Essential Oils for Happiness

Smelling organic essential oils can literally change your mood in an instant. It’s remarkable. Just one sniff can take you from feeling blue and tired, to positive and energized.

So how does it work?

Deep in the back of our nasal cavity dangles some very special nerve endings called olfactory epithelium. And they are fully responsible for helping us detect different scents.

These different scents enter our noses as vapors and travel alongside oxygen molecules whenever we breathe in. As they whizz by the dangling olfactory nerve cells on their way to our lungs they trigger a kind of electrical signal that in turn triggers another response in the emotional part of our brain, called the Limbic System.

It’s deep inside this part of our brain where our emotions, behavior, memory and intricate functions of our physiology are controlled. So this means that when we smell something pleasant, or unpleasant, the response triggers our feelings, our behavior, memories and bodily functions.

As research about stress and how stress impacts our health and wellbeing continues to grow, we are seeing more and more interest in how we can use aroma to promote relaxation and reduce our stress response. Our bodies need time to rest and reset, but often the fast paced intensity of our modern lives can make this really hard to do.

So to help us along, we can reach for organic essential oils and take time smelling them to encourage our bodies and minds to relax so we can reset and restore.

Here are 5 favorite essential oils blends for happiness, energy and relaxation. I’ve included the amount of drops to add to your diffuser!

To feel content and at peace:

Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) 7 drops:

Steam distilled from the flower tops, this essential oil is known for its calming and balancing effect on our nervous system. It quiets overactive thinking, soothes away worry, and helps us feel content and at peace.

Geranium (Pelargonium graveolens) 3 drops:

Steam distilled from the fragrant leaves of this hardy bush, Geranium essential oil smells rosy and herb-like and can make us feel grounded and centered. It’s especially soothing when we feel out of sorts, or overly sensitive - and help us see the world from a more positive perspective.

Sweet Orange (Citrus sinensis) 8 drops:

This essential oil is squeezed from the peel of the bright orange fruit. The bright refreshing aroma promotes the flow of energy and can instantly change our frame of mind from feeling gloomy to feeling uplifted. Oranges symbolically suggest good fortune, happiness and good health - and the bright sweet aroma is no different.

To feel more positive:

Bergamot (Citrus bergamia) 7 drops:

This essential oil is squeezed from the peel of the Bergamot fruit. Unlike the sweet orange which is a beautiful orange color, Bergamot is often green, marked and ugly looking - and the fruit inside can be bitter to taste. However, the oil pressed from the peel has an amazing combination of aromatic molecules that can make us feel at once calm and happy.

Frankincense (Boswellia serrata) 4 drops:

This essential oil is steam distilled from the resin of the Frankincense tree that grows specifically in India. It has a woody resin-like aroma that can make us feel rooted and secure. It helps clear away a worried mind, and remind us to breathe.

Lemon (Citrus limon) 3 drops:

This essential oil is squeezed out of the peel from the lemon fruit, and has a bright lemony, fresh aroma that can make us feel sharp, clean and refreshed. It’s a great scent to help us clear away negativity and reset our mindset.

To clear away negative energy:

Palmarosa (Cymbopogon martini) 5 drops

This essential oil is steam distilled from the leaves of this grassy bush that grows in humid climates. It has a rosy clean aroma that like lemon can help us clear away negative feelings and energy, and make us feel cleansed and refreshed.

Grapefruit (Citrus paradisi) 8 drops:

This essential oil is squeezed from the peel of the grapefruit, and smells sweet, fresh and cleansing. Like the other citrus oils it is uplifting and promotes the flow of energy while soothing away depressing thoughts and feelings. It helps us see the world from a positive perspective.

Sweet Orange 8 drops:

(see above)

To feel more awake and snap out of a bad mood:

Peppermint (Mentha piperita) 2 drops:

This essential oil is steam distilled from the leaves of the common peppermint plant and has a minty, cooling aroma that instantly wakes us up and snaps us out of feeling sluggish and down hearted. Its energizing and awaking scent can instantly change our frame of mind, and help us feel like we can accomplish anything.

Grapefruit 8 drops:

(see above)

Lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus) 2 drops:

This essential oil is a relative of Palmarosa and is also steam distilled from the long grassy leaves of this bush that grows in humid areas. It has a calming but citrus-like aroma that can simultaneously calm our nerves and uplift our mood.

To get rid of worry and feel more confident:

Spearmint (Mentha spicata) 5 drops:

This essential oil is steam distilled from the leaves of the spearmint plant and like peppermint, of which it’s related to, can snap us out of sad gloomy moods. But this mint is not as coling and sharp as peppermint, and that offers a warmer and more comforting feeling that can calm and refresh us.

Star Anise (Illcium verum) 2 drops:

This essential oil is steam distilled from the small star shaped fruit of an evergreen tree that grows primarily in China and India. It has a strong licorice aroma and can be very calling but refreshing to the mind. It helps sweep away worry, and soothe our nerves, and regulate our breathing so we can feel more at peace.