Learn to pray with aromaRosary!

Your step-by-step guide to praying the Rosary.



How to Pray the aromaRosary

1. Apply one or two drops of essential oils to the aromaRosary by rubbing the oil onto the lava beads with your hands.

2. While holding the crucifix, cross yourself, and proceed praying the Sign of the Cross and the Apostles’ Creed:

In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of Heaven and Earth; and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord; Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into Hell; the third day He arose again from the dead. He ascended into Heaven, and sits at the right hand of God, the Father Almighty; from thence He shall come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Holy Catholic Church, the communion of Saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body and life everlasting. Amen.

3. While holding the first large bead proceed to pray the Our Father:

Our Father who art in Heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come, Your Will be done, on Earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.

4. On each of the three consecutive smaller beads pray one Hail Mary:

Hail Mary full of Grace, the Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus. Holy Mary Mother of God pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

5. While holding the chain between the next large bead and the previous three proceed to pray the Glory Be:

Glory Be to the Father, to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, both now and forever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

6. While holding the next large bead pray the Our Father while meditating on the Mystery.

Our Father who art in Heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come, Your Will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.

7. On each of the next ten beads pray one Hail Mary:

Hail Mary full of Grace, the Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus. Holy Mary Mother of God pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

8. While holding the chain between the third large bead and the previous ten proceed to pray the Glory Be, Fatima, and Miraculous Medal prayers:

Glory Be to the Father, to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, both now and forever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

O My Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of Hell and lead all souls to Heaven, especially those who are in most need of Your mercy.

O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to you.

9. Repeat steps 6 - 8 until you have made it through all five decades, around the whole Rosary, and to the last large bead:

One Our Father prayer, ten Hail Mary prayers, the Glory Be, the Fatima, and the Miraculous Medal prayer.

10. At the end of the last decade pray the Hail Holy Queen and Saint Michael Prayers:

Hail, Holy Queen, Mother of mercy, our life, our sweetness, and our hope. To you do we cry, poor banished children of Eve, to you do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears. Turn then, most gracious advocate, your eyes of mercy toward us; and after this our exile show unto us the blessed fruit of your womb Jesus, O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary.

Pray for us, O holy Mother of God. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

O God, whose only-begotten Son, by His life, death, and resurrection, has purchased for us the rewards of eternal salvation; grant we beseech You, that meditating upon these mysteries of the most holy Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary, we may imitate what they contain and obtain what they promise. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.

St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle. 

Be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the Devil. May God rebuke him, we humbly pray, and do, O Prince of the Heavenly hosts, by the power of God, cast into Hell Satan, and all the evil spirits, who prowl about the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.

Reflections for Prayer with aromaRosary™

The Joyful Blend

dōTERRA Balance combines the warm, woody aroma of Spruce, Ho Wood, Frankincense, Blue Tansy and Blue Chamomile with Fractionated Coconut Oil. This blend is uniquely suited to help us call to mind the joyful mysteries of the rosary through its experience of robust aromas and Nativity symbolism.

In the Annunciation we can imagine the fragrance of the angelic presence of Archangel Gabriel as he brings the invitation to Mary to become the Mother of God. Much like the rich aroma of incense that engulfs us during the Sacred Liturgy, Mary must have been enraptured by the presence of the magnificent messenger. Her “Fiat,” reverberated into the heavens and journeyed with her as she went to bring Christ to Elizabeth. In this way, she became the most perfect fragrance of Christ disseminating into the world (2 Thess. 2:15). We can imagine the aroma of joy that must have mystically radiated from her as she sang the Magnificat. While she lay the sweet Incarnate Word in the manger, we can be sure the angels fragranced the stable with sweet aromas and the earthy smells of the humble hermitage of the animals would have blended into a singular fragrance where heaven and earth kissed. Naturally we contemplate the significance of Frankincense and Myrrh that the Magi would have gifted to the Christ Child for an additional aromatic semblance of the mystery. This rich, joyful blend can be reminiscent of the smells of the temple where sweet aromatics where offered endlessly in praise and thanksgiving. Here Christ, as a babe, was offered by Joseph and Mary at the hands of Anna and Simeon. The Blue Tansy brings a tinge of bittersweetness to our minds as we know that Mary’s heart was to be pierced with the sword of sorrow. Yet, we find our hearts uplifted by the meditation of the home of the Holy Family. Taking in this sweet aroma in its unity, we sense the prayerfulness and the joyful encounters of their hidden life. It serves as a call to us to imitate their communion and joy in our families. The hint of sorrow returns in the woody fragrance of the Ho Wood and Spruce and points us to the true purpose of Christ’s Messianic mission — to do the will of the Father. Christ came to redeem and as He entered into the temple at age 12 we discover that nothing He did was free from the shadow of the cross. We can imagine the deep ache of Mary as she searched in vein for her Son. She now more perfectly relates to us when we, too, loose Christ through our failures, despondence and apathy. So too, she searches for us. The Blue Chamomile is the fitting aromatic image of her loving mantle. As this oil wraps us in its rich notes, so we can allow ourselves to be embraced by her maternal mercy, just as she most certainly held Our Lord upon finding him.

