23 Essential Oils for Anxiety & Relaxation

In today’s high-stress world, people are constantly searching for ways to naturally ease anxiety and relax their minds. It turns out, there are many essential oils for anxiety and relaxation that can help.

In a 2008 study out of Korea, for instance, 58 hospice patients were given hand massages once a day for one week with an essential oil blend in 1.5 percent dilution with sweet almond oil. The essential oil blend consisted of bergamot, frankincense and lavender oils in equal ratios.

All patients who received the aromatherapy hand massage reported less pain and depression, and researchers concluded that aromatherapy massage with this essential oil blend was more effective for pain and depression management than massage alone. 

Unsurprisingly, those three oils are among the best essential oils for anxiety and relaxation, along with many others.

1. Lavender

Considered the most common essential oil, lavender oil has a calming, relaxing effect. It’s considered a nervous system restorative and helps with inner peace, sleep, restlessness, irritability, panic attacks, nervous tension and nervous stomach.

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It’s also considered one of the best essential oils for anxiety and relaxation. 

“The Handbook of Essential Oils: Science, Technology, and Applications, Second Edition” stated that there have been a number of clinical trials involving the inhalation of lavender essential oil that indicated a reduction in stress and anxiety.

One study using oral lavender essential oil via capsules found that heart rate variation significantly improved compared to the placebo while watching an anxiety-provoking film. This suggested that lavender had anxiolytic effects and decreased anxiety.

Further research has demonstrated lavender’s ability to lower anxiety in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery and in people visiting the dentist.

To promote relaxation, you can simply add lavender oil to a diffuser, bath water or a spray bottle filled with water. It pairs well with many essential oils, including geranium oil, ylang ylang oil and chamomile oil.

You can also use lavender topically on your wrists, temples and back of neck.

2. Rose

Rose essential oil is very settling to the emotional heart and perhaps the second most popular after lavender as far as essential oils for anxiety and depression go. It’s believed to help with panic attacks, grieving and shock.

In study of women who were pregnant for the first time published in the Iranian Red Crescent Medical Journal, one group of women received a 10-minute inhalation and foot bath with rose oil, while another group received a 10-minute warm-water foot bath, and they were compared to a control group.

The findings showed that the aromatherapy and foot bath reduced anxiety in the women.

3. Vetiver

Vetiver oil has a tranquil, grounding and reassuring energy, often used in trauma to help with self-awareness, calmness and stabilization. A nervous system tonic, it may help decrease jitteriness and hypersensitivity and is also useful in panic attacks and shock.

4. Ylang ylang

This popular essential oil can help treat anxiety and depression due to its calming and uplifting effects. Ylang ylang helps encourage cheerfulness, courage and optimism and soothes fearfulness.

It may calm heart agitation and nervous palpitations and is a moderately strong sedative, which can help with insomnia.

A 2006 study conducted by Geochang Provincial College in Korea found that using ylang ylang oil, along with bergamot and lavender oils, once a day for four weeks reduced psychological stress responses and cortisol levels, as well as the blood pressure of clients with essential hypertension.

Be careful when using ylang ylang, as it can be sensitizing or irritating to the skin.

Start by diffusing it in your home. It blends well with jasmine oil and lavender oil.

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5. Bergamot

Bergamot is commonly found in Earl Grey tea and has a distinctive floral taste and aroma. Bergamot oil is calming and often used to help treat depression.

It can also help with insomnia, induce relaxation and reduce agitation.

Bergamot is generally safe, but it is photosensitizing, meaning it can increase the risk of sunburn and rash. It is best to avoid use within 12 hours of sun exposure.

6. Chamomile

A peaceful, calming scent, chamomile benefits inner harmony and decreases irritability, overthinking, anxiety and worry.

An explorative study conducted at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine on the antidepressant activity in chamomile found that this essential oil may provide clinically meaningful antidepressant activity that occurs in addition to its previously observed anxiolytic activity.

Further research published by the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health suggested that chamomile has been shown to reduce anxiety symptoms.

Chamomile oil is generally safe, except for a some small risk of allergy, especially with anyone who has an allergy to ragweed.

