We all have days that seem to get away from us. Whether we are trying to figure out how to handle stress at work or running scattered errands, stress and worry can take away from our well-being. With that being said, finding a solution that works best to mitigate your feelings of stress or anxiety is important. 

Wondering what the best essential oils for stress and anxiety are? We offer five essential oil blends that help combat worry and stress: Anxiety Ease, Be Still, Stress Relief, Tranquility and Worry Less. 

To understand the difference between these synergy blends, we’ll go over some of the powerhouse essential oils that make each one unique. 

1. Anxiety Ease

Anxiety Ease has a slightly floral and sweet aroma with notes of citrus. Its uplifting, cheerful aroma will help you regain those moments of clarity and confidence when you feel your cortisol levels spike. It contains three essential oil of Lemongrass, Ylang Ylang and Sweet Orange.

Several of our blends contain sweet, floral Ylang Ylang, but Anxiety Ease is the only one that contains Lemongrass oil. This addition makes it a perfectly balanced blend which helps when you’re trying to figure out how to ease anxiety. Diffusing helps you remain focused on the task at hand. 

Next, we’ll take a closer look at these two oils.

Lemongrass

Lemongrass' sweet, earthy aroma is frequently found in muscle salves to help soothe muscular tension. Did you know that this same aroma can reduce mental chaos and improve focus?

In 2015, researchers studied Lemongrass’ calming effect, measuring how aromatherapy influenced test subjects’ stress levels and the time it took them to complete a task. People who inhaled Lemongrass reported less nervousness than those in the control group. What’s more, they completed the task at a faster pace.

This means a synergy blend containing Lemongrass can be an excellent ally when you need to take a deep breath, let go of nerves and continue completing your daily tasks.

Ylang Ylang

Gorgeously floral Ylang Ylang is a frequent addition to high-end perfumes and skincare products. It’s known for properties that nourish the senses and the skin. In addition to these vaunted effects, Ylang Ylang can also help to improve your mood.

One 2006 study demonstrated that Ylang Ylang essential oil actually lowered test subjects’ blood pressure when applied to their skin. The researchers concluded that this makes the oil a promising therapeutic for people experiencing stress and associated sadness.

Another study from 2008 showed that Ylang Ylang had a significant calming effect for people asked to complete a timed task.

Sweet Ylang Ylang is an addition to many of our blends thanks to these calming properties. In Anxiety Ease, energizing Lemongrass and Sweet Orange balance its slightly sleepy effect so that you can stay alert and stress-free.

2. Be Still

Be Still is musky, woody and grounding, with a hint of sweetness. If earthy aromas help you to regain balance, Be Still has a fitting aroma for you. It includes:

• Frankincense

• Patchouli

• Ylang Ylang

• Cistus

• West Indian Sandalwood

• Hawaiian Sandalwood

• Rose

• Osmanthus

Confident Sandalwood and uplifting Rose are two of the components that make this blend unique. Allow the chaos to subside and let stillness smooth away rough edges with Be Still.

Sandalwood

Sweet, woody Sandalwood is used in Ayurvedic medicine for its cooling properties, which are thought to help:

• Reduce inflammation

• Hasten wound healing

• Improve uneven skin tone

• Overcome disruptive thoughts

That’s right—the same qualities that can soothe physical upset may make it a mental balm, too.

In 2017, researchers studied the effects of aromatherapy on women undergoing breast biopsy. They found that women who received aromatherapy with Sandalwood and Lavender essential oil had a statistically significant reduction in stress.

Rose

Rose essential oil is one of the most gorgeous aromas in nature. Cultures throughout the world value Rose for its many benefits and increasing scientific evidence allows us to put “stress relief” under the aroma’s potential effects. 

Rose aromatherapy was found to reduce pre-labor stress in women during their first pregnancies.

Take advantage of these two sweet, pure essential oils in Be Still. 

3. Stress Relief

Stress Relief is a balanced blend that has a strong citrus aroma with notes of musk. It includes:

• Sweet Orange

• Bergamot

• Patchouli

• Grapefruit

• Ylang Ylang

This has been a favorite blend of our community since Edens Garden’s inception and it’s no wonder why. Stress Relief is a bottle of “you can do this.”

Powered by essential oils derived from citrus fruits including Bergamot, it is incredibly revitalizing. 

Citrus Oils

Grapefruit, Sweet Orange and Bergamot oil are all bright, zesty and rich in antioxidants that make them:

• Anti-inflammatory

• Cleansing agents

• Uplifting

4. Tranquility 

Tranquility has a powdery, soft, subtly sweet and floral aroma thanks to:

• Lavender

• Cedarwood

• Ylang Ylang

• Sweet Marjoram

• Chamomile

• Vetiver

• Sandalwood

• Vanilla CO2

Many have remarked that Tranquility’s aroma is serene and peaceful with a lulling-quality to it, thanks in large part to soothing Lavender and Chamomile essential oil. 

Tranquility is one of our essential oil combinations that can help replenish and restore as you wind down for the day and prepare for restful sleep.

Lavender

We’ve already noted that Sandalwood and Lavender essential oil can combine to produce a statistically significant effect on stress in some situations.

