In today's fast paced world of obligations, constant demands, and mental pressure, it's essential to care for your mental health, doing things that relieve stress & manage anxiety. Essential oils can be a valuable ally in promoting relaxation and overall well-being. Derived from carefully selected aromatic plants, these highly concentrated extracts can have a deep impact on the nervous system, emotions, and the body as a whole.
Thanks to their active molecules and powerful aromas, certain essential oils offer truly soothing properties, ideal for supporting periods of stress, nervous fatigue, or accumulated tension. Here are our suggestions on which essential oils to pick, how to use them, and why choosing Pranarōm’s expertise can help create a serene atmosphere every day.
Which calming essential oil should I choose?
Not all essential oils have the same properties. To promote relaxation, some stand out for their targeted action on the nervous system, emotions, and breath.
Lavender Essential Oil (Lavandula angustifolia)
A must-have, lavender essential oil is undoubtedly the most well-known relaxation oil. It has a balancing effect, helping to soothe tension and stress-related palpitations, as well as supporting better sleep.
It is especially appreciated for its soft, reassuring scent and gentle nature - it's one of the best oils for those with sensitive skin.
Roman Chamomile Essential Oil (Noble Chamomile)
Sweet, fruit-like Roman chamomile essential oil is another go-to remedy for times of acute stress or tension. It provides an immediate feeling of serenity, especially when emotions create tightness in the stomach or head.
Like lavender oil, Roman chamomile is extremely gentle when blended properly. The diluted essential oil can be used as a digestive massage or an aromatic perfume applied to the pulse points.
Sweet Marjoram Essential Oil
Known for its regulating effect on the nervous system, sweet marjoram oil helps relax muscles & calm inner tension during periods of agitation. It is often recommended when stress manifests physically. Spicy, herbaceous & sweet, it complements other herbaceous essential oils like lavender and peppermint especially well.
Ylang-Ylang Essential Oil
Ylang-ylang oil is both enveloping and balancing. It works on emotions, soothes tension, promotes physical relaxation, and supports confidence. Its arresting floral scent boosts its sedative properties, prompting a moment of quiet contemplation that slows the harried mind and deepens the breath.
Clary Sage Essential Oil
Known especially for its effects on women's health, Clary Sage is balancing and restorative. Green & herbaceous, it pairs well with floral scents like lavender, geranium or rose oil.
Peppermint Essential Oil
Peppermint oil's minty, refreshing aroma & icy/hot topical sensation can help to reset the nervous system. Apply a drop of the diluted essential oil to the back of the neck, or utilize a palm inhalation technique to deepen your breathing and revive your mind.
Rose Otto Essential Oil
Rose oil, traditionally associated with love and also palliative care, is an emotional tonic. This one is especially beautiful in skincare and aromatic roll-ons. While Rose oil is quite expensive, a little goes a long way.
Lemon Essential Oil
Lemon oil and other essential oils from citruses provide both purifying & uplifting health benefits. We carry a few different citrus oils, including lemon, bergamot & sweet orange. Diffuse them, blend them with DIY cleaning recipes, or add them to cotton balls and place in typically smelly areas (sneakers, gym bags, etc...) - their sweet aroma is not only uplifting & calming, it tackles odors, too!
Applying Essential Oils
Essential oils can be used in different ways depending on your needs, the desired effect, and the time of day. Not only can they help support your journey with stress & anxiety, they provide an enjoyable addition to your self care routine. It is always important to respect dosage guidelines and precautions, especially for pregnant women and children.
Diffusion
Diffusion helps create a relaxing atmosphere in your home, spreading the essential oil's aroma for both enjoyment and calming benefits. They're also a natural alternative to chemical-laden air fresheners, truly a win-win!
Massage
Diluting a few drops of essential oil in a carrier oil creates a relaxing massage treatment - it's as easy at that! Massage the blend into your shoulders, neck, & lower back near the adrenals. This promotes muscle release, relaxation, and deeper breathing.
Inhalation (Olfaction)
Place one or two drops on your wrists, then breathe in deeply. This quick method is ideal for sudden stress & an immediate need for calm.
Create your own blend!
Create your own blend using essential oils to help with stress relief & general well being. Pour into a bottle with a roller ball for easy application on the go, or create relaxing bath salts.
Because different fragrances can have different effects on different people, this can be one of the most effective ways to utilize essential oils for relaxation and stress relief. Start with one of the oils listed above, adding other oils according to your preferences.
Which carrier oil should I choose?
While any of our cold pressed virgin plant oils or infused oils can be used as a carrier oil, we recommend a neutral oil for aromatic blending, such as Jojoba. If you're creating a relaxing massage oil for tension in muscles & joints, you could try Arnica, Calendula or St. John's Wort.
