Ultimate Guide to Using Essential Oils for Relaxation- At Any Age
Did you know that there are over 90 different essential oils? Each essential oil has its benefits and scents. Essential oils are concentrated extracts made from various plants, herbs, and flowers.
Aromatherapy is a common way to reduce your stress levels, relax, sleep better, and improve your quality of life. If you want to use essential oils for relaxation, you might be overwhelmed by how many choices there are.
This guide will discuss the best essential oils for relaxing and stress relief for people of any age.
Lavender
Lavender essential oil is best known for its ability to calm both the mind and body. Lavender oil has a sweet scent with a herbal or woody undertone.
You can use lavender essential oil for relaxation or improve your sleep quality. It’s particularly effective in reducing feelings of anxiety or stress that might be keeping you up at night.
There are a few ways you can use lavender essential oil. One way is to take a bath before going to sleep. You can add a few drops of lavender essential oil right into your bathwater.
Lavender also has other benefits besides making you feel more relaxed. Some of the other advantages include:
- Reducing headache or muscle pain
- Improving skin conditions, such as burns, acne, or eczema
A lavender bath is a great way to calm your child, especially if they have trouble sleeping. There are many ways you can learn how to calm children before bed, such as listening to calming music.
Bergamot
Bergamot is another popular choice for aromatherapy. It gets sourced from the citrus fruit peel from the fruit Citrus Bergamia.
Bergamot can help promote relaxation and reduce your feelings of stress. This essential oil can also improve feelings of fatigue and negative emotions.
Keep in mind that if applying bergamot directly to your skin, it should also get mixed with a carrier oil first. You can use one of the following oils:
- Avocado
- Sweet almond
- Jojoba
Another way to enjoy bergamot is by sprinkling a few drops onto a tissue or cloth. You can put the fabric close to your face and inhale the scent.
Lemongrass
Lemongrass essential oil gets sourced from the herb lemongrass. This essential oil is thought to reduce our feelings of anxiety and increase relaxation. The scent is uplighting and fresh, smelling just like lemons.
If you’re getting an aromatherapy massage, you can request that they use lemongrass and sweet almond oils. The fresh scent will relax you during and after your massage.
Ways to Use Essential Oil Blends for Relaxation
There are multiple ways you can use essential oils to promote relaxation. Let’s discuss some of the most popular methods.
Essential Oil Diffuser
A diffuser is an effective and safe way to use essential oils in any room. Essential oil diffusers can use heat or water to spread the scent.
The most common type of oil diffuser is a water-based diffuser. It uses an electric pump to release a fine, aromatic mist. You can also use a reed or candle-powered oil burner if you want to opt for something non-electronic.
Quick Smell
As we mentioned before, you can sprinkle a few drops of essential oil on a cloth or towel to enjoy the scent. You can also put an open bottle directly under your nose and take a deep breath.
Another option is to sprinkle a few drops onto your palms. Cup your hands over your nose and take a few deep breaths.
Cotton Balls
If you want to scent your home, you can sprinkle a few drops of essential oil onto cotton balls. Put the cotton ball in a bowl and place the bowl in areas where you want to enjoy the essential oil. You can also place a scented sachet under your pillow to experience the benefits while sleeping.
Steam Treatment
Inhaling scented steam can provide your mind and body with countless benefits. Follow these easy instructions to create your steam treatment at home:
- Put two to three cups of boiling water into a bowl
- Add three to seven drops of essential oil into the water
- Put your head a foot above the bowl
- Cover your head with a towel
- Slowly breath in the steam
- Stay this way for 10 to 15 minutes
If you want to improve your skin with the steam treatment, add a few more cups of water to the boil. Use a toner after your treatment to cleanse your skin of impurities. Follow up with a soothing moisturizer.
Bottle Spray
If you want to spritz yourself with a relaxing essential oil or scent an entire room, you can make an essential oil spray. You can use one essential oil or a combination of several, depending upon your preferences.
Add 10 to 15 drops of essential oil to one ounce of water. Place the mixture in a spray bottle. Shake it well and spray generously.
Skin Application
Essential oils can get applied directly to your skin. The most common locations are:
- Chest
- Temples
- Bottom of feet
- Legs
- Stomach
- Pulse points
Avoid putting essential oil on broken skin, your ears, and your eyes. Keep in mind that essential oils can be very potent. A few drops are all you need to enjoy the benefits.
Bath Treatment
As we talked about before, you can add a few drops of essential oil into your bathwater. You can also make a DIY bath solution that you can use at any time.
Get a bottle of non-scented shower gel. Add six to eight drops of essential oil and stir well. Add some of your mixture to your bathwater.
Explore the Various Essential Oils for Relaxation
Using essential oils for relaxation is a great way to increase your positive feelings while enjoying a wonderful scent. Incorporate relaxing essential oils into your daily routine to continually reap their benefits.
Did you find this article helpful? Explore our blog for more information on reducing your stress levels.