Six essential oils to help you stay calm and relaxed over the festive season

The festive season is a time of joy, celebration and togetherness, but it can also be a time of stress and overwhelm for many.

If you are looking for natural ways to have a more mindful, calm and relaxing festive period, exploring essential oils and aromatherapy is a good place to start.

Mindfulness is about being present in the moment without judgement. Savouring good times, letting go of the bad, and caring for yourself. Sounds a perfect way to approach the upcoming weeks.

Below are 6 essential oil for you to explore. Each one is known for its ability to boost our mood and help keep maintain calmness, reduce stress and anxiety.

Frankincense essential oil when diffused helps to enhance our mood, combat stress and anxiety. It also has mediative properties and is said to strengthen intuition and deepen spiritual connections. Amongst other beneficial compounds frankincense is rich in limonene which is effective in reducing feelings of anxiety and borneol which has soothing and sedative properties.

Orange essential oil is fruity, uplifting and has a positive influence on the mind and ability to promote a sense of calm.  The main compound found in orange essential oil is Limonene, which helps to boost the mood as well as having anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, decongestant and immune boosting benefits.

Lavender essential oil is renowned for its remarkable stress-relieving properties. Lavender oil contains compounds that interact with the limbic system of the brain, which plays a key role in emotions and stress responses. When inhaled lavender essential oil can have a calming effect on the nervous system, promoting a sense of relaxation and reducing feelings of anxiety.

Chamomile essential oil is also renowned for its calming and soothing properties, helping to alleviate stress and anxiety.  Therapeutic effects are attributed to the bioactive compound within chamomile -  Bisabolol, which has relaxing and anti-inflammatory properties.

Bergamot essential oil is rich in linalool and has a beautiful floral citrus aroma. It is widely regarded as a natural remedy for stress and anxiety. It is said to positively influence neurotransmitters, promoting a sense of calm and help stimulate the release of dopamine and serotonin.

Ylang Ylang essential oil has a floral and exotic fragrance. It is effective in addressing stress and anxiety due to its aromatic profile which is rich in compounds like linalool and benzyl acetate which act on the central nervous system to induce feelings of calm and emotional balance, as well as reduce cortisol levels and promote relaxation.

How to safely use essential oils?

Essential oils are very potent and should never be applied directly to the skin. 

If using essential oils at home the safest way to use them is to add them to a diffuser, following the instructions of the diffuser manufacturer. However, if you don’t have a diffuser handy you can add a few drops to some cotton wool balls and place on saucers or small bowls and leave strategically around the home. *Please be aware that some essential oils may stain, so don’t use your best saucers and bowls for this method just in case.

Topical application of essential oils for use in skincare, bath and body products

As essential oils are potent they should never be applied undiluted directly to the skin. If you would like to learn more about the topical benefits of using essential oils keep an eye open for our upcoming aromatherapy and product making workshops or speak to us at the natural skin therapist or in the spa about our skin, bath and body products which are all safely pre blended with pure aromatic essential oils.