The Complete Guide to Aromatic Astrology
Achieve balance and openness by matching your zodiac sign to recommended essential oils.
Astrology, which dates back to multiple centuries, was once revered as a scholarly topic along with astronomy, meteorology and medicine. It’s fun to check out your monthly horoscope to see what the stars have in store, and a handful us can even admit to sizing up potential partners based on sign compatibility.
Our star signs also influence us when picking up a gift, a tv-series to binge-watch, or even preparing for a business meeting. It is surprising how our personalities have a direct connection with the placement of the planets at the exact time we were born. This information can become obvious when having a look at astrology signs and dates, their meanings, houses, and elements of each sign. Astrology can be combined with many things, such as our preferences and things we appreciate most in life.
But have you ever thought of combining astrology with aromatherapy?
“I thought, why not pair one of my curiosities with my passion: astrology with aromatherapy? says certified and registered aromatherapist Dawn Shipley. “Matching top personality traits with essential oils that would balance out the extremes. Sometimes I choose oils for their similarities to a signs’ characteristics as well, like sandalwood that inspires thoughts of something strong, steadfast and soothing, with Taurus, the bull who can be temperamental but is definitely strong and steadfast.”
READ: Discover the Many Benefits of Aromatherapy
For each sign, she has devised the following: a power essential oil that best embodies that sign; and two diffuser blends, one feminine and one masculine/unisex, to balance and enhance the sign’s main personality traits.
“The blends can be used with any aromatherapy diffuser,” Shipley explains. “Get one of your sign’s blends or both. Not feeling what I picked for you? Choose what speaks to you the most!” Below, her complete guide to the aromatherapy zodiac:
Aries (March 21-April 19)
The ram (Aries) is courageous, energetic and commanding.
Element: Fire
Quality: Cardinal
Ruler: Mars
Greatest Overall Compatibility: Leo, Sagittarius
Best for Marriage and Partnerships: Libra
An Aries, like its element of fire, and its ruler, Mars, embodies strength and passion. They are natural leaders, full of courage, confidence and determinism. They can, however, also become impatient, moody, irritable, and hot-tempered. These strong people need some calm; something to ease the temper so their great leadership qualities and enthusiasm don’t become clouded!
Power Essential Oil: Frankincense
Chosen for its ability to soothe the spirit and release anger. Frankincense is a very spiritual scent and has been revered throughout history. It is powerful yet gentle, a perfectly balanced scent for a wise, passionate leader like Aries.
Feminine Blend: Citronella, Lavender and Frankincense
This combination is gentle and floral, yet still strong and powerful. There is a sweet hint of citrus but a deep lingering undertone of a musky floral sophistication and depth that comes from the infusion of the lavender and frankincense. Eases anger and irritability, purifies emotions, fortifies and soothes spirit. Caution: Not recommended during pregnancy due to Citronella content.
Unisex Blend: Lime, Marjoram and Frankincense
The deep, soothing and sophisticated scent of musky frankincense is perfectly balanced out with a tangy, spicy element. Eases anger and irritability, improves mood, fortifies and soothes spirit. Caution: Not recommended for pregnancy due to Marjoram content.
Taurus (April 20-May 20)
The bull (Taurus) is pleasure-seeking, loves control and is grounded.
Element: Earth
Quality: Fixed
Ruler: Venus
Greatest Overall Compatibility: Virgo, Capricorn
Best for Marriage and Partnerships: Scorpio
Do you remember the story of Ferdinand the Bull? He was lazy and just wanted to hang out alone and enjoy the flowers all day, just pondering life. You may find the Taurus acting surprisingly just like Ferdinand! And if you try to make them move, it may be the most frustrating thing you’ve ever done due to their headstrong nature! However, this bullheadedness is coupled with thoughtfulness, steadfastness, and loyalty beyond compare. A Taurus can benefit from something that inspires peppiness, openness and flexibility to keep the Taurus from getting stuck in one spot for too long (figuratively and literally) along life’s path.
Power Essential Oil: Sandalwood
Chosen for its ability to increase one’s openness and flexibility, while also lending to the peaceful thoughtfulness of the bull. It is grounding and brings Taurus closer to its Earth element, increasing strength and steadfastness.
