“The fusion of Biophilic Design and Aromatherapy. Walks through blooming wildflower meadows and tree-filled forests are not only beautiful experiences, but they also improve wellbeing in measurable ways, scientific ways. The calm these environments create comes partly from aromatic compounds called phytoncides, airborne chemicals released by trees and plants to protect themselves from germs and insects.”
To this day, the sight of a giant redwood tree makes me stop in my tracks. It takes me back to the years I spent living in a 400-year-old stone cottage, dwarfed by the most extraordinary redwood in the garden, a tree planted during the reign of Queen Victoria that stood three times the height of the cottage.
I had fallen in love with it the moment I saw it. Drawn in immediately by its immense presence and grounding energy. I was fascinated by the soft, sponge-like red bark and would instinctively try to wrap my arms around the metre-wide trunk, breathing in the woody aroma that felt comforting and gave me a deep feeling of inner peace. On sunny days I'd stand at the foot of the tree and gaze up through the canopy, which seemed to stretch all the way to the deep blue sky, and feel in awe of its beauty. In the summer months I'd spend my evenings sitting beside the redwood, watching bats fly in and out of the massive, downward-sweeping branches, illuminated only by moonlight and stars. These moments always felt magical and calming. I was surrounded by nature and had many beautiful trees in my cottage garden but none of them carried the same aroma or grounding energy as that magnificent giant redwood.
Fifteen years later, I locked the door of my cottage for the last time. I knew it was time to move on, but I still wept as I gave the giant redwood one last hug goodbye.
I had promised to try living in a town, closer to shops and restaurants, in a modern new-build house on the edge of an estate. I felt the disconnection immediately. Although there was a small area of woodland close by, and parks and countryside I could drive to, I was now surrounded by urban buildings and busy roads. I was no longer able to simply open my front door, pull on my wellies and walk for miles across open fields, rolling hills and forests you could lose yourself in.
The new garden was easy to maintain, but the only trees were the ones in pots that had made the journey with me from the cottage. I still walked daily, but swapping the sound of rustling leaves and twigs cracking underfoot for the hard thud of tarmac gave me a new and very real appreciation of how differently life is experienced by those in urban environments compared to those living rurally. Yes, I could still sit amongst trees and spend time in nature, but it was no longer as easy or as accessible. And on the days when I could feel myself sliding into anxious or depressive thoughts, I found it harder to reconnect, to ground and come back to myself. Everything that had once felt effortless was simply no longer part of daily life.
I don't know whether this change contributed to my burnout and emotional dysregulation, or whether the long-term stress I had been carrying finally had the space to surface now that nature was no longer there to calm and ground me, but in 2024 I bought a one-way ticket to Thailand and set off on a solo journey across the Far East in search of natural healing and a deeper understanding of myself.
Looking back, there had been warning signs along the way. From waking in the night gasping for breath with my heart racing, to a loss of mental clarity and an inability to sit still. My body was constantly tensed, like a coiled spring, and yet I kept pushing on, running on high adrenaline and the false energy of elevated cortisol. My body was trapped in a chronic state of fight or flight. Designed for short-term survival, when stress hormones remain constantly elevated the body is forced to function on them rather than genuine rest and nourishment, creating a paradoxical state where you feel exhausted, yet your body refuses to rest.
My body no longer knew how to relax. Massage brought only temporary relief, and sitting still to meditate left me more stressed, my mind racing and my breath quickening in response. I was stuck in a cycle my body didn't feel safe enough to break.
My travels through Thailand and Bali gave me the opportunity to explore many different healing modalities and to work with remarkable healers and teachers who generously shared their wisdom through ceremony, scent, sound, touch and therapeutic practice. My time in the fishing village of Rawai allowed me, and my body, to begin processing and releasing emotions I had been holding for many years, some going back as far as childhood. I spent four weeks working with a Spanish energy healer called Esme, who specialised in Aromachology and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy. Aromachology focuses on the psychology of scent and scent memory, the way specific smells act as powerful triggers, each one connected to a person's unique emotional experiences. It was through this work that I experienced first-hand the power of bridging scent with psychology, and what it means to use essential oils to influence emotion, behaviour and wellbeing.
