute and Aromatics International, Andrea helped shape modern aromatherapy into something rooted in science and heart.

She brought education into the hands of people who needed it most—mothers, caregivers, wellness seekers, practitioners—and did it with a joy and humility that never felt intimidating. She didn’t hold knowledge above others; she opened it up to all of us.

Her teachings were filled with stories, smiles, and sincerity. Her books The Heart of Aromatherapy and Essential Living brought essential oils to life, giving them character and color.

Whether you were brand new to essential oils or a seasoned professional, Andrea had a way of making you feel seen and supported. Through her, I learned not only how to blend oils, but how to slow down. How to breathe. How to reconnect with nature, with self, and with healing.

Forever a Part of My Aromatherapy Story

While Andrea’s influence reaches far and wide, for me, it’s deeply personal. She held my hand through grief without even knowing it. She offered hope when I had none. And she helped me discover the beauty and power of aromatherapy in a way that has stayed with me ever since.

This week, I join thousands of others in mourning her passing. And I also celebrate her life—a life so generously given to teaching, supporting, and inspiring others. Andrea leaves behind a legacy of love and learning, one that will continue to grow through each of us who were touched by her presence.

Thank you, Andrea. For your voice. For your heart. For your wisdom. And for being there when I needed you most. You will forever be a part of my story.

~Christine Pressler, CA

Ways to Honor Andrea

• Learn with Aromahead Institute.
• Support ethical essential oil sourcing at Aromatics International.
• Light a candle (you can light a virtual candle and leave a message here).
• Blend with love-filled, joy-filled intention.
• Share your knowledge.
• Purchase a Memorial Tree.
• Share her voice with others.

Andrea’s Favorite Essential Oils

• Cedarwood (Juniperus virginiana)
• Frankincense (Boswellia carteri)
• Geranium (Pelargonium asperum)
• Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia)
• Opopanax (Commiphora guidottii)
• Piñon Pine (Pinus edulis)
• Sweet Orange (Citrus x sinensis)
• Vetiver (Vetiveria zizanoides)

Where to Find Andrea Butje’s Books

Remembering Andrea Around the World

Join Jenny, the Aromahead Team, and Andrea’s Net of Love encircling Earth in this special YouTube tribute. We opened The Heart of Aromatherapy and traveled through Andrea’s favorite recipes, renewing our friendships with the oils that were so dear to her. (Live August 6th, replay available.)

More Tributes: What Andrea Butje Means to Us

She Brought Aromatherapy to Life – Renata Sobral

Andrea wasn’t just a great teacher, she had this way of making you feel calm, seen, and supported, even through a screen. She explained everything with such care, and somehow made it all feel simple and full of meaning at the same time. She brought aromatherapy to life. It was never just about essential oils, it was about connection, healing, and doing things with love.

I’ll always think of Andrea whenever I smell Piñon Pine. She loved that oil, and now it’s forever linked to her in my heart. I don’t think I’ll ever open that bottle without feeling a little emotional. And I feel so happy to love Vetiver as much as she did.

Thank you, Andrea, for everything you’ve shared with us, and for the way your presence will always be felt.
~Renata Sobral, Healthdrops Academy

“To know what’s right for you, pay attention to how you feel and which oils make you feel the best.”

~Andrea Butje, The Heart of Aromatherapy (2017)

She Changed the Course of My Whole Being – Nancy Oates

When I was given the news about Andrea transitioning from this earth, I immediately went to my Aromatherapy Certification course and listened to one of her tutorials. Just listening to her voice and seeing her smile helped soothe my soul. I lit a candle in her honor and diffused her Perfume Oil recipe, Vetiver’s “Grounded in Love”, from her book, The Heart of Aromatherapy. I wanted to fill my home with this blend.

I then sat in prayer and meditation thinking of the profound impact she had on my life.

Only a small number of people have actually changed the course of my whole being. Andrea literally had that kind of impact on my life. I am profoundly grateful for her coming into my life at just the right time.

When I first found her on YouTube and listened to her, she had such a strong passion and knowledge about essential oils, I knew she would be the person that I could learn from. She truly wanted people to understand the incredible power essential oils have. I felt like she was talking directly to me. She immediately drew me in with her passion and with her gentleness. I had to know more and her teaching style spoke to my heart and kindled my own passion for essential oils.

