You’d struggle to find a person over the age of eighteen (or maybe younger) who doesn’t wish they were less stressed. The obvious solution to the problem is to book an extended getaway to the Maldives and get rid of everything in your life that’s stressing you out for a while, but sadly, that’s out of the question for most of us.
Instead, we’ll have to make-do with the next best thing: a stress-busting essential oil blend. But as it turns out, blends are a pretty great option that do an amazing job at combating stress, so don’t lose hope just yet. We’ll guide you through the best blends out there and how to use them—hang on in there!
- The Best Essential Oil Blends
- 1. Bergamot, Frankincense, and Lavender
- 2. Lavender, Chamomile, and Ylang-Ylang
- 3. Bergamot, Lime, Sandalwood, and Grapefruit
- 4. Eucalyptus and Peppermint
- 5. Sandalwood, Clary Sage, and Bergamot
- 6. Patchouli, Cypress, and Bergamot
- 7. Marjoram, Chamomile, and Frankincense
- 8. Cedarwood, Orange, Rosemary, and Frankincense
- 9. Grapefruit, Juniper Berry, and Rosemary
- 10. Geranium, Bergamot, and Lavender
- How to Use Essential Oil Blends
- Nip That Stress in the Bud
The Best Essential Oil Blends
We’re all for experimenting with your own blends and learning what’s best for your body, so if you want a signal that it’s time to embrace creative freedom, let this be that sign.
But if you’re struggling with stress already, you might not want the added worry of figuring out the right blend for you, especially if you’re new to the world of essential oils.
So, here are ten (yes, ten!) blends you can experiment with to start off, along with a brief explanation of why they work. Whatever combo you go for, aim for around 2-3 drops of each essential oil.
1. Bergamot, Frankincense, and Lavender
Bergamot essential oil is a name that we’re going to see crop up time and time again on this list, so it’s worth paying attention to. If you didn’t know already, bergamot is a type of orange, so it has a sweet and familiar citrus scent. And, even more importantly, evidence suggests it can decrease anxiety and improve mood.
Lavender is indisputably a heavyweight when it comes to anything related to essential oils, and that’s for a good reason—the substance has a wide range of benefits, including a proven link to calming the limbic system and therefore reducing anxiety.
Then there’s frankincense. In addition to being one of the three wise kings’ gifts, frankincense is widely believed to reduce anxiety thanks to its sweet yet musky scent.
And if you needed any more convincing that this makes for a winning combination, how about knowing that a study showed this exact mixture successfully reduced anxiety and depression among cancer patients? There’s a reason we put it at the top of the list!
2. Lavender, Chamomile, and Ylang-Ylang
Up next, we have a repeat show of lavender, alongside ylang ylang and chamomile.
Chamomile tea is a popular choice to promote calmness, so it shouldn’t be surprising that it also fights the good fight in essential oil form. Even a small whiff of the stuff is enough to have a calming effect!
Ylang-ylang literally means “flower of flowers,” and it’s known to regulate our mood.
3. Bergamot, Lime, Sandalwood, and Grapefruit
Sandalwood is often used in men’s colognes thanks to its musky aroma, but it also does a great job of “grounding” us with its earthy smell.
When combined with the fruitiness of lime and grapefruit, this makes for an interesting mix, but it results in a pleasant smell that will take you a world away from the daily grind.
Combining four essential oils together in one blend might sound excessive, but go on, treat yourself!
4. Eucalyptus and Peppermint
If you like the idea of a minty combination, look no further. The concentration of menthol in eucalyptus oil helps to cool and calm the body, expelling stress and anxiety.
Meanwhile, peppermint oil can cut down on physical pain, nausea, and tension, which in turn relaxes the mind.
Plus, the smell of both these two put together is sure to perk you up after a tough day.
5. Sandalwood, Clary Sage, and Bergamot
Clary sage is the lesser-known cousin of the popular cooking sage and has a strong woody odor that many people claim helps them calm down. But a word of warning—it is also sometimes used as an aphrodisiac.
