We could all benefit from better stress management — that’s probably why it’s one of the most common New Year resolutions. When we don’t give ourselves a chance to unwind, that stress can build up and make us feel miserable. Extreme amounts of stress can even have serious health consequences, affecting the immune, cardiovascular, neuroendocrine, and central nervous systems.
So if that’s something you’re aiming to improve this year, essential oils can be a wonderful complement to all of your self-care practices. Give these single oils and blends a try to help relieve stress:
Lavandin
Don’t worry — it’s not spelled wrong. LavandIN is a beautiful hybrid of true lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) and spike lavender (Lavandula latifolia). It is rich in linalool and linalyl acetate, just like Lavender, but also includes 1,8-cineole and camphor, making it a bit different aromatically and therapeutically. It is emotionally calming, helps to ease feelings of stress, and reduces symptoms of anxiety [1]. If you love Lavender, you may find yourself feeling the same way about Lavandin. Its aroma is similar to Lavender but absolutely has its own unique personality.
Sandalwood (all kinds)
The beautifully soft and creamy aroma of this essential oil is well known to positively influence the mind. It has a cooling, calming, and toning effect on the nervous system, making it great for hot and agitational emotional states related to stress [2]. It is excellent for encouraging relaxation when diffused or inhaled. Plus, it’s a perfect meditation companion to help clear the mind from everyday worries.
To learn more about Sandalwood (and to give this really relaxing bath salts DIY a try!) check out these blogs:
- Sandalwood Indian and Australian: Essential Oil Spotlight of the Week
- 8 Ideas for Using Sandalwood Essential Oil
Bergamot
This bright, uplifting, fresh-smelling oil is excellent for a mind and body feeling bogged down by stress. It promotes relaxation by increasing activity in the parasympathetic nervous system, which is the branch of the central nervous system that helps balance heart rate, blood pressure, and breathing. Use it alongside other uplifting and comforting essential oils, such as Rose Absolute, Chamomile Roman, or Sandalwood to stabilize your mood and release pent-up stressed out feelings [1]. If stress is also resulting in unproductive or addictive behaviors, Bergamot may help redirect that nervous energy to something more positive [2].
Check out The Five Benefits of Bergamot Essential Oil to learn more about this wonderful oil.
Copaiba Oleoresin
When stress puts a strain on your immune system, your whole body can feel the effects. Tension in the head and neck along with achy muscles can make the end of a stressful day feel even worse. Copaiba is widely known for its ability to help alleviate soreness in these areas, partly due to its large quantity of beta-caryophyllene. This unique chemical constituent may target parts of the brain that help minimize feelings of sadness and discouragement [3].
Try blending 2 drops each of Copaiba Oleoresin and Frankincense Serrata in a tablespoon of your favorite carrier oil and apply topically to help alleviate soreness. For an emotionally grounding blend, add 3 drops of Copaiba Oleoresin, 2 drops of Frankincense Carteri, and 4 drops of Orange Sweet to your diffuser.
To learn more about Copaiba Oleoresin, check out this blog:
Top 5 Amazing (and Surprising) Benefits of Copaiba Oil
Sage Dalmatian
The warm, spicy, and herbaceous aroma of Sage Dalmatian may not immediately come to mind when you think of essential oils for stress relief, but it should! Sage offers a wide variety of benefits. It helps support symptoms of stress, such as emotional exhaustion, nervousness, mental fatigue, and head and neck tension. However, keep in mind that Sage is rich in a powerful ketone called thujone. When applying topically, keep the dilution no higher than 0.4% and use with care.
Try this blend using several of the essential oils mentioned in this blog!
Chillax Bath Blend
What you’ll need:
- 2 tbsps unscented body wash
- 1/2 cup Epsom salt
- 5 drops Lavender Fine
- 4 drops Bergamot
- 2 drops Patchouli
- 2 drops Copaiba Oleoresin
- Airtight container
Add all these PT products to your cart
What you’ll do:
Mix all ingredients together thoroughly. Store in an airtight container. Makes enough for 2 baths; pour into warm, running bath water.
Sources:
[1] Purchon, N., & Cantele, L. (2014). The Complete Aromatherapy and Essential Oils Handbook for Everyday Wellness Paperback. Pg. 39.
[2] Mojay, G. (2000). Aromatherapy for Healing the Spirit: Restoring Emotional and Mental Balance with Essential Oils Paperback. Pg. 53.
[3] Leaf Science. “β-Caryophyllene: A Terpene For Anxiety and Depression.” [Online]. Available: http://www.leafscience.com/2014/07/08/b-caryophyllene-terpene-anxiety-depression/. [Accessed 6 January 2017].
I love lavandin. I use it now instead of lavender. Lavandin has a pretty, soft scent.
Love the ideas for which oils to use to reduce stress! I was not familiar with Lavandin before this so it’s neat to learn about it.
I have been having extreme anxiety already in the new year. I have used essential oils but I am trying to look into more of them and really make it a hobby. I have heard a lot about lavendin and bergamot but never used them, I was always interested in them but always hesitant because I didn’t really know what they were used for. Thanks for this article!
Lots of great ideas to help stress, which is very needed right now. Thanks
I cannot wait to make the Chillax bath salts. Thanks for writing about it!
I think I’m going to try this thanks for the info!!!
It’s been a pretty stressful new year already, so I’m thankful for this post!