Chemically this blend is complex-filled with esters, monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes, aldehydes and alcohols. This blend will be sure to trigger a positive, light, soothing and uplifting response in the limbic system and autonomic nervous system. Olfactory centers are intricately linked with the hypothalamus in the limbic system, which is the small part of the brain responsible for communicating to the pituitary gland and interpreting smell into thirst, hormone production, neurochemistry, sleep cycles, emotional responses, thyroid function and more. By intellectually and purposefully associating this blend with the Joyful Mysteries we will naturally help form chemical pathways in our mind to enhance our memory and emotions. This process of incorporating our sense of smell into our prayer can, upon future aromatic intake of this blend help us respond in accordance to the virtues we have meditated on and help us recall the significance of the spiritual typology of the joyful mysteries more readily. 

Apply to your aromaRosary™ when praying the Joyful mystery or incorporate at the outset of your day by massaging on feet, neck, wrists and hands. Inhale slowly with the words, “Nothing is impossible with God” (Luke 1:37).

Other oils to consider: Frankincense, Myrrh, Sandalwood, On Guard and Holiday Blends.

 The Luminous Blend

dōTERRA Citrus Bliss combines the powerful oils of Wild Orange, Lemon, Grapefruit, Mandarin, Bergamot, Tangerine, and Clementine with a hint of Vanilla Absolute to form this unique and harmonious blend that is perfect for helping us to meditate on the Mysteries of Light.

The citron (or etrog/Citrus medica) was the citrus plant growing in Israel at the time of Christ. It grew along the banks of the Jordan and is one of the original species from which all other citrus plants are derived – making this blend a fitting representation of this significant biblical fruit. It is called the “goodly fruit” and has been speculated to be the fruit of Adam and Eve’s fall in Eden. In the Jewish celebration of of the Feast of Tabernacles or the Festival of Lights the citron holds a role of great significance. It was a symbol of abundant water, hope, heavenly realities and joyful celebration. As we turn our hearts to the Luminous mysteries, this blend will use it to help us recall all the richness of Christ’s words and witness to us and our hope of eternal life that lies in Him.

We begin by meditating on the sanctification of water by Christ’s baptism in the Jordan. The smell of the citrus aroma can remind us of our desire for the grace to plant our lives solidly in the waters of baptism so that we have the hope of one day hearing the Father say, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” May we decrease so that He may increase His life of living water within us. Likewise, with this luminous blend we can anchor in our minds the lasting word’s of Our Lady at the wedding in Cana, “Do whatever He tells you.” When we do as she says, great miracles of salvation can be worked in our lives and the lives of others. Reflecting on the Kingdom God and its inestimable value and worth, we can let the citrus oils again remind us of the scriptural references to be hopeful in anticipation of our final home. Ezekiel and Revelations tell us that in the Heavenly Kingdom the water runs pure and the trees of life heal and give fruit in abundance. We are called to proclaim the Kingdom, to be yeast among the bread of the world, to cherish the gift of salvation as a pearl beyond price, confident in the gift of life after death and the redemption of our bodies. In this mystery we are taught to hope for what we have not seen in an attitude of joy. Too often hope seems to take the form of anxiety, restlessness, discontent or sleeplessness. At these times, let us hold our rosary near us, breathe deeply the uplifting citrus oils and recall the gift of eternal life at hand for those who enter into the life of Christ. In the mystery of the transfiguration, we can can mystically climb Mt. Tabor with the Lord where we receive the invitation to stand in the Eden of God “amidst the branches of the Feast of Tabernacles, wearing the royal robe of the son, the clothing of the Gardener of Paradise. Let us turn our gaze upon the Divine Fruit, hanging from the Tree of Life. Let us turn our eyes toward the eucharistic marriage banquet that awaits the son of God, Adam restored.” (instituteofcatholicculture.org/the-luminous-mysteries-part-five/) Our life of light comes from the Eucharistic gift of Christ. Let us allow the light and airy aroma of these citrus oils help us remember to keep our eyes fixed in adoration upon Christ.

