When feelings of stress or anxiety creep in, creating a sense of calm can make all the difference. Essential oils have long been used in aromatherapy to encourage relaxation, with growing research exploring their potential benefits for anxiety and emotional wellbeing.
In this article, we’ll explore five of the best natural oils for anxiety, the science behind them, how to use them, and some important tips for using essential oils safely.
Table Of Contents
Benefits Of Essential Oils For Anxiety
The Science Behind Essential Oils for Anxiety
5 Best Essential Oils For Anxiety
How To Use Essential Oils For Anxiety
Other Tips To Help Calm Anxiety
How Do You Know If You Have A Quality Essential Oil?
Benefits Of Essential Oils For Anxiety
Anxiety is incredibly common, with the Australian Bureau of Statistics reporting one in seven Australians experiencing an anxiety disorder in 2025. While essential oils are no cure for anxiety, research suggests aromatherapy may provide a useful complementary approach for promoting relaxation and helping to ease feelings of stress and anxiousness.
Certain essential oils are thought to influence mood and relaxation through our sense of smell and its connections with areas of the brain involved in emotion. Depending on the oil and how it is used, potential benefits may include:
- Promoting feelings of calm and relaxation
- Helping ease feelings of stress and nervous tension
- Supporting restful sleep
- Encouraging a more positive mood
- Creating a calming environment for meditation or mindfulness
The Science Behind Essential Oils for Anxiety
So, what makes certain essential oils good for anxiety and relaxation? When essential oils are inhaled, their aromatic compounds are detected by receptors in the nose, sending signals through the olfactory system to areas of the brain involved in emotion, memory and behaviour. This includes connections with the limbic system, which plays an important role in our emotional responses.
This interaction is one reason researchers have explored aromatherapy for anxiety and the potential calming effects of certain essential oils. While research is still developing, a growing number of studies have investigated their effects on feelings of anxiety, stress and nervous tension. For example:
- Lavender Essential Oil: Research has found promising results for reducing short-term anxiety, including a 2019 randomised controlled study involving 80 patients awaiting breast surgery.
- Sweet Orange Essential Oil: This citrus oil has also been studied for its potential calming effects, with research exploring its use in people experiencing anxiety during dental treatment.
While these findings are encouraging, much of the existing research focuses on short-term or situational anxiety rather than diagnosed anxiety disorders. Essential oils are therefore best considered a complementary way to support relaxation and emotional wellbeing, rather than a treatment for anxiety.
5 Best Essential Oils For Anxiety
Every essential oil has versatile properties, meaning that the same oil may be useful for supporting relaxation in different ways.
Below are some of our favourite essential oils for anxiety:
1. Lavender Essential Oil
Perhaps the most well-known of essential oils, Lavender Oil is recognised for its calming qualities and potential to help relieve feelings of stress and anxiety. And with its pleasantly sweet, floral and herbaceous aroma, it’s no surprise that this oil is a popular choice for encouraging relaxation and restful sleep.
Lavender Essential Oil is commonly used to help with sleep difficulties and feelings of stress, anxiety and nervous tension, making it particularly popular when winding down at the end of the day.
When it comes to quietening the mind and creating a calming environment, you just can’t go wrong with Lavender Oil.
2. Lime Essential Oil
Originating in Southeast Asia, Lime Essential Oil is well known for its revitalising and uplifting qualities. It has often used to increase energy levels and uplift those feeling drained, fatigued and mentally exhausted.
Its fresh citrus aroma can also help create an uplifting environment while promoting mental clarity. For this reason, it is often seen diffusing in offices and study spaces to alleviate brain fog, mental fatigue and exhaustion.
At AWO, we offer two variations; Lime Essential Oil and Lime Distilled Essential Oil.
3. Orange Sweet Essential Oil
Highly regarded in ancient Chinese medicine, Orange Sweet Essential Oil is valued for its calming qualities and may help with feelings of stress, anxiety, nervousness, or tension.
Like many citrus oils, Orange Essential Oil contains Linalool, a naturally occurring chemical compound with anxiolytic (anxiety relieving), analgesic and sedative properties. With its fresh, sweet and uplifting citrus aroma, Orange Sweet Essential Oil is a popular choice for creating a positive, calming environment and encouraging feelings of relaxation and wellbeing.
Its benefits are most commonly received through aromatherapy practices such as diffusing and inhaling.
4. Frankincense Essential Oil
Boasting an overall warm, earthy, and slightly woody aroma, Frankincense Essential Oil (also known as Frankincense Olibanum Essential Oil) is a popular choice for anyone looking to create a calming environment during times of stress.
Frankincense Oil is also mingled with spicy yet fruity undertones, which makes it a calming and comforting essential oil for relaxation and sleep.
Thanks to these qualities, Frankincense Oil is popular for use by those wanting to unwind, relax and encourage a sense of calm.
