For me, winter means surrounding myself with all things cozy. The days are darker and colder, so it’s a perfect time to create rituals that encourage introspection and connection. In our home that means fires, earthy red wines, board games, family movie nights, and lots of On Guard. I love the way the spicy scent fills our rooms and our bodies - perfect for snuggling up and staying warm (and grounded). So, in honor of winter and all things cozy, I thought I’d share my favorite ways to use On Guard. Some may seem a little unconventional so stay open and maybe give something new a try.

First, I’m obsessed with Bulletproof Coffee and I absolutely LOVE adding a drop of On Guard for a creamy, dreamy treat. This seriously reminds me of the creamsicles I used to eat as a kid minus the sugar.. plus the coffee. No description does it justice. You’re going to have to try this one for yourself. Besides being delicious On Guard offers cardiovascular and respiratory benefits as well as antiviral/antibacterial properties - perfect for an added immune system boost this time of year. And, if you’re concerned about taking essential oils internally, this post is a great reference point.

If coffee isn’t your thing, add a drop to black or green tea. This is one of my favorite ways to heal a sore throat. It’s soothing, tastes delicious, and smells divine. Plus. I swear there’s something healing about simply holding a warm mug filled with tea. Talk about cozy!

While we’re talking food, you’ve got to try a few drops in cranberry scones. I like to modify this Bulletproof recipe, subbing cranberries and On Guard for the blueberries and lemon. You can also add a bit of orange zest. Oh my god, delicious!

Although I could talk about food for hours, let’s move on to home. I love to be surrounded by warm, earthy scents (non-toxic of course!) so On Guard is often in my diffuser and for a real treat I mix it with a little peppermint. If you don’t have a diffuser, no worries. Add distilled water and a little vodka to a glass spray bottle with a few drops of On Guard (and peppermint if you want to go all in) for a refreshing room spray. Even with several diffusers, I often go around spritzing my home with this mixture. It smells so damn good and kills germs. Two things our family definitely needs this time of year - an energizing scent and protection from potentially harmful viruses and bacteria.

Another way I use On Guard in my house is for cleaning purposes. Having a non-toxic home is very important to me and unfortunately many of the cleaning products out there (even brands we’ve been greenwashed into believing are safe) contain harmful chemicals known to damage mitochondria, disrupt hormones, cause skin irritations, and even contribute to cancer. So, I play safe and clean by mixing my On Guard with Dr. Bronner’s unscented soap and distilled water. I store it in a glass spray bottle and use in my kitchen, bathrooms, and even for mopping up quick spills (for tougher jobs I add a little distilled white vinegar). Another handy trick is to combine On Guard and baking soda in a glass jar, then top with vinegar when ready to use. I especially like this for toilets and bathtubs. Since it’s protects against germs I know my house is clean and since it’s non-toxic I know my family is safe from the effects of heavy chemicals. Besides that, with this choice I’m caring for the environment and my house smells amazing. This is especially nice if, like me, you get migraines from heavy scents and chemicals used in most traditional cleaning products.

My final home tip is make your own hand soap! You can use a base like Dr. Bronner’s (it’s one of the cleanest around) and add On Guard for a soap that smells divine. You can even purchase a foaming dispenser to make it extra fancy. I personally use dōTERRA’s On Guard foaming hand soap, but I do occasionally make my own and it works just great.

Finally, let’s talk body. As I wrote about in Healthy Hippie, I love making an On Guard salve to keep us healthy all year long. We use it daily during cold and flu season, putting it on the bottoms of our feet when we’re getting ready for the day. I also like to rub it on the lymph nodes of my neck if I have a sore throat. It eases the pain and my experience has been that I recover quickly. For details on how I make the salve (ratios matter!) visit my previous blog post here and store in an airtight glass jar to keep it clean (i.e. non-toxic)!

Now, who can resist a relaxing bath? It’s seriously one of my favorite things to do. I’m talking slow, luxurious, sensual baths complete with candles, salts, coconut oil, and of course, essential oils. While I don’t often use On Guard in my bath, if I’m feeling a bit under the weather or need an immune boost I add a few drops to coconut oil, pour it in, and allow my body to soak up all the goodness. Among other things, the oils boost circulation, open sinuses, and uplift spirits, all of which aid detoxification and healing. So, adding that kind of love to my bath feels extra nourishing when I need some self care. This is why I always like to have On Guard on hand just in case I (or one of my boys) needs a little extra TLC.

For more of my favorite ways to use On Guard connect with me on Instagram. To purchase your own, or any of your favorite oils, visit my dōTERRA page. They are Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade and responsible harvested and distilled so you know you’re getting a quality product. Finally, I’d love to hear your favorite ways to use On Guard any time of year! Just drop me a line in the comments below or reach out on social media to share. Chat soon!