7 Essential Oils for Emotional Wellness
Several years ago, I set out to better understand the healing properties of essential oils. My journey wasn’t just about exploring their benefits—I was also deeply concerned about using them safely. This led me to become a Certified Aromatherapist through the Aromahead Institute, which I highly recommend if you’re seeking a first-class essential oil education. With over 25 years of experience in aromatherapy, Aromahead offers exceptional programs, including a free class on blending essential oils. This introductory course covers the basics of working with essential oils and, most importantly, how to safely incorporate them into your daily life.
Today, I use essential oils in a variety of ways, from creating skincare products for myself (and my sisters) to diffusing them at home. Upon request, I also craft custom blends for friends and family to address specific needs like improving sleep, calming anxiety, alleviating headaches, and even clearing negative energy.
Essential oils are especially helpful for emotional balance and serve as invaluable tools when navigating emotional challenges. Whether grounding, uplifting, soothing, or clearing the mind, essential oils have become staples in my emotional first-aid kit. Here are seven of my favorite essential oils and the reasons they always make the cut:
1. Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia)
If I could only choose one essential oil, it would be lavender (thankfully, I don’t have to!) It’s one of the few oils I use “neat” (without dilution), though even then, I limit it to a drop on bug bites or minor burns without open wounds.
Emotional Benefits: Calming, soothing, and stress-reducing. Lavender promotes relaxation, clarity, and spiritual connection, making it ideal for easing an overactive mind and enhancing intuition. It also has analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties, helping with anxiety, restlessness, and insomnia.
2. Geranium (Pelargonium graveolens var roseum)
Geranium has been a favorite for years, with its herbal, rosy, and lemony aroma. It’s also a key ingredient in my signature Rose Remedy Facial Oil.
Emotional Benefits: Soothes the heart, removes stagnant energy, and clears blocked energy.
3. Frankincense (Boswellia carterii)
I can’t get enough of Frankincense! Its warm, woodsy scent is deeply grounding and perfect for meditation.
Emotional Benefits: Grounding and centering. Frankincense promotes relaxation, reduces feelings of overwhelm, and enhances meditation practices.
4. Sweet Orange (Citrus sinensis)
This is my go-to oil for everyday diffusion—it’s like a ray of sunshine in a bottle. When mixed with Frankincense, it creates my favorite blend for home.
Emotional Benefits: Mood-enhancing, energizing, and motivating. Sweet orange reduces stress and anger, while promoting joy and relaxation.
5. Peppermint (Mentha x piperita)
Though I avoid using peppermint in skincare blends due to its potency, it’s fantastic for mental clarity. I keep a small vial on my desk to sniff when I need a quick boost of energy.
Emotional Benefits: Energizing and refreshing. It enhances mental clarity, focus, creativity, and alleviates fatigue.
6. Rose Absolute (Rosa x damascena)
While it’s one of the most expensive essential oils (around $80 for 5ml), it’s an absolute must for me. A single drop captures the aroma of a full bouquet of roses.
Emotional Benefits: Comforting and uplifting. Rose oil eases grief, supports feelings of love and compassion, and fosters emotional healing.
7. Chamomile (Roman or German) (Matricaria recutita)
Chamomile has a strong scent that some find off-putting, but its benefits make it worth using in small amounts.
Emotional Benefits: Calming and nurturing. Chamomile helps with irritability, nervousness, and emotional overwhelm. I also find it to be incredibly grounding.
Tips for Using Essential Oils
Inhalation: Add a few drops to a diffuser or inhale directly from the bottle. Inhaling is one of the safest and fastest ways to experience the emotional balancing effects of essential oils.
Safety Note: I don’t ingest essential oils or use them with small children or animals. Essential oils are potent, and great care should be taken when exposing sensitive individuals to them. For example, when using a diffuser, I always ensure my cat has an escape route to leave the room if she finds the scent overwhelming.
Where to purchase: I purchase most of my oils from Aromatics International. They are family owned and I trust them to purchase from ethical growers, and each of their oils come with a GCMS Data sheet so I can see the purity testing, and where and when the oil was harvested. When you are blending for therapeutic purposes, this data matters.
These oils have been invaluable in my personal and professional life, supporting emotional balance and well-being. I’d love to hear about your favorite essential oils and how you use them in your daily life—hop over to my Instagram account share your experiences!