Along with the earthiness of sandalwood and the citric scent of bergamot, you’ll end up with a compelling and fruity smell.
6. Patchouli, Cypress, and Bergamot
Patchouli might not be the most popular essential oil out there, but don’t discount it on that basis. It’s believed to help people relax and stay calm and might even help to cut down on headaches.
Equally obscure is cypress oil, but one study found that it helped reduce anxiety and stress. It’s even been linked with reducing body odor, which is always a welcome perk.
The welcome addition of bergamot adds a citrusy scent to lighten the blend and pull the oils together.
7. Marjoram, Chamomile, and Frankincense
Marjoram is another one of those more niche essential oils, as it’s typically used in cooking, and it’s, therefore, less well-studied among researchers. Marjoram is in the mint family and is lightly minty with citrus and pine tones. Many people swear by marjoram to cut down on headaches and other anxiety-related symptoms, so why not give it a go?
When combining it with the steadfast anxiety-beaters chamomile and frankincense, you can’t go wrong.
8. Cedarwood, Orange, Rosemary, and Frankincense
Cedarwood has a woody but slightly sweet scent and is used for its rich and soothing presence in essential oil blends. It is also used for its antifungal and antibacterial properties in many products.
Orange and cedarwood pair well together, and there’s some evidence that orange can help with reducing anxiety.
As for rosemary, it’s proven to reduce cortisol levels—a pretty impressive feat. Who knew that this common cooking herb had so many talents?
Throw in some frankincense for good measure and feel the weight of the world be lifted off your shoulders.
9. Grapefruit, Juniper Berry, and Rosemary
Juniper berry is a slight misnomer as the berries are actually seed cones on juniper trees, and the oil is extracted from the crushed seeds (or berries). While more unusual than some of the other essential oils, it is described as having a spicy, fresh green scent with undertones of citrus and is known for its calming impact.
The zestiness of grapefruit alongside the herbal scent of rosemary and the spiciness of juniper berry will give you an unforgettable aroma to breathe in. Enjoy!
10. Geranium, Bergamot, and Lavender
Geranium essential oil comes from the plant by the same name and has been found to reduce anxiety among pregnant women. Geranium is known for having a light floral scent and is often mixed with rose in perfumes.
When added with bergamot and lavender, you’ll be met with a deeply calming floral aroma when the geranium and lavender meet, with a background of citrus from the bergamot.
How to Use Essential Oil Blends
Once you have your essential oils ready and have picked your blend, how can you go about actually using them? While some people like to drink the diluted oils or add them to food, ingesting them internally isn’t recommended. Here are our recommendations for topical and aromatic use of your blends:
Diffusers
Essential oil diffusers disperse oil into the particles in the air for aromatherapy. There are many different types, and they have really increased in popularity over the last few years.
Diffusing is almost certainly the easiest way to harness the benefits of essential oils—all you need to do is place a few drops in your diffuser alongside water and let the machine work its magic. Plus, they’re pretty affordable!
Topical Application
Some people prefer to opt for topical application of essential oils (meaning applied to the skin) in lotions, creams, or bath products so that they can harness all of the oil’s goodness as quickly and directly as possible.
However, topical application is the most likely method to cause an allergic reaction or irritation, so proceed with caution. If you’re using an essential oil topically for the first time, test it out on your wrist or elbow—if you’ve not experienced an adverse reaction within 24 hours, you’re good to go.
Nip That Stress in the Bud
With so many different essential oils out there and even a few different options for how you’ll harness their benefits, it’s easy to get overwhelmed by the sheer amount of choice. But it’s best not to overthink things—pick something the sounds the best, give it a go, and see how things turn out for you.
In the meantime, pour yourself a nice relaxing bath and brew some tea while you mull things over. Along with these essential oil blends, you’ll have that stress under control before you know it.