Have the holidays made you a little fractious? If so, you will not be alone. 89% of US people report feeling stressed during the holidays with 41% reporting experiencing higher levels of stress than at any other time of the year. That’s a lot! Too many, in fact. So let’s do something about it. Shut yourself away for ten minutes to make some calming essential oil blends with me. Blend oils like vetiver, patchouli frankincense, and cedarwood essential oils with the big hitters like rose, melissa or chamomiles. Kids really benefit from calming essential oils like mandarin and bergamot. Create inhalation and diffuser blends, or make roller balls or lotions with calming essential oils.
In this article, my calming essential oil blends are called: ‘I Just Need To Sleep’, Would Someone Please Shut Those Kids Up’, ‘ Oil on Troubled Waters’, and ‘Don’t Panic’.
With the seemingly constant pressure of the holiday hustle and bustle, we can all benefit from calming essential oils at this time of year. I’ll share some of the best calming essential oils and show you how to combine them into synergistic blends to help you feel calmer,and more relaxed. You never know, these highly effective calming essential oil blends may just save your sanity!
Design calming essential oil blends to inhale on the hop, or combine your calming essential oil blends with other natural ingredients to make beautifully serene products that can be applied topically. Then we’ll think about the most effective ways to use your calming essential oils blends and products to get the best from them.
Take a deep breath! Find your center, and let’s go on a wonderful aromatic journey together to the land of calm and serenity amidst the holiday chaos.
Best Calming Essential Oils
The two most popular l calming essential oils are Lavender and Roman Chamomile, and while we will look at those in due course, we’ll begin with some others you may be less familiar with. .
1. Vetiver (Vetiveria zizanoides)
Vetiver is a tall grass indigenous to southern India. It has long, strong roots that push right down into the earth, anchoring the plant into the surrounding soil. For this reason, it now often grown around building sites to reduce soil erosion.
It has this same anchoring effects for thoughts, drawing energy down from the head, into the calmness of the body, helping you to relax and unwind. Vetiver is a wonderful essential oil to work with if you feel panicky or overwhelmed. Everything feels like it goes more slowly.
Even the essential oil itself goes slow. Thick and unctuous it makes you patiently wait for it even to find its way out of the bottle. If you want to use it in the bath, it helps to have some a little pre-diluted in some carrier oil to speed things up a little!
This is a beautifully soothing and calming essential oil, which is useful to work with if you need to sit and quietly reflect. Research done by Nirwane (2015), demonstrated that vetiver possessed significant anxiolytic activity. (For clarity this was a mouse trial using ethanoic extract rather than the essential oil being used on people.) I use Vetiver a lot to help me shut off my mind and go to sleep.
Vetiver also contains antispasmodic constituents that can be useful if you have overindulged and you have grumbling insides!
Safety:
- Do not use in the first 16 weeks of pregnancy
2. Patchouli (Pogostemon cablin)
Like Vetiver, Patchouli is a wonderfully calming essential oil to quiet the mind, and bring you back into your heart space. It can be useful if you ruminate over personal slights, ifyour mind is running away with you or if you have fears of not living up to expectations.
It has a delicious woody and earthy fragrance, which can be quite unexpected given that it comes from the leaves of a kind of mint! If you have only ever smelt it on aging hippies and not liked it. Give it a chance and try a brand new bottle, it's a whole different experience and a sublime one at that.
Patchouli essential oil can be really useful if you are recovering from abuse, especially sexual abuse or if you are experiencing sexual anxiety. The holidays can often bring unwelcome expectations in that particular department. Use Patchouli to allay your fears and to center yourself in your body instead.
I treat myself to a good dose of Patchouli when I feel under the weather, or when I am overwhelmed and I just need to sleep. I love its warmth and richness which feels like a gorgeous hug. It’s also useful in meditation to quiet the mind and instil stillness.
Patchouli is also a good oil for children who are stressed. Research by Tripathy (2023) concluded, ‘The positive effects of both lavender and patchouli oil on children can be used to reduce anxiety in children’.
