In our Rituals series, we discover natural ways to enhance the everyday. This season: Wild Mint founder, Vivian Wong shares two of her favourite flora-infused aromatherapy blends to both revive and relax.

‘I still remember the first time I experienced the feeling of pure peppermint essential oil on my palm’, explains Vivian Wong, the founder of Wild Mint, a scent & craft studio in Hong Kong. ‘It was so refreshing and the scent lasted for hours. I was so intrigued by the amazing effects it had on my skin – this is where my journey into essential oils really began.’

As advocates of weaving nature into the everyday, we at The Floristry aren’t new to the benefits, not to mention the wonderful aromas of using essential oils. Here, we chat to Vivian about her practice and discover two recipes for incorporating some of her favourite oil blends.

Vivian first started studying aromatherapy and then went on to hosting wellness workshops to spread the message of natural living. ‘To live a “natural life” is not just about selecting an array of organic or natural products to decorate our shelves, it is about self-care and manifesting a positive mindset. One thing I learned when studying aromatherapy is the importance of appreciating everything around myself. Once I fully appreciate things, the aura and energy becomes more positive and grounded – it is like a magnet attracting good people and good circumstances.’

Each essential oil has very different properties and have been used for different purposes for centuries. ‘They are a gift from Mother Nature in that each has numerous healing properties for our mind and body. In order to choose the essential oil essential to you, you must understand your body first.’

Weaving aromatherapy into your life can provide a natural and holistic approach to everything from insomnia to break-out skin. ‘This is also one of the reasons I started to listen to my body, beginning with eating healthy foods and taking care of my skin. Exfoliating is one of many ways I reward myself after a long day. Making self-care a priority is the key to establishing wellness and work-life balance.’

Discover two of Vivian’s go-to recipes:

Exfoliating Salt Scrub

Encourages detoxification and invigorates.

Ingredients:
90g Himalayan pink salt
45g Dead sea salt
35ml Carrier oil
Ylang Ylang essential oil
Grapefruit essential oil
Vitamin E oil
Dried flowers

STEP 1

Add both salts to a bowl. Dead sea salt is one of the most mineral rich sea salts in the world. I love to add some Himalayan pink salt as well, as it gives the scrub a lovely pink hue.

STEP 2

Pour in a carrier oil of your choice – almond oil, jojoba oil, or coconut oil all work wonderfully. I love using a mix of jojoba oil and almond oil together which are good for all skin types and excellent at moisturising.

STEP 3

Add 10 drops each of Ylang Ylang, Grapefruit and Vitamin E oil into the mixing bowl. This combination of floral and citrus aromas are both sweet and refreshing. Ylang Ylang is known for balancing hormones and building self-confidence whilst Grapefruit is great at invigorating the senses.

STEP 4

Scatter some dried flowers into the mixing bowl and blend everything together.

STEP 5

Store the scrub in an air-tight container and apply generously over the body to brush away dead skin cells. After exfoliating, apply a relaxing massage oil to call it a night.

Relaxing Massage Oil

Ingredients:
250ml Carrier oils 
3ml Sandalwood pure essential oils
2ml Vetiver essential oil
Dried flowers

STEP 1

Choose a beautiful container with a lid that you would like to store your massage oil within.

STEP 2

Add some dried flowers into the container.

STEP 3

Pour in your chosen carrier oil.

STEP 4

Add the essential oils. Vetiver and Sandalwood have a deep woody character – rich and warm. Both help to aid sleep and unwinding of both mind and body.

STEP 5

Apply generously to the body after exfoliating.

Follow Vivian for more rituals and wellness tips @wildmint.hk