Late-August/early-September is one of the most evocative spaces in the calendar. The afternoon sun says it’s Summer, but the changing leaves say Autumn is right around the corner.
A cool morning breeze carries the scent of dry leaves and damp soil. But by 2pm, the Summer heat rolls back in and you’re standing squarely in the middle of two seasons, wearing a sweater you suddenly regret.
The changing of the seasons is an excellent metaphor for life transitions that, honestly, sometimes seem to occur too often. Essential oils can help bridge those “in-between” times.
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- Plus, the top essential oils of the season!
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Navigating the In-Between with Essential Oils
The Art of Appreciating Life Transitions
We may want life transitions to be a quick turn of the page. We want to finish one chapter and immediately land on the next. But Nature doesn’t work in sudden leaps, and neither do we. Growth almost always happens in the awkward overlap, the quiet, unglamorous in-between space where the old hasn’t fully ended and the new hasn’t fully arrived.
If you’re navigating a major life transition, be it a career shift, a change in a relationship, a moving day, or simply adjusting to a new season in life, learning to sit comfortably in the transition is an art form.
Why the In-Between Feels Hard
The space between where you were and where you’re going often feels unstable. In Nature, transitions require patience; a tree doesn’t shed all its green in an afternoon (despite what the Hogwarts’ Whomping Willow would have us believe). During life transitions we often feel friction because our minds are racing ahead to the next season while our reality is still rooted in the present one.
When your environment and your internal state feel out of sync, sensory anchors can help bring you back to center. Using essential oils is one of the quickest ways to shift your nervous system. Aromatherapy offers an opportunity to take an intentional pause when everything around you feels like it’s in motion.
Essential Oils for Life Transitions
During transitional periods, find support in essential oil blends that bridge the gap between vibrant energy and stability.
| Uplifting Essential Oils | Grounding Essential Oils | Bridging Essential Oils |
|---|---|---|
| Grapefruit (Citrus x paradisi) | Atlas Cedarwood (Cedrus atlantica) | Frankincense (Boswellia carterii) |
| Lime (Citrus x aurantifolia) | Patchouli (Pogostemon cablin) | Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) |
| Peppermint (Mentha x piperita) | Sandalwood (Santalum spp.) | Palmarosa (Cymbopogon martinii) |
| Sweet Orange (Citrus x sinensis) | Vetiver (Chrysopogon zizanoides) | Red Myrtle (Myrtus communis) |
Let’s take an aromatherapy wellness journey together! In The Diffusion you’ll get exclusive essential oil blends, aromatherapy tips, skin care recipes, and more!
⭐️The Bridge Essential Oil Blend
- 2 drops Sweet Orange (Citrus x sinensis)
- 2 drops Frankincense Carterii (Boswellia carterii)
- 2 drops Atlas Cedarwood (Cedrus atlantica)
🌺See my Recommended Suppliers below
Sweet Orange: Vibrant and uplifting, Sweet Orange has a bright, joyful energy. It provides a sense of familiar comfort and positivity to help soften the anxiety that can accompany life transitions.
Atlas Cedarwood: Cedarwood offers a rich, woody base note. It acts as an emotional anchor, reminding us to stand tall in the present even when circumstances are shifting.
Frankincense: Gentle and soothing, Frankincense provides both a resinous base and citrus-like top notes. It elevates mood while encouraging deep, centering breathing.
Diffusing The Bridge Essential Oil Blend
- Add the blend to your diffuser first thing in the morning or during the afternoon slump.
- Sit nearby with your feet planted firmly. Close your eyes and take three deep, slow breaths.
- As you inhale, notice the bright top notes of Sweet Orange. Pause at the top of the inhale and allow Frankincense to support you. As you exhale, settle into the deep grounding energy of Cedarwood.
- Remind yourself: It’s okay to be mid-process. I don’t need to rush the season.
Other Ways to Use The Bridge Essential Oil Blend
- Aromatherapy Inhaler: Combine 5 drops of each essential oil in a small bowl. Allow the wick to absorb the essential oils and transfer to the barrel of your inhaler. Use throughout the day to provide support. For occasional use, I recommend a plastic disposable inhaler (like these). For regular, long-term use, I recommend a reusable inhaler (like these or these), that can be refreshed from time to time.
- Learn about different methods of using an aromatherapy inhaler in my book Essential Oil Elements.
