One-third of Americans live with extreme stress. This is a major health concern that can negatively impact your life. That’s why it’s important to look for ways to relax from the daily grind.
One of the best methods is to make your home a relaxing oasis using calming scents.
There’s no doubt that aromatherapy can promote health and well-being, so let’s take a look at the best relaxing scents to come home to.
1. Basil
You may know and love basil as a delicious pasta topping, but did you know it’s also a great relaxing aroma?
When you inhale basil or absorb it through your skin, it can transmit messages to the area of your brain that is responsible for controlling emotions. This is known as the limbic system, and when you inhale calming scents, it can affect things like your blood pressure, heart rate, and immune function.
Basil is not only a spicy and herbal scent to enjoy, but it also offers several health benefits. It possesses anti-cancer, anti-fungal, and anti-bacterial properties.
What exactly makes basil so great? It has high linalool content, which makes it ideal for reducing anxiety and tension.
You can use basil oil in a diffuser to promote a sense of focus as you read or study or combine basil with other calming scents during an oil massage. You can also add it to your favorite dishes to combine two of the best things in life, food, and relaxation.
2. LavenderÂ
If you’ve ever smelled lavender before, you probably understand why it’s on this list. This fragrance has plenty of calming properties and can help you release tension. This is a particularly great scent for people who are having a hard time falling asleep.
Use lavender after a stressful day of work or to completely relax before putting on your favorite movie.
Lavender has traditionally been used for its therapeutic and curative properties, not only limited to relaxation. You can use it to treat insect bites, burns, and spasms as well. There is even growing evidence suggesting that lavender oil may be an effective medicine in treating certain neurological disorders!
Clearly, this purple flowering herb is pretty special. Next time you’re feeling down or too wired, get your lavender essential oil out and take a whiff. Better yet, add it to an oil diffuser to fill your room with one of the best naturally calming scents.
3. Ylang Ylang
This plant may have a funny name, but you’re likely to be familiar with it already. It’s often used in candles, lotions, and perfumes. It has a sweet, heavy scent with notes of rubber and fruit.
Finding peace is crucial to living a long, healthy life. Stress can cause a variety of health problems, both mental and physical. When you find ways to alleviate that, you’re setting yourself up for success.
Ylang Ylang is found in the flowers of the Cananga tree. It’s a great option if you’re looking for a scent that is soothing and that brings you joy as well. It’s a great scent that improves your mood and energy while promoting calm.
Did you know that Ylang Ylang is also loaded with organic components that are great for your hair? You can reduce anxiety, improve your mood and protect your hair from summer heat—one plant can do all that!
The next time you have a long day at work, soak your stress away with a Ylang Ylang bath. Add the essential oil into an Epsom salt bath and let the soothing properties wash over you.
4. Peppermint
Another great option for reducing stress is peppermint. You can find it in a variety of forms, including essential oils, extracts, and capsules. It has a sharp odor, refreshing and cool.
You know the taste of peppermint from toothpaste or your favorite cookies. It’s a particular scent that can simultaneously calm you while keeping you focused.
That’s not all peppermint is good for. There was a study done with participants who were exposed to the aroma of peppermint and peppermint oil. This ended up enhancing their memory and increasing their alertness.
Peppermint is also great for people with stomach problems. It can relax the smooth muscles of your GI (gastrointestinal) tract and decrease any pain sensation you have going on.
If that wasn’t enough, peppermint oil is used in cosmetic products as well! It can help treat itchy skin and scalp conditions. Just be careful that you don’t get it near your eyes!
5. JasmineÂ
Jasmine is a popular scent that you’ll find in many perfumes and candles. It has a rich, sweet floral scent, and it’s great for quelling anxiety.
Inhaling jasmine will send messages to your body that it’s time to relax. You don’t need to limit your use of jasmine to only oils, either. You can have an actual jasmine plant in your home to help you relieve depression or tension.
Just like peppermint, jasmine is also great for helping you improve focus, and it can also balance hormones!
Next time you can’t stop tossing and turning when you try to sleep, consider filling the air with the scent of jasmine. You’ll be sleeping better than ever, all thanks to an aromatic plant.
Naturally Calming ScentsÂ
If you’re anything like the average American, you probably have a million things to juggle on a day-to-day basis. It’s not easy always being busy, and it can put a lot of mental strain on you. Instead of letting this consume you, find ways to promote relaxation in your daily routine.
One of the ways you can do this is by finding the best calming scents. This can melt away your anxiety and bring you one step closer to living a life with minimum stress.
Looking for more mindful articles like this? Be sure to check out the rest of our blog!