12 Essential Oils For Sleep & Relaxation

Essential oils to help enhance sleep and relaxation.

1 - Valerian
Valerian root has been used for thousands of years for its calming, grounding, and balancing influences. During the last three decades, it has been clinically investigated for its relaxing properties. Researchers have pinpointed the sesquiterpenes, valerenic acid, and valerone as the active constituents that exert a calming effect. German health authorities have pronounced valerian to be an effective aid for occasional restlessness at bedtime. Some people will prefer to add this essential oil to a blend due to it's overpowering and earthy aroma. SHOP >

2 - Cedarwood 
Cedarwood essential oil has an earthy aroma that is soothing and grounding. It helps stimulates the release of melatonin, the sleep hormone. If you are feeling restless, and need to relax to sleep, apply cedarwood to your temples and the back of your neck. It’s also great for restless leg syndrome. Cedarwood is also relaxing when used for massage. SHOP >

3 - Lavender

Lavender essential oil is probably the most common and well known essential oil to help promote sleep and relaxation. Lavender has historically been promoted for its soothing, relaxing qualities and it's use as a mild sedative. Use Lavender to help to counter restlessness at bedtime. In studies done by Britain’s University of Southampton, they found that participants who diffused lavender oil at night ranked their sleep an average of 20% better than the placebo group. Newer research done by Wesleyan University confirms these findings. SHOP >

 
4 - Patchouli
Patchouli sometimes called "the scent of the ' 60s," has a musky, earthy, exotic aroma with sensual properties. In Eastern cultures it is commonly used around the house for general well being and to help release negative emotions so that problems can be kept in proportion. It heaps to clear the mind and therefore promotes better rest. SHOP > 

5 - Mandarin
Mandarin is a calming essential oil with a sweet, tangy aroma similar to orange. It's sedative properties are calming to the nervous system, making it good for stress and settling emotions. It's ability to bring emotional balance to the mind, relax the nervous system makes it an ideal and natural sleep aid. SHOP >
 
6 - Vetiver
Vetiver can help to calm your nerves with it's earthy smell. It's emotionally grounding, relaxing, helps with insomnia, recovering from shock or trauma and also aids children with ADHD. If your sleep issue is due to hormonal stress, vetiver may be your solution. SHOP >
 
7 - Clary Sage
Clary Sage has a delightful warming and comforting smell. It's warm herbal aroma works because it contains thujone which is known to be a muscle relaxer and anti-stress agent. It's a great oil to use for anxiety at night time also. Clary Sage blends well with lavender. SHOP >

8 - Marjoram

Marjoram is another essential oil that can calm and warm your soul while helping you ditch any emotional stress or trauma. It also relaxes and soothes the muscle groups, and the nervous and cardiovascular systems of the body. SHOP >

9 - Ylang Ylang

As well as being a romantic favourite, ylang ylang essential oil helps to relieve nervous tension and promotes relaxation. It's sweet, soft flowery fragrance is extremely effective in calming and bringing about a sense of relaxation. Ylang Ylang may also help with releasing feelings of anger, tension, and nervous irritability. SHOP > 

10 - Neroli

Neroli essential oil is greatly relaxing on the body and mind, relieving muscle spasms and calming heart palpitations. For insomniacs, the slightly hypnotic effect of neroli oil can induce sleep, acting as a natural tranquilizer; put a few drops of the oil into a warm bath taken just before going to bed.  SHOP >

11 - Sandalwood

Sandalwood essential oil is high in sesquiterpenes the chemical component that stimulates the pineal gland in the brain. This creates deep relaxation of the nervous system and that is why it has been used for centuries to enhance meditation. The pineal gland produces melatonin and releases into the blood stream. Science has revealed that melatonin is responsible for regulating the sleep cycle.  SHOP >

12 - Roman Chamomile

Roman Chamomile is a supreme calming and relaxing oil. Very rich in esters, it is very useful to calm irritability, stress, insomnia, tension headaches and the like. This essential oil is great when combined with lavender. It has been used since ancient times in both tea and oil form to help people get adequate sleep. It is one of the most popular essential oils for sleep. SHOP >

Please refer to directions of each essential oil before use.

 

Please note this information is for educational purposes only.