Great information! Thanks for all the detailed info.
would love to try sandalwood!
Thank you for this lovely article. Love Bergamot oil and appreciate that you introduced Copaiba Oleoresin which I haven’t heard of before. I ordered it and really enjoy it as well. Thank you!
I love the idea of using essential oils for stress relief! I just ordered Bergamot and can’t wait to try it out!
I’m already a big fan of tension relief blend – I’m excited to try these options as well!
Bergamot one of my first oils. It has always been my favorite. Brightens my mood, cheers me up with out over powering. Add some copaiba and I’m back to earth on a really draining and hectic day. What a wonderful way to decompress.
Excellent blend of oils! Thank you so much for sharing with us 🙂
Love Plant Therapy EOs for stress relief when taking a relaxing bath. Thank you for good information and products.
Bergamot literally melts away my muscle tension. I can’t explain the feeling except that I almost couldn’t hold myself up the first time I used it because it relaxed my shoulders immensely. Vetiver is a good one too!
I am always looking for new oils for relaxation. Thanks for the article!
I hold my stress in my jaw and neck, and have been feeling it quite a lot lately. I will for sure be trying copaiba for relief! I also want to try bergamot for stress. Thanks for the great article!
Frankincense is a favorite! Love these New Years posts with great suggestions
Excited to get Bergamot!
Wow! A lot of the oils featured in this blog are oils I’m not very familiar with. Stress is something I most certainly have in my life, so these are great ideas. I’ve added some of these oils to my wish-list for my next order!
Just bought bergamot and copaiba. Will give them a try!
I love Bergmont, when I’m stressed I go in my oils room and diffuse it, a few minutes later I feel better.
Who knew I had such a wealth of stress relieving resources in my box. Thank you for this info PT!
Wow I am definitely trying the frankincense and copaiba mix for tension – thank you!
Patchouli… I’m 40 and fell in love with this oil the very first time I smelled it at age 15 Love it! Patchouli is an aphrodisiac for me! Nothing compares to it’s wonderful scent!
Just pulled my sage out the other day and wondered what I should do with it! Thanks for the suggestions. I had forgotten how much I liked the smell!
I love all the recipes amd ideas you guys bring to the table! Makes me want to win the lottery so I can just buy what I want.
Can’t wait to try the grounding blend with Copaiba
Just ordered bergamot and Copaiba because of this sale today! This is my first time trying these. Hope I like them 🙂
Let us know! Those two are actually pretty wonderful blended together, too 🙂
Ordering Lavandin and Sage today! Thank you! I love this new feature:)
I love bergamot and copaiba! For the Chillax bath blend, I do not have patchouli. Is there another oil that could substitute for it, or would it be fine to make the blend without it?
You can absolutely give it a try without the Patchouli! If you’d like to substitute it, I would try another woody-type aroma, like Ho Wood or maybe Helichrysum. I think you may also find a pine-smelling oil would go well here, too. It wouldn’t have the same strong relaxing properties, but that extra fresh crispness a coniferous scent can bring may make up for that 🙂
Ooo, I’ve been looking for more ways to use my copaiba! So excited, thanks plant therapy!
These sound amazing! I’m adding bergamot to my shopping cart today 😉
Sandalwood and Bergamot are both on my list!!!
I have been interested in adding Copaiba to my collection. I’ve heard that oleoresins can clog diffusers. Should I worry about Copaiba clogging my aromafuse?
Copaiba Oleoresin is not as thick as say, Vanilla Oleoresin, and it is also water soluble, so you should be just fine using Copaiba in your diffuser 🙂
Excited to try your sandalwood!
These are great tips and much needed! I love Sandalwood but never know which one to get… will try this one!
I LOVE THIS! Thank you! I’d love to try the bath blend.
I am so excited to use Bergamot and Roman chamomile together! I love the smell and benefits of both and use them separately quite often. I cant believe I never thought to use them together. Im so ready to clear my mind and leave this anxiety behind me. As always thanks PT for all the great info.
Time to be stress free. Thanks Plant Therapy!!!
Sandalwood has become my new favorite when I purchased it last month!!!! I have copiaba on my wish list for a while… just might have to get it!
I see that all the oils in the Chillax blend are Kid Safe. The kids are bored and ready to go back to school (aka irritable). I plan to diffuse this today. Is there anything I can substitute for the patchouli?
You can try substituting with Ho Wood or Sandalwood, which are in the same fragrance family 🙂
All the lovely oils! I have all of those except the Sage Dalmation, so chillaxin is definitely on the agenda for today. Great sale offer on those oils too!
These oils sound like they’re a great way to help relax tight and tense muscles.
The code isn’t working for 15% off Bergamot ☹️
Heidi, reach out to our customer service team at [email protected] and they will be able to help you out!
Great information. I love learning how to use my oils in new ways.
I did not know this about sandalwood. I will be ordering some soon!
Love Copaiba. Bring it and Frankincense with me when I go for a massage. Mixed with Tumeric and Cubeb works like magic on my arthritic joints. Haven’t needed or used OTC analgesics in months!
Bev do you have a recipe for this blend? My grandmother is having arthritic pains and I’d love to try!
Would love if you shared the recipe for your blend….my husband is dealing with some terrible arthritic knees.
Lavendin and bergamot are 2 of my favorites for stress reducers!