A Quick Summary
Flu season in the U.S. typically starts picking up in October and peaks between December and February, according to the CDC [1]. A lot of what gets called "immune support" this time of year does not hold up well under research. A 2014 Cochrane review of over 4,600 participants found echinacea has not been shown to meaningfully treat colds, and NCCIH's own review of the evidence for vitamin C, echinacea, and garlic describes it as conflicting or inadequate [2][3]. We are not going to tell you Breath of Life boosts your immune system, because there is no good evidence that any essential oil does. What it is formulated to do, and what its ingredients have a long traditional history of supporting, is a feeling of open, easy breathing on a congested week, which is a real and different thing.
So, does Breath of Life help with immune support? The honest answer is more useful than a marketing answer would be, so that is what this post is.
When Cold and Flu Season Actually Peaks
Influenza circulates year round, but U.S. activity typically starts rising in October, peaks between December and February, and can continue into May, according to CDC surveillance data going back to the early 1980s [1]. That is a long window, which is part of why this time of year can feel like one continuous round of somebody in the house being under the weather.
Cold, Flu, or Allergies? How to Tell the Difference
This matters more than it sounds like, because how you respond depends on which one you actually have. NIH News in Health, a publication of the National Institutes of Health, breaks the three down clearly [4]:
A cold usually comes on gradually. Think scratchy throat first, then a stuffy or runny nose and a mild cough. Fever is uncommon, and if it shows up at all, it is usually low grade.
The flu tends to hit fast and hard. A high fever, body aches, chills, and real fatigue that can knock you out for days are the hallmark signs, and symptoms typically start within one to four days of exposure.
Allergies do not cause fever, ever. Itchy, watery eyes and repeated sneezing without any fever or body aches are the giveaway, and symptoms tend to hang around as long as you are exposed to whatever is triggering them.
NIH is direct about one more thing worth repeating here: there is no cure for the common cold [4]. Rest, fluids, and time are still what actually resolves it.
What "Immune Support" Actually Means, and What It Doesn't
We want to be straightforward about this, because a lot of the wellness industry is not. Starting in 2020, the FTC and FDA sent warning letters to dozens of companies, including several essential oil brands, for claiming their products could boost immunity or prevent illness without evidence to back it up [5]. Those claims did not hold up under scrutiny, and the underlying research problem has not changed since.
Look at what has actually been studied. NCCIH, the National Institutes of Health's own center for this kind of research, reviewed the evidence for the most commonly recommended cold remedies. Echinacea has not been shown to provide a meaningful benefit for treating colds, per a 2014 Cochrane review of 24 randomized trials [2]. Vitamin C does not prevent colds for most people and only slightly reduces how long or severe they are [3]. Garlic and American ginseng fall into the same "conflicting or inadequate evidence" category [3]. If the most heavily studied natural remedies for the common cold do not have strong evidence behind them, we are not going to claim that a topical essential oil blend does either.
What we can say honestly is this: Breath of Life is formulated with organic essential oils that have a long, well documented history of aromatic and traditional use tied to the respiratory system. That is a real thing, backed by real history. It is simply a different claim than "supports your immune system," and we think the distinction matters.
What's Actually in Breath of Life
The carrier is organic Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, the same base we use across every collection. Here is what joins it, and the traditional history behind each one.
Eucalyptus Globulus (Eucalyptus) Leaf Oil. Native to Australia, eucalyptus has been used in the traditional medicine of Indigenous Australian communities for coughs, colds, and congestion for generations. Its primary constituent, 1,8-cineole, is the compound most associated with the plant's traditional reputation for supporting open airways.
Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Oil. Lavender's role here is about calm as much as congestion. Its Mediterranean history of use in aromatic bathing traditions, dating back to ancient Rome, made it a natural addition to a blend meant to make a rough week feel a little more manageable.
Melaleuca Alternifolia (Tea Tree) Leaf Oil. Native to the Bungawalbin Valley of New South Wales, Australia, tea tree was likely first used medicinally by the Bundjalung Aboriginal people, who inhaled the oil from crushed leaves specifically for upper respiratory comfort.
Boswellia Carterii (Frankincense) Oil. Frankincense resin has been traded and burned across the Arabian Peninsula and East Africa since roughly 1500 BC, along what historians call the Incense Road. Its aromatic smoke has anchored ceremonial and spiritual tradition across multiple cultures and eras.