Safety:
- Do not use topically in the first 16 weeks of pregnancy
3. Myrrh (Commiphora myrrha)
Are you hiding in the corner to lick your emotional wounds? Make friends with Myrrh.
Myrrh is a mender which is why it is such an important ingredient in salve and balms. It knits back broken and torn skin, but it also heals emotional wounds.
Myrrh helps navigate painful thoughts and helps you to connect back to your core. It brings you back to you. It is a valuable ally during grief. Useful for those who feel lonely or unsupported. This calming oil brings you back to yourself.
Like Patchouli and Vetiver essential oils, myrrh essential oil moves the energy down into the body (it’s a base note) to calm overthinking and rumination with soothing and uplifting properties.
Myrrh is a gorgeously calming essential oil to remind yourself just how fabulous you are.
Find out how Myrrh can help calm panic in Essential Oils Blends for Meditations To Calm Panic.
Safety:
- Avoid use in the first 37 weeks of pregnancy
4. Frankincense (Boswellia serrata)
Are you a shrinking violet amid enormous personalities and characters?
Frankincense slows the breath, centering us, and making us feel calmer and more confident. It is a useful essential oil for panic. It is one of the best essential oils to instill calm. It brings feelings of comfort and support. The ubiquitous Christmas essential oil, Frankincense, helps you push energy up and outwards to project calm bravery. (Frankincense pushes energy up. Myrrh draws it down)
Ghiasi (2019) demonstrated how good frankincense was at reducing anxiety when he demonstrated how much it calmed women who were giving birth, during their first stages of labor.
Frankincense connects us to whatever we perceive our ‘God-source’ to be and is a profoundly spiritual oil. It is ideal for meditation, prayer and reflection.
Safety:
- Do not use it topically in the first 16 weeks of pregnancy
5. Cedarwood - Himalayan (Cedrus deodara)
If you are rummaging through the knife drawer, harboring somewhat negative thoughts, reach for some Himalayan cedarwood.
If you are nursing a grudge over some slight or insult, get this one into a blend and rise above it in calm positivity. Switch off that voice in your head, eating away at your self esteem. Embrace the positivity and serenity of Cedarwood essential oil.
Cedrol, a constituent of Cedarwood soothes the parasympathetic nervous system (Dawayansa 2003) to bring the body into rest and restore. Cedarwood switches off negative thoughts to restore calm in the physical body. .
Safety:
- Not suitable for topical use in the first 16 weeks of pregnancy
6. Rose (Rosa damascena)
I’ll always advocate Rose as a calming essential oil, despite its hefty price tag!
Rose essential oil is perfect for moments where emotions collide with hormones. If you can feel stress levels elevating, or you can hear yourself being a tad unreasonable (or probably, reasonable given the circumstances), reach for your bottle of Rose.
It can be really useful if you, or your family as a whole, are recovering from grief, trauma or recent upheaval to family life. It’s good for everyone’s equilibrium.
Rose has this almost hypnotic quality that leads to calm stillness. This can help you sleep better and for longer, as shown in the research by Mokhtari (2023).
Rose is quite expensive but there are plenty of ways that you can use it to get the best from your investment. It’s exceptional in calming essential oils blends designed for inhalation, and you can use as little as one drop. It’s the holidays. Why not indulge yourself? Pop a drop in your diffuser to fill your home with rose delight... Given its strength, save for it for the days when you really need it rather than an everyday calming essential oil. Rose Geranium is a better everyday option.
Safety:
- Do not use it topically in the first 37 weeks of pregnancy
7. Melissa (Melissa officinalis)
If you have family or guests coming for the holidays that are experiencing dementia or have Alzheimer’s, then a combination of Melissa and Lavender essential oils are going to prove a useful calming tool for you. Follow the research.
Melissa's aroma is refreshing and instantly relaxing. The sense of calm washes right over you, making it perfect for hand creams and quick absorb lotions to envelop yourself in refreshing calm.
