The Top 12 Essential Oils for Relaxation Listed

Here are the best essential oils recommended for relaxation

By Sarah
The Top 12 Essential Oils for Relaxation Listed

Essential oils are natural oils that are extracted from plants through distillation. These oils often carry the aroma of the plant that they are from. Essential oils offer us a truly natural solution for numerous problems that most of us face regularly.

 

In a world where we have hundreds of synthetic products, finding pure and healthy solutions is rare. But with these essential oils, we’ve found a golden solution. Keep on reading to find out about the top 12 essential oils for relaxation.

Essential Oils for Relaxation and Sleep

Essential oils often get overlooked as a way to aid sleep. But many essential oils available today have sleep-promoting qualities. Other than the wide range of choice available, essential oils are also cheap. You can incorporate them into your daily routines easily.

1. Lavender

Now Foods, Essential Oils, Lavender, 1 fl oz (30 ml)

The best essential oil for sleep is lavender.  Lavender is the most popular essential oil among people today. It is safe to use on all ages and a great essential oil to use for your family.  Lavender is well known for its fragrance which has soothing effects.  Lavender also has very calming and relaxing effects. It has also been used by many for its anxiety-reducing effects.

 

The reason lavender is excellent for sleep is because of its sedative effects that promote sleep. Lavender doesn’t just make us sleepy. It also improves sleep quality, increases the amount of sleep we get and elevates our daytime alertness.  Lavender has been used to alleviate mild insomnia. It helps calm the nervous system by lowering blood pressure, heart rate, and skin temperature. These are all processes that occur naturally when the body is going to sleep.

2. Ylang Ylang

Aura Cacia, Pure Essential Oil, Ylang Ylang III, .5 fl oz (15 ml)

Aura Cacia, Pure Essential Oil, Ylang Ylang III, .5 fl oz (15 ml)

Ylang Ylang is an essential oil that originates from the Cananga tree, native to Indonesia. Ylang Ylang essentially means “flowers of flowers.” The flower produces oil that reduces hypertension due to its sedative effects.

 

Historically, Ylang Ylang has been used to cover the bed of newlyweds on their wedding nights. It has a calming and uplifting effect on those that use it. You can either diffuse it half an hour before bedtime or use it with coconut oil or moisturizing cream.

3. Cedarwood

Now Foods, Essential Oils, Cedarwood, 1 fl oz (30 ml)

Now Foods, Essential Oils, Cedarwood, 1 fl oz (30 ml)

Cedarwood is a great essential oil for relaxation and sleep. Not only is it cost effective but it also decreases heart the heart rate and blood pressure too just like Lavender. Cedarwood also stimulates the healthy function of the pineal gland. The pineal gland is the part of our body that generates melatonin, the hormone that makes us sleepy. Cedarwood may have a strong smell though, so we recommend mixing it with lavender.

Essential Oils for Relaxation and Stress

4. Vetiver

Aura Cacia, Pure Essential Oil, Vetiver, .5 fl oz (15 ml)

Aura Cacia, Pure Essential Oil, Vetiver, .5 fl oz (15 ml)

Vetiver oil is an excellent essential oil for relaxation and stress. This oil is popular in India and Sri Lanka. Vetiver oil is also known as the oil of tranquility. It is distilled from the roots of the Vetiver plant.

 

The oil has a sweet, smoky scent that alleviates stress, anxiety and panic attacks. It is psychologically grounding and calming. However, this too has a strong smell, so we recommend using it in a blend.

5. Roman Chamomile

Aura Cacia, 100% Pure Essential Oil, Roman Chamomile, .125 fl oz (3.7 ml)

Aura Cacia, 100% Pure Essential Oil, Roman Chamomile, .125 fl oz (3.7 ml)

Roman Chamomile is an essential oil that has been used for many years now. Mothers use this oil to calm their children, so it’s great for all ages. It is the perfect oil to treat restlessness, anxiousness, and stress.

 

It is also one of the most popular ways to relax and fight off insomnia. The essential oil has a sweet floral smell to it too. A great way to use Roman Chamomile is by putting a drop or two in steaming water and then taking ten deep breaths.

6. Bergamot

Now Foods, Essential Oils, Bergamot, 1 fl oz (30 ml)

Now Foods, Essential Oils, Bergamot, 1 fl oz (30 ml)

Bergamot comes from the peel of citrus fruit. Traditionally, Chinese medicine has used this essential oil since Bergamot enhances the flow of energy within our bodies. Bergamot also has mood enhancing qualities. It promotes feelings of joy and energy, thus relieving stress.

 

This essential oil has also been used to improve blood circulation, stimulate hormonal secretion and bring balance to the body.

Essential Oils for Relaxation and Focus

7. Lemon

Now Foods, Essential Oils, Lemon, 1 fl oz (30 ml)

Now Foods, Essential Oils, Lemon, 1 fl oz (30 ml)

Lemon is an essential oil that is very underrated. Lemon does a great job of promoting joy. It is an excellent cleaner and purifier for your body and mind. Lemon is also known for its power as a gentle, powerful mental stimulant.

