6 Best Scents Backed By Science to Help You Relax and Unwind

Stress and anxiety are experiences many of us face in today’s world. For some of us, just watching the news for 5 minutes can make you feel sad, depressed and exhausted. Add the chaos of daily life on top and it’s no wonder poor mental health is one of the biggest issues facing us today.

With that being said, taking care of ourselves is more important than ever and thankfully the wellness industry has exploded over the past few years, with it now estimated to be worth a massive $7trillion by 2025.

With that comes a huge amount of products, services and therapies that claim to help us feel better with aromatherapy being a big part of that.

However aromatherapy is not the new kid on the block, in fact the use of aromatic botanicals dates back thousands of years with the Chinese and Egyptians among the first cultures to use them for improving wellbeing.

Over time, studies have been conducted to research the effectiveness of these essential oils on our physical and mental health. So whether you’re looking to unwind before bed or decrease the symptoms of anxiety, there is an aroma out there for all of us.

So without further ado, here are some of the best for helping you to relax and unwind:

Ylang-Ylang

The ylang ylang flower is a yellow star shape found on the Cananga tree in countries such as the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, and parts of Australia. The smell has previously been found to “significantly increase calmness” by researchers, as well as slow reaction times, helping people to relax with ease.

Lavender

Lavender has made its name as one of the most popular scents to use when wanting to relax and chill out, and for a good reason to. The scent has been found to have a calming effect on the nervous system, as well as it being thought to reduce stress and anxiety.

Rose

A study conducted by researchers on 18 to 49-year-old women who were said to suffer with depression found that inhaling rose odour before bed showed signs of improved sleep quality and mood.

Lemongrass

The lemongrass essential oil comes from the lemongrass plant which can be found in tropical countries across the world. Results from a study which explored the effects of lemongrass on anxiety found the aroma produced a reduction in anxiety and tension immediately after inhalation.

Bergamot

Due to its high content of limonene, which is also found in lavender, bergamot is said to have shown “promising results” when it comes to reducing anxiety, stress, depression, blood pressure and heart rate. Bergamot oil is extracted from the rinds of the citrus fruit that is grown on bergamot orange trees.

Jasmine

There is evidence to suggest that inhaling jasmine aroma can reduce symptoms of depression compared to a placebo. This can be experienced by putting drops of the oil in a diffuser, by adding them to a bowl of hot water or by mixing it with a carrier oil.

With so many dealing with the effects of stress and anxiety, adding aromatherapy into your everyday routine can be a great way to find a moment of calm in amongst chaos.

If you have found these scents have made you feel calm or you have a go-to scent that calms you, I’d love to know in the comments below!