Melissa is another expensive calming essential oil, but like Rose, it is one of the ‘Big Guns’ to pull out right when you need it most! Its price tag relates to its miniscule yield, you need a lot of Lemon Balm to get Melissa essential oil. However, it does have a very low safety dilution rate of 0.63% and it can degrade quickly with oxidation so make small batches or cream or lotion that can be used quickly. Always check the quality of your Melissa oil before using it if you have had the bottle a while.
Liz is the expert on Melissa and has done years of research on this amazing plant- Melissa Essential Oil: The Elixir of Life for Calm and Uplift.
Safety:
- Do not use it topically in the first 16 weeks of pregnancy
8. Mandarin (Citrus reticulata)
This is my favorite calming essential oil for children.
Sometimes, we get so absorbed by our own stresses we forget those of our kids at this busy time. We just think ‘It’s Christmas, of course they are having a great time’! But are they, really?
Take a look at the kids. How are they coping with the holidays? Are they hyperactive, overtired, eaten too much sugar and feeling a bit strung out? Are they overwhelmed by family and guests and are feeling a bit out of place?
If you have a bit of sibling rivalry going on and your one child is getting testy at losing all the time to older siblings, use Mandarin essential oils to cool tempers down. It works like pouring water on a flame and extinguishing the fuel!
Don’t just take my word for it. Tan (2023) concluded ‘Citrus aurantium L. essential oil seems to be the most recommended type of essential oil for treating anxiety because of its significant effects in reducing SAIS and TAIS’. (State Anxiety Inventory scores (SAIS) and Trait Anxiety Inventory scores (TAIS)).
Kids love the fresh zesty aroma of Mandarin essential oil and its beautiful, restful effects. This mild and gentle calming essential oil works quickly to reduce stress levels and to calm children’s anxieties. It reassures and strengthens feelings of safety and security.
Any of your kids will benefit from the calming essential oil blends in How To Make A Calm Kit With Essential Oils For Your Autistic Child.
Mandarin essential oil could be just what your kid needs right now. Could it also be what you need too?
NOTE: Always buy fresh citrus oil for cooking and skincare projects as they can oxidize quite quickly and degrade.
Safety:
- Do not use it topically in the first 16 weeks of pregnancy
9. Chamomiles
Chamomile oils offer such wonderful soothing properties to the calming essential oil party! That I thought I would cover them all for you.
Roman Chamomile (Anthemis nobilis L.)
There is a good reason why Roman Chamomile has earned such a huge reputation as one of the best calming essential oils.
It’s soothing, comforting and helps you calmly assimilate and process information. It allows you to look ahead and navigate your way forward with ease and clarity. Taking away the needs for stress, worry and over thinking.
If you are so stressed, or in that much pain, that you are holding yourself rigid, use Roman Chamomile to reduce tension and loosen the rigidity in your body. It can bring relaxation, flexibility and softness back into your body.
Roman Chamomile also soothes inflamed tempers. If nerves are starting to fray , pop this in the room in an aroma diffuser. If you are furious, stifling anger, try it in a rollerball.
Safety:
- Do not use it topically in the first 16 weeks of pregnancy
German Chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla L.)
If holiday stress is bringing out the stress itch, flaring up the eczema or you are burning with indignity, German Chamomile needs to be your first port of call. It is best applied in a lotion for skin conditions. I have been using a moisturizer daily, to calm some skin inflammation with german chamomile in it. German Chamomile has this glorious bright blue color because of chemical constituents called azulenes which act a little like liquid anesthetic.
Yesterday a friend commented on how I seem unflappable at the moment, even though our family is navigating some very stressful challenges. Liz also commented on my calm head when we were driving back from hospital and had to re-route down a narrow pitch black country lane because of floods. I don’t think she’s ever going to forget the humpback bridge where the road just disappeared in gloom. It was a wide eyed moment for sure. It never occurred to me until I came to write this that I can probably thank German Chamomile that kept me calm!
So look, it works guys. Really well too! Again, don’t take my word for it, see how the research of Pourshaikhian (2024) saw both levels of anxiety and blood pressure decrease through inhaling Chamomile essential oil. German chamomile really is the most a wonderfully calming essential oil.
