Aromatherapy with Plants: Natural Air Freshener Making at Sejong Arboretum

Exploring Aromatherapy Through Natural Air Freshener Making at Sejong Arboretum

Aromatherapy is a combination of the words "aroma" (fragrance) and "therapy" (healing), referring to the practice of using scents for therapeutic purposes. It primarily involves the use of essential oils, which are plant-based extracts derived from herbs, flowers, or trees.

According to a doctoral thesis by Yuna Paik at Chung-Ang University (2022), titled "The Effects of Aroma Blending Essential Oil Inhalation on Fatigue, Stress, Depression, and Happiness in Nurses", a blend of peppermint, lime, rosemary, and clary sage was found to reduce fatigue and depression, and improve happiness in the test group. However, it did not show significant effects on reducing stress.

While artificial fragrances may cause headaches for some, natural scents—especially those found in plants—can have restorative effects. After trying a natural air freshener workshop focused on houseplant-themed aromas, I began to truly feel how powerful and healing scent can be.

Here’s what I experienced during the aromatherapy booth at the National Sejong Arboretum.

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🍋 Natural Air Freshener Experience Booth

We were given a variety of natural materials to create our own scent pouches:

• Pine cone, cotton, cinnamon stick
• Pine wood cube and slice, wooden sticks and chips

These were placed inside a small bag, and we followed a scent layering method using essential oils:

Scent Layering Instructions:

• Base Note (1 drop): Ylang-ylang
• Middle Note (2 drops): Lavender or Geranium
• Top Note (3 drops): Orange or Eucalyptus

Among all the options, orange stood out to me the most—it was fresh, uplifting, and clean.

After applying the oils in order, we placed the mixed materials into a pouch and sealed it. That was it! Super simple, beginner-friendly, and fun.

However, since it was a light workshop version, the scent didn’t last more than a week or two. About 10 days later, the only scent that lingered was cinnamon—making it a truly natural fragrance experience.

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🌿 Final Thoughts

This experience made me reflect on how something as simple as natural scent can offer moments of peace and refreshment in our hectic lives. I’m excited to explore aromatherapy further, not only as a hobby but as a form of care.

🇰🇷 Want to read this article in Korean?
👉 Read the full story on our Korean Naver blog: https://blog.naver.com/greenfingers_kr/223635430013

🌱 More calm, more green—from Planet Greenfingers and the Architects’ SOUUP.