 

Lemon has been used to boost concentration and memory. It is used quite often to raise focus. People with ADHD have used lemon to help them focus as well. It eases headaches and quells nerves. Lemon also can maintain focus and increase attention spans.

8. Basil

Now Foods, Essential Oils, Basil, 1 fl oz (30 ml)

Now Foods, Essential Oils, Basil, 1 fl oz (30 ml)

Basil is yet another essential oil that goes by unnoticed. But it is an essential oil that serves many different purposes. Basil reduces mental fatigue and mental blocks. By doing so, basil also boosts clear thinking and helps us focus.

 

This essential oil strengthens our memory and enhances the creative process. Basil has also been proven to increase our attention spans. Thus, it has numerous positive effects on many of our cognitive abilities.

9. May Chang

Aura Cacia, Pure Essential Oil, May Chang, .5 fl oz (15 ml)

Aura Cacia, Pure Essential Oil, May Chang, .5 fl oz (15 ml)

An essential oil that is excellent in promoting focus is May Chang. May Chang is a light essential oil that smells fresh and lemony. It helps to relieve mental exhaustion. May Chang also stimulates productivity by helping us focus.

Essential Oils for Relaxation During Pregnancy

During times of pregnancy, women overlook the help essential oils can provide. Most essential oils are entirely safe to use, especially in diffused blends. If you’re worried about the use of any oil, in particular, you can always find a pregnancy-safe dosage for it.

10. Eucalyptus

Now Foods, Essential Oils, Eucalyptus, 1 fl oz (30 ml)

Now Foods, Essential Oils, Eucalyptus, 1 fl oz (30 ml)

Eucalyptus is one of the best essential oils available for pregnant women. Mothers to be will love this eucalyptus. It relieves symptoms of respiratory congestion. Eucalyptus also has antiviral, antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties to help out with all pregnancy-related problems that women face.

11. Peppermint

Now Foods, Essential Oils, Peppermint, 1 fl oz (30 ml)

Now Foods, Essential Oils, Peppermint, 1 fl oz (30 ml)

Another essential oil great for all those mothers to be is peppermint. Peppermint helps to maintain a healthy balance in the digestion system. It also eases back or muscle pain, all problems that are very common in pregnancy.

 

One of the great things about peppermint is that it is excellent to use to relieve nausea. Thus, peppermint helps pregnant women fight off early morning sickness and the constant changes in dietary preferences as well.

12. Copaiba

Aura Cacia, Pure Essential Oil, Organic Copaiba, .25 fl oz (7.4 ml)

Aura Cacia, Pure Essential Oil, Organic Copaiba, .25 fl oz (7.4 ml)

Copaiba is a very popular essential oil used in pregnancy. It is great for relief from leg cramps that are common in pregnant women.

 

Copaiba also helps with varicose veins, swollen twisted veins, that occur in pregnancy. This essential oil also does an effective job of treating intestinal discomfort and other stomach related issues.

Blending Essential Oil Recipes for Relaxation

All essential oils have their benefits. However to get the most out of all your oils and to make sure your goal is fulfilled, we recommend blending essential oils.

 

There are hundreds of different blends you can make with different oils. It all depends on what your aim is, whether it be to sleep, get energized or just to relax. We’ve listed our favorite essential oil blend recipes for you below.

 

Make sure to use your essential oil blend with care in a well-ventilated area.

1. For Sleep

For a good night’s sleep we recommend:

  • 2 drops of Sage oil
  • 1 drop of Ylang Ylang oil
  • 20 drops of Neroli oil

2. To Relax

If you’re in the mood to relax, blend:

  • 2 drops of Jasmine oil
  • 2 drops of Lavender oil
  • 15 drops of Vanilla oil

3. To improve your mood

If you’re feeling blue, just make this essential oil blend:

  • 3 drops of Bergamot oil
  • 3 drops of Ylang Yland oil

4. To concentrate better

Having trouble focusing? Try blending these oils:

  • 3 drops of Lemon oil
  • 3 drops of Peppermint oil

5. To calm down the kids

If your kids tend to ger hyperactive very quick and for very long, consider this blend:

  • 2 drops of Lavender oil
  • 2 drops of Cedarwood oil
  • 2 drops of Roman Chamomile oil

6. To relieve stress

This is a great blend to ease stress and calm down:

  • 5 drops of Cedarwood oil
  • 5 drops of Ylang Ylang oil
  • 4 drops of Lavender oil
  • 3 drops of Bergamot oil
  • 3 drops of Patchouli

7. To relieve allergies

If you’re someone with plenty of allergies, especially in the spring and summer months, then this blend is for you:

  • 3 drops of Peppermint oil
  • 3 drops of Lavender oil
  • 3 drops of Lemon oil

8. To help with headaches

Essential oils are also an excellent remedy for headaches. Just rub this blend on your temples and the back of your neck:

  • 2 drops of Marjoram oil
  • 2 drops of Thyme oil
  • 2 drops of Rosemary oil
  • 2 drops of Peppermint oil
  • 2 drops of Lavender oil

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There’s no denying the beneficial qualities of all these essential oils. Incorporating a nice blend or two into our daily routines will have a huge positive impact on your health and well-being. So, what are you waiting for? It’s time to start using essential oils!

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