Mentha Piperita (Peppermint) Oil. One of the most studied aromatic herbal oils, according to fact sheets from the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, peppermint is valued in traditional use for its distinctive cooling sensation when inhaled or applied topically.
Thymus Vulgaris (Thyme) Oil. Thyme has a long European history of traditional use for coughs and bronchial discomfort, and the European Medicines Agency currently recognizes thyme oil preparations as a traditional herbal remedy for coughs associated with colds.
Citrus Limon (Lemon) Peel Oil. Lemon brings a bright top note to the blend. Like most expressed citrus oils, it is phototoxic at higher concentrations, so the International Fragrance Association sets safe usage limits, which any properly formulated blend accounts for.
The Name Behind Breath of Life
Genesis 2:7 says the Lord God formed man from dust and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life. We named this blend for that verse because breathing is the one thing the body never stops doing, and the one thing we barely notice until a cold makes it harder. There is something worth sitting with in the idea that breath itself was given with intention, not left to chance, especially on a week when yours feels like work. That is true whether or not you read the verse the way we do.
What Actually Helps During Cold and Flu Season (Naturally)
Based on the same research bodies referenced above, here is what has real evidence behind it, none of which is a product we sell:
Rest and fluids. Still the most consistently supported response to an actual cold or flu, according to NIH [4].
Handwashing. NCCIH's review found physical interventions like handwashing have some of the best supporting evidence for prevention of all the approaches studied, better than most supplements [3].
Honey, for a nighttime cough in children over one year old, per NIH guidance, though never for infants under one due to the risk of botulism [4].
A doctor's visit if the flu is suspected within the first 72 hours, since antiviral medication can shorten its course when started early.
How to Use Breath of Life During Cold and Flu Season
Breath of Life rolls directly onto skin, typically the chest, neck, or wrists. It is built on a jojoba oil base, so it is designed for topical use rather than diffusing or internal use. Many people reach for it during the actual rough patch of a cold, alongside rest and fluids, not as a way to avoid getting sick in the first place.
As with any new topical product, apply a small amount to your inner wrist first and watch for any reaction before using it more broadly.
FAQ
When does cold and flu season peak? Flu activity in the U.S. typically starts rising in October and peaks between December and February, according to CDC surveillance data [1].
Does Breath of Life boost the immune system? No. There is no strong evidence that any essential oil, including the ones in Breath of Life, changes immune function. It is formulated to support a feeling of open, easy breathing, not to prevent or treat illness.
How can I tell if I have a cold, the flu, or allergies? Colds come on gradually with mild symptoms and rarely a fever. The flu hits suddenly with high fever, body aches, and real fatigue. Allergies never cause a fever and typically include itchy, watery eyes [4].
Do vitamin C or echinacea actually prevent colds? The evidence is weak to inconsistent for both, according to NCCIH's review of the research, and for most people vitamin C does not prevent colds at all [2][3].
What is in Breath of Life? Organic Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil as the base, with Eucalyptus Globulus, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender), Melaleuca Alternifolia (Tea Tree), Boswellia Carterii (Frankincense), Mentha Piperita (Peppermint), Thymus Vulgaris (Thyme), and Citrus Limon (Lemon) Peel Oil.
If getting through a congested week with a little more ease is something you are after this winter, Breath of Life was made with exactly that in mind.
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
Written by Jessica Florence
References
[1] "Flu Season." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). https://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/season.html
[2] Karsch-Völk, M., et al. "Echinacea for preventing and treating the common cold." Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, via PubMed. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24554461/
[3] "Colds, Flu, and Complementary Health Approaches: Usefulness and Safety." National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH). https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/colds-flu-and-complementary-health-approaches
[4] "Cold, Flu, or Allergy?" NIH News in Health, National Institutes of Health. https://newsinhealth.nih.gov/2014/10/cold-flu-or-allergy
[5] "FTC Sends Letters Warning 50 More Marketers to Stop Making Unsupported Claims That Their Products and Therapies Can Effectively Prevent or Treat COVID-19." Federal Trade Commission (FTC). https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2020/05/ftc-sends-letters-warning-50-more-marketers-stop-making-unsupported-claims-their-products-therapies
