Affiliate Disclaimer
Some links in this article are affiliate links. We may earn a small commission if you make a purchase through these links, at no extra cost to you. We only recommend products we find useful to our readers
Essential oils are not just mood relaxers; their range of benefits is vast and highly pronounced. From providing effective relief for nausea to promoting peace and tranquility for mental well-being, these concentrated oil extracts offer numerous advantages.
Essential oils for sleep can help combat insomnia and support a restful night’s sleep. If you’ve been struggling with sleepless nights, the solution is simpler than you might think.
Why endure night after night of restlessness when you can turn to effective essential oils for insomnia and finally enjoy deep, rejuvenating sleep?
In this article, we will discuss the best essential oils for sleep that genuinely help promote uninterrupted, restful nights.
Why Essential Oils are Good for Sleep?
Even with the limited studies and research on sleep essential oils, pinpointing the exact reasons behind their sleep-inducing effects can be challenging.
Both the application and inhalation of essential oils help calm the mind and promote a sense of peace. Additionally, they aid in reducing stress levels in the body and cells, gradually supporting better sleep over time.
Best Essential Oils for Sleep
In this section, we will walk you through the best essential oils that not only promote better sleep but also help prevent insomnia.
1. Cedarwood Essential Oil For Sleep
Cedarwood oil is a concentrated extract derived from coniferous trees, particularly those in the pine or cypress family. It is primarily obtained from the foliage, roots, and stumps of these trees and is known for its distinct woody and musky aroma.
How to Use:
- Slightly warm a few drops of cedarwood oil in the microwave for a few seconds.
- Apply it to the underside of your feet and massage it into the skin.
- Wear comfortable socks and go to sleep.
How It Works:
Cedarwood oil is well known for its sedative properties (R), which play a key role in promoting sleep. It supports the function of the pineal gland (R), which is responsible for secreting melatonin, the primary hormone that regulates the sleep cycle.
Additionally, it helps regulate heart rate (R) and can normalize elevated blood pressure, further aiding in relaxation and restful sleep.
2. Vetiver Essential Oil for Sleep
Vetiver is a perennial grass primarily grown in India. Resembling an enlarged version of steep grasses, it is well known for its sleep-inducing properties and its effectiveness in alleviating insomnia.
In addition to India, vetiver is also cultivated in various tropical regions. It is valued not only for its fragrant roots but also for its role in erosion control.
How to Use:
- Add some vetiver essential oil to an air diffuser.
- Mix in a few drops of lavender oil when you first start using this oil to help you get accustomed to the scent.
How It Works:
Vetiver oil has a mild, lemongrass-like aroma that is deeply calming for the mind (R). Due to its psychologically calming properties, it is considered one of the best essential oils for sleep. Vetiver helps stabilize the mind, keeping it grounded, which promotes restful sleep and helps combat insomnia.
3. Peppermint Essential Oil for Sleep
Peppermint is a variety of mint known for its cooling and soothing effects on the body. It is believed to be a hybrid of spearmint and water mint. The primary active ingredient in peppermint essential oil is menthol, which plays a key role in promoting relaxation and sleep.
How to Use:
- Add a few drops of peppermint oil to your pillow or massage it onto your skin.
- Alternatively, use an air diffuser to disperse the oil for a more immersive effect.
How It Works:
Menthol in peppermint oil helps (R) calm the mind and activates cold-sensitive receptors in the skin, promoting a refreshing and restful sleep. Additionally, its muscle-relaxing properties make it effective in easing tension, helping to alleviate sleep disturbances.
4. Lavender Essential Oil for Sleep
Lavender is a flowering plant widely known for its ability to reduce stress and promote overall relaxation. Its subtle, soothing aroma plays a key role in enhancing its calming effects.
How to Use:
- Add a few drops of lavender oil to an air diffuser.
- For enhanced benefits, mix lavender oil with peppermint oil.
- Alternatively, apply the oil to the underside of your feet and wear socks before bed.
How It Works:
Inhaling or applying lavender oil helps calm the nervous system (R) by reducing heart rate and normalizing blood pressure. It also lowers skin temperature, creating ideal conditions for restful sleep. Additionally, lavender oil is highly effective in alleviating anxiety and stress, making it a powerful aid for combating insomnia.
