
08/04/2025
This was my very first instructor who propelled me to move forward and get to where I am today. A brilliant woman who loved breaking down science for all and a voice for living things everywhere, she will be missed.
Honoring Andrea Butje: A Life of Love, Purpose, and Plant Wisdom
Dear Aromahead Community,
It is with full hearts that we honor the life of Andrea Butje, teacher, visionary, pioneer, and beloved founder of Aromahead Institute.
Andrea passed peacefully in her home after a brave journey, surrounded by love. Her legacy, however, is anything but quiet. It is bold, beautiful, and far-reaching.
Andrea was a force of nature. She never did anything casually. She poured her whole heart into every corner of her life. One year, she and her beloved partner Cindy decided to plant lilies around their home in upstate New York. Most would plant a few. Andrea planted hundreds. That was her way. Wholehearted. Devoted. Vibrant.
The same was true of her work with essential oils. She didn’t just learn about them. She transformed the standards of the entire field. She championed transparency in sourcing, insisting on GC/MS reports long before it was common. She advocated fiercely for sustainability and purity. She supported distillers who cared for the land and the plants as much as she did.
Andrea traveled the world to learn, to teach, and to connect. She created curriculum that empowered millions. Her voice shaped a generation of aromatherapists and will continue to shape many more to come. Her passion for teaching was unmatched. She could take the science of essential oils and make it feel personal, accessible, and alive.
But it wasn’t just the way she worked. It was the way she loved.
Andrea truly saw people. She gave her time, her presence, her encouragement. She was intuitive and spiritual, always curious about the world. She was grounded and radiant, a woman who loved to cook, to write, to laugh, and to explore. The beach and the high desert were two of her favorite places.
Most of all, she loved Cindy. In her book The Heart of Aromatherapy, she dedicated it simply and beautifully:
"For my Cindy, In this vast universe, you are my home. I love and adore you."
Andrea’s legacy lives on in every blend we make, every oil we choose with care, and every student who finds confidence and healing through this work. She changed the landscape of aromatherapy, and she changed lives.
She changed our lives.
As we process this loss together, we invite you to light a candle, diffuse your favorite essential oil, and take a moment to feel Andrea’s presence. She is in the beauty of the plants, in the intention of the work, and in the hearts of all of us who carry her spirit forward.
If you would like to join us in honoring Andrea, we invite you to share a memory, a story, or something you loved about her in this post.
In place of flowers, a donation fund will be set up in honor of Andrea. Contributions will go toward supporting causes close to the hearts of both Andrea and Cindy. Details will follow in the next couple of weeks.
Thank you for being part of this community that Andrea loved so deeply.
With love and deep gratitude,
Karen and Jenny, and the entire Aromahead team