What are Essential Oils?
I came to understand essential oils as a gift from nature. Aromatically anchoring us to the natural world, and acting like tuning forks of the earth, helping to recalibrate the body's energy centres and restore balance to our physical and emotional wellbeing.
On my return to England, I felt called to share what I had experienced and to offer others a simple, grounded and deeply restorative way to reconnect with nature and support their health and vitality. Building on ten years of experience in health and wellbeing, I incorporated new therapies and began offering classes and workshops focused on reconnection with the natural world and the healing power of essential oils.
At the point where science meets nature, pure essential oils emerge as some of the most potent healing compounds the natural world offers. Distilled from plants, they carry the concentrated biological activity and energetic signature of their botanical origins.
The human body, composed of trillions of cells, each operating in its own unique rhythm, responds meaningfully to these plant-based compounds. When the oils are of genuine quality and purity, they can support everything from immune function to emotional regulation and physical healing.
Among the most valued of these botanical oils are rose, often called the Queen of Oils, known for its role in emotional healing and heart-opening properties. Frankincense, the sacred King of Oils, has been revered for centuries for its capacity to support deeper states of awareness and cellular regeneration. Lavender is perhaps nature's most familiar peacekeeper, gently supportive of the nervous system and widely studied for its calming effects. Helichrysum, sometimes known as Liquid Stitches, is renowned for its regenerative and restorative properties.
These oils are truly gifts of the earth, reminding us that healing can be as simple as breathing in the wisdom of plants and allowing nature to communicate with the body at a cellular level. Bringing us back to ourselves and back to the natural world.
Essential oils are extracted from different parts of plants, roots, bark, flowers, leaves and resins, through cold pressing (for citrus oils) or steam distillation. In essence, they are the immune system of the plant. Highly concentrated, bioactive compounds that the plant uses to protect, heal and communicate.
What makes essential oils so effective in their interaction with the human body is that both are carbon-based life forms, built on the same fundamental chemistry. This shared foundation means the compounds in essential oils can interact with, pass through and act upon human cells.
Because essential oils are both carbon-based and lipophilic (fat-loving) they can cross cellular membranes with ease, including the blood-brain barrier, reaching cells within around twenty minutes of topical application.
When used aromatically, their effect is equally immediate. The volatile organic compounds in essential oils shift rapidly from liquid to gas, allowing them to be inhaled, travel to the olfactory bulb and reach the limbic system, the emotional centre of the brain, within seconds of inhalation.
An essential oil is not a single chemical but a complex mixture of hundreds of compounds, and it is this complexity that enables oils to work across multiple systems simultaneously. They interact directly with the nervous system, endocrine system and neurotransmitter activity. Blending certain oils together can also produce a greater therapeutic effect, both mentally and physically, than either oil could achieve on its own.
When do They Help Us?
Essential oils are most powerful as a consistent, daily support for the nervous system, emotional regulation, sleep, immunity and overall wellbeing. In a world where chronic stress and disconnection from nature are increasingly driving physical and emotional dis-ease, essential oils carry the healing intelligence of nature. Communicating with the body at a cellular level in a way that synthetic alternatives simply cannot replicate. This connection is what the body craves and needs to sustain genuine vitality.
Research shows that essential oils can reduce cortisol and support cognitive performance. Certain compounds, for example, those found in roman chamomile, interact with GABA receptors in the brain in a way that promotes relaxation, making them a meaningful natural alternative to synthetic interventions.
A regulated nervous system supports emotional stability, clear energy, resilience and healthy immune function. A dysregulated one creates tension, disrupted sleep, difficulty focusing, chronic fatigue, pain, cravings and hormonal imbalance. Used consistently, essential oils are a practical and effective tool for guiding the nervous system back towards balance.
They are also deeply supportive during periods of emotional transition. Emotions are energy in motion and when we don't process them, or attempt to suppress them, they can disrupt the delicate balance of the nervous and endocrine systems and eventually manifest as physical symptoms. Essential oils can support the movement through emotional states, helping the body feel safe enough to shift.
