In the hustle and bustle of your life, finding moments of tranquillity and stress relief is needed. To truly appreciate your homely surroundings and leave behind the tension of the day, aromatherapy is becoming synonymous with unwinding with a glass of wine, listening to a chilled playlist, or five minutes, focussing on the breath. Immersing yourself in a scented candle, or an electric diffuser in the background, is an incredibly simple and accessible path to a calmer you.
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The Science of Scent: How It All Works
So how can the fragrant mist of an electric diffuser or the calming scent of a candle put a little smile on your face and help you feel more reassured? As is well known, fragrances possess a profound ability to influence your emotions by directly connecting to your limbic system, the brain’s centre for regulating emotions, memories, and motivation.
When you inhale a pleasing aroma, it triggers the release of various hormones, including serotonin and endorphins, often called “feel-good” chemicals. Yes, please! And of course, these hormones promote a sense of well-being, reduce stress, and induce relaxation.
Simultaneously, scents such as lavender can also curb the release of cortisol (a pesky stress hormone), helping to lower anxiety levels. This powerful connection makes the use of scents and essential oils, a well-established practice in the fine art of chilling out.
Lavender: The Calming Classic with now modern connotations.
If you’re suffering from stress, or anxiety or have moments of depression, lavender aromatherapy is known to be an amazing starting point for a sense of calm. In fact, it has the highest percentage of Linalool – a compound that has been researched to reduce stress and aggression and has significant soothing effects.
According to an evidence-based, alternative medicine journal, studies investigating the effectiveness of lavender aroma on sleep quality showed that lavender improved the scores of sleep in healthy students, patients with heart disease and middle-aged women with insomnia (hiyaa!).
In my personal experience, Lavender is my go-to at bedtime to help ease me into a state of relaxation. Lavender essential oil from Tisserand for example, is a highly reputed brand and a few drops can be added to an electric diffuser. If you need a smaller bottle to insert into a nebulizing diffuser pod the 10ml organic lavender essential oil works wonders. Note: If you have a Neom Wellbeing Pod, it only works with Neom 10ml bottles.
If you’re unsure of whether Lavender matches your modern home décor, blends such as lavender and bergamot or Lavender and Patchouli transform its familiar scent into something exciting and new, but just as restful. The Neom Perfect Night’s sleep scented candle expertly blends Lavender with Jasmine, Patchouli, and Camomile offering a sublime experience.
For a detailed article on Lavender and a curated selection of Lavender products, explore here.
Camomile: Nature’s Sleep Aid
This is up there, with its mild tranquilizing properties. Camomile is the common name for a plethora of daisy-like plants used in ancient Greek and Roman medicine.
Camomile used to remind me of my trusted herbal tea at university when gloating about a detox (very short-lived) or when I’d had too much caffeine in the day and was desperate to override its effects! As an essential oil for aromatherapy, it is a champion!
If you need an onslaught of sleep-inducing aromas due to lack of sleep or broken sleep, inhaling camomile as a ritual before bed (in place of drinking the tea if you’d rather not be rudely disturbed by a full bladder), may be recommended for you.
Clinical studies have shown that it contains specific compounds, which demonstrate anti-anxiety and sedative properties.
As an aroma, you may agree it is fairly subtle with a hint of fruitiness, a little like apple, with earthy notes. The Chamomile and Neroli Scented Candle from Holistic London is an example of an expertly infused Camomile blend and beautifully complements its aroma.
Eucalyptus: Relaxing Vapours
Are you feeling a little bunged up? In the nose I mean. For other types of bunged-upness, you may need to head over to verywellhealth! But for those who are feeling a little congested around the sinuses or feel a head cold coming on, the rejuvenating freshness of eucalyptus essential oil with its high content of cineole, works wonders.
When I was a child, my dad swore by Eucalyptus vapour. He’d pour a little Eucalyptus essential oil into a bowl of hot (but not too hot) water, and splay a tea towel over our heads, and encourage us to inhale deeply.
Although it took a bit of work, it did the trick, and the tension headache and associated muscle soreness around the neck and shoulders would melt away. Along with our little faces. But these days, with an electric diffuser emitting a mist of eucalyptus into your surroundings, you don’t have to get up close and personal with a bowl. Unless you want to.
A highly rated Eucalyptus essential oil such as Absolute Aromas contains high levels of compounds Eucalyptol and alpha-pinene. These compounds have been shown to have anti-inflammatory, analgesic (pain-relieving), and mood-enhancing effects.
When inhaled, eucalyptus vapour can help open up the airways, allowing for deeper and more relaxed breathing, which in turn reduces physical tension and anxiety. The fresh, invigorating aroma of eucalyptus also stimulates the release of neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin, (yippee!) promoting an overall sense of well-being and tranquillity.
If you’d rather breathe in the refreshing, stress-relieving aromas of Eucalyptus combined with an even more refreshing touch of peppermint, via a reed diffuser, the Scottish company Clyde Candles offers a luxury option with some fantastic reviews.
Frankincense: The Original “stress relief” Resin.
It is well known, that a wise man once gave an even wiser baby, some Frankincense. With its calming, anti-stress, and anti-anxiety properties, it’s no wonder!
If you’re in the good habit of taking a moment to reflect, breathe deeply, and surrender to a bit of quiet, Frankincense is a very effective scent for its meditative effects. But what exactly is it? It is an aromatic gum resin, believe it or not, originally from North Africa.
The science behind its ability to promote relaxation and reduce stress lies in the resin’s rich composition. When inhaled through aromatherapy using a high end essential oil such as Naissance African Frankincense, its scent can stimulate the brain’s limbic system, which plays a pivotal role in emotions and memory.