- Topical: Add The Bridge essential oil blend (6 drops total) to 1 ounce fragrance-free cream or favorite neutral carrier oil (like Jojoba). Use as a hand cream throughout the day or as a body oil after bathing. If you feel tension in your neck and/or shoulders, use this as a massage oil for those areas. (To avoid spillage of body and massage oils, I like to use a treatment pump bottle, like these.)
- Roll-on: Add The Bridge essential oil blend (6 drops total) to a roller bottle and top with a favorite neutral carrier oil (like Jojoba) or Apricot seed oil. Roll over pulse points, including throat, wrists, backs of knees, both sides of the Achilles tendon, and over the heart to provide support as you bridge life transitions. (I like the coolness and smooth rolling action of a stainless steel roller ball, like these or these.)
You don’t have to have everything figured out today, nor do you need to force yourself into Autumn mode before the sun is ready to set on Summer. Honor where you are right now, sweater, heat wave, changing leaves, sudden storms, and everything life transitions throw your way!
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Sourcing Essential Oils for Life Transitions
The Bridge Blend Essential Oils
- Sweet Orange essential oil (Citrus x sinensis):
- Cedarwood Atlas essential oil (Cedrus atlantica):
- Frankincense Carterii essential oil (Boswellia carterii):
You have hundreds of options when it comes to essential oil suppliers. Get to know my top choices and see why they’re my preferred suppliers of sustainably sourced, pure essential oils. Learn more.
Other Essential Oils to Support Life Transitions
- Pink/Rose Grapefruit essential oil (Citrus x paradisi):
- Lavender essential oil (Lavandula angustifolia):
- Nature Packaged (Direct and Amazon)
- Nature Packaged has both Bulgarian and 40/42 Lavender, and a lovely Lavender hydrosol
- Use code MOMAROMAS10 to save on every direct order and let them know I sent you!
- Plant Therapy, organic (Direct and Amazon)
- Plant Therapy’s Lavender hydrosol is lovely for skin care and general aromatherapy
- Aromatics International, organic artisan (Direct and Amazon)
- Aromatics’ preservative-free Lavender artisan hydrosol is beautiful for skin care
- Nature Packaged (Direct and Amazon)
- Lime essential oil (Citrus x aurantifolia):
- Myrtle essential oil (Myrtus communis):
- Palmarosa essential oil (Cymbopogon martinii):
- Patchouli essential oil (Pogostemon cablin):
- Nature Packaged, sustainable eco-friendly farming (Direct and Amazon)
- Use code MOMAROMAS10 to save on every direct order and let them know I sent you!
- Plant Therapy, organic (Direct and Amazon)
- Plant Therapy, Aged Dark Patchouli, richer deeper aroma (Direct and Amazon).
- Aromatics International, organic (Direct and Amazon)
- Nature Packaged, sustainable eco-friendly farming (Direct and Amazon)
- Peppermint essential oil (Mentha x piperita):
- Nature Packaged, fair trade, chemical free farming (Direct and Amazon)
- Use code MOMAROMAS10 to save on every direct order and let them know I sent you!
- Plant Therapy, organic (Direct and Amazon)
- Aromatics International, organic (Direct and Amazon)
- Aromatics International’s Peppermint hydrosol (Direct and Amazon) is cooling to skin and can be added to beverages!
- Nature Packaged, fair trade, chemical free farming (Direct and Amazon)
- Sandalwood essential oil (Santalum spp.):
- This is a precious essential oil, choose a supplier carefully
- Nature Packaged, S. spicatum, sustainably harvested (Direct and Amazon)
- Use code MOMAROMAS10 to save on every direct order and let them know I sent you!
- Plant Therapy, S. spicatum, organic (Direct and Amazon)
- Plant Therapy, S. album, (Direct and Amazon)
- Aromatics International, S. album, organic (Direct and Amazon)
- Vetiver essential oil (Chrysopogon zizanoides / Vetiveria zizanoides):
- Jojoba oil/wax (Simmondsia chinensis):
This information has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. It is for educational purposes only.
All recipes provided are for personal use and are not designed for re-sale or large-scale manufacturing.
Please consult your doctor, naturopath, herbal practitioner, or other qualified health professional for medical advice and before starting any herbal regimen, particularly if you are pregnant or nursing, have any existing medical conditions, or are taking any medications.
Christine Pressler | Author, Certified Aromatherapist, Natural Skin Care Formulator
Christine is an avid reader, writer, lifetime learner, and proponent of self-care for better mental health and energy. She enjoys formulating bespoke aromatherapy, skin care, and herbal products to support her family, pets, friends, and clients. She also loves experimenting with recipes in the kitchen.💚 (Learn more >>)