In practical terms, they can reduce stress and improve focus at work, promote deeper sleep, support immune function, lift mood and create a home environment that feels calm and restorative. They are also highly effective as natural antimicrobial alternatives to synthetic cleaning products.
Are all Essential Oils the Same? Potency? Purity? Pollutants?
Not all essential oils are created equally. Quality, purity and potency vary enormously depending on where and how plants are grown, how they are harvested and what extraction method is used.
The therapeutic effects described in this article depend entirely on using pure, high-quality oils. Many oils available on the high street or online are adulterated, diluted with synthetic fillers, blended with cheaper oils or made with chemical additives that mimic the scent but contain none of the bioactive compounds. These synthetic versions not only lack therapeutic benefit but can introduce harmful chemicals directly into your body and home environment.
Purity matters because it’s the naturally occurring compounds in a plant, its phytochemicals, that interact with your cells, nervous system and brain. A synthetic lavender fragrance, for example, does not contain the linalool and linalyl acetate that give true lavender its calming, nervous-system-supporting properties. Sadly, many people dismiss the effectiveness of essential oils based on past experience with an inferior product that was never capable of producing the same results as a pure, potent quality oil.
Potency depends on the quality of the source plant, the soil it was grown in, the climate, whether it was grown organically and whether it was harvested at the optimal time. The oils I use in my work are sourced from around the world to ensure each plant has been grown in its native environment which makes it stronger and more vibrant and produces a superior oil. Lemons from Sicily, frankincense from Oman, lavender from the French Alps and Bulgaria, for example.
Pollutants are also a concern. Pesticides, herbicides and other agricultural chemicals can concentrate during the distillation process. Choosing oils that are independently tested for purity and free from adulteration is essential. When selecting essential oils, look for 100% pure, therapeutic-grade oils with full botanical names listed, transparent sourcing, third-party testing results and a company with a genuine commitment to quality.
Tell Us About Your Practices….
Amnanda
Amnanda means 'the path to joy' and that intention is at the heart of every treatment. Painful experiences and traumas, both physical and emotional, can remain held in the body long after the event has passed. This residual stress and tension can leave traces in our cells and tissues, affecting our daily lives in ways we may be entirely unaware of. Influencing our health, our relationships and even our ability to make clear decisions.
The Amnanda process, evolved from a Tibetan tradition of Ayurveda, is a therapeutic programme of twelve oil treatments carried out monthly over the course of a year. During each session I work with a combination of specially prepared herbs and oils selected for their restorative effects on body and mind. Combined with light touch techniques, each treatment initiates a process of inner settling, dissolving residues of stress and tension, and supporting regeneration at a physical, cellular, emotional and spiritual level.
Amnanda is a powerful support for healing from injury and trauma, finding peace following loss or grief, gaining greater clarity, navigating significant life changes, and reconnecting more deeply with vitality and joy. Healing begins from the very first session, and while each person's journey is their own, every client will experience renewed enthusiasm, greater clarity and restored energy.
Energy Alchemy ‘The 5 Elements’
At the heart of my work as a Wellness Alchemist is the understanding that energy is the foundation of health. Drawing on practices used for thousands of years to stimulate life force energy, restore flow and allow the body to return to its natural rhythm, Energy Alchemy ‘The 5 Elements’ works beyond the physical body. It is a deep dive into the self.
A synergy of science, spirit and nature, this experience works to clear blocked and stagnant energy from the body, restore balance to the energy centres and reconnect back to the true self. It weaves together movement, breath, scent, sound and the natural elements, each one a distinct and powerful layer of support.
Movement restores energy. When each movement is connected to the breath and you remain present with sensation, channels open and energy begins to flow again.
Breathwork activates the parasympathetic nervous system, signalling to the body that it is safe. The effect is immediate, a shift in the nervous system, body and mind into genuine relaxation.
Scent bypasses the thinking mind and speaks directly to the emotional centre of the brain and helping the nervous system to settle and the body to ground and open. The oils are blended from herbs that create balance, grounding and awareness, making reconnection as simple as breathing in the intelligence of plants.