5. 'Grounded' Essential Oil Blend
Looking to release unwanted tension and nervous energy? AWO’s Grounded Essential Oil Blend has been specially formulated to encourage feelings of calm and relaxation.
With a blend of Lavender, Neroli, Ho Wood, Ylang Ylang and Peppermint essential oils, Grounded is a favourite essential oil blend for those looking to unwind during times of stress.
Carrying a slightly sweet, herbaceous and floral aroma, diffusing 'Grounded' around the home can help encourage a sense of tranquility and create a calming environment.
'Destress' Essential Oil Pack
Want to enjoy some of these oils in a convenient bundle? AWO’s Destress Essential Oil Pack brings together a trio of 100% pure essential oils specially selected to help create a calming, uplifting environment during times of stress.
Enjoy each one separately or combine them to create your own relaxing essential oil blend.
Inside you will find:
- Frankincense Essential Oil (15ml)
- Grounded Essential Oil Blend (15ml)
- Lime Essential Oil (15ml)
How To Use Essential Oils For Anxiety
Let's look at some of our favourite ways to use these oils to help create a calming environment and instill a sense of emotional balance.
Let's look at some of our favourite ways to use these oils to help create a calming environment and instill a sense of emotional balance.
Diffusing
To experience the beautiful aromas of these essential oils and create a calming atmosphere, simply add a few drops of your chosen oil to an essential oil diffuser.
Essential Oil Spray
Another popular way to experience the calming benefits of these oils is to dilute your oil in water, add to a spray bottle, shake the dilution and spritz around your room or onto your pillow before sleeping.
Warm Bath
For those wanting to clear the mind and create a calm environment, dilute a few drops of your chosen essential oil appropriately before adding to a warm bath. The refreshing aroma will rise with the steam to create a relaxing atmosphere.
Cleansing Shower
You can also add a drop of any essential oil to each corner of your shower, allowing the calming aroma to rise with the steam to clear and renew the mind.
Roll On Oil
An anxiety roll on oil offers a convenient way to enjoy your chosen essential oil blend when you're out and about. For a simple DIY blend, add 4 drops of essential oil to a 10ml roller bottle and top with a carrier oil such as Fractionated Coconut Oil or Jojoba Oil. Try Lavender on its own or combine Lavender and Frankincense for a relaxing blend. Apply to pulse points such as the wrists as required.
Other Tips To Help Calm Anxiety
Apart from using Essential Oils, a few other more natural remedies include:
- Yoga
- Meditation
- Mindfulness
- Exercise
If you or someone you know is suffering from anxiety, you will find a plethora of helpful information on the Beyond Blue website.
How Do You Know If You Have A Quality Essential Oil
When choosing stress and anxiety essential oils, it’s important to know you’re purchasing a quality product.
Top 6 Things To Look For
- Look for the oil’s Latin name listed on the bottle. If a product doesn’t have the Latin name listed, it’s probably a mix of synthetic ‘fragrance oils’.
- Oil packaging is in a dark glass bottle. This will prevent light and heat from damaging the oil.
- The label clearly states ‘100% pure X Essential Oil’. This will ensure the product isn’t blended with any other oils.
- Be sure to check the expiry date if buying in store.
- The product clearly states where the oil is from.
- Be wary of a very low price. It could be an indicator of low quality or adulterated essential oils.
Considerations For Using Essential Oils Safely
Essential oils are highly concentrated, so it’s important to use them correctly. Although reactions are uncommon, some essential oils may cause skin irritation or sensitivity, which is why we always recommend performing a skin patch test before incorporating a new oil into your routine.
AWO’s essential oils are 100% pure and should always be appropriately diluted before topical use. Because they are so potent, essential oils can cause serious harm if ingested without the necessary expertise, so we recommend never ingesting essential oils.
A few other safety considerations include:
- Avoid contact with the eyes and other sensitive areas.
- Take extra care when using essential oils around children and pets.
- If pregnant or breastfeeding, seek professional advice before using essential oils.
- Be aware that some citrus essential oils can cause photosensitivity when applied topically, so always check the directions for your chosen oil.
- Store essential oils in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight and out of reach of children and pets.
Used correctly and in appropriate amounts, essential oils can be an easy addition to your everyday relaxation and wellbeing routine.
FAQs
Do essential oils work for anxiety?
Research suggests aromatherapy for anxiety may help promote relaxation and ease feelings of short-term or situational anxiety. However, essential oils should be used as a complementary wellbeing tool rather than a treatment for anxiety disorders.
What are the best relaxing scents for anxiety?
When you want to use aromatherapy oils for anxiety, Lavender, Sweet Orange and Frankincense are all great choices. The best choice ultimately comes down to the scents you personally find relaxing but these three scents are among the most popular.
What is the best essential oil blend for anxiety?
The best essential oil blend for anxiety can combine complementary calming and uplifting aromas. Lavender, Neroli, Ylang Ylang and citrus oils are popular choices, or try a ready-made blend such as AWO's Grounded Essential Oil Blend.