Feminine Blend: Lemon, Lavender and Sandalwood
The warmth of lemon tickles your nose at first scent, but soon you experience a deeper, luxurious soft sweetness. It’s sweet, strong and earthy; gentle, powerful and rich. Lifts feelings of sluggishness, improves mood, increases openness and peacefulness.
Unisex Blend: Black Pepper, Pine and Sandalwood
Spicy, woodsy, deep and luxurious, with just a hint of the sweetness of the sandalwood. Stimulating, grounding, elevating, brings peacefulness and invigoration, increases openness Caution: Not recommended for people with kidney disease due to black pepper content. Pine can be a skin irritant in some individuals.
Gemini (May 21-June 20)
The twins (Gemini) are adventurous, chatty, and love learning and education.
Element: Air
Quality: Mutable
Ruler: Mercury
Greatest Overall Compatibility: Libra, Aquarius
Best for Marriage and Partnerships: Sagittarius
Gemini is symbolized by twins, and as you would imagine, can show Jekyll and Hyde-type mood swings at times! But they are also people who are learners, and they push the envelope physically, emotionally and spiritually. They also may sometimes lose focus and become inconsistent. Gemini benefits from gaining focus, tempering mood swings, relaxation, and sharpening their minds to help them push the spiritual and emotional envelopes even further.
Power Essential Oil: Cistus
Cistus is another deep and powerful scent that is very spiritual, allowing the Gemini to delve deep into their spirituality. It improves meditation and intuition, and increases consciousness. All the while, it also promotes sleep, tempering out the physical extremes a Gemini may experience.
Feminine Blend: Cistus, Black Spruce and Bergamot
Well-balanced, with a slightly deep sweetness, tempered with a woodsy spice and delicate hint of citrus. Emotionally balancing, increases focus, grounds and elevates, improves meditation and intuition, raises consciousness and improves sleep. Caution: Cistus can cause skin sensitization if oxidized.
Unisex Blend: Peppermint, Black Spruce and Cistus
A deep, lingering spiciness with a hint of a woodsy air. Sharpens mind, increases focus, grounds and elevates, improves meditation and intuition, raises consciousness and improves sleep. Caution: Cistus can cause skin sensitization if oxidized. Peppermint is not recommended during pregnancy or for children under 3.
Cancer (June 21-July 22)
The crab (Cancer) is sensitive, emotional and seeks security.
Element: Water
Quality: Cardinal
Ruler: Moon
Greatest Overall Compatibility: Scorpio, Pisces
Best for Marriage and Partnerships: Capricorn
Cancers are a very artistic, hospitable and supportive bunch. But have you ever encountered a crab? Even look at it the wrong way and it can become defensive and temperamental, scurrying back and forth, feistily snapping his or her claws at you. They can be a little sensitive sometimes, lacking confidence and having anxious tendencies. They very much need a peaceful retreat to center themselves and to lose the anxiety and regain confidence.
Power Essential Oil: Neroli
A powerful oil for confidence and anxiety. It can help redirect energy more positively, while also countering fatigue and insomnia, keeping the sensitive Cancer feeling relaxed and confident, in tip-top shape!
Feminine Blend: Basil, Cypress and Neroli
A slightly herbal sweetness; a delicate confident floral blend. Increases confidence, reduces anxiety, uplifting and relaxing. Caution: Not recommended during pregnancy due to basil content.
Unisex Blend: Blood Orange, Juniper and Neroli
A dry citrusy scent combined with a woodsy spice. Increases confidence, improves mood, reduces anxiety, relaxing. Caution: Not recommended during pregnancy or for those with kidney disease due to juniper berry content.
Leo (July 23-August 22)
The lion (Leo) is generous, organized and protective.
