If you’re looking to regulate your mood levels through aromatherapy, some science has shown that taking a few inhales of certain plant-based oils can actually impact your mood and physical health. We’ve pulled together 10 recommendations to help you reduce stress levels and clear your mind.
1.Lavender
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Lavender oil is easily the most common essential oil, known for its calming and soothing properties. There have recently been medical studies that concluded that lavender does, in fact, have a relaxing effect on the body when it’s inhaled. It decreases heart rate and blood pressure, and has a positive impact on brain activity. If you regularly suffer from anxiety or are regularly looking to reduce stress in your life, (who isn’t?) keep a bottle around and inhale it directly or add a few drops to your wrist to keep you calm and steady.
2. Juniper
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Juniper berry is the main ingredient that gives gin its distinct flavor, but that’s not all it can do. When diffused into an oil, its herbaceous and woodsy smell is known for being comforting and soothing. It can help reduce stress levels and may not have quite the same sedating impact of other calming oils like chamomile. It can also help If you’re prone to muscle cramps; add a few drops of juniper into a base oil (like sweet almond) and rub it into the skin. If you’re feeling foggy-headed, add some to your favorite oil diffusing candle to help clear the mind and pick up your energy.
3. Peppermint
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Peppermint can blow away the cobwebs with just a few quick whiffs. It has a penetrating, strong scent, and is ideal to have around during the winter months when the lack of sunlight and cold winds leave you feeling heavy and unmotivated. Burn a few drops in your diffuser or, better yet, look for concentrated oil in a roller applicator and apply to your sinuses, wrists and back of your neck throughout the day to stay alert. Peppermint can be just as stimulating as coffee, so use it only when you really feel like you need a pick-me-up.
4. Rosemary
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Rosemary is another stimulating oil with a whole host of other health benefits. It is also calming, so it may be the perfect oil to have around when you’re studying for exams, preparing for big presentations, or doing any kind of tasks that require memorization and concentration in equal parts. Rather than doubling down and mixing it up with peppermint, mix a few drops with a grounding, calming oil and apply to your wrists to help reduce stress on the body and stimulate the brain.
5. Bergamot
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For centuries, bergamot oil (derived from the skins of a tropical citrus plant) has been used to treat all types of mood disorders from depression to anxiety. It is also the flavor that gives Earl Grey tea its distinctive, citrus flavor. Keep bergamot oil around the house if you’re dealing with a lot of grief or loss. (Citrus oils in general help combat depression.) Like other stimulating oils, it helps improve circulation, reduce stress and rebalance body functions like digestion and even hormone regulation.
6. Sandalwood
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Most commonly found in India, sandalwood oil is derived from the actual wood of a small evergreen tree native to Mysore. Unlike the high notes of peppermint and rosemary, and the floral qualities of lavender and bergamot, sandalwood has a warm, hearty and earthy smell. Think of it as the “hugs” of essential oil. This is probably why it is one of the most common fragrances used in incense. If you need to reduce stress to increase your sex drive, soak in a fragrant sandalwood bath regularly to reduce the impact of stress, and let it help you get back in the mood for love.
7. Lemon Verbena
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French soap millers started using the oils from the verbena shrub centuries ago because of its unusual, lemony and bright fragrance. Its citrus notes can help ward away depression and anxiety, but it also has a calming effect on the nerves. Drinking some verbena tea can reduce digestive distress and may encourage a better night’s sleep. If you’re really feeling worn out from an exhausting day or jarring experience, drop 2-4 drops of lavender oil along with 2-3 drops of pure verbena oil into a bath and give yourself a loving, soothing soak.
8. Ylang Ylang
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Translated from its native Malayan, ylang ylang means literally “flower of flowers.” It is a very common ingredient in all types of health protocols in its native southeast Asia. If you or someone you know suffers from anxiety or bouts of rage, this oil’s soothing properties helps slow down the body’s response to acute anger: it lowers blood pressure, reduces heart rate, and may (like lavender) even reduce body temperature. If you regularly say to yourself that you need to feel more serene and peaceful, give yourself regular treatments by massaging your scalp, neck and even face with 1 teaspoon coconut oil mixed with 3 drops of ylang ylang oil.
9. Jasmine
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There is nothing quite like walking into an explosion of night-blooming jasmine. It may be a bit strong for some to wear as perfume oil (strong floral scents aren’t for everyone), however it has medicinal properties as well. It is both stimulating and uplifting, which can help boost confidence, decrease depression, reduce stress, and can even help induce feelings of euphoria. Ad a few drops (don’t go crazy, it is very strong) to a base massage oil and have a loved one rub into your shoulders, neck, feet and legs to feel calm and confident all day long.
10. Melissa
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Also known as (and often sold as) lemon balm, melissa is a bushy herb native to central and southern Europe. It has a fresh, citrusy smell (similar to verbena) that is uplifting and calming. If you are suffering from the darkness of grief, trauma, or loss, keep a bottle in the house to diffuse in a candle or hold a bottle directly under your nose to enjoy the soothing and uplifting benefits and reduce stress in your daily life.