Essential Oils for Emotional Wellbeing

Sometimes we all need a little emotional lift, whether it’s to boost energy levels after a long and tiring day or to settle and calm our nerves and anxieties.

There is lots of ongoing scientific research into essential oils and mood, with new insights into how they can help our emotional state being discovered all the time, some of which we reference below.

In this article we explore how essential oils can be used for mood, along with some simple recipes you can use based on the emotion you need to invigorate.

Essential oils and mood: what are the best oils to try?

1. Peppermint oil

If you need a pick-me-up, then peppermint oil is a good place to start. It has a bright, uplifting scent that can produce an almost instant change in mood to help put your mind in a clearer place.

One study found that it is particularly good at fighting fatigue during exercise, with participants finding that they performed activities better than those who did not use the oil. [1]

2. Citrus oils

When talking about citrus oils, this includes the likes of orange, lemon, bergamot, lime and grapefruit (and includes neroli and citronella). Citrus oils are fresh and zesty and can have a positive effect on mood, especially when it comes to dealing with anxiety.

For example, researchers found that lemon essential oil helped to improve mood, whilst it may also enhance norepinephrine, a brain chemical linked to anxiety and depression. [2]

3. Rosemary

Rosemary essential oil is considered to be good at stimulating mental clarity and focus thanks to its piney, woody-like aroma.

One research group required participants to inhale the oil for prolonged periods, which led to better performances on serial subtraction tests and visual processing tasks, compared to others involved in the test who had not inhaled the oil for the same amount of time. [3]

4. Lavender

The sweet, floral delights of lavender essential oil has seen it become the go-to choice for many people when it comes to improving their sleep patterns.

This could be because lavender contains linalyl acetate and linalool, two compounds that have previously been shown to contain calming, sedative properties that can ease anxiety to make it easier to drift off. [4]

5. Ylang ylang

The beautiful scent of ylang ylang essential oil is derived from the Cananga tree flowers that are handpicked before being steam distilled.

Inhaling the floral, fruity scent has been known to reduce headaches and calm anxiety levels. One study found that inhaling the oil helped to significantly reduce the systolic and diastolic blood pressure in a group of healthy young men. [5]

Essential oils and mood enhancement recipes

Whether you need to de-stress, boost your energy levels or get a better night’s sleep, these recipes could be just what you need:

Essential oil blend for anxiety and stress

There are different essential oils for different moods, and this blend balances calmness and relaxation with a small spark of positive alertness.

• 3 x drops Lavender essential oil
• 3 x drops Geranium essential oil
• 2 x drops Lemon essential oil

Essential oil blend for boosting energy

If you want to pep yourself and embrace a can-do approach, this essential oil blend is full of life and revitalising energy:

• 2 x drops of Eucalyptus essential oil
• 2 x drops of Peppermint essential oil
• 2 x drops of Lemon essential oil

Essential oil blend to raise serotonin levels

Essential oils offer a natural approach to mental wellness, and can also be used to boost serotonin levels, otherwise known as the ‘happy hormone’:

• 4 x drops Rosemary essential oil
• 4 x drops Jasmine essential oil
• 2 x drops Frankincense essential oil

Essential oil blend to enhance clarity and focus

If you are feeling fatigued after a long day or need a natural boost to help you refocus on an important task, this blend can help to raise concentration levels:

• 4 x drops Lemon essential oil
• 3 x drops Peppermint essential oil
• 1 x drops Rosemary essential oil

Essential oil blend for a better night’s sleep

Whether you suffer from insomnia or are struggling to clear your thoughts before bed, this simple recipe could be the natural relaxant you need to get a good night’s rest:

• 4 x drops Lavender essential oil
• 3 x drops Bergamot essential oil

Final thoughts

Using essential oils for emotions and your all-round wellbeing can give you an easy way to quickly change how you feel.

Citrus oils and peppermint oil can give you an instant energy boost, whilst rosemary oil could improve your focus and concentration.

Give lavender oil a go if you need a helping hand to sleep, whilst ylang ylang can be good for calming anxiety and easing headaches.

If you are experiencing prolonged periods of emotional imbalance, it is advisable to seek advice from your doctor, as essential oils are only intended for short-term use.