The Tamesis
Adopting a “healthy menu” mentality has really helped me this year. Rather than expecting any single product or practice to solve all my problems, I choose between flexible habits that support my mental, emotional, and physical health. But no matter what my goals are for the day, the best essential oils have become the foundation of my ritual. When used intentionally, essential oils can provide relief for anxiety, sleep, focus, energy, and mood, depending on the blend and moment.
The appeal of purifying your head or aromatic essential oils is nothing new. After all, the use of essential oils dates back thousands of years (the therapeutic uses of aromatic plants have been around for hundreds of years, and essential oils officially entered modern French pharmacies in the early 20th century) and has been praised by everyone from Gwyneth Paltrow to Miranda Kerr, plus it has tremendous physical and mental benefits.
Reason being, there’s real science behind why scent works so quickly. “The sense of smell is wired at an early stage in the brain to emotional centers, so the distance from the time the smell enters the nose to the moment the emotion is produced is very short,” explains Leslie B. Vosshall, Ph.D., a molecular neurobiologist at The Rockefeller University. FashionJune 2019 issue.
So having something like lavender, chamomile, or lemon on hand helps me feel calm and grounded; choosing from a small list of options based on what I need for the day. For anxiety, sleep, mental focus and more, we break down the best essential oils to buy (a range of pure oils and blends), how to use them and when they’re most effective, and help you create your own scented pharmacy, backed by expert guidance.
in this story
for anxiety
As an anxious person, there’s almost nothing I wouldn’t try, from EFT massage to calming essential oils like vetiver, neroli, clary sage and geranium. While there are general guidelines when it comes to scent, your body’s reaction is still highly personal and often determined by memory, place, or comfort. When I need quick relief, I reach for Osea’s Vagus Nerve Oil, a base blend of chamomile, juniper berry, lavender, lemon tea tree, and Moroccan rosemary designed to help calm the mind. I warm a few drops between my palms, take a deep breath, and apply along my neck and behind my earlobes. When I’m craving something closer to a spa, Alo Yoga’s Awaken & Center Oil relies on tea tree to purify, providing a deeper sense of reset and renewal.
for sleep and relaxation
If you want to improve the quality of your sleep, adding a calming oil like lavender or chamomile can have a dramatic effect. Instead of using sedatives, I rely on Vitruvi’s Moonbeam essential oil, a dreamy blend of bitter orange, juniper, tangerine, sweet marjoram, geranium, jasmine, blue yarrow, rose, ylang ylang, and more. I like to add 10 to 15 drops to my diffuser an hour or so before bed; or, when I’m feeling particularly lazy, take a quick whiff straight from the bottle from a safe distance. If you prefer products that apply directly to your skin, This Works’ Sleep Roll-On is another great option, formulated with a blend of soothing essential oils like eucalyptus to help calm your mind before bed. Its smooth tube makes it especially suitable for travel.
for mental concentration
As an adult using an iPad, focusing is nearly impossible, especially with the addictive siren song of social media calling my name all day long. That said, there’s real science behind focusing. Research shows that certain essential oils can help maintain energy levels and mental focus, says New York City dermatologist Michelle Green, MD. When I’m working, I like to spray a few drops of Neom’s Focus the Mind, which is a blend of pine, cedar, and eucalyptus designed to increase clarity and focus. I still have Wonder Valley’s Hinoki Roll-On in my bag. It’s compact and can be applied easily to the neck and pulse points throughout the day, and is scented with green bark, fir needles and cedar wood for moments of grounding.
for energy
While adequate rest is the panacea we all crave, many times we feel like those coveted eight hours are just out of reach. On such mornings, “Energy Oil” can quickly refresh your mind. These blends often contain uplifting aromas such as eucalyptus, mint, rosemary, cypress and cardamom to help focus the mind and awaken the senses. De Mamiel’s Altitude Oil is made from this blend, handcrafted in the UK from high quality botanicals. Revive by Aromatherapy Associates is a blend of grapefruit, bergamot, and neroli that gently energizes the sleepiest among us for a brighter, citrusy boost.
Boost mood
Even the saddest soul can’t really argue with the principles of olfactory therapy or neuroaromatology. Case in point: Neuraé’s Emotion Booster Roll-On, in the brand’s beloved Sérénité scent, is designed to inspire an immediate sense of calm. Whenever you need a lift, dab it onto your temples or a soft spot between your thumb and forefinger. If you’re looking for something more affordable, Gya Labs’ Lemon Oil is less than $10 and is made from cold-pressed Italian lemon peels to bring out the feeling of a sunny Mediterranean afternoon even in the middle of winter’s SAD (also known as Seasonal Affective Disorder) season.
