The Very Best Essential Oils for Relaxation

Our top 3 essential oils for relaxation

We know you’re pushed for precious time. That’s why we’ve taken the guesswork out of choosing the best essential oils for relaxation and pampering. In fact, you can add a few drops of your favourite oil to a diffuser and let it deliver a little calm to busy periods, even while you’re on the go.

Let’s start with the most soothing of essential oils, lavender. Lavender essential oil has a naturally calming influence on the mind and body. That gentle, floral fragrance will bring a waft of yuletide peace to the busiest of homes, helping you to stay focused.

There’s nothing like the scent of citrus to make your home feel festive, and our bergamot essential oil is a handy little ally when you need chillout time. Bergamot has an uplifting effect on the senses, helping to calm anxiety and still the mind. We say take some time out, pop a few drops in your diffuser and snuggle up for a family film.

Everyone loves the heady scent of ylang ylang essential oil, and it’s so much more than just a pretty scent. Steam distilled from the beautiful yellow flowers of the Cananga tree, ylang ylang’s sensuous fragrance adds a touch of the exotic to your home all year round.

Best essential oils for relaxing muscles

Wintry weather may be perfect for those frosty morning walks, but it can be bad news for those aches and pains. For the best essential oils for relaxing muscles, opt for oils with inflammatory, calming and antispasmodic properties.

Rosemary essential oil has been used as a natural remedy for centuries, so it’s perfect for kicking those everyday aches and pains into touch. Rosemary oil is said to reduce inflammation and encourage a good night’s sleep. Dilute with water and apply topically or add a little to your diffuser to help you drift off.

Wildcrafted from the leaves and twigs of the blue gum tree, eucalyptus essential oil is a winter must-have. Many find that this distinctive oil cools aching muscles, soothing pain and inflammation. You’ll often find eucalyptus in over-the-counter muscle rubs, thanks to its ability to reduce inflammation in the muscles and soothe associated pain. Dilute a few drops with water and massage gently into the problem area for instant relief.

We all love the soothing scent of roman chamomile essential oil, and it’s often used to help relieve muscular tension. There are few ailments that chamomile essential oil can’t soothe, and it’s popular for its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.

Best essential oils for a relaxing bath

There’s nothing quite as relaxing as some time in the tub, and we know the best essential oils for a relaxing bath. For an all-rounder that ticks all the boxes, add a few drops of cedarwood atlas essential oil to a warm bath. Not only does cedarwood add a luxurious feel to bath time with its gorgeous scent, but it also soothes the mind, reduces inflammation, encouraging a restful night’s sleep.

For an essential oil that can make your bath smell like Christmas, it’s got to be the mystical frankincense essential oil. A great oil for blending, frankincense helps to reduce feelings of stress and lift the spirit with its unique, heady fragrance. This oil has been used in spiritual rituals for thousands of years, so it’s perfect for escaping it all with a relaxing bath.

If you’ve ever inhaled the scent of clary sage essential oil, you may have experienced an instant feeling of wellbeing. A little like receiving a warm hug from a loved one, this powerful little oil lifts the spirit and calms the mind, so it’s fantastic for a soothing bath. Clary sage is often used to help shake off a bad mood, and it’s ideal for winding down before bedtime.

Relaxing oil combinations

Why not choose a few essential oils that work well together to create your own relaxing blend? Blending two or three different oils is a great way to enjoy your favourite scents and benefit from the properties each one brings to the recipe.

For example, the soothing effects of lavender, frankincense and chamomile create a super-powerful blend perfect for relaxing nights in. The floral scent of lavender works effortlessly with frankincense to create a calming aroma with grounding effects. Add a few drops of chamomile to add an uplifting note to your recipe and enjoy some serious time out.

With its distinctive middle note fragrance, clary sage works well in many an essential oil blend. Mix with the earthy scent of vetiver to enjoy a unique blend with the power to relax the mind. Vetiver is often believed to help calm the spirit in times of trauma, and it helps to banish our worries ready for a restful sleep. One of the best essential oil combinations for relaxation, this one’s a simple blend to get you started.

Check out our essential oils blending guide for more inspiration.