Element: Fire
Quality: Fixed
Ruler: Sun
Greatest Overall Compatibility: Aries, Sagittarius
Best for Marriage and Partnerships: Aquarius
A Leo is a regal character, like the lion that symbolizes it. The Leo is a grand soul, full of generosity, passion, protectiveness, pride and love for finer things in life. When the balance is off, though, the lion may become arrogant, overly extravagant, overbearing and smothering. It is very common for Leos to take on too much for their own good. They also are more sensitive than they let on. A Leo can benefit from essential oils that promote relaxation to counter their tendency to overwork themselves, grounding to counter the extremes of extravagance and the tendencies to be overbearing, as well as something to temper the sensitivity.
Power Essential Oil: Myrrh
A regal scent for a regal soul. Myrrh is fortifying and revitalizing to the spirit and opens the mind for prayer and meditation. It is soothing, grounding and powerful: a perfect scent for royalty.
Feminine Blend: Grapefruit, Roman Chamomile and Myrrh
A slightly musky, fruity sweetness. Deep and regal but still feminine. Grounding, decreases oversensitivity, uplifting, relieves stress and insomnia, fortifying and revitalizing to the spirit. Caution: Not recommended during pregnancy due to myrrh content.
Unisex Blend: Lemon, Juniper Berry, Myrrh
A citrusy musk with a hint of juniper’s spice. Fortifies and revitalizes spirit, grounding, relieves stress and oversensitivity. Caution: Not recommended during pregnancy due to myrrh and juniper berry content. Not recommended for those with kidney disease due to juniper berry content.
Virgo (August 23-September 22)
The maiden (Virgo) is logical, practical and critical.
Element: Earth
Quality: Mutable
Ruler: Mercury
Greatest Overall Compatibility: Taurus, Capricorn
Best for Marriage and Partnerships: Pisces
Virgo, depicted by the maiden and ruled by Mercury, is gentle, logical, practical and mild-mannered, like the delicate young maiden. They are a nurturing bunch: kind, patient and strong. They are great thinkers and pay close attention to detail. However, sometimes they can be opinionated, judgmental and critical. They are natural worriers who carry a heavy load of nervous intensity, though you would never know from their calm, collected demeanor. With all that nervous tension, they have a hard time relaxing. Virgo’s greatest potential can be reached when nervousness and worry are decreased and relaxation is increased.
Power Essential Oil: Jasmine
Jasmine is known mostly for its supreme aphrodisiac properties, but it is also does wonders for worry, nervousness and fatigue. Like the maiden, it is delicate, but also like Virgo’s ruler, Mercury, it is strong and powerful.
Feminine Blend: Palmarosa, Lavender and Jasmine
Layer upon layer of sweet floral scents, strong and soothing. Decreases worry and nervousness, promotes relaxation. Caution: Not recommended during pregnancy due to jasmine content.
Unisex Blend: Basil, Cypress and Jasmine
A strong, herbal, earthy scent. The basil and jasmine both lend a slightly sweet element that is overruled in a balancing manner by the herbal aspects of the basil and woodsiness of the cypress. Decreases worry and nervousness, promotes relaxation. Caution: Not recommended during pregnancy due to jasmine and basil content.
Libra (September 23-October 22)
The scales (Libra) are balanced and seek a sense of justice.
Element: Air
Quality: Cardinal
Ruler: Venus
Greatest Overall Compatibility: Gemini, Aquarius
Best for Marriage and Partnerships: Aries
Libras, like the scales that represent them, are all about balance. They love justice, peace, harmony and beauty. At best they are good-natured, pleasant and intelligent. But have you ever tried to achieve balance on a scale? The scale will sometimes teeter back and forth, especially when you’re not the one controlling what’s going on the scales. The same goes for the Libra: sometimes they may seem very erratic when trying to find balance, and they also have trouble with indecision. They want to make the perfect decision to bring balance every time, and this is not always an easy chore. Sometimes Libras also suffer from depression with the weight of keeping balance on their shoulders. Libras benefit from balancing and uplifting essential oils, as well as those that help with indecision.
Power Essential Oil: Geranium
Geranium is all about balance, especially emotional balance. It helps a Libra with depression, and decreases the emotional sways that come along with keeping the peace.
