Aromatherapy and Cocktail Mixing: The Invisible Art of Aroma (and Cocktails for the Sense of Smell)

By: Simon Kistenfeger, Global Ambassador of Altos Tequila

Inventions for Playing with Aroma

From eucalyptus mists to soul-calming blends, discover how bartenders and mixologists are mastering aroma as a key ingredient in the drinking experience.

Our sense of smell is the only one directly routed to the brain, unlike our other senses. This unique connection makes it especially evocative, capable of bringing back memories with startling clarity.

“There is no more emotional sense,” says Harvard University professor David Edwards, whose work explores new ways of delivering health benefits through scent.

At his restaurant and culture lab, Café ArtScience in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Edwards’s team is developing ways to enhance dining, and especially cocktails, through scent. Using a device he invented called the Nimbus, bartenders can add scent directly to a cocktail, transforming its character with a simple flick of the wrist. 

The Nimbus, a battery-powered device resembling a kitchen timer, is tipped over a cocktail to release a mist composed of natural essences. The mist floats over the drink for a few minutes before dissipating. Scents range from sea salt to cinnamon. The droplets vanish quickly, allowing customers to experiment with different scent clouds and change their cocktail experience with every sip.

The Nimbus is just one way bartenders are exploring scent, says Leanne Favre of The Clover Club in Brooklyn. She notes that bartenders use everything from citrus twists to atomizers and smoke to add aromatic layers to their creations.

“Scent design is a wonderful storytelling device,” Edwards adds. “The potential transient nature of it invites experimentation, and the visual appeal of the flavor clouds brings great theater.”

Bringing Aromatherapy to Your Cocktails

Aromatherapy has become an essential element not only in cocktail crafting but also in personal wellness rituals, explains Simon Kistenfeger, Global Ambassador at Altos Tequila.

He often distills essential oils himself, which has taught him a great deal about the art of extraction and how scent can influence mood, energy, and emotions in mere seconds.

In the cocktail world, it’s not just flavor and aroma that matter. Oils such as lemon, lime, or grapefruit bring both acidity and vibrancy to a cocktail. “They bring energy and clarity!” Simon says.

Herbs like lavender, chamomile, and rosemary can lend a calming effect, while deeper notes, such as sage, add rich complexity. Chamomile also promotes relaxation. Patchouli and vetiver foster a grounded connection with the earth, cinnamon and clove offer warmth and sensuality, and eucalyptus aids in breathing and focus. We recommend experimenting with Altos Plata and eucalyptus essence. The results are amazing!

These elements are not just decorative. They guide the emotional arc of the drinking experience.

Simon also incorporates aromatherapy into his daily routine. He uses mint or eucalyptus in the shower, mixes essential oils for breathing exercises, and blends oils for skincare and recovery.

“It’s all about creating rituals that bring clarity, calm, and connection,” he says.

Here are some book recommendations from Simon to learn more about aromatherapy and cocktail mixing:

• The Art of Distillation – John French
• Aromatherapy for Healing the Spirit – Gabriel Mojay
• Hydrosols: The Next Aromatherapy – Suzanne Catty
• The Encyclopedia of Essential Oils – Julia Lawless

How to Bring an Aromatic Narrative to Every Cocktail

Just like building layers of flavor, you can create an “olfactory arc” in your cocktail design. For example, the art of perfumery uses top notes, like citrus and mint, for the initial scent; middle notes, like lavender and rosemary, for the heart; and base notes, like incense, sage, or vetiver, for the emotional finish. Remember: aroma guides emotions from the very first sip.

A practical trick is using essential oils in spray form, but with precision. Always dilute essential oils properly; never apply them pure. Use them on glassware, garnishes, or even in the surrounding air. A single spray can completely alter the olfactory mood of a drink. For instance, a cardamom spray over an Old Fashioned made with Altos Reposado creates a truly unique experience. Or imagine the potential of using a bergamot spray on an Altos Plata Martini.

Don’t stop there. Create custom aromatic blends for your bar. Collaborate with aromatherapists to create a library of blends, including energizing, calming, aphrodisiac, nostalgic, and more. You can even take a course at Maison 21G or Le Labo in France, or the Institute for Art and Olfaction in the United States. This approach could empower you to recommend cocktails based on your clients’ moods, which is perfect for the rising trend of “drinking with intention,” currently popular in mixology bars in London and Copenhagen.

And not all the magic has to happen in the glass. You can use candles, aroma diffusers, or incense to perfume your bar environment subtly. Scientific evidence shows that ambient scent prepares guests emotionally and sensorially for their experience.

You can also craft essential oils or hydrosols with specific functions, such as refreshing the palate, neutralizing flavors between drinks, or amplifying botanical ingredients. Consider creating mini aromatic rituals to go with cocktails, such as inviting a guest to inhale an essence or rub oil on their hands before taking a sip. These little moments create emotional and sensory depth.

Aromatherapy is yet another wonderful tool in your cocktail design toolkit, offering emotional impact and immersive experience. So, what are you waiting for? Bring it into your everyday craft.