From the standpoint of health and wellness, these citrus oils are robust in their multi-faceted blessings. High in their content of  D-Limonene these oils offer incredible support for mental health. The anti-cancer properties serve cellular health needs and they aid digestion and detoxification. There are esters and aldehydes which are sedating and calming to the nervous system and may assist those who have feelings of anxiety or depression. The Luminous Mysteries are intended to bring the light of Christ’s grace into our life, so too this blend can help bring light into areas of our physical darkness. Apply to your aromaRosary™ when praying the Luminous Mysteries or consider diffusing throughout the day or incorporating into chores such as vacuuming, laundry or even natural cleaning. Inhale deeply as you repeat the words. “Do whatever He tells you”  (John 2:5).

Other oils to consider: Melissa, grapefruit, bergamot, lime, wild orange, etc. Adding mints seem appropriate here as they are very uplifting and invigorating. Perhaps spearmint, lime and Citrus Bliss in combination. Consider Motivate and Cheer blends as well.

The Sorrowful Blend

dōTERRA Forgive features Spruce Leaf, Bergamot Peel, Juniper Berry Fruit, Myrrh Resin, Arborvitae Wood, Nootka Tree Wood, Thyme Leaf, Citronella Herb giving a strong woody sent that naturally seems to be like the cross in a bottle. You will find this blend very powerful in helping you to recall the great suffering and death of Christ Our Savior.

The Sorrowful mysteries encompass the mystery of the cross — the TREE upon which hung our salvation. This blend with its woody resonance helps us meditate on the truth of Christ’s redemptive mission to draw us back to the Father. This oil and its aroma proclaim with vividness the journey form the garden of Eden and the tree of life where our fall took place to the dry wood of the cross. Recalling the aromatic nard that Mary Magdalene, poured over the feet of Jesus, as we breathe in this oil, we pray that we, too, can be associates of salvation in offering our joys and sufferings up with him in his passion. We then encounter the Garden of Gethsemane contained in the next breath. The reeds of his scourging in the next. The thorny crown, with the oils sharp notes, can be contemplated. As Christ carries the cross beam on his shoulder, the earthy odor mingled with his precious blood no doubt filled his air. And lastly the powerful hints of Myrrh, once given by the Magi as a premonition of sorrow, now helps us recall the greatest gift of all — Christ’s life in exchange for ours. Our God, hung upon the cross with his pierced heart, from which blood and water flowed as a fountain of mercy for us. Here it is that he gave us his mother to be our mother. As she tenderly anointed his wounds with the myrrh, we thank God for such a mother who anoints our wounds with her loving care and draws us always closer to Christ. As we breathe in the aroma of forgiveness we ask for the grace to be forgiven as we forgive those in our life who have wounded us. We breathe in the reality that through his stripes we are healed. 

This complex blend offers us a powerful chemistry. Combining monoterpene and sesquiterpene hydrocarbons in the form of phenols and esters, this blend offers us a strong microbial agonist. This oil helps to discharge existing toxins and inhibits the accumulation of toxins in the body. It offers a calming and sedative effect and can offer support for reducing inflammation in the body. Emotionally this oil can serve as a neurodisruptor offering us the opportunity to have deeply engrained mental patterns broken up. In the case of unforgiveness in our life, when we often hold grudges in our repeated negative thoughts, this can be a great tool in helping us to make a new choice to be merciful. Of course we often hold the stress of trauma and woundedness in our gut as well. This oil can serve as a digestive aid and help to reduce anxiety. Apply to your aromaRosary™ for an aromatic experience or massage the oil on your neck and wrists and neck, especially if encountering an immune threat. 