Feminine Blend: Bergamot, Geranium and Rose
Deeply floral, but the bergamot tempers the sweetness, bringing in a hint of citrus. Emotionally balancing, uplifting, counteracts depression. Caution: Not recommended for use during pregnancy due to jasmine content.
Unisex Blend: Bergamot, Geranium and Cedar
Deeply woodsy, with a slight herbal sweetness. Counters depression, balancing, uplifting, grounding, brings emotional fortitude. Caution: Not recommended for use during pregnancy due to jasmine and cedar content.
Scorpio (October 23-November 21)
The scorpion (Scorpio) is passionate, combative and reflective.
Element: Water
Quality: Fixed
Ruler: Pluto and Mars
Greatest Overall Compatibility: Cancer, Pisces
Best for Marriage and Partnerships: Taurus
Everyone knows Scorpios to be passionate, mysterious and potentially dangerous like the scorpion that depicts it. A Scorpio will stare you down with such intensity like they are seeing deep into your soul. And most of the time, they are. They can know your secrets without you whispering a peep. They will use this to size up a person, but they will never divulge these secrets. They will be a true and loyal friend: perceptive, wise and supportive. They are prideful, brave, curious and fearless. But do not lie to, cheat or hurt a Scorpio, or you will feel their vindictive, temperamental and vengeful side. In being so mysterious, they hold onto many repressed emotions, which increases the intensity of their lashing out when it comes down to it. A Scorpio can find peace when they are able to release pent up emotions, and with a bit of uplifting and soothing to temper out their brooding souls.
Power Essential Oil: Patchouli
Dark, rich, mysterious and intense, just like the Scorpio. Patchouli helps the Scorpio release pent up emotions, and helps temper some of the storm, and puts problems in perspective, helping keep the Scorpio from reaching the boiling point.
Feminine Blend: Mandarin, Lavender and Patchouli
Deep, sweet, almost powdery, with a lingering intensity that trails off into a spicy citrus scent. Improves mood, balances emotions, promotes emotional release.
Unisex Blend: Lime, Black Spruce and Patchouli
Deep, dark, mysterious. Held together by the depths of the patchouli, the black spruce adds a sexy, woodsy element, and the lime is citrusy, but adds a hint of spice as well. Promotes emotional release, improves mood, releases energy and emotional blocks.
Sagittarius (November 22-December 21)
The archer (Sagittarius) is creative and adventurous.
Element: Fire
Quality: Mutable
Ruler: Jupiter
Greatest Overall Compatibility: Aries, Leo
Best for Marriage and Partnerships: Gemini
Sagittarius, the Archer, is brave and bold, generous and fun. They are intellectual, great thinkers, idealistic and gifted. However, they sometimes speak their minds with such raw truth that they can hurt feelings. Like their element, fire, they do not like to be hemmed in, and can become distracted, restless, rash and erratic. They also have a tendency to be forgetful and impatient. Sagittarius can stay sharp with essential oils that promote memory and decrease impatience.
Power Essential Oil: Clove
Great for memory. It is stimulating, but in a calming way, which increases patience as well.
Feminine Blend: Lavender, Rosemary Clove
Softly sweet and herbal, with a lingering camphorous note. Improves memory and creativity, promotes patience, balancing. Caution: Rosemary is not recommended for people with high blood pressure or epilepsy. Clove may cause skin sensitization in some individuals.
Unisex Blend: Litsea Cubeba, Rosemary, Clove
A deep lemony, camphorous spice mix. Improves memory and creativity, promotes patience, balancing. Caution: Rosemary is not recommended for people with high blood pressure or epilepsy. Clove may cause skin sensitization in some individuals.
Capricorn (December 22-January 19)
The goat (Capricorn) is driven, calculating and ambitious.
Element: Earth
Quality: Cardinal
Ruler: Saturn
Greatest Overall Compatibility: Taurus. Virgo
Best for Marriage and Partnerships: Cancer
Capricorn, the goat, ruled by Saturn, is gentle, practical, patient, responsible and determined. They play it safe to make it to the top, and they sure don’t give up until they DO make it to the top! Such determination and ambition can lead to a seriousness, and even melancholy demeanor. They may be inhibited, withdrawn and austere. Capricorn needs to loosen up a little—they need a little cheer mixed with a bit of outgoing stimulation!
