Meet Nikki

The heart behind Heart n' Soul Aromas.

I’m Nikki VanZandt, a certified aromatherapist and the owner and creator of Heart n' Soul Aromas.

I became a certified aromatherapist in 2011, but my interest in holistic approaches to wellbeing began long before that. I have always been curious about the ways we care for ourselves—through plants, movement, touch, our environment, and the ways we connect with our bodies and minds.

Over the years, my path has taken me through different kinds of work and learning, including therapeutic massage, aromatherapy, fitness, and many years in the dog grooming industry. Each chapter has taught me something about the human experience, about stress and burnout, and about how easy it can be to become disconnected from ourselves when we spend so much of our time simply trying to keep up.

Life is busy, and we are so many roles in one human.

Sometimes we need a reminder to pause.

Sometimes we need a moment to breathe.

Sometimes we simply need something that helps us feel a little more grounded in the middle of everything.

This is where my heart lies.  My goal is to help you find simple, manageable ways to come back to yourself through the support of plants and the practice of aromatherapy.

Aromatherapy for Everyday Life

Everything I create is rooted in aromatherapy. I create blends and thoughtfully incorporate them into products and experiences that can become part of your everyday life.

While the products may look different from one another, they all share the same intention: to create practical opportunities for pause, connection, and emotional wellbeing throughout the day.

I don't believe self-care always needs to be another thing added to an already-full life. Sometimes it can be found in the things we're already doing.

A shower can become a moment to pause.

Applying body oil can become a reminder to slow down.

Lighting a candle can signal that the day is winding down.

And a roll-on can be something you carry with you when you need a moment to breathe and reset.

I know this personally. My Aroma to Go roll-ons are something I carry with me and reach for during times of stress, overwhelm, or when I simply need to create a little space for myself. Applying a blend and taking a few intentional breaths is a small ritual, but sometimes small things are exactly what we need.

That is what I hope Heart n' Soul Aromas can offer—not one more thing you have to do, but simple ways to bring aromatherapy into the life you're already living.

My Path & Continued Learning

My curiosity about psychology started long before I knew where it would lead me. I’ve been fascinated by the way we think, feel, respond, and experience the world for as long as I can remember. That curiosity eventually led me to earn a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from St. Mary’s College of Maryland.

Over the years, I’ve continued to explore the connections between the mind, body, emotions, stress, and overall wellbeing. My own experiences with stress and burnout have also deepened my interest in emotional wellbeing and the nervous system, and in finding ways to create more moments of calm when our bodies and minds have become accustomed to being “on.”

My path has included formal education in therapeutic massage, aromatherapy, fitness, and psychology. I hold an Associate of Science in Therapeutic Massage from Anne Arundel Community College and am a Certified Personal Trainer through the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM).

I became a certified aromatherapist in 2011 through the School of Aromatic Studies, where I completed Foundations of Aromatherapy, Advanced Aromatherapy, and Organic Body Care Products.

But becoming certified was never the end of my learning. I continue to follow my curiosity through ongoing education in aromatherapy and the areas that most interest me, including emotional wellbeing, mental health, stress, trauma, resiliency, and the nervous system.

I’m especially interested in exploring ways aromatic plants and aromatherapy can be thoughtfully incorporated into everyday life to support calm, connection, and wellbeing.

I am a professional member of both the National Association for Holistic Aromatherapy (NAHA) and the Alliance of International Aromatherapists (AIA), and I continue to seek education that allows me to grow both personally and professionally.

The Heart of Heart n' Soul Aromas

At the heart of what I create is a simple belief: caring for ourselves doesn't have to be complicated.

It can be a breath.

A pause.

A familiar aroma.

A small ritual in the middle of a busy day.

A moment where we remember that underneath all the things we do and all the roles we carry, we are still here.

That is what “coming back to yourself” means to me.

And that is the heart behind Heart n' Soul Aromas.

I’m so glad you’re here.

— Nikki