04/08/2025
One of our most amazing teachers in our Aromatherapy community has made her flight today for the last time. Andrea was an inspiration to all who knew her. She literally changed the field for the better and definitely changed so many lives. I loved chatting with her, and the few classes I took were delightful, supplementing my knowledge of my main master's cert. in aromatherapy education while living abroad. While many medical facilities and hospitals would not accept certifications from the USA to use aromatherapy as supplemental care in their facilities, I was very careful not to have my main certification from the USA. Yet somehow she touched everyone all over the world. As for me personally, I do regret not taking even more classes from her when I had the chance to simply because she was so incredibly brilliant and her teachings, books, videos, and her legacy will forever live on in our hearts and in our work and practices, and for that I am personally forever grateful. Our community will miss her so very much. More than she will ever know, how much she touched us all with her creativity and sheer brilliance. Rest in Peace, Beautiful Angel. Baruch Dayan HaEmes.
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