There are only a few who truly change the world and Andrea was one of those select few. Her legacy will live on in everyone’s lives she has touched. I am truly honored to have been one of her students.
~Nancy Oates

On the first time Andrea “met” Lavender:

“The oil had taken on a new personality for me. It was just as gentle, relaxing, and inspiring as before, but it was no longer simply the liquid essence of the plant in a bottle.”

~Andrea Butje, The Heart of Aromatherapy (2017)

She Guided Me on My Aromatherapy Journey – Wendy Smith

When I first began exploring the world of essential oils, Andrea was one of the first people I discovered online. Her warmth, clarity, and passion for aromatherapy resonated with me instantly. I was drawn to her teaching style and found myself signing up for her free course through the Aromahead Institute. That experience lit a spark that ultimately led me to pursue further study—and work towards becoming a certified aromatherapist.

Andrea’s impact on the aromatherapy world was profound. She educated, inspired, and supported countless students across the globe. Her legacy will continue to live on through the many people she touched and the knowledge she so generously shared.

Thank you, Andrea, for helping guide me at the very beginning of my journey. You will be greatly missed.
~Wendy Smith, Blue Essence Aromatherapy

“Each of the oils has more than one property—just as people have more than one aspect to their personality.”

~Andrea Butje, The Heart of Aromatherapy (2017)

She was a True Light in the World – Shelley O’Dell-Brock

It’s hard to find the right words to express the deep sadness I feel in learning of Andrea’s passing. She was truly a remarkable soul—wise, kind, funny, and full of love. Andrea had a way of making everyone feel seen, heard, and valued. Her presence in the Essential Oil community was powerful and uplifting, and her influence reached far beyond what words can measure.

I feel incredibly grateful that we can still access her wisdom through the many YouTube videos she generously created. Each one is a reflection of her heart—filled with humor, compassion, and a deep desire to teach and serve. Her legacy lives on through those teachings, and through the thousands of lives she touched around the world.

Andrea was an old soul, a true light in this world, and I believe she has simply returned home. Her work here is complete, but her spirit continues to guide and inspire so many of us.

Thank you, Andrea, for everything you shared and for the love you so freely gave. You will be deeply missed, but never forgotten.

Rest peacefully, dear friend, and know that there are many of your students ready to carry on your work here.
~Dr. Shelley O’Dell-Brock DAc, Scottsdale Integrative Acupuncture

“Essential oils offer a natural way to…unfold new layers of vitality and happiness.”

~Andrea Butje, The Heart of Aromatherapy (2017)

She Made Everything Feel Possible – Lisa Chan

Though I never had the privilege of meeting Andrea in person, it feels as though I knew her deeply—through her video tutorials, her writing, and the joy and wisdom she poured into teaching about essential oils and aromatherapy.

Before Andrea, I can hardly remember what my life looked like. She opened a door to a world I never knew I needed—a world of scent, healing, and a deeper connection with nature. Her teachings were more than just lessons; they were invitations to slow down, to breathe, to listen to the plants and to ourselves.

Andrea had a gentle, kind teaching manner that made everything feel possible. There was a warmth in her voice, a cheerfulness and passion that shone through every video, every word. Her love of plants and people taught me to appreciate the quiet wisdom that surrounds us.

Although her voice has gone still, her words, her work, and her love of plants will continue to bloom in the lives she touched. Her influence is woven into the way I work with essential oils, the way I notice the seasons, and the way I find joy in small, fragrant moments. Andrea may no longer walk this earth, but her spirit lingers—in every drop of oil, in every mindful breath, and in every person she inspires to live more fully and more gently.
~Lisa Chan, AromaLisaCo & HeroSelfCare

“It’s easy to lose connection with yourself during stressful times…Like good friends, the oils help you stay connected.”

~Andrea Butje, The Heart of Aromatherapy (2017)

She was Full of Joy and Passion – Denise Sanders

My journey with essential oils started in the late 1960s. No one heard of them other than that is what made ‘punks’ smell so rad, especially the patchouli ones! After years to decades learning as much as I could about the medicinal value of herbs, I came across this beautiful woman full of joy and passion sharing her experience with lavender angustifolia. I devoured her videos she offered. It was a few years after my kids were grown up that I was finally able to enroll in Aromahead Institute as a student. And I’m still there.

Andrea inspired and instilled a love, passion to learn, practice, and share all I learned. I feel truly blessed. And that blessing will continue until I am unable to.
~Denise Sanders