Lavender oil is also one of the most popular essential oils and for good reasons. This deeply soothing herb is known to help you:

• Manage everyday nerves

• Get better, more restful sleep

• Feel better overall

Chamomile

If you’ve ever had a cup of Sleepy Time tea, you know that Chamomile is a classic sleep aid. But there’s more than folklore behind Chamomile. Chamomile supplements are in clinical trials for their efficacy in treating stress and many studies show Chamomile essential oil can also help soothe nerves.

Since Lavender and Chamomile oil are commonly used to support healthy sleep, Tranquility can be the perfect essential oil blend to reach for on sleepless nights. Alternately, make it a part of your nighttime routine to experience enhanced effects over time.

5. Worry Less

Worry Less has a complex, multi-faceted, yet simple aroma, favorited by many. It is earthy, soothing and floral with a restorative quality. Worry Less contains the following essential oils:

• Vetiver

• Lavender

• Ylang Ylang

• Frankincense

• Clary Sage

• Sweet Marjoram

• Cistus

• Spearmint

Here, you’ll notice several of the oils we’ve already discussed, as well as several herbs from the  Lamiaceae family: spearmint, clary sage and sweet marjoram. Plants in the family are great aids for headaches and migraines, so perhaps it’s no surprise that they can help relieve stress, too.

Spearmint

Fresh, minty Spearmint essential oil can help cool you down when hectic thoughts arise. 

While spearmint and other plants rich in menthol have been used to aid stress and sleep in cultures across the globe, scientists are just beginning to understand the specific mechanisms that enable this effect. 

Preliminary studies show the way that menthol interacts with receptors for GABA–a neurotransmitter that affects emotional regulation. This interaction may be at the root of Spearmint’s mood-boosting effects.

Thanks to Spearmint and its other constituents, Worry Less can help you find peace and balance.

How To Use Essential Oils For Stress

If you’re hoping to experience a little less worry in your life, any of the five discussed will do the trick, depending on your aroma preference. 

The properties in each blend work with the body to help you relax and recharge so you can have a self care day. They are formulated to help keep your mind from racing, your emotions from firing out of control and to restore balance to your life. 

Stress Relief  and Worry Less  are great everyday, anytime blends. Consider using them:

• In a pure essential oil diffuser first thing in the morning to set the right tone for the day. Just remember to follow the manufacturer’s instructions.

• In a jewelry diffuser for all-day support.

Tranquility is perfect for your bedtime routine. In addition to diffusing it at night, you can add this potent essential oil to massage oil or skincare products. Lavender, Chamomile and Ylang Ylang oil all have numerous skin benefits. If you use Tranquility topically, just be sure to dilute it with your carrier oil of choice. (Need a hint? Check out our guide on carrier oils for skin.)

Anxiety Ease and  Be Still help you tackle worry in the heat of the moment. If you find yourself spinning through negative thoughts, try gently inhaling either of these blends by adding a few drops to one of our Pocket Inhalers.  

Sources:

1. Costa Goes, Tiago et al. “Effect of Lemongrass Aroma on Experimental Anxiety in Humans.” The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. 21.12 (2105): 766-773. .http://doi.org/10.1089/acm.2015.0099 
2. Hongratanaworakit, T. and Buchbauer, G. “Relaxing effect of ylang ylang oil on humans after transdermal absorption.” Phytotherapy Research 20 (2006): 758-763. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/ptr.1950?casa_token=rdZufCT-NRYAAAAA:4uDa9akWbi1XRlOpKPfW7Qxi2t_8jOHGFyryvCys3XFUB0VSMgfE943ZxHG4-D0Vxz88niFnyfr9uw 
3. Moss, Mark et al. “Modulations of Cognitive Performance and Mood by Essential Oils of Peppermint and Ylang Ylang.” International Journal of Neuroscience 118 (2008): 59-77. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/00207450601042094
4. Trambert, Renee et al. “A Randomized Controlled Trial Provides Evidence to Support Aromatherapy to Minimize Anxiety in Women Undergoing Breast Biopsy.” World Views Based on Evidence in Nursing 14.5 (2017): 394-402. https://sigmapubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/wvn.12229?casa_token=R9hHnvRFbJ8AAAAA%3AAEbfJ8lJkLXzoUVan6wTUPxEFvNlsqGnQa1ReiEOFWRKsXENUdeURCDLCSgE9-MPjTLSOY4LrnsoIA 
5. Kheirkhah, Massomeh et al. “Comparing the effects of aromatherapy with rose oils and warm foot bath on anxiety in the first stage of labor in nulliparous women.” Iranian Red Crescent medical journal 16.9 (2014). https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4270653/ 
6. Mao, Jun J et al. “Long-Term Chamomile Therapy of Generalized Anxiety Disorder: A Study Protocol for a Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo- Controlled Trial.” Journal of clinical trials 4.5 (2014): 188. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5650245/ 
7. Lau, Benjamin K et al. “Menthol enhances phasic and tonic GABAA receptor-mediated currents in midbrain periaqueductal grey neurons.” British journal of pharmacology 171.11 (2014): 2803-13. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4243856/