Table of Contents
Introduction
The state of living today is very stressful and hectic, especially in the urban areas, where the daily lives of people involve a great deal of pressure and problems. Finding peace and quiet even for just a short period is not easy for most people. Because of this search for relaxation, a lot of people have turned to aromatherapy as a special method for coping with the daily troubles and stresses that they face in life.
Aromatherapy has been used for thousands of years for many purposes, but mainly for its medicinal effects. Today, people mainly use aromatherapy scents for relaxation, to attain a tranquil state of mind and relaxed body. The great thing with aromatherapy is that you could do it in the safety and comfort of your own home; no need to go to expensive spas or clinics that offer aromatherapy or similar services. And it’s easy to do as long as you have the right amount of knowledge and materials.
There are many different scents used in aromatherapy. Each has its own effects or benefits. The person undertaking aromatherapy is free to experiment with any available scents or oils and their combinations to attain the desired effects, providing that no allergic reaction can occur from the materials used. For people using aromatherapy scents for relaxation and improving the quality of their sleep, the following scents are highly suggested for their amazing calming effect and relaxing scents. The degree of effects may vary from one person to another based on their preferences.
Best Aromatherapy Scents For Relaxation
1. Lavender
Lavender is one of the oldest aromatherapy scents for relaxation and has been used since ancient Egyptian times. Its scent is found to be very pleasant and relaxing by most people. The essential oil of lavender used in aromatherapy is obtained by steam distillation of the small blue-violet lavender flowers. The essential oil contains components that can slow down brain activity.
Studies have shown that lavender scent can help treat anxiety disorders and can promote mood stability, focused concentration, and great quality sleep.
How to use…
To use lavender oil in aromatherapy scents for relaxation, simply add 2 to 4 drops of the lavender oil into 2 to 3 cups of boiling water and just carefully inhale the vapors. Lavender oil can bought anywhere, even on the internet, but for safety purposes, always make sure the product you buy is all-natural and not an artificial product. Or better yet, you can make your own lavender oil at home.
2. Chamomile
Chamomile is popularly known for its tiny flowers that are dried and used for tea, which have a calming effect on children and can induce sleep in adults.
The flower head of this plant is crushed and steamed to obtain the essential oil used in aromatherapy scents for relaxation. The oil obtained is blue and has a fruity, sweet fragrance. It can help in reducing anxiety, insomnia, and muscle stress.
NB! Although it’s all-natural and generally safe, some people might develop allergic reactions to this oil.
How to use…
In using Chamomile oil in aromatherapy scents for relaxation, simply add a few drops or as much as desired essential oil into a boiling cup of water and then carefully inhale the vapors.
3. Lilac
Lilac is one of the most popular aromatherapy scents for relaxation used today, though its scent, which is a great promoter of relaxation, is very hard to contain in a bottle. In extracting the scent of its flowers, patience is key to capturing its pure essence.
The first thing to do is to gather morning-picked lilac flowers into a bottle until full, and then add 95% alcohol into the bottle. After that, the bottle must be covered and seasoned at cool temperatures. Time after time, check the flowers if they have lost their colours, and if they did, replace them with new flowers without changing the alcohol. Do this process over and over again until the alcohol inside has turned deep violet. The scent should be the same as the flowers.
How to use…
To use, simply add to warm water and then you may use it as a tonic or a healing spritz to aid in inducing excellent sleep or calmness and to stop or minimize anxiety.
4. Sandalwood
Sandalwood has been long used by the Greeks and the Chinese as one of the aromatherapy scents for relaxation because of its distinctive scent that promotes the calmness of the mind and body.
Based on some research, the fragrance of sandalwood is almost similar to that of human pheromones, which raises the possibility of sandalwood as an aphrodisiac. In extracting the essential oil, the roots and the heartwood of sandalwood trees that are fully matured, or at least 50 to 80 years old, are used. The roots and heartwood are properly distilled by the process of boiling, steaming, condensation, and separation to successfully extract this amazingly-scented essential oil.
Sandalwood has been mainly used as a sedative since ancient times and until today. The scent of sandalwood can help in pacifying anger, and anxiety, and prevent insomnia.
How to use…
Sandalwood oil can be infused into candles to make them easier to use; all you have to do is light up the candle and the relaxing fragrance shall spread. Or, it can be stored in slightly open vials or bottles so that the fragrance would be constantly released. Interesting fact: as the oil ages, the longer its effects last.
5. Ylang-ylang
Ylang-ylang is a tropical plant with star-shaped flowers commonly found in Asian countries such as the Philippines and Malaysia. The essential oil is extracted from the flowers of the Cananga odorata tree, which has an intensely sweet, floral, and spicy scent.
The fragrance of Ylang-ylang can be both stimulating and calming to the mind, and in some individuals, it can induce sleep. For most people, simply sniffing the extract helps in lowering blood pressure and relieves heart palpitations.
How to use…
Ylang-ylang is not typically used alone but can be mixed with other essential oils to create a more pleasant fragrance.
Conclusion
The five essential oils stated above are simply a few examples of the best aromatherapy scents for relaxation for most people. These oils can be infused into scented candles, soaps, bath oils, and bath salts. Most of them can be bought in stores so there’s no need to extract the oils yourself. There are many other scents available, and the best relaxing fragrance may differ from one person to another because of their different preferences. Experimenting by mixing and matching different scents until you find the perfect relaxing fragrance for you is highly recommended.
Which aromatherapy scents for relaxation have you used?