Safety:
- Do not use it topically in the first 16 weeks of pregnancy
Chamomile Maroc (Ormenis Mixta)
Chamomile Maroc was the calming essential oil that my mother used to come at me with when I was a child. It was what I used most widely until about my 30’s because it suited my hypersensitive skin and my mood.
If you feel like your stress levels have been at a maximum for a while now, this is the best calming essential oil for you. It’s great for managing long lived and persistent stress levels.
It brings a soothing sense of calm, taking off the sharp corners when it comes to both stress and levels of pain. Use it like a volume controller to make things seem less acute, gentler and much softer.
Safety:
- Do not use it topically in the first 16 weeks of pregnancy
10. Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia)
Here is the Queen of Calm, Lavender.
One of the best-known and most widely used calming essential oils. It’s usually the first essential oil that people try using and for good reason, because of the range of chemical constituents, it has so many wonderful properties. You can harness these properties and use them to address a multitude of issues from sore skin to a sore mood.
Yoo (2023) concluded that ‘Lavender oil inhalation is a safe and feasible anxiolytic intervention for treating people with diverse types of anxiety’, which is great news for those of you who experience bouts of anxiety. Simply inhaling this calming essential oil can soothe those frayed nerves.
If you are also suffering from depression, Kim (2021) cited that ‘Lavender aromatherapy showed a substantial effect in reducing anxiety and depression, and sessions of administration increased the anxiolytic effects’. If you are feeling depressed, as many of us are at this challenging time of year, try inhaling Lavender essential oil. Do it regularly too, as the research showed cumulative effects.
Safety:
- Do not use it topically in the first 16 weeks of pregnancy
Honorable Mentions:
Calming Essential Oils For Quelling Anger
We have touched on the challenges many families face at this time of year and how heaped-on holiday pressure can cause tempers to fray and flare up.
Thankfully, essential oils can be a discrete and effective way to add a calming energy into the home, by affecting the mood of the whole family.
Have a good read of Liz’s brilliant article on Calm Your Fury: Essential Oils for Anger Management where she shares some great oil and ideas for using them.
Two particularly calming essential oils that could help you are Fir Needle (Abies siberica) & Yuzu (Citrus junos). Fir Needle seems to quell anger in men better than it does women. Thankfully, it is also a particularly seasonal scent that you could blend with other calming essential oils like Frankincense and Roman Chamomile.
If you urgently need support for domestic violence please get in touch with National Domestic Violence Hotline.
Safety:
- Do not use either of these essential oils topically in the first 16 weeks of pregnancy
Calming Essential Oils For Relieving Anxiety
We have covered some great calming essential oil suitable for anxiety already. Yet, I wanted to add three more to your list.
Read about them all in depth in Unlock Calm: Essential Oils for Anxiety Relief and Empowerment.
If your anxiety is linked to your monthly cycle or perimenopause try Clary Sage (Salvia sclarea),
Can you feel your anxieties rising to the point you want to burst and blow up? Use Jasmine (Jasminum grandiflorum) to create a wonderfully sensuous and calming comfort blanket. To soften the edges on your worries, soothe your worries and bring you to center.
Is your blood pressure through the roof? I hear you, I dare not check mine! Try inhaling Neroli (Citrus aurantium) to lower your blood pressure and especially if you feel depressed with it.
Safety:
- Do not use them topically in the first 37 weeks of pregnancy
Calming Essential Oils For Kids
Often, we get so wrapped up in everything we need to do during the holidays and how little time that we have to do it, that we forget to touch bases with our kids.
Kids can easily be overwhelmed by large family groups and relatives, or guests, they barely know in their ‘safe space’, otherwise known as home.
While this article is written for autistic children - How To Make A Calm Kit With Essential Oils For Your Autistic Child, the blends can be used for any child.
Why not grab a couple of calming essential oils like Bergamot (Citrus bergamia) and Mandarin (Citrus reticulata) and give the kids a little zingy boost to elevate their mood. Try adding in the luscious comfort of Vanilla Oleoresin (Vanilla planifolia) to fool the brain into feelings of safety and security. Bergamot, Mandarin, and Vanilla are the ultimate fragrant comfort blanket for kids.
