FLORAL ABSOLUTES:AROMATIC HEALING FOR THE PHYSICAL, EMOTIONAL,AND ENERGY BODY

This is not a straightforward, “just the facts” aromatherapy article; instead, it is an invitation to explore how these plant distillations can awaken, cultivate, or restrain aspects within you—supporting body, mind, and spirit. Aromatic compounds influence the limbic system and energetic bodies in profound ways, guiding us into greater alignment with our essence. Through these oils, we can begin to gently shift patterns, illuminate shadow, and meet our goals.

Being human is complex, even in the best of times. We often face worries and uncertainty as we navigate life. Many of my clients know what they want to achieve but encounter blocks that stymie them. Past experiences often surface in the emotional body, illuminating loss and untraveled paths. All of this is held in the self as one learns, grows, and hopefully finds contentment—with aromatic support playing a quiet but constant role.

Wisdom traditions from all cultures remind us: the intelligence that organises human activity also orchestrates the universe.The microcosm of the human body reflects the macrocosm of the cosmos. Understanding this allows for a deeper relationship with nature and shows us how to use her aromatic medicine to navigate our own inner terrain.

What Are Floral
Absolutes?

Absolutes are highly concentrated plant extractions used in perfumery and energetic healing. When steam distillation isn’t possible due to the fragile nature of flowers, solvent extraction is used. This process captures a fuller spectrum of the plant’s aromatic and energetic signature than steam distillation.

Because heat and water aren’t used, no water-soluble aromatic compounds are lost. Petals are submerged in a solvent

like ethanol or hexane to dissolve their aromatic compounds. Once the solvent is removed, what remains is a rich, concentrated absolute. These extracts often contain not just essential oil but also plant waxes and other elements, making them thick and potent. Newer methods use fixed oils or alcohol to create gentle, bioavailable extracts that preserve the complexity of the original flower.

Absolutes are not meant to be applied directly to the skin. They must be diluted in a fixed oil before body application to ensure safety and maximise their therapeutic benefit.

Meet Broom
(Spartium junceum)

Presiding influence: the Wise Woman archetype

Key energies: uncanny energy, sorcery, homemaking, thresholds, beginnings and endings, heroine’s journey, spiritual authority

The word broom comes from the plant Spartium junceum, a small shrub once used to make sweeping tools. Brooms have long symbolised feminine domesticity and sovereignty. “Jumping the broom” in wedding ceremonies symbolises union. In some traditions, the broom handle represents divine or masculine energy, while the bristles represent feminine power.

Brooms symbolise thresholds—the start and end of a cycle—and the journey in between. Many begin and end the day by sweeping the floor, marking transition and intention. In Fantasia, Mickey Mouse enchants a broom to do his work, only to be overwhelmed by chaos when he skips necessary steps.

Contrast this with Vasilisa the Brave, who, guided by Baba Yaga, completes each task and gains wisdom. The broom here is a marker of trial, growth, and reward.

The broom plant is deeply linked to folklore and magical tradition. An early image from 1451 shows witches riding brooms, connecting them to

spiritual autonomy and mystery. The women in the illustration are labeled Waldensians—a Christian sect from 12th-century France that encouraged simplicity and allowed women to preach, which led to charges of heresy. The broom, both plant and symbol, supports personal empowerment, the courage to face the unknown, and the reclaiming of spiritual authority.

Pairing Broom with
a Fixed Oil: Black
Currant Seed

What Are Fixed Oils? Fixed oils, also known as base or carrier oils, are pressed from the fatty portions of a plant—such as seeds, nuts, or kernels. Unlike absolutes and essential oils, they do not evaporate. They can be used on their own for nourishment or blended with essential oils and absolutes to safely deliver their therapeutic qualities. Whereas fixed oils may be used alone, absolutes must be diluted in a fixed oil before body application.

To ground broom’s ethereal qualities, blend it with black currant seed oil (Ribes nigrum). This fixed oil enhances broom’s mystical insight with nourishment and clarity.