News flash: if you’re not using essential oils as part of your daily self-care routine, you’re truly missing out! Essential oils don’t just smell good - they also have a ton of proven psychological and physical benefits: many essential oils are antimicrobial, others are mood boosters, and they often contain anti-inflammatory properties (and that’s just getting started).

One of the benefits we could most use in this post-COVID craziness? Help with sleep and anxiety. The good news, though, is that there are tons of essential oils out there that can help get the job done.

Here’s everything you should know.

Top Essential Oils for Sleep

Lavender Oil

Lavender oil is a soothing scent that has been used for relaxation and sleep for centuries -- and with good reason.

Several human studies show that lavender has proven mood stabilizing, sedative, analgesic, anticonvulsant, and neuro-protective properties. It’s even shown to:

• Inhibit inflammatory reactions
• Protect against neural injury thanks to its antioxidant effects
• Inhibit overactive nerve activity (which can contribute to anxiety or a fight-or-flight response)
• And more

That’s why lavender is so popular in relaxing products (and the first go-to on our essential oils for sleep list). Keep in mind, though, that -- as with any essential oil -- you should dab a small amount of lavender oil in one spot before you apply more broadly to make sure you don’t have any reaction.

Rose Oil

Rose oil, otherwise known as rose damascena, has been used for cosmetic purposes for over 5,000 years! Ancient Egyptians would boil down roses to make balms, perfumes, and cosmetic products, and Phoenicians, Greeks, and Romans used it in perfume and to keep illnesses at bay.

Today, this fragrant floral oil has been shown to:

• Provide antidepressant properties
• Promote psychological relaxation
• Improve sexual dysfunction
• Provide anti-anxiety effects

Plus it smells great! Which is why it’s one of the top oils on our list.

Chamomile

Chamomile is a go-to herb around the world when it comes to rest and relaxation -- and with good reason. The two most common varieties, Roman chamomile and German chamomile, contain many medicinal properties that have been shown to provide:

• Anti-inflammatory benefits
• Relief against common cold symptoms
• Diarrhea relief
• Benefits against cardiovascular conditions
• Benefits as a sleep aid
• Help with sore throat
• Wound healing
• Antimicrobial benefits

Particularly when it comes to aromatherapy, chamomile has been shown to decrease anxiety, depression, and stress levels.

Sandalwood

Long used as a perfume (thanks to its woody, earthy fragrance) and in ayurvedic medicine, sandalwood has proven anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antimicrobial benefits.

When inhaled, it can provide significant relaxation and anxiety relieve benefits. It’s also shown to reduce wakefulness and increase the amounts of non-REM sleep.

Frankincense

Used since Biblical times, frankincense is a powerful resin with a ton of beneficial properties. It has been shown to:

• Reduce inflammation
• Enhance the immune system, including the production of T-cells
• Help with wound healing
• Work as an expectorant
• Provide antiseptic benefits

How to Use Essential Oils for Sleep

Now that we’ve discussed the details of each essential oil, let’s talk about the how of using essential oils for sleep. There are lots of ways you can incorporate oils into your routine:

Add Oil to Your Bath

This is a great way to get the relaxation and sleep benefits of aromatherapy while also taking advantage of the sleep-promoting effects of a warm soak. Simply put several drops of your favorite oil into your bathwater right before bed. Not only will the oil soften your skin, but it’ll also provide some majorly snooze-inducing aromatherapy benefits,

Use a Diffuser

You can’t go wrong with a straightforward essential oil diffuser. Simply add water and oil to your diffuser machine, which will then heat up and disperse the oil into the air in your room.

This kind of aromatherapy has many proven relaxing benefits. According to one study:

• Aromatherapy is shown to alleviate central fatigue by relaxing the central nervous system and muscles.
• It is also shown to improve sleep, depression, and overall well-being in cancer patients.
• Essential oils inhalation has proven to be effective in mental exhaustion and burnout
• It can also help prevent and treat stress and fatigue

Not too shabby!

Make Your Own Mist

You can combine essential oil and water in a spray bottle or atomizer and spray around your room or onto your bed linens as necessary. This allows you to have more control over your aromatherapy while allowing you to have your oils on hand no matter where you are.

Apply Directly to the Skin

Finally, you can apply essential oils directly to pressure points on your skin, including on the wrists, behind the ears, or on the feet.

That said, always remember that undiluted, pure essential oils can really irritate the skin, so you’ll want to apply blends or add some drops into a lotion to avoid real problems.

Ready to get started? Find all of these essential oils for sleep in our Nighty Night Daily Ritual Essential Oil.