Safety:
- Do not use it topically in the first 16 weeks of pregnancy
Our Favorite Calming Essential Oil Blends
Take a breath, relax, and center yourself.
I’ve taken all the hard work out of this for you and am providing you with skin safe blends. I want you to relax into this, blend a few oils and find a moment of blissful calm for yourself amongst the chaos of the holiday season.
You Will Need:
- Small measuring jug
- Funnel
- 10ml dropper bottle
- Oil and waterproof label
Method:
- Carefully measure all of the essential oils listed in the blends, into the measuring jug
- Use a funnel and decant into a 10ml dropper bottle and cap tightly
- Label using an oil and waterproof labels and clearly annotate as undiluted essential oils for obvious safety reasons.
- Always dilute before use and use in line with the skin safety recommendations.
Relax, You Don’t Need To Kill Anyone Today!
…. And breathe.
It’s easy to feel completely overwhelmed and like everything is coming at you from all directions. It only takes one person to start upsetting your equilibrium on top of this and suddenly, your normally gentle thoughts start to turn somewhat murderous. We’ve all been there.
This blend of calming essential oils should help to relax you, decrease the level of stress you are feeling, and calm those murderous thoughts. Regain your equilibrium and sanity with this tranquil blend.
P.S. If the object of your murderous thoughts won’t shut up, try the ‘Somebody Shut Those Kids Up Blend’ in an aroma diffuser. Preferably, place it right next to them, after a while you may find the verbal diarrhoea stops and they are feeling a bit more chilled out. That’s the beauty of these calming essential oil blends, they never see it coming!
Makes 10 ml of undiluted calming essential oil blend
- 160 drops of Rose Geranium Essential Oil (Pelargonium Roseum X Asperum)
- 30 drops of Patchouli Essential Oil (Pogostemon cablin)
- 10 drops of Vetiver Essential Oil (Vetiveria zizanoides)
Safety:
- Do not use it topically in the first 16 weeks of pregnancy.
Serendipitous Serenity
Need a moment of pure blissful calm to elevate your mood? Use this calming essential oil blend to slow things down, find your center, regather yourself and uplift your energy before rejoining the fray.
This is perfect for using in stolen moments, like dashing to the toilet, or hiding in the broom closet, for a moment of calm in the chaos. Try it in a rollerball that you can pop in your pocket for instant calm and serenity at your fingertips. It’s perfect for an aroma pendant too.
Makes 10 ml of undiluted calming essential oil blend
- 90 drops of Roman Chamomile Essential Oil (Anthemis nobilis L.)
- 70 drops of Lavender Essential Oil (Lavandula angustifolia)
- 20 drops of Frankincense Essential Oil (Boswellia serrata)
- 20 drops of Patchouli Essential Oil (Pogostemon cablin)
Safety:
- Do not use it topically in the first 16 weeks of pregnancy.
Pour Oil On Troubled Waters
Sadly, there’s no hiding the fact that incidents of domestic violence always rise over the holiday period. As pressure builds and tempers fray, life can become quite challenging, add a dose of anger into that mix too and it’s like a firework about to go off.
If you urgently need support for domestic violence please get in touch with National Domestic Violence Hotline on their nationwide numbers:
- 1−800−799−SAFE(7233)
- TTY 1−800−787−3224
- (206) 518-9361 (Video phone only for deaf callers).
This is where you can create your calming essential oils blend with essential oil constituents that help reduce feelings of anger and aid in instilling calm.
If your partner is male, make sure you include the key ingredient of Fir Needle (Abies siberica) in the blend as it seems to have a significant effect at reducing the levels of anger experienced in men. Follow the science in Calm Your Fury: Essential Oils for Anger Management.
Makes 10 ml of undiluted calming essential oil blend
- 120 drops of German Chamomile Essential Oil (Matricaria chamomilla L.)
- 60 drops of Fir Needle Essential Oil (Abies siberica)
- 20 drops of Myrrh Essential Oil (Commiphora myrrha)
Don