People have used aromatherapy as a remedy for a wide variety of issues for hundreds of years. Today, essential oils come in varieties for use as body oils, diffusers, and aroma sticks.

Manufacturers of essential oils make them from all sorts of herbal and floral ingredients, as well as spices and fruits. Many people use these relaxing smells to manage stress.

For those new to using essential oils for stress relief, choosing the best smells may be a challenge. Keep reading this guide to aromatherapy for beginners to learn the best scents for relaxation!

1. Lavender

No list of essential oils would be complete without mentioning lavender. You're probably familiar with the scent of lavender, as it's a popular ingredient for soaps, cleaners, and perfumes.

In addition to its pleasant scent, lavender oil is also a popular choice for stress relief. The mild and floral bouquet is great to help you sleep and relax without an overwhelming aroma.

Because lavender isn't an overpowering smell, it also combines well with many other ingredients like vanilla and cedar. View these gourmand scents to get ideas of how you can use lavender oil.

2. Citrus

There are several citrus scents to choose from for stress relief. Orange, lemon, and lime all pair well with scents for a refreshing and relaxing aroma.

Lemon has a brisk and bold scent that can help lift your mood as well as calm you down. Orange has a lighter and sweeter aroma that pairs well with spice.

For a more tropical scent, lime is a good option for stress relief. Be careful with citrus oils though, as they can irritate the skin if used in excess.

3. Rosemary

Some people prefer more herbal scents to sweeter ones for relaxation. Rosemary is a vibrant and earthy scent that evokes home cooking and stimulates the mind.

If you want the energizing effects of rosemary but still prefer a sweeter aroma, you can also pair it with floral oils like lavender or jasmine.

4. Jasmine

Jasmine is a small white flower from the same family as olives and grows on vines. In addition to its use for gardens and tea, the scent of jasmine can provide a peaceful calm.

Jasmine essential oils soothe tension when used in a diffuser. Good scents to combine with jasmine include vanilla and citrus.

5. Chamomile

Chamomile is an herb best known for its use as a calming tea. However, chamomile also has benefits for stress and anxiety as an essential oil. 

Just like a cup of chamomile tea can help you sleep, the smell of the herb can help relieve insomnia. Unlike other herbal ingredients, chamomile has a pleasantly sweet aroma.

Relaxing Smells to Relieve Stress

There are dozens of relaxing smells to choose from when it comes to aromatherapy. In this guide, we've covered five of our favorite scents for stress relief.

Whether you like floral, citrus, or herbal scents, there's an aromatherapy option that can help you manage stress. Be sure to check out our blog page to learn about other fascinating topics!