Our Guide To The Most Calming Essential Oils

LET US INTRODUCE YOU TO THE MOST CALMING ESSENTIAL OILS

Many people decide to try incorporating essential oils into their lifestyle as an alternative to conventional or synthetic options for common afflictions like stress or mild sleep concerns such as difficulty falling or staying asleep. Essential oils are simple and effective for many people because they provide numerous benefits like increased feelings of peacefulness and calmness, and they support both the body and the mind in becoming relaxed and at ease.

Because there are so many different brands and types of essential oils on the market, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed or confused when trying to choose oils and blends to support your wellness goals. No matter how you’re intending to use your essential oils, there are some tried and tested recommendations we have prior to use:

• Always dilute your essential oils in a carrier oil prior to direct application to your skin. At Saje we pre-dilute many of our products with carrier oils like jojoba and grapeseed oil, making them safe for contact with your skin
• When purchasing 100% pure single note essential oils, ensure their quality by looking for the Latin name of the product to be clearly printed on the bottle. For example, a bottle of Lavender may include Lavandula angustifolia to indicate its origin, which is a common practice in aromatherapy
• Be mindful to store essential oils away from direct sunlight, heat sources and air exposure, as this begins to weaken their structure and their efficacy

With so many essential oils available to you today, we’ve written this article to share our top recommendations for essential oils to bring peace and calm into your day (and night!)

CALMING ESSENTIAL OILS TO HELP YOU DE-STRESS

One of most common ailments that affects us all at different times in our lives is stress. Stress can be caused by so many things from our lifestyle choices (staying up late and getting an insufficient amount of sleep, poor nutritional choices, lack of movement, etc.) to our workplaces (unresolved conflicts, excessive time spent in front of screens etc.) and everything in between.

Just because stress is common, it doesn’t mean it should be normalized. Over time, unattended stress begins to affect all areas of our life, including our relationships with others and with ourselves. It’s important to make good choices to ensure stress is being managed and well-being is being prioritized.

When stress strikes, here are a few of our go-to products:

Stress Release roll-on: this is a grounding blend of oils to ease stress, promote a sense of well-being and help orient the body towards homeostasis. We’ve formulated comforting lavender, cheerful orange and stress-busting roman chamomile in a simple to use roll-on that can be applied to the forehead, neck and shoulders any time you need a release.

Stress Release diffuser blend: the same calming, uplifting and balancing formula has been blended for use in an ultrasonic diffuser to help freshen the air while providing stress relief aromatically. We like to add 10-15 drops to our diffuser, close our eyes for a moment and take a series of deep breaths to feel grounded and restored.

CALMING ESSENTIAL OILS TO HELP YOU UNWIND

When we think of what it means to unwind, we think of slowing down our racing thoughts and busy mind, intentionally taking deep breaths and consciously connecting to our inner self for guidance in terms of what will best serve us in the moment.

A lot of times, people feel pent up frustration, simmering agitation or general unrest when they’ve been under stress, in conflict, or have been unable to connect with friends and loved ones for stability and balance. Creating an intentional experience for both our physical and mental bodies to unwind can help us to feel harmony and peace we need to be at our best.

When the need to unwind presents itself, we reach for:

Unwind Mist: a couple spritzes of this calming spray can help to reset your day. Floral lavender helps bring calm and balance to the senses, citrusy bergamot supports a still mind and spicy cinnamon provides a touch of warmth that feels comforting. With your eyes and mouth closed, mist the entire face and body as needed to feel grounded.

Deep Breath diffuser blend: inspired by a fragrant steam room at the spa, this is a blend of herbal and fresh eucalyptus to create a soothing aromatic experience, uplifting and stimulating peppermint that acts as a natural refresher and bright, cheerful lemon to encourage a sunny disposition. Add 10-15 drops to your favorite diffuser and get ready to feel an improved sense of well-being.

CALMING ESSENTIAL OILS AS PART OF YOUR BEDTIME ROUTINE

One of the areas that almost all of us could improve in to support our overall health and well-being is sleep. Sleep is responsible for setting us up for optimal functioning in so many areas of our lives including our energy levels, digestive function and the ways in which we are able to manage stress. In short, good quality sleep is imperative to our health.

It’s been said that creating a nighttime routine you adhere to consistently is one of the best ways to establish a healthy sleep cycle, by encouraging both your body and mind to move into a state of rest and recuperation that helps support a good day, tomorrow.

When a good night’s rest is what you seek, reach for these:

Sleep Well roll-on: our community’s favorite product to help you drift off and get the rest you need; this is a powerfully and deeply grounding blend of oils that help support a quiet mind and a rested body. Valerian root is an herb that’s prized for its ability to induce rest, chamomile helps to reduce restlessness and neroli works wonders on calming the mind. We suggest rolling along the wrists, throat, temples and other pulse points before bed each night as part of your wind down ritual.

Sleep Well body butter: soothe the body and mind with replenishing moisture that comes from this rich, buttery blend of shea, mango and coconut butters, blended to encourage a sense of well-being from the calming, balancing essential oils of orange, vetiver, marjoram and jasmine. Apply at bedtime as desired to hydrate the skin and encourage rest. Our favorite tip? Apply after a warm bath or shower while skin is still damp to help it retain moisture.

CALMING SINGLE NOTE ESSENTIAL OILS

Though we’ve primarily focused on essential oil blends to this point, we would be remiss not to share our top picks for single note essential oils that support peace and calm. Single notes refer to one singular type of plant, flower or citrus fruit that’s been distilled for its oil, such as peppermint, geranium or grapefruit.

These are oils that we offer as 100% pure, meaning we recommend you use them optimally in one of two ways:

• Add a few drops to a diffuser or to an existing diffuser blend
• Blend with a carrier oil like jojoba or coconut oil prior to application, or try adding 1-2 drops to a body lotion or body butter of your choice

If you’re interested in exploring calming single note essential oils, we suggest starting here:

Lavender: this well-known essential oil is loved for the way it helps the body and mind to feel relaxed and at ease. A gentle, floral and herbal note, lavender is commonly used in anti-stress preparations to support a sense of calmness and relief from a busy mind. Try adding 1-3 drops to a tissue and inhaling deeply throughout the day as needed.

Cedarwood: rich, sweet and woodsy, this essential oil helps promote relaxation, grounds the emotions and helps support feeling balanced. Using cedarwood in a massage oil blend can help relax and harmonize the body and mind; try adding a few drops to a carrier like jojoba or to your favorite massage oil for a soothing aromatic treat.

LIFESTYLE TIPS FOR INTRODUCING CALMING ESSENTIAL OILS INTO YOUR ROUTINE

While there are many different essential oils that could be considered calming, it’s important to note that scent is personal and that each of us experience aromas differently. For example, even though a note like peppermint is typically considered to be uplifting, some people have the experience of peppermint helping them to feel relaxed. However you most enjoy your essential oils is the right way to use them! Here are a few tips on how to add calming essential oils to your daily routine:

1. Make it a habit. Try creating consistency in your routine, like turning on your diffuser at the same time each day. This might be at the end of your work day or in the hour before you plan to climb into bed, setting the tone for rest.
2. Don’t knock it until you try it. Sometimes, the best way for us to experience a new-to-us essential oil is to get up close and personal with it. Many times, the smell of a product in the bottle isn’t exactly how it will smell when diffused in the air or when used in a body care product. You’ll never know how much you might enjoy a certain scent until you try it!
3. Go with your gut. Other people’s recommendations and suggestions are great, but only you know what truly makes your body and mind feel peace and calm. Even if your preferred scents aren’t those typically considered relaxing, select products that feel right for you.

— Dalai Lama