Nothing relaxes me more than a good essential oil meant for that purpose. People started using essential oils in ancient Persia, India, and Egypt to help with relaxation and achieve other effects. But what are the best essential oils you can use in your candles and diffusers for maximum relaxing results?
The most relaxing essential oil you can use in candles and oil diffusers is lavender. Here are other essential oils that have the best relaxation properties:
- Chamomile
- Bergamot
- Frankincense
- Ylang-ylang
- Jasmine
- Eucalyptus
- Lemongrass
- Rose
- Peppermint
When it comes time to relax, I love to kick off my shoes, lean back in my favorite chair, light my favorite candles, and turn down the lights. However, the most crucial part of my ritual is loading my oil diffuser with my favorite relaxing essential oils.
In addition to using them in diffusers, you can also use essential oils to make scented candles. Authentic essential oils can be pricey, but they are worth it. They offer more than fragrance. Multiple cultures have touted their medicinal effects going back thousands of years. This is my list of the top ten most relaxing essential oils. To reduce your anxiety and bring a state of peace into your life, try relaxing with these.
Lavender
Lavender is a top choice for relaxation. But why? Lavender’s medicinal effects include relaxing your nervous system. Did you know it can also cure insomnia and is known for making people less irritable? Greeks and Romans offered lavender to appease both their gods and wild lions.
Many people use lavender pillow spray to sleep better at night, but to get the best relaxing effects from your lavender, use the essential oils in your scented candles or oil diffusers.
The Best to Buy
I buy lavender essential oil from Mountain Rose Herbs. This lavender comes from Bulgaria and has a sweet, floral smell.
Chamomile
Are you an over-thinker? If so, you should consider incorporating chamomile into your daily life. One of the best ways to do that is by burning or diffusing its essential oil. You can also use drops of chamomile essential oil in your bath.
In addition to over-thinking, chamomile also helps relieve irritability and sleeplessness. Some initial research also suggests chamomile could be effective in treating depression.
There are two types of chamomile: Roman chamomile and German chamomile. Both are effective at promoting relaxation, but German chamomile has a higher content of chamazulene, which is the compound responsible for chamomile’s anxiety-busting properties.
The Best to Buy
I like this German chamomile essential oil from Plant Therapy Rewards. When used in moderation, it has many other beneficial effects, including helping focus and alleviating seasonal allergies.
Bergamot
This essential oil is obtained from the rind of the Bergamot orange. What makes this essential oil so unique? According to at least one study, it helps women reduce the stress hormone cortisol, which causes anxiety and tends to create fat in our stomach areas. Bergamot can also help promote positive mood states.
When used in aromatherapy, such as candles and oil diffusers, bergamot can help reduce sympathetic nervous system activity. This is responsible for our “fight or flight” tendencies that make us feel like we are being hunted by predators!
The Best to Buy
But which is the best bergamot essential oil for your money? I like this one by Ola Prima Oils. The therapeutic grade essential oil comes in a 4-ounce bottle (huge for essential oil standards) and costs less than $10.
Frankincense
Christians know frankincense as one of the gifts from the Three Wise Men. But it has been used in a host of religious traditions, dating back thousands of years.
Frankincense is extracted from the Boswellia tree, which grows in the desert mountains of the Middle East, Africa, and Asia. Often used in meditation practice, proponents claim it aids in focus and relieves depression.
The Best to Buy
Believe it or not, I found my favorite brand of frankincense essential oil at Walmart. The frankincense by Art Naturals is cold-pressed, 100% pure, and cruelty-free.
Ylang-ylang
Ylang-ylang comes from the yellow leaves of the Cananga tree, which grows around the Indian ocean. This essential oil is excellent for relaxation but has other documented positive effects as well.
One study showed that Ylang-ylang aromatherapy can help reduce anxiety and boost self-esteem. Another study indicated that it has blood-pressure-lowering effects.
Ylang-ylang has a deep, tropical smell that might remind you a bit of banana. In addition to its relaxing effects, it also has reputedly romantic effects, making it the perfect companion for a candlelit dinner with your loved one.
The Best to Buy
Bulk Apothecary has this lovely, steam-distilled ylang-ylang essential oil. This essential oil comes from Madagascar, considered a top producer of high-quality ylang-ylang.
Jasmine
All I can say about jasmine is yum. It is one of my all-time favorite fragrances. OK, I can also say that jasmine is both relaxing and uplifting. There is no better way to start your day than with some jasmine essential oil aromatherapy.