7. Frankincense

Frankincense is great for treating depression and anxiety because it provides a calming and tranquil energy as well as spiritual grounding. In aromatherapy, it helps deepen meditation and quiet the mind, which can relieve issues like chronic stress.

Mixed with bergamot and lavender oils in a 1:1 ratio in an aroma hand massage, frankincense was found to have a positive effect on pain and depression in hospice patients with terminal cancer in a Keimyung University study in Korea mentioned above.

8. Clary sage

Clary sage has long been celebrated for its calming properties, particularly when it comes to alleviating stress and promoting relaxation.

Research has suggested that clary sage essential oil may help reduce cortisol levels, the hormone associated with stress, and enhance mood.

Inhaling clary sage can provide mild sedative effects, aiding in anxiety relief and helping individuals achieve a more restful state of mind.

9. Lemon

Lemon oil is another uplifting choice when it comes to essential oils for anxiety and relaxation. Its fresh, invigorating scent has been shown to decrease anxiety symptoms and alleviate feelings of stress.

Studies have indicated that lemon oil can stimulate dopamine and serotonin production, which play key roles in enhancing mood.

For those feeling overwhelmed, diffusing lemon oil or using it as a massage oil with a carrier oil can be both refreshing and soothing.

10. Neroli

Neroli, a floral oil extracted from the blossoms of the bitter orange tree, has potent stress-relieving effects. It’s especially known for calming the nervous system and reducing symptoms of depression and anxiety.

Clinical studies have highlighted neroli’s effectiveness in reducing blood pressure and alleviating stress.

This make it an excellent oil to diffuse at the end of a long day or apply to pulse points when feelings of anxiety arise.

11. Jasmine

Jasmine essential oil has antidepressant properties that make it effective for those experiencing anxiety, especially when combined with its energizing effects.

Research has shown that jasmine’s aroma can help increase alertness while reducing feelings of anxiety, promoting a balanced sense of well-being.

Diffusing jasmine oil or applying it diluted to the wrists can enhance self-confidence and mood.

12. Marjoram

Marjoram is often overlooked when it comes to essential oils for anxiety and relaxation, but it has significant benefits for anxiety relief.

Known for its ability to calm the nervous system and ease both physical and emotional tension, marjoram essential oil is particularly effective for those experiencing stress-related headaches.

This oil, when used in a diffuser or massage, can ease muscle tension and create a sense of calm and relaxation.

13. Cedarwood

Cedarwood essential oil, with its earthy and grounding aroma, has been shown to have sedative effects that promote a feeling of stability and relaxation. Its calming effect on the nervous system can support deeper relaxation and relieve anxiety, especially when used in the evening.

Cedarwood is often diffused at bedtime to help with sleep, as it encourages the body to relax and prepare for rest.

14. Basil

Basil essential oil is believed to relieve mental fatigue and support a sense of clarity, which is helpful for anxiety related to overthinking or worry.

Studies have suggested that holy basil oil can improve focus and mental clarity, allowing individuals to better manage their stress levels. This oil can be particularly effective when diffused in workspaces or during moments of concentration.

15. Geranium

Geranium oil, known for its pleasant floral scent, has been shown to have mood-stabilizing effects that reduce symptoms of stress and anxiety.

Inhaling geranium oil can help balance hormones and reduce cortisol levels, helping those experiencing fluctuating emotions find relief.

Studies have demonstrated geranium’s effectiveness in reducing feelings of tension, making it beneficial for a calming bath or room diffuser.

16. Grapefruit

Grapefruit essential oil, with its bright and refreshing scent, can uplift mood and reduce mental fatigue.

Research has supported grapefruit oil’s ability to ease symptoms of mild anxiety, increase positivity and boost energy.

When diffused or inhaled, grapefruit’s citrusy scent can create a more optimistic, balanced state of mind.

17. Lime

Lime oil, known for its invigorating properties, can help boost energy, improve mental clarity and enhance mood.

Lime essential oil has been shown in studies to reduce stress and anxiety symptoms and enhance focus, making it a great choice for promoting mental alertness in a relaxing way.