Power Essential Oil: Fennel
Fennel is stimulating, revitalizing, and enlivens one’s personality. It can even make a person happy!
Feminine Blend: Thyme, Fennel, Ylang Ylang
Deeply exotic floral scent, but not too sweet. Hints of anise. Decadent and luxurious. Decreases melancholy, releases inhibitions, uplifting, revitalizing, fortifying to spirit. Caution: Not recommended for use during pregnancy, with small children and babies, or if epilepsy is suspected due to fennel content. Thyme is not recommended with high blood pressure or pregnancy. Ylang ylang may cause headaches or nausea due to its strong scent.
Unisex Blend: Black Pepper, Fennel, Cinnamon
Warm and spicy, with an almost vanilla after note, yet at the same time, the spice lingers on your nose. Uplifting. Will gently enliven one’s personality, increasing their outgoingness. Caution: Not recommended for use during pregnancy, with small children and babies, or if epilepsy is suspected due to fennel content. Cinnamon is not recommended during pregnancy as well.
Aquarius (January 20-February 18)
The water bearer (Uranus) is forward-thinking, communicative and stubborn.
Element: Air
Quality: Fixed
Ruler: Uranus
Greatest Overall Compatibility: Gemini, Libra
Best for Marriage and Partnerships: Leo
Aquarius is the water bearer, bringing change, liberation, surprise, inspiration. They are rational, original, inventive, progressive and refreshing like a cool, fresh splash of water. Catch one on a bad day, though, and they can be stubborn, perverse, remote, eccentric, distrustful, absentminded, oversensitive, reclusive and unpredictable. Aquarius needs openness and trust, plus stimulation to overcome their remote tendencies.
Power Essential Oil: Rose
Rose is a beautiful scent, soft and delicate. It opens the heart, increases trust, decreases sensitivity, and brings warmth to one’s heart.
Feminine Blend: Sweet Orange, Roman Chamomile and Rose
A truly soft and uplifting scent, with a lingering citrusy sweetness. Improves mood, opens the heart, increases trust, decreases sensitivity.
Unisex Blend: Petitgrain, Pine and Rose
Foresty and herbal, with a hint of soft sweetness. Increases openness and trust, decreases sensitivity, invigorates and balances. Caution: Pine can be a skin irritant in some individuals.
Pisces (February 19-March 20)
The fish (Pisces) is energetic, passionate and sensitive.
Element: Water
Quality: Mutable
Ruler: Neptune
Greatest Overall Compatibility: Cancer, Scorpio
Best for Marriage and Partnerships: Virgo
Pisces are soft and gentle beings. They are spiritual and romantic, imaginative, charitable and loving. At worst, their delicacies kind of overrun them and they can be helpless, timid and over-emotional. A Pisces can be strengthened with essential oils that release fear, increase confidence and balances emotions.
Power Essential Oil: Vetiver
Vetiver gives a sense of security. It relaxes and eases emotion, leaving one feeling comforted and centered. A perfect scent to bring the Pisces back to their serene, spiritual and wise self.
Feminine Blend: Clary Sage, Lavender and Vetiver
Deep, soft, sweet, and divine, with an herbal hint. Balances emotions, provides a sense of security, increases euphoria, decreases fear and tension. Caution: Clary sage may increase the effects of alcoholic beverages and is not recommended during pregnancy.
Unisex Blend: Tea Tree, Marjoram and Vetiver
Softly camphorous, rounded out with a hint of herbal spice and finished off with a deep, almost-sweet, rootsy scent. Builds strength, increases emotional stability, counters loneliness, decreases fear and tension, provides a sense of security.
For more information about aromatherapy and to purchase Shipley’s signature line of products, visit bluedawnaromatherapy.com
Kamala Kirk is a University of Southern California graduate and has been an editor/writer for more than a decade. She has written for E! Online, Total Beauty, TravelAge West, Malibu Times Magazine, and many more. She resides in Los Angeles and is a proud pug mom. Follow her on Instagram: @kamalakirk