For muscle soreness
In an ideal world, every pain could be relieved on a massage table. In fact, I use essential oils like vetiver, peppermint, helichrysum, and pine, which are known for their ability to relieve aches and tension. Saje’s Pain Relief is a simple option that rolls directly onto tight areas. It combines marjoram to help the body relax, rosemary to calm inflammation, and lavender to soothe overworked muscles. For something more targeted, helichrysum oil is also worth keeping. Be sure to dilute it with a carrier oil like coconut or almond oil before massaging into sore areas. It is often used to help reduce inflammation, relieve muscle discomfort, and support recovery after exercise.
to rejuvenate
To add a little energy to a monotonous day or to refresh yourself, look for essential oils that calm the nervous system while gently lifting your mood. L’Occitane’s Lavender Oil is a classic for a reason. It helps promote a sense of calm and can be added to bath water or mixed into a neutral massage oil and applied directly to the skin. Another favorite is Notos Rooted Oil, an extra grounding, multi-purpose blend that’s safe to apply directly. It combines coconut oil, argan oil, palo santo oil, vetiver, cedarwood, labdanum, and cardamom to stabilize the mind, subtly lift your mood, and bring you back to your body when the day starts to feel a little scattered.
For essential oil set
If you tend to go all out when discovering a new niche or hobby, might we suggest starting with an essential oil kit? This is the easiest way to experiment, find out what really works for you, or even try creating your own blends. Alo Yoga and Vitruvi both offer 100% pure essential oil sets that are perfect for diffusing. Alo’s suite includes six mood-driven options, from energizing and awake to relaxing, spa, uplifting and sleep. Vitruvi’s set is more streamlined, featuring grapefruit, lavender, spruce and eucalyptus, but they’re equally effective on their own and blend perfectly together for a more customizable combination.
Everything you need to know
What are the benefits of essential oils?
Essential oils are best viewed as a support tool rather than a panacea for all ailments. According to esthetician Cali Strauhs, they can help support the nervous system, relieve muscle tension, and relieve breathing or congestion. “They’re not a solution,” she explains, “but they’re great for enhancing certain moments in a therapeutic way. I use them to feel more connected to the earth, which is especially important when living in a city like New York.”
French pharmacist and cosmetic chemist Natacha Bonjout agrees, noting that essential oils can support daily health by relieving stress, promoting relaxation or sleep, aiding concentration or providing comfort for minor, occasional discomfort. She explains that their effects are closely related to aromatic compounds and how they interact with our sense of smell and skin, making them as much a sensory experience as a functional one.
What to look for in essential oils
When purchasing essential oils, quality and traceability are most important. Bonjout recommends preferring brands that are 100% pure, undiluted, clearly labeled with their botanical (Latin) name, and are transparent about their origin and extraction methods. She also stresses the importance of being aware of contraindications, as some essential oils are not suitable for children, pregnant women or people with certain health conditions.
If you want more granular information, Strauss recommends taking a closer look at how oil is made. Quality oil brands disclose their extraction methods. Steam distillation is the standard treatment for leaves, flowers and wood, while cold pressing is only suitable for citrus peels. She also looked for GC/MS testing (gas chromatography/mass spectrometry), which is considered the gold standard for verifying purity and chemical composition. Ideally, the test should be batch-specific rather than generic.
Country of origin is another key detail. Plants growing in different regions can produce oils with significantly different aromas and therapeutic effects. Lavender from France does not have the same smell or properties as lavender from Bulgaria, just as eucalyptus from Australia differs from eucalyptus grown elsewhere. Transparency here means intentional sourcing, not bulk repackaging.
In the end, packaging is more important than most people realize. She explains that essential oils should always be stored in dark glass bottles, such as amber or cobalt, with a tight, controlled dropper. Light and plastics can quickly degrade volatile compounds, reducing potency and effectiveness.
How to use essential oils
“Essential oils must always be handled with care,” says Bonjout, noting that inhalation through diffusion is usually the gentlest and safest method. When it comes to skin application, dilution is key. She stresses that essential oils should always be mixed with a carrier oil to avoid irritation or allergies.
Strauss took a more ritual-driven approach. She likes to add a few drops to a hot washcloth to help open nasal passages, add them to the bath or shower depending on the formula, or even add them to the toilet bowl for a naturally refreshing bathroom experience. Some oils can be applied directly to the scalp or body, but caution is still required.
“If you have perioral dermatitis, avoid using essential oils on your face entirely,” Strauss warns. “That includes skin care products that are rich in botanicals.” While she points out that formula is ultimately important, it requires special attention if your skin is reactive or prone to breakouts.
When we test and review products, we take a holistic approach to provide comprehensive product recommendations. First, we rely on FashionGain professional acumen for the industry’s standout products with a vast network of experts, from board-certified dermatologists to celebrity estheticians, who actually use them on their clients. We combine their expertise with our editorial best practices to curate the thoughtful edits you read on our site.
As it relates to essential oils, we select the best ones based on the following characteristics: quality ingredients, traceability, pure oils vs. blends, packaging, and the health concerns they address. To do this, we combine our own personal testing of each formula with expert guidance and reviewer insights to determine which formulas we recommend to you.
- Cali Strauhs is an esthetician and founder of Strauhs Studios in New York City.
- Natacha Bonjout is a French pharmacist and cosmetic chemist living in New York and the founder of Bonjout Beauty.
