Essential oils have a definite effect on our emotions—and those essential oils that have traditionally been used to reduce emotional stress and quell feelings of anxiety can help you begin to feel better almost instantly by signaling your system to increase production of serotonin, the neurochemical that researchers say lifts moods and encourages a positive mental outlook.

So when stresses begin to build in your life, don’t wait until they build into anxiety. Instead, nip the problem in the bud by inhaling the healing aromas of herbs and flowers that promote relaxation and inner calm!

Lavender

Lavender is the most effective of all essential oils for reducing tensions and calming anxieties, which may explain why this scent is so frequently used in balms, soaps, perfumes, and bath salts. In medieval times, pillows stuffed with dried lavender blossoms were used to promote peaceful and refreshing sleep. Lavender also seems to be especially effective against headaches brought on by feelings of apprehension that can occur in stressful situations. Read more about it here.

Oil of Bergamot

Oil of bergamot, used for centuries as a component of the finest perfumes for both men and women, is another excellent choice for anti-anxiety aromatherapy. You’ll find it especially helpful when you’re feeling burned out due to job stresses.

Frankincense

Just as the trees that produce the resin we know as frankincense can grow in the harshest environment, so can inhaling the sweet scent of this herb create relaxation in emotionally stressful environments. In fact, the aroma of frankincense has traditionally been used in Jewish, Christian, and Islamic religious ceremonies to promote feelings of inner peace and union with God—definitely the opposite of anxiety!

Lemon and Lemongrass

Because fatigue is such a common component of stress, the scents of lemon and lemongrass are also recommended to combat stress and anxious feelings brought on by mental, physical, or emotional exhaustion. Both lemon and lemongrass scents are more refreshing than relaxing, so they’ll increase feelings of energy and vitality rather than relaxation.

Orange

Orange essential oil reduces anxiety by providing aromatherapeutic support for mental clarity. This makes it especially useful in cases where feelings of confusion threaten to trigger stressful and anxious feelings. Read more about it here.

Ylang-ylang

Ylang-ylang essential oil comes from the flowers of a small tree native to the Far East. The scent is spicy, rather like that of jasmine flowers, and tends to promote a feeling of languidness, which makes it an ideal agent against stress and anxiety brought on by frustration. However, this scent can cause headaches in some people, so tread carefully until you know how your system reacts to it.

Tinkering Is Encouraged

Because stress and anxiety can come from many sources, you may want to consider the different anti-anxiety properties noted above and experiment with combining two or more of these essential oils to find the perfect aromatherapy recipe for your needs.

Inhaling the tiny molecules of these essential oils in steam from a vaporizer, in your bath, or from a piece of clean cotton can work wonders for your mood. Their soothing scents encourage your lungs to breathe deeply, which promotes relaxation by increasing the supply of oxygen in your blood, and can work wonders on your mood as well.

—Julie Crawshaw