It’s no secret that essential oils are a popular and effective remedy when it comes to managing our moods. They’re quick and simple to use, and you’re spoiled for choice when it comes to picking scents.
Essential oils come from the liquid extracts of plants, and each oil has its own unique holistic benefits. But with the sheer number of scents and oils available, it can sometimes be overwhelming trying to choose the “right” one.
Whether you want to curb stress, feel relaxed or give yourself a burst of energy, we’re sharing some of our favourite essential oils to help you regulate your mood.
Photo: Daiga Ellaby
Lavender
Mood: Relaxation
No list of essential oils would be complete without first mentioning lavender. It’s hard to miss this beautiful plant, with its plush purple colour and calming aroma. Native to Northern Africa and the Mediterranean, even one whiff of this scent is enough to balance the mind and evoke a feeling of serenity.
Lavender is most famous for promoting relaxation, but it can also help curb insomnia and anxiety. A 2018 study published in Holistic Nursing Practice found that patients who inhaled Lavender ‘reduced anxiety levels and increased sleep quality’.
Products we recommend:
How to Use:
Per Saje Aromatherapy: Add 10 to 15 drops to a diffuser, or 4 to 12 drops to a bowl of steaming water, and inhale for 5 to 10 minutes.
Photo: Stefan Rodriguez
Peppermint
Mood: Energy + Focus
Another popular favourite, peppermint has a powerful cooling scent that washes over you instantly. What sets peppermint apart is its versatility. Whether you drink it in tea, eat it in chocolate or apply it through soap, there are numerous ways to reap the benefits of this welcoming fragrance.
Peppermint oil, like other essential oils, comes directly from the leaves of its plant. As Medical News Today explains, it contains over 40 different compounds, among them menthol, which gives peppermint its strong scent.
The best way to use peppermint essential oil is for a speedy energy boost to get you through the day. As it’s quite strong, diluting it through a diffuser or inhaling it directly from the bottle is perfectly effective. We advise keeping a peppermint oil roller by your desk and using it in the morning and afternoon to keep you focused throughout the day.
Products we recommend:
Vitruvi Organic Peppermint Oil
Plant Therapy Organic Peppermint Oil
How to Use:
(Per Saje Aromatherapy): Add 10 drops to a diffuser, or 4 to 12 drops in a bowl of steaming water, and inhale. Start with the lowest number of drops and work your way up as needed.
Rose Oil
Mood: Antidepressant
Roses are more than just romantic and beautiful. Their aromatic compounds—which come from the Rosa damascena plant—contain healing properties used to treat anxiety and depression.
Studies have shown that rose oil can decrease what is known as “autonomic functions” like heart rate and blood pressure. Similar to other essential oils, the oil absorption into the skin sends messages to the part of your brain that controls your emotions and nervous system, which is how it can help combat tension and anxiousness.
While perfectly potent when inhaled on its own, rose oil can also be applied directly to skin when combined with a base oil like jojoba or coconut.
Products we recommend:
How to Use
(Per Healthline): Inhale using a diffuser, or dab a few drops lightly on your chest, neck and wrists. Blend it with a carrier oil first (like coconut, almond or jojoba) before applying to skin.
Image credit: Vitruvi
Ylang Ylang
Mood: Self-Esteem
Native to the rainforests of Asia and the South Pacific, this fragrant essential oil is known to create calm and relaxation, but studies show it can also significantly boost self-esteem.
This beautifully-floral scent contains hints of Neroli and Jasmine, and is a perfect relaxer when used in a diffuser in the evenings. Alternatively, add a few drops to your next hot bath to alleviate stress and reward yourself with some well-deserved pampering.
Products we recommend:
Saje 100% Pure Ylang Ylang Essential Oil
Plant Therapy 100% Pure Ylang Ylang Essential Oil
How to Use:
(Per Healthline): As with rose oil, mix with a carrier oil and dilute before applying topically (add one drop of essential oil per each teaspoon of carrier oil). Alternatively, add to a diffuser with water as an aromatherapy treatment.
Orange
Mood: Happiness + positivity
You might not think of orange as your standard essential oil, but this powerful, citrusy scent packs a punch in more ways than one. The oil from oranges typically comes from the rind, in an extraction process known as cold pressing. Studies have shown that inhaling orange essential oil may help with anxiety, and evoke feelings of relaxation and comfort.
Whether you add a few drops to a diffuser or simply inhale directly from the bottle, we love how orange essential oil makes you feel instantly bright and cheerful!
Products we recommend:
Saje 100% Pure Orange Essential Oil
Fern & Petal 100% Pure Orange Essential Oil
Vitruvi Organic Sweet Orange Essential Oil
Now that you’ve got a great list of essential oils to choose from, it’s time to relax! Grab your favourite scent, add some drops to the diffuser in your bedroom, and settle into bed surrounded by crisp, cool percale sheets and a plush duvet. Sweet dreams!
Comments (0)
There are no comments for this article. Be the first one to leave a message!