Benefits of Planting an Aromatherapy Garden

By Caryn Gehlmann
Essential oils capture many of the benefits of aromatic plants. However, there’s something special about having your own aromatherapy garden. Whether it’s a basil or mint plant on your kitchen counter, to a full-fledged garden, you’ll benefit from scents in their most natural state.

There are also certain aromatic plants that can’t be distilled. My personal favorite is Daphne – it always makes me smile but I can only enjoy it while it’s in season. But hey, that’s part of what makes it special!

Are you intrigued by the benefits of an aromatherapy garden? Many of the points I’m sharing with you can be found in Kathy Keville’s book, “The Aromatherapy Garden.” Kathy is an aromatherapist I’ve been following for years and her book reveals the science behind fragrant plants and how to optimize the full benefits of fragrance. Her book also includes detailed plant profiles to help you plan out your garden and then enjoy those lovely scents.

Benefits of Aromatherapy Gardens

Attract Pollinators
I love how Kathy refers to insects as nature’s aromatherapists. They use their sense of smell to locate nectar and pollen. In a previous post, Kristina from Pollinator Project Rogue Valley shared specific plants that attract pollinators to your garden.

Deter Pests
Aroma can create a built-in defense against predators. So even if you’re planning on a vegetable garden you may want to include a few aromatic plants. In The Aromatherapy Garden, Kathy says, “If your garden is invaded, peppermint, thyme and wormwood are star players against garden pests.” Even animals, including deer, can be deterred by fragrant plants such as rosemary, sage and thyme.

Enhance Your Mood
Aromas can have a direct impact on your emotions. Maybe that’s why many find gardening so relaxing – they’re breathing in lovely scents while they’re working. Plants such as chamomile, lavender, lemon and marjoram are found to be relaxing and stress-relieving by many. Basil, jasmine, and peppermint are known to help with focus, alertness, and awareness. The Aromatherapy Garden has ideas on harvesting these different plants so you can continue to benefit from the aromas indoors or even later on in the year.

Add Flavor to Your Food
I’m always very cautious when it comes to ingesting essential oils and recommend you only do so after consulting a healthcare practitioner. However, culinary herbs that grow in your garden are a safe way to benefit from some aromatic plants that offer delicious flavors.

I’m in the midst of planning my aromatherapy garden at my lavender farm. If you live nearby come out for a visit this summer! We will be opening June 15th – check our website for our hours. And don’t forget we love hearing from you! You can contact us or join us on Facebook and let us know how your garden goes this summer.