10 Best Calming Essential Oils (+ 10 Relaxing Diffuser Blends)

One of the best ways to use essential oils is to help promote a calm and relaxed environment. There’s just something so tranquil about deliberately stopping what you’re doing to inhale the aroma of calming essential oils. This alone can help us pause and “reset,” but it’s good to know that several essential oils have beneficial properties to help when we need to be calm. 

While any essential oil aroma that you find pleasant has the potential to bring you comfort and help you feel at peace, a number of them have a long history of use for promoting a relaxed atmosphere. 

Jump to:

• 10 Best Calming Essential Oils
• 1. Lavender
• 2. Vetiver
• 3. Patchouli
• 4. Bergamot & Mandarin
• 5. Clary Sage
• 6. Rose
• 7. Jasmine
• 8. Frankincense
• 9. Ylang Ylang
• 10. Orange

10 Best Calming Essential Oils

Essential oils can certainly be used individually, but they also work exceptionally well when combined. They work in harmony, often enhancing each other’s benefits. So feel free to grab a single bottle and sniff away, or consider trying one of these calming diffuser blends the next time you need to relax!

1. Lavender

It’s no secret that lavender is one of the best essential oils to help calm you when you’re feeling overwhelmed. In fact, a study published in 2016 found that when postpartum women inhaled lavender essential oil repeatedly, it helped with stress, anxiety, and depression [source].

I am frequently using some variation of this blend. This is a great recipe as-is, or it can even be used as a base if you want to add another oil or two.

Be calm blend

• 5 drops lavender
• 5 drops orange
• 1 drop ylang ylang

2. Vetiver

The combination of these three oils not only produces an incredibly lovely aroma, but it’s also excellent for helping you chill out. The grounding aroma of vetiver combines exceptionally well with the relaxing, sweet aroma of chamomile and lavender.

Grounding blend

• 2 drops lavender
• 3 drops vetiver
• 5 drops chamomile

3. Patchouli

Personally, I’m not a huge fan of patchouli by itself, but I absolutely adore it in small amounts combined with other essential oils. Plus, it has a long history of use as a calming scent, and a recent study found that emergency nurses who inhaled patchouli reported lower levels of stress [source].

No-Stress Blend

So if you’ve had a rough day, try this blend—it’s not only deeply relaxing, but it also makes a wonderful cologne!

• 1–2 drops patchouli
• 4 drops cedarwood
• 5 drops lime

4. Bergamot & Mandarin

I personally find any citrus oil to be relaxing when I need to mellow out, so I frequently use them in my anti-stress blends. However, bergamot and mandarin are especially well-known for promoting a calm environment.

Research has found that bergamot is beneficial for reducing anxiety and stress [source], which explains why it’s one of the most popular essential oils for serenity.

Mellow Out Blend

• 1 drop lavender or chamomile
• 4 drops mandarin
• 5 drops bergamot

5. Clary Sage

I have a confession to make: I am completely mesmerized by the smell of clary sage. I can’t quite pinpoint why, but there is something about the aroma that is completely magnetic to me. This works out well for me since clary sage is one of the most frequently used essential oils to help with relaxation and depression [source]. 

At Peace Blend

Honestly, if you enjoy the aroma of clary sage, it can even be used on its own. However, when combined with bergamot and frankincense, you have a well-balanced blend that is fantastic to use after a long, stressful day.

• 1 drop frankincense
• 4 drops bergamot
• 5 drops clary sage

6. Rose

Even though rose is a pretty pricey essential oil, it’s still a great one to have in your repertoire. Many find the aroma of rose to be incredibly relaxing, and when it’s combined with other florals or citrus oils, you can create a truly enchanting aroma.

Tranquil Blend

• 1 drop chamomile
• 4 drops rose
• 5 drops bergamot

7. Jasmine

Jasmine is another oil that can get pretty pricey, but if you can splurge, it’s totally worth it. The exotic aroma of jasmine is pure magic and helps me relax instantly. It’s used extensively in perfumery, and the flower has a long history as an aphrodisiac. 

One scientific study found that the aroma of jasmine helped boost participants’ mood without leaving them feeling sleepy [source]. So, if you’re searching for something that can help you look on the bright side without making you feel drowsy, you might give jasmine a shot!

Serenity Blend

• 1 drop ylang ylang
• 2 drops vetiver
• 4 drops jasmine
• 3 drops cedarwood

8. Frankincense

Frankincense is the star of the show in this blend. Even though research is lacking, a review of scientific studies have found frankincense to be beneficial in reducing anxiety during labor [source]. 

Frankincense is an incredibly popular essential oil with a variety of uses for skin and health, and many individuals find it to be beneficial when needing to unwind. Additionally, it blends really well with most other essential oils, which makes it a great one to add to just about any blend!

Unwind Blend

• 1 drop lavender
• 4 drops lime
• 5 drops frankincense

9. Ylang Ylang

The combination of ylang ylang, patchouli, and lavender in this blend is absolutely divine. Ylang ylang is considered to be a harmonizing oil that can help lower blood pressure while simultaneously increasing alertness [source].

The luxurious floral aroma of ylang ylang is lovely, but a little goes a long way. I recommend only using 1–2 drops max since it can quickly overpower a blend.

Chill Pill Blend

• 2 drops ylang ylang
• 3 drops patchouli
• 5 drops lavender

10. Orange

Like I mentioned above, citrus oils can be very relaxing, and orange essential oil is no exception. In fact, a study published in 2013 reported that children undergoing dental procedures had lower salivary cortisol levels and pulse rates when they inhaled orange essential oil [source].

The aroma of orange is less sharp than lemon or lime, and it can add a nice sweet note to the blend when combined with other oils. 

Relax Blend

• 2 drops chamomile
• 3 drops clary sage
• 5 drops orange

This article was medically reviewed by Dr. Gina Jansheski, a licensed, board-certified physician who has more than 20 years of practice experience. Learn more about Hello Glow’s medical reviewers here. As always, this is not personal medical advice, and we recommend that you talk with your doctor.

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