Jasmine refers to over 200 different species of flowers in Eurasia, Africa, and Australia. Jasmine has a genuinely worldwide appeal and is commonly used everywhere, from Hawaii in flower leis to Pakistan, where it is the national flower. In Syria, Damascus is sometimes referred to as the City of Jasmine. Jasmine is sometimes called the queen of the night.
In addition to uplifting your spirit, you can use jasmine to reduce your anxiety.
The Best to Buy
This jasmine essential oil from Young Living is a delicious smelling formulation, although you’ll want to use it sparingly. At a retail price of over $100 for a 5 ml bottle, it is one of the more expensive essential oils.
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Eucalyptus
What makes eucalyptus essential oil so great? Scientific evidence indicates that eucalyptus decreases symptoms of stress and anxiety. Inhaling eucalyptus can also help lower your blood pressure because of its calming effect.
Originally found in Australia but now grown worldwide, eucalyptus is genuinely a wonder plant with many other health benefits, including dental health, pain reduction, alleviation of dry skin, and cold symptoms reduction. And it can even act as a natural insect repellant!
The Best to Buy
This eucalyptus essential oil by doTERRA is affordable at less than $19 per bottle. You can combine it with doTERRA coconut oil to reduce skin sensitivity.
Lemongrass
Next up on the list is lemongrass essential oil. This oil is one of aromatherapy’s most popular ways to reduce anxiety, stress, depression, and high blood pressure. It can also be effective against drug-resistant bacteria, such as those that cause pneumonia and blood infections.
Lemongrass is also known for its anti-inflammatory properties, which may reduce cancer and arthritis. When used in aromatherapy, it can help relieve headaches– even migraines.
A tropical grass, lemongrass is also frequently used in cooking.
The Best to Buy
This therapeutic grade lemongrass essential oil by Majestic Oil is a steal at less than $17 for four ounces on Amazon. It blends well with basil, cedarwood, and jasmine.
Rose
Roses are a popular flower, but do you know what they can do for you besides looking good? They can also help relieve panic attacks and even help you recover from an emotional loss. Rose’s calming effect on humans has been scientifically documented. It also helps slow breathing rate and even increases blood oxygen saturation.
Besides using it in aromatherapy, you can also run rose oil on scars to help them fade more quickly. It also works on stretch marks, so if you are having a tough time getting those stubborn stretch marks to disappear after having a baby, you may want to try rose oil.
The Best to Buy
This rose essential oil by Now Foods is pre-diluted and ready for use in your diffuser. You can blend it with geranium essential oil to achieve a beautiful floral meditation blend.
Peppermint
Peppermint is one of the oldest essential oils to be used for its medicinal properties. Aromatherapy with peppermint oil can reduce pain, stress, and anxiety in people undergoing medical procedures.
Did you know that mice and other rodents also naturally hate peppermint oil? For a natural rodent repellant, try adding a few drops of peppermint essential oils to cotton balls. You’ll feel less stressed, but they won’t!
The Best to Buy
This peppermint essential oil by Young Living is excellent not only for use in your scented candles and oil diffusers but also to relax your muscles after physically demanding activity. At $23 for 15 ml, it’s practically a steal!
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why are essential oils so expensive?
If essential oils have one drawback, it’s their expense. Even though their base materials are often cheap, they are highly concentrated, and it takes enormous amounts of these plants to make small amounts of essential oils. It’s also expensive to process them. Their therapeutic benefits are, however, undeniable.
Can I use essential oils around my dog?
Before using essential oils around your pets, you should check out this article. Some essential oils are toxic to use around dogs, while others are harmful to cats. To avoid unplanned visits to the vet hospital, avoid burning essential oils that are toxic to your pets!
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Please note that the contents of this blog are for informational and entertainment purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice. Any action taken based on the information provided in this blog is solely at your own risk. Additionally, all images used in this blog are generated under the CC0 license of Creative Commons, which means they are free to use for any purpose without attribution.
Meet Shawn Chun: Entrepreneur and Candle Business Fan.
I’m a happy individual who happens to be an entrepreneur. I have owned several types of businesses in my life from a coffee shop to an import and export business to an online review business plus a few more and now I create online candle business resources for those interested in starting new ventures. It’s demanding work but I love it. I do it for those passionate about their business and their goals. That’s why when I meet a candle business owner at a craft fair, farmers market, retail location or anywhere else I see myself. I know how hard the struggle is to obtain and retain clients, finding good employees all while trying to stay competitive. That’s why I created Candle Business Boss: I want to help candle business owners like you build a thriving business that brings you endless joy and supports your ideal lifestyle.