Sound from the steady rhythm of a drum, the tones of a hand pan, the resonance of chimes, creates entrainment as your brainwaves begin to synchronise with these frequencies. You drop into presence and allow healing to happen.
When woven together, alchemy takes form. You do not need to understand how any of it works, which is the beauty of working with nature, scent and energy. The body's innate intelligence remembers. All we need to do is give ourselves the time and space to let it.
How Essential Oils Connect us to Nature and Create Biophilic Effect
Walks through blooming wildflower meadows and tree-filled forests are not only beautiful experiences, they improve wellbeing in measurable, scientific ways. The calm these environments create comes partly from aromatic compounds called phytoncides, airborne chemicals released by trees and plants to protect themselves from germs and insects. Research has found that exposure to these compounds can lower blood pressure, reduce cortisol, support immune function and improve mood and mental health.
Biophilia is the recognition of our innate human need to be in connection with the rhythms, sounds, smells and textures of the natural world. Acknowledging that many people in modern society are disconnected from nature is what drives biophilic design and the growing use of natural elements in urban environments and buildings.
For many years I thought of essential oils simply as a fragrance that smelt like nature. It wasn't until I understood the science behind how pure, high-quality oils interact with the body, influencing the nervous system, endocrine system and neuroreceptors, that I recognised how essential oils can offer many of the same health benefits as time spent in nature, even when you’re indoors.
By shifting from synthetic fragrances and cleaning products to natural essential oils, you are choosing compounds your body already recognises and giving your nervous system a quiet reminder that you are still connected to the living world, even when you're surrounded by walls and screens. You don't have to choose between modern life and the natural world.
Using essential oils at home and at work are simple acts of biophilia, bringing the chemistry of the living world into daily life while supporting wellbeing in the process. They remind us that we are not separate from nature. We are, and always have been, a part of it.
What do Essential Oils do to Our Brains?
The relationship between essential oils and the brain is both immediate and significant. Within seconds of inhalation, aromatic molecules travel from the nose to the olfactory bulb and directly into the limbic system, the emotional centre of the brain, responsible for memory, mood, motivation and emotional response. This is why scent is such a personal experience. The memories and emotions it triggers are entirely your own, encoded through your lived experience.
Unlike most sensory input, which is filtered through rational thought, scent bypasses the thinking mind entirely. It speaks directly to the part of the brain that governs emotion and memory, making it one of the fastest and most direct routes available for shifting your emotional and physiological state.
Consciously working with scent to support a move towards more positive emotional states such as greater calm, clarity, openness, can significantly enhance overall wellbeing. Essential oils, working through the brain's emotional centre, offer a deeply natural way to support that process.
Two Things You Can Do For Yourself
Diffuse Essential Oils at Home and Work
Diffusing essential oils while you work or at home is one of the simplest and most effective ways to begin experiencing their benefits. Within seconds of inhalation, aromatic molecules reach the limbic system, supporting positive emotional responses, reducing stress, improving focus and lifting mood. A grounding, uplifting blend supports productivity and concentration in a workspace. A calming blend in the bedroom before sleep helps activate the parasympathetic nervous system and prepare the body for genuine rest.
This is also a simple act of biophilia, bringing the chemistry of the living world indoors and giving your nervous system a quiet reminder that you are still connected to nature, even when you’re indoors.
Replace Synthetic Products with Natural Essential Oil Alternatives
Swap your synthetic cleaning sprays, air fresheners and hand sanitisers for natural alternatives made with essential oils. Many oils carry powerful antimicrobial properties, making them highly effective replacements for chemical-laden products. Unlike synthetic fragrances, which mimic the scent of nature without the bioactive compounds, essential oils contain the same phytochemicals that give trees and plants their protective and immune-supporting properties.
By making this shift, you are not only reducing your exposure to synthetic toxins, you are choosing compounds your body already recognises. You are, in a very real sense, bringing a little forest bathing into your daily life. Strengthening your immune system and calming your nervous system, one breath at a time.
Article Written by Kate Cheer, Founder of Star Alchemy
Published in the Journal of Biophilic Design - Issue 21 ‘Climate Change’ 21st May 2026