18. Sandalwood

Sandalwood has calming and sedative effects that make it highly effective for reducing anxiety. Researchers have indicated that sandalwood can slow down the nervous system, promoting a sense of peace and enhancing mental clarity.

Sandalwood essential oil is commonly used in meditation practices and is effective when diffused to create a serene atmosphere or when diluted and applied to pulse points.

19. Sweet orange

Sweet orange oil, with its cheerful scent, can help alleviate mild anxiety and create a positive atmosphere.

Research has shown that inhaling sweet orange oil can reduce symptoms of anxiety and improve mood by triggering relaxation responses in the brain.

This oil is especially effective when diffused or directly inhaled during moments of stress.

20. Valerian

Valerian is a grounding oil that is well-known for its ability to calm the mind and promote relaxation. Studies have confirmed valerian oil’s effectiveness in inducing sleep and reducing symptoms of anxiety.

It’s ideal for bedtime use to help ease into restful sleep, either through diffusion or by applying diluted oil to the feet or wrists.

21. Jatamansi

Jatamansi, also called spikenard, has a long history in traditional medicine for its ability to soothe the nervous system and reduce stress.

Researchers have highlighted jatamansi’s sedative properties, which make it effective for relieving anxiety and promoting restful sleep.

Applying it to pulse points or diffusing it in a calming environment can create a deeply relaxed state, which is why it’s one of the top essential oils for anxiety and relaxation.

22. Patchouli

Patchouli essential oil, with its earthy and musky aroma, is valued for its grounding effects, which help reduce symptoms of stress and anxiety.

Studies have revealed that patchouli has anti-inflammatory and calming effects, making it beneficial for creating a serene, peaceful environment when used in a diffuser or applied diluted to pulse points.

23. Lemon balm

Lemon balm (or Melissa) essential oil is renowned for its relaxing effects. It has been shown in research to reduce symptoms of anxiety and promote mental clarity.

Lemon balm oil can be applied diluted to the chest or neck to create a sense of calm, or it can be diffused in the air for a mild sedative effect that’s beneficial in high-stress moments.

How to use

Essential oils can be used in three different ways: aromatherapy, ingestion or topically.

1. Aromatherapy

Aromatherapy for anxiety is very popular because our sense of smell triggers powerful emotional responses.

We process so much information through our sense of smell — in particular, in an area of the brain adjacent to the limbic region, as discussed in “Freedom from Anxiety: A Holistic Approach to Emotional Well-Being” by Marcey Shapiro and Barbara Vivino.

This is the area of emotional processing and memory recall.

When the scent of an essential oil is inhaled, molecules enter the nasal cavities and stimulate a firing of mental response in the limbic system of the brain. These stimulants regulate stress or calming responses, such as heart rate, breathing patterns, production of hormones and blood pressure.

Aromatherapy can be obtained by using it in a bath, as direct inhalations, hot water vapor, vaporizer or humidifier, fan, vent, perfume, cologne, or — one of my favorites — through aromatherapy diffusers.

2. Oral application

Many essential oils can be ingested by the mouth. However, it is critical to make sure that the oils you use are safe and pure.

Many oils on the market may be diluted or blended with synthetics that are unsafe for ingesting. The Food and Drug Administration has approved some essential oils generically for internal use and given them the generally recognized as safe (GRAS) designation for human consumption. 

Reports show that the most effective way to consume them is to add a drop of oil in a glass of water or in a teaspoon with honey. You can simply add a drop or two underneath the tongue.

This is beneficial because the blood capillaries are so close to the surface of the tissue under the tongue, allowing them to pass more quickly into the bloodstream and travel to the different areas of the body where they’re needed.

Other oral application options include capsules, adding a drop or two to your favorite beverage, making a tea, and cooking.

3. Topical application

Many prefer topical uses of essential oils. Topical application is a process of placing an essential oil on the skin, hair, mouth, teeth, nails or mucous membranes of the body.

When the oils touch the skin, they penetrate rapidly.