Other oils to consider: Spikenard, as it represents the oil of Mary Magdalene. Myrrh by itself. Other wood oils: Cypress, Cedarwood, White Fir, Douglas Fir, Arborvitae. Consider Passion Blend and Console Blend as well.

The Glorious Blend

doTERRA Serenity is a floral and sweet blend that contains Lavender flower, Cedarwood, Ho Wood Leaf, Ylang Ylang flower, Marjoram leaf, Roman Chamomile flower, Vetiver Root, Vanilla Bean Absolute, Hawaiian Sandalwood. Its peaceful properties aromatically reflect the joy and celebration of Easter and the common association of springtime aromas.  

Christ’s Resurrection is first discovered by the women who came with ointments and aromatic oils prepared to anoint his holy body. We can imagine the fragrance of the angel and the lingering beatific aroma of Christ’s resurrected body made their earthly perfumes pale in comparison. The apostles quite possibly  encountered this heavenly scent as Christ passed through walls to bring his peace, ordain his priest and fortify Thomas who touched his hands and side. Christ trampled down death by death. Life is always sweet — free from the putrid, dark, rank of sin and death. This blend of oils reassures us of Christ victory and the flora tones resemble the Marian mystery of her Divine Motherhood promise to us all at the cross 

At the Mount of Olives, before ascending, Our Lord promised to remain with us always. May this blend be a powerful reminder to us that we are never alone and that we are called not only to commune with Our beloved Savior but to carry him to others. As we share this aromatic “peace” with other s who see us fingering our rosary bead or wearing them reverently about our wrists may our lives be the aroma of Christ-like charity that stirs them to seek his face. We implore the Holy Spirit, Spouse of the Holy Spirit, Spouse of the Blessed Mother to aid us in this mission. Envisioning the apostles about Mary begging for the Advocate to come, we can relate to the desire for power, peace and passion to fill us and propel us out in the deep. As we again return to this aromatic encounter, we smell the sweet flora notes of lavender, ylang ylang and roman chamomile which help us call to mind new life while the bitter notes of marjoram and cedarwood and vetiver help us recall the wounds through which Christ had to pass in order to come to us in his resurrected glory. The aromas lift our senses heavenward as Our Lady was lifted by the almighty power of Blessed Trinity. Like Our Blessed Mother, we are called to be pure, without blemish, immaculate and beloved by the Father. Her sweet virtues pair well with the diversity of this blend. Consider reflecting on one of Mary’s perfect virtues for each Hail Mary as you meditate on her coronation seeking to emulate each one in your life.  

1 Lavender Flower - Lively Faith

2 Cedarwood - Heroic Patience

3 Ho Wood Leaf - Blind Obedience

4 Ylang Ylang Flower - Surpassing Purity

5 Marjoram Leaf - Profound Humility

6 Roman Chamomile Flower - Ardent Charity

7 Vetiver Root - Divine Wisdom

8 Vanilla Bean - Angelic Sweetness

9 Hawaiian Sandalwood- Unceasing Prayer

10 Coconut Oil - Constant Self-Denial

This blend has oils that are traditionally known for their sedative and serotonin inducing properties. Looking at the fictional group and terpene structure we can see that this oil has quick-acting and long-lasting properties that make it ideal for addressing the need for immediate emotional release and long term stabilizing support. It smells strongly of lavender-like aromas at first and then transitions to woodier notes that sustain calm and controlled behavior over time.  Additionally, the properties of this blend are healing and renewing to damaged tissues.  As a meditation aid for the Glorious Mysteries this blend helps us encounter the serenity and consolation of Christ’s resurrection and gives us anticipatory hope for the resurrection of our bodies. Apply to your aromaRosary™ for relief of anxiety throughout the day or consider using this blend before sleep on your feet and neck.  Diffusing through the night has been found supportive for many who struggle to maintain a restful state.  

Other oils to consider: Elevation blend, Peace blend, Geranium, Ylang Ylang, Rose and Jasmine.