5. Sandalwood Essential Oil for Sleep
Sandalwood oil is extracted through the steam distillation of sandalwood chips. Known for its distinctive aroma and medicinal properties, sandalwood is one of the most valuable woods, making its essential oil highly prized.
How to Use:
- Mix sandalwood oil with coconut oil.
- Apply the mixture to the underside of your feet and massage it onto the skin.
How It Works:
Sandalwood oil has mild sedative properties that help induce sleep by calming the hyperactivity of the nervous system. It also helps reduce stress, anxiety, and agitation, all of which can interfere with restful sleep.
6. Ylang Ylang Essential Oil
Ylang Ylang is a tropical tree native to several Southeast Asian countries. Its flowers are known for their distinctive, fragrant aroma, and the essential oil extracted from them profoundly affects various health aspects, particularly sleep.
How to Use:
- Add a few drops of Ylang Ylang oil to an air diffuser for enhanced benefits.
- Alternatively, apply it to the underside of your feet or add a few drops to your pillow to help alleviate insomnia.
How It Works:
Ylang Ylang essential oil is considered one of the most effective essential oils for promoting sleep. It helps lower heart rate (R) and normalize blood pressure, creating a calming effect on the body and mind. Additionally, it is beneficial in reducing stress (R) and anxiety, further supporting restful sleep.
7. Roman Chamomile Essential Oil for Sleep
Roman Chamomile, as the name suggests, is a type of chamomile. The flowers of this plant contain all the beneficial properties found in its essential oil.
Also, Read: Chamomile Tea Benefits
How to Use:
- Mix 1 part Roman Chamomile oil with 1 part lavender oil.
- Pour a few drops of this mixture onto a handkerchief or pillow.
- Alternatively, add it to an air diffuser and turn it on for a more lasting effect.
How It Works:
Like many other essential oils for sleep, Roman Chamomile has soothing and calming effects (R) on the body, helping to relax muscles. It also helps regulate body temperature and is particularly effective in treating anxiety, depression, and insomnia.
8. Marjoram Essential Oil for Sleep
Marjoram essential oil is considered one of the best oils for promoting sleep. It is extracted through steam distillation from both fresh and dried leaves of the marjoram plant. Native to regions around the Mediterranean, marjoram is renowned for its powerful medicinal properties.
How to Use:
- Mix marjoram oil with other sleep-inducing essential oils.
- Apply the mixture to the underside of your feet and wear socks for better absorption.
- Alternatively, inhale the scent of marjoram oil to calm your mind and promote relaxation.
How It Works:
Marjoram essential oil (R) is known for its relaxing effects on the nervous system, making it one of the best essential oils for sleep. Even the topical application of marjoram oil has beneficial effects in relieving insomnia and reducing stress.
9. Copaiba Essential Oil for Sleep
Copaiba essential oil is derived from the distillation of the gum resins of the Copaiba plant, which is native to Brazil. It has a distinct aroma known for its relaxing properties, making it effective in combating insomnia and reducing stress.
How to Use:
- Mix copaiba essential oil with a carrier oil.
- Apply the mixture to the underside of your feet and massage it into the skin.
- Alternatively, spray some oil onto your bedsheets and pillows for a soothing effect.
How It Works:
Copaiba oil promotes sleep by relaxing muscles throughout the body. It is also beneficial in calming an elevated heart rate or hypertension, both of which can disrupt the sleep cycle.
Essential oils for sleep are not just effective for promoting rest after a stressful day; they have significant impacts on reducing stress and anxiety levels. Additionally, these oils contribute to the relaxation of the nervous system, which plays an important role in alleviating the conditions associated with insomnia.
Conclusion
Adding essential oils to your bedtime routine can be a holistic and effective way to fight insomnia and have a peaceful night’s sleep.
The sedative nature of oils such as cedarwood, vetiver, peppermint, lavender, and others relieves insomnia, tension, anxiety, and muscle strain, which are usual causes of bad sleep.
No matter how you use them—in a diffuser, on your skin, or on your pillow—these essential oils provide an affordable, holistic way of enhancing the quality of your sleep.
By tapping into the soothing, sedative properties of these oils, you can establish a restful atmosphere that promotes sleep and allows you to fall into a deep, restorative sleep.
So why not look to nature’s cure for a good night’s sleep and wake up feeling refreshed and ready to face the day?
-
Sept 2018Written by Somapika D
-
Feb 2025Edited by Lakshmi Gayatri
In this Article
