18 October 2021 / Caitlin Devlin
The best essential oils to boost your energy levels
Discover how to reset your senses and boost your energy with some of our favourite oils.
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Struggling with brain fog or fatigue? Whether you’re gearing up for a run or hitting the mid-afternoon slump in your workday, these energising essential oils can give you a welcome boost.
The olfactory system is incredibly powerful. When stimulated, it can have intense effects on the brain, stimulating memories, waking us up or relaxing us, and even triggering responses in other parts of the body to contribute to our holistic health.
Triggering the olfactory system in the right way can result in a burst of energy that benefits our whole body.
In this article we’ve put together a list of some of the our favourite energising essential oils for boosting productivity and increasing alertness.
Lemon oil
People have used lemons for their energising properties for over a thousand years.
A 2005 study found that lemon oil was able to increase the alertness of students, and further research has since shown that lemon lifts low moods, which can lead to a boost in energy levels.
Citrus oils in general are linked to positivity and alertness and when diffused at the beginning of the day can help you to start it out on the right foot.
Learn more about the benefits of lemon essential oil.
Basil oil
Referred to as ‘the oil of renewal’, basil is known for its stimulating and energising properties, and its ability to reset and refresh alertness.
It is proven to help lift low mood and ease anxiety, which can reduce resulting fatigue and boost energy.
Learn more about the benefits of basil essential oil.
Peppermint oil
Peppermint has strong ties to alertness, and has been used to improve not only cognitive but physical performance.
A study in 2013 showed that peppermint was able to improve exercise performance and breath flow in participants, possible because of its ability to relax bronchial smooth muscles.
This allows for increase ventilation and brain oxygen concentration, which makes us more alert and energised.
Learn more about the benefits of peppermint essential oil.
Sweet orange oil
Much like peppermint oil, sweet orange’s energy-boosting effects have been found to improve athletic performance – in fact, the two oils work well together.
A study in 2016 found that sweet orange combined with peppermint allowed athletes to run faster and increased their lung function.
Sweet orange also benefits from the same positivity-promoting, stimulating qualities as other oils in the citrus family.
Try applying oils topically to your wrists and temples to feel your energy lift.
Ginger oil
Ginger has a longstanding associated with confidence and happiness. A study in 2010 offered an explanation for this association when it found that ginger oil was able to activate serotonin receptors.
This led to a boost in mood, which in turn boosted energy levels.
Grapefruit oil
Grapefruit oil has the impressive ability to reduce stress-induced immune-suppression, lifting ‘brain fog’.
A study in 2001 suggested that grapefruit is able to inhibit and prevent the breakdown of neurotransmitters, which can increase the level and duration of action of the neurotransmitter.
This increases our alertness and energy, and relieves fatigue and fogginess.
Learn more about the benefits of grapefruit essential oil.
Rosemary oil
Rosemary has a whole host of benefits, but one of its most useful is its ability to affect brain wave activity.
A study in 2012 showed that rosemary oil was able to put those that inhaled it in a more active state, and also that it had a stimulatory effect on participants, increasing their energy levels.
Learn more about the benefits of rosemary essential oil here.
Gurjun oil
Gurjun oil, whilst a lesser-known oil, has an ability to aid the production of red blood cells that shouldn’t be overlooked.
By increasing blood flow, it can boost our energy levels and increase the flow of oxygen to our brain. Whilst this is considered a relatively new discovery, gurjun was actually used for these circulation-benefitting purposes in ancient societies.
As is the way with natural products, the effects of essential oils are not uniform, and you may take some time to discover your favourite pick-me-up.
Spoilt for choice? Using the oils in combination with each other can also be a great way to increase energy. If you’re not sure where to start, we’ve created our Energy Pure Essential Oil Blend to give you an automatic boost.
