How do you use essential oils at bedtime?
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There are a few ways you can use essential oils for sleep.
- An essential oil diffuser is a great option and easy to set up and use. Using a diffuser will release the oils in the air and their natural fragrance will create a very peaceful environment
- Apply them topically by diluting with a carrier oil and rub on the bottom of your feet, back and/or pulse points (back of your neck, wrists, behind your knees). Using a 1% dilution rate, add 2 drops of essential oils to a 10 ml roller bottle and then top it off with a carrier oil (such as fractionated coconut oil or jojoba oil). If you do not have any roller bottles, mix 2 teaspoons of a carrier oil or base cream/lotion of your choice and 2 drops of essential oils.
- Pillow and room sprays are also great to use too. In a 2-ounce spray bottle add 6 to 8 drops of essential oils. Next, add a tablespoon of witch hazel (this acts as a dispersant and will help to keep the essential oils in the water and prevent them from floating on top of the water). Then top it off with water and shake the bottle to mix together. Shake before each use.
36 Essential Oils For Sleep
Amyris (Amyris balsamifera) -Woody and peppery with a hint of smoke.
Balsam Fir (Abies balsamea) – A fresh evergreen scent.
Basil (Ocimum basilicum) – A sweet and fresh herbaceous scent.
Bergamot (Citrus bergamia) – Has a citrus and floral aroma.
Blue Tansy (Tanacetum annuum) – This oil is blue in color and has a sweet, fresh aroma. Also helps with symptoms associated with seasonal allergies.
Blue Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) – Is blue in color and has a rich herbaceous scent.
Carrot seed (Daucus carota) – A mixture of woody, earthy, herbaceous, and musky scents with a touch of sweet and spicy mixed in there makes this oil’s aroma unique. Great for your skin too!
Catnip (Nepeta cataria) – Has a strong, slightly sweet, herbaceous aroma.
Cedarwood (Cedrus atlantica) -Rich woody aroma with a hint of sweet and spicy in there too.
Chamomile roman (Chamaemelum nobile) – this has a green herbaceous scent with a little bit of apple smell in there too!
Clary sage (Salvia sclarea) – Herbaceous, fruity, and floral aroma that creates a calming atmosphere. This is a favorite with the ladies because it helps with menstrual pain and hot flashes during menopause too.
Coriander seed (Coriandrum sativum) – A fresh fruity smell with a hint of sweet and spicy.
Cypress (Cupressus sempervirens) – A fresh, herbaceous and slightly woody aroma. Helps with congestion too!
Fragonia (Agonis fragrans) – This oil has a light fresh scent with a hint of citrus. It smells similar to tea tree essential oil but the scent is softer and sweeter.
Frankincense (Boswellia carteri) or (Boswellia serrata) – Has an earthy and woody aroma.
Geranium (Pelargonium graveolens) or (Pelargonium x asperum) – A fresh and sweet herbaceous aroma.
Ho wood (Cinnamomum camphora) – A woody, floral, fresh and slightly sweet scent.
Jasmine absolute (Jasminum sambac) – Has a rich and exotic floral scent and has been used in the fragrance industry to make perfumes.
Juniper Berry (Juniperus communis) – Green and woody coniferous scent.
Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) – A very sweet floral and herbaceous aroma.
Magnolia Flower (Michelia alba) – Sweet and fruity floral aroma.
Majoram Sweet (Origanum majorana) – This calming and warming oil is slightly sweet and herbaceous.
Mandarin (Citrus reticulata) – Sweet and fresh citrus scent.
Myrrh (Commiphora myrrha) – Woody, resinous, and slightly herbaceous and smokey.
Neroli (Citrus x aurantium) – A sweet and beautiful orange blossom scent. The most effective oil to help you with grief and nervous tension too.
Orange sweet (Citrus sinensis) – Smells like freshly peeled oranges. This is called the happy oil and is very uplifting but it also helps with nervous tension and sadness as well.
Pachouli (Pogostemon cablin) – A rich earthy, musky and slightly sweet aroma that is used to calm the nerves.
Peru balsam (Myroxylon balsamum) – A hint of vanilla scent with a sweet and spicy aroma.
Petitgrain (Citrus x aurantium) – Has a fresh floral, citrus aroma with a slight woody scent in there too.
Rose absolute (Rosa x centifolia) or Rose Otto (Rosa x damascena) – Smells just like a rose garden! It is very strong so if you are blending this oil with others just use a little bit (1 drop in a diffuser blend) or it will over power the blend.
Sandalwood Australian (Santalum spicatum) – A soft and sweet woody scent.
Spikenard (Nardostachys jatamansi) – Has a deep woody and earthy aroma.
Valerian (Valeriana officinalis) – A strong woody and musky scent. It is an unusual and pungent aroma. Some people have a hard time with the smell but it is very effective and used for fatigue, stress, and anxiety.
Vanilla Oleoresin (Vanilla planifolia) – Smells yummy! It’s vanilla in a bottle!! I love this one and use it all the time in diffuser blends. You can use this in your diffuser or in creams and lotions but it does not mix well in carrier oils.
Vetiver (Vetiveria zizanioides) – Has a rich earthy and smokey scent but yet it is still a pleasant aroma all on its own.
Ylang Ylang complete (Cananga odorata) – A very intense sweet and floral aroma.
Final Thoughts…….
Each and every one of the essential oils above is calming and relaxing and will encourage a good night’s sleep. However, everyone is going to have their own personal preference for sleep oils. Your senses are going to find things relaxing that others might not and that is ok. Whatever works best for you. That is why I put together this list with more options because when I was searching for “the best essential oils for sleep” only 7 to 10 essential oils were listed. Among those were Lavender and Cedarwood and both of these oils alone do not work for me but when I put them in a blend with other essential oils they work great.
If you don’t know which one to try first then look at the descriptions of the scents that are listed. For example, if you like floral scents and find them relaxing then try Lavender, Rose, Ylang-Ylang Complete, Ho Wood, Jasmine, or Bergamot. Maybe you are not a fan of floral scents but like woody aromas then try Sandalwood Australian or Cedarwood. Also, if you find that using one single essential oil doesn’t work for you then mix together a few essential oils to make a sleep blend. My favorite sleep blend is a combination of Frankincense, Roman Chamomile, Lavender, Clary Sage, Cedarwood, and Vetiver essential oil.
If you don’t have many essential oils in your collection, or want to purchase a blend, Plant Therapy has a great one to use called Relax. They also have a Relaxation Set with Tranquil, Meditation, and Relax.
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