Precautions
For topical use, we always recommend diluting essential oils in a cold pressed oil, and be sure to perform a patch test against any allergic reactions. Some relaxing essential oils, like citruses, can cause adverse reactions with sun exposure of treated skin. If in doubt, be sure to check with your healthcare professional.
Our Synergies and Ready-to-Use Products
To make it easier to incorporate essential oils into your routine, Pranarōm offers ready-to-use blends designed to support relaxation and emotional wellness.
Diffusion Blends
The ZEN blend, based on orange and Atlas cedar essential oils, creates a warm and relaxing atmosphere. The Meditation blend, enriched with frankincense essential oil, supports moments of centering and deep relaxation.
Wellness Blends
One of our best selling blends, Stress Recovery includes lavender oil, clary sage oil, & rose geranium oil - a deeply balancing combination that can be diffused or diluted for topical use. Aromacalm Stress Relief is another great option - light and uplifting, it features notes of bergamot, lavender & ylang ylang essential oils to ease stress during the day & promote restful sleep at night. For on-the-go rollers, try our Calmness Mood Roller or our CBD enhanced Down Time Ultra Roller.
Other Natural Stress Management Practices
Get outside!
Science has proven that time outdoors is one of the best ways to ease anxiety. Get your feet in the grass, get some sunshine and natural vitamin D, & breathe in the fresh air.
Exercise
Exercise can also have a calming effect, targeting stress and anxiety by deepening the breath and clearing your mind. It can lower stress hormones like adrenaline & cortisol, while increasing production of feel-good endorphins. Find an activity that's enjoyable to you - it doesn't have to be super intense or challenging, just something that gets you up and moving.
Plant therapy
Simply being around plants can have a calming effect on the nervous system - so visit your local arboretum or community garden, take a walk at a nearby nature reserve, or invest in some house plants. Bonus - they help purify the air in your home, too!
Meditation
Take some time each day to consciously think about what brings you joy. What are you thankful for? Negatives are easy to focus on, especially once our thoughts start running in circles like toy trains. Break the cycle by giving mental space to the good things in your life, no matter how small or simple.
Why Choose Pranarōm Essential Oils?
For over 35 years, Pranarōm has been developing essential oils of impeccable quality: 100% pure, natural, complete, and chemotyped. Each plant is carefully selected, and every oil is analyzed to ensure optimal therapeutic efficacy. In addition to being certified organic, they are also CTEO certified - also known as chemotyped.
The CTEO Charter: A Guarantee of Quality
The CTEO charter is based on several fundamental commitments:
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Purity of the essential oil
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Scientific rigor
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Optimal concentration of active compounds
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Respect for nature
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Analysis and traceability
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Research based on scientific data
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Olfactory quality supporting effectiveness
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A holistic approach to health
Pranarōm combines science, innovation, and respect for living systems to offer natural and effective solutions for stress, serving your daily well-being. While "therapeutic grade" can sometimes be an ambiguous term, third party certifications like CTEO & Ecocert can clarify the true quality of an oil.
What does the science say?
Recent scientific evidence supports the use of certain essential oils for relaxation and stress management, going beyond just a pleasant scent. Randomized controlled trials have shown that inhalation of lavender essential oil can reduce physiological markers of stress, such as sympathetic nervous system activity, while also improving sleep quality and emotional well-being [1,3].
Clinical studies in both healthy individuals and patient populations further suggest reductions in anxiety, fatigue, and depression scores following aromatherapy interventions [1,2]. Additionally, systematic reviews of randomized trials indicate that aromatherapy may be beneficial for sleep disorders [2,4].
This research suggests that bioactive compounds like linalool may interact with the limbic system and neurotransmitter pathways, helping to regulate mood and promote relaxation, reinforcing aromatherapy’s role as a complementary approach to emotional health [1].
Discover our line of pure essential oils here!
References
1) Koulivand, P. H., Ghadiri, M. K., & Gorji, A. (2013). Lavender and the nervous system. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2013, 681304. https://doi.org/10.1155/2013/681304
2) Lillehei, A. S., & Halcón, L. L. (2014). A systematic review of the effect of inhaled essential oils on sleep. The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 20(6), 441–451. https://doi.org/10.1089/acm.2013.0311
3) Chien, L. W., Cheng, S. L., & Liu, C. F. (2012). The effect of lavender aromatherapy on autonomic nervous system in midlife women with insomnia. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2012, 740813. https://doi.org/10.1155/2012/740813
4) Hwang, E., Shin, S., & Kim, H. (2015). The effects of aromatherapy on sleep improvement: A systematic literature review and meta-analysis. The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 21(2), 61–68. https://doi.org/10.1089/acm.2014.0113