This stimulation leads to the release of neurotransmitters like serotonin and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), inducing feelings of relaxation and reducing anxiety. Frankincense’s earthy and grounding aroma enjoyed simply in the form of incense sticks has been used for centuries in rituals and meditation practices, making it a powerful ally for those seeking emotional balance.
Rosemary – Familiar and fragrant.
Mmm…those who are a fan of Rosemary in your Sunday roast may find this not only relaxing but hunger-inducing, it being a wholesome, savoury, and earthy herb. But rest assured, in the realm of aromatherapy, therapeutic grade, pure Rosemary essential oil such as Ecodrop serves as a valuable tool for stress alleviation.
For those experiencing a particularly tense time, the aromatic essence of Rosemary oil diminishes the release of those irritating stress hormones. In fact, Rosemary oil’s constituents exhibit a whole load of beneficial properties including:
- Anti-inflammatory
- Anti- anxiety
- Anti-viral
- Cough suppressing
- Mood balancing
It also contains special molecules that are known to reduce mental fatigue. A favourite Rosemary candle of mine by St Eval perfectly depicts the soothing effects of this outstanding herb.
Bergamot: The Citrus Beauty.
If you’re familiar with a bit of self-care practice, you’d be no stranger to Bergamot. And if you prefer the energizing and uplifting scent notes of citrus instead of woodier fragrances, inhaling Bergamot may be your essential oil of choice.
Bergamot is a type of orange from the Italian town of Bergamo. It is renowned for its invigorating properties and fresh aroma gorgeously portrayed in the Octo Bergamot Candle. Interestingly, it is a vital component in the formulation of eau-de-cologne and the distinctive flavour of Earl Grey Tea.
As for Eau-de-cologne, I have distinct memories of how this fragrance transformed my mother (temporarily) from being a stressed, anxious, menopausal, but loving lady into a calmer, trusting, menopausal but loving lady.
This powerful Bergamot-infused scent was her go-to when we needed her and she’d run out of steam to merely function, let alone parent. With Bergamot’s outstanding tranquillity-inducing properties, it’s no wonder my mother never ran out of the stuff!
Bergamot is also incredibly versatile and can be enjoyed expertly blended in Neom’s Bergamot and Black Pepper scented candle or the immensely popular and much loved Molten Brown Orange and Bergamot scented candle.
Sandalwood: The Woody Wonder
If you’ve ever been to far off exotic destinations such as India or Indonesia, you may remember the beautiful lingering background aroma of Sandalwood as the ‘smelltrack’ to your holiday. The aroma of Sandalwood, a nostalgic fragrance in my family growing up, has always exuded a warm and comforting feel.
The calming properties of Sandalwood are due to the compound alpha-santalol found in sandalwood essential oil. Research has shown that inhaling alpha-santalol-rich sandalwood oil such as the reputed SenseLAB Therapeutic Grade Indian Sandalwood Oil can reduce anxiety and stress levels by affecting the central nervous system.
Its soothing, sedative effects promote relaxation and emotional well-being. And quite impressively, studies have shown sandalwood’s ability to lower blood pressure and heart rate, further reinforcing its efficacy as a natural calming agent!
It’s no wonder people have benefitted from the age-old practice of using Sandalwood in aromatherapy to feel zen and at peace. If you’d rather enjoy Sandalwood in a blended form, Neom’s Sandalwood blend is a balancing alternative.
How to Incorporate Relaxing Scents into Your Daily Routine
Integrating these relaxing scents into your daily life is simple and accessible.
Diffusers: Invest in an electric diffuser to fill your living space with your preferred scent by either diluting it with water or directly from the essential oil bottle.
Reed diffuser: Select a reputed reed diffuser brand with high quality calming essential oils. See if there is a re-fill option.
Oil Burner: When you add a few drops of rich, soothing essential oil in your oil burner, the aroma is gently released filling your space with serenity. You can use a wax melt burner too. High quality essential oil wax melts can be harder to find, but Mystix London is a popular choice as they make specific premium essential oil melts.
Scented Candles: As is well known to us candle enthusiasts, scented candles in aromatherapy provide a dual benefit by radiating soothing fragrances and a calming ambiance, making them perfect for relaxation, stress relief, and enhancing your mood.
Lighting a scented candle is a no fuss approach to long lasting, evenly distributed calming aromas with a vast selection of blends to choose from, incorporating the essential oils mentioned in this article.
Pulse point roller balls: Using essential oils on the wrists and temples is a well known practice for those seeking a sense of calm or a catalyst for a good night’s rest. An essential oil rollerball is a convenient and versatile tool. Filled with diluted essential oils, it’s easy to apply directly to the skin.
Simply roll it onto pulse points such as wrists, temples, or the back of the neck, and enjoy the calming effects of the oils. Moreover, these nifty rollerballs are perfect for quick relaxation breaks during a hectic day, However, as with anything, ensure it is safe to apply on your skin first. Tisserand brand is an excellent choice for the safe use of calming essential oils, directly applied to the skin.
Remember to choose high-quality, pure essential oils to fully experience their therapeutic benefits. Essential Oils Online members of the aromatherapy trade council recommend that the essential oils must be of therapeutic grade, not commercial, to reap the true benefits of aromatherapy.
Embracing the Aroma of Tranquillity through easily placed products within your home offers a remarkably effective and straightforward strategy for nurturing your mental well-being. While you’re physically present in the room, consider it akin to having an unobtrusive companion quietly urging you to pause and breathe, enveloping you in a comforting aura of reassurance and serenity.