Since they are so potent, it is important to dilute and blend with a carrier oil, such as sweet almond, jojoba, olive, avocado or coconut oil. You can apply the blend directly to an affected area, on the bottoms of the feet, rims of the ears, using compresses, in baths or through massage.

Precautions

Never ingest any essential oils or apply undiluted to the skin without proper training or medical supervision. It is critical to understand how best to use them.

Always consult a specialist and test the area, proceeding with caution as they may react differently to different individuals, especially children and pregnant women.

Frequently asked questions

Where should you apply essential oils for anxiety?

Essential oils can be applied to several areas of the body to help with anxiety. Common spots include:

• Temples: Gently massaging essential oils for anxiety on the temples can promote relaxation and ease tension headaches.
• Wrists: Applying oils to the wrists allows you to inhale the aroma throughout the day, which may help reduce stress.
• Back of the neck: This area can be effective for relaxing tight muscles and calming the mind.
• Behind the ears: Since this area has thin skin, essential oils for anxiety applied here can quickly absorb and work to alleviate stress.
• Chest or abdomen: Some people apply essential oils to the chest or abdomen for a calming effect that helps reduce overall stress levels.

Be sure to dilute essential oils for anxiety and relaxation in a carrier oil (such as coconut or almond oil) to avoid skin irritation, especially on sensitive areas.

What essential oil is best for anxiety?

Some of the best essential oils for anxiety include:

• Lavender: One of the most researched oils for anxiety, lavender has been shown to promote calm and reduce anxiety levels.
• Chamomile: Often used for relaxation and sleep, chamomile can also help reduce anxiety.
• Bergamot: Known for its mood-lifting effects, bergamot is a popular choice for reducing stress and promoting relaxation.
• Ylang ylang: This essential oil has sedative properties that may help calm the nervous system.
• Frankincense: Sometimes used in meditation, frankincense can help reduce anxiety by promoting a sense of grounding.
• Rose: Studies suggest rose oil can help reduce anxiety and create a calming effect.

Do essential oils work for anxiety?

Yes, essential oils can work for anxiety, though their effectiveness may vary among individuals. Aromatherapy, the practice of using essential oils for therapeutic purposes, has been shown in some studies to help reduce anxiety by influencing the limbic system, the part of the brain that controls emotions.

Oils like lavender and bergamot have demonstrated anxiety-reducing effects in clinical studies, especially when used in massage or inhaled aromatherapy.

However, more research is needed for conclusive evidence, and essential oils are typically considered complementary rather than primary treatments for anxiety.

Do doctors recommend the use of essential oils for anxiety?

Some doctors, especially those with an integrative or holistic approach, may recommend essential oils as a complementary tool for managing anxiety. However, traditional healthcare providers might be cautious, as essential oils lack FDA approval for treating anxiety and should not replace medical treatment.

Physicians may advise combining essential oils with other treatments, such as therapy or medication, rather than using them as a standalone option.

What are the side effects of using essential oils?

Essential oils are generally safe when used correctly, but they can cause side effects, including:

• Skin irritation or allergic reactions: Undiluted essential oils can cause redness, itching or rash, especially in people with sensitive skin.
• Photosensitivity: Certain oils, like citrus oils, can make the skin more sensitive to sunlight, leading to sunburn.
• Respiratory issues: Inhaling essential oils can trigger asthma or allergies in sensitive individuals.
• Headaches or dizziness: Strong scents may lead to headaches or dizziness in some people, especially if inhaled in large amounts.
• Hormonal effects: Some oils, such as tea tree and lavender, may have hormonal effects when used in excess, especially in children.

To avoid side effects, always dilute essential oils, use them in moderation and patch-test if you’re trying a new oil for the first time.

Final thoughts

• To reduce anxiety and promote relaxation, using calming essential oils is easy and all-natural.
• Some of the most best essential oils for anxiety include lavender, chamomile, ylang ylang, bergamot and frankincense.
• These essential oils for anxiety and relaxation can be used aromatically to create a peaceful, relaxing environment. Essential oils for anxiety can also be used topically to relieve stress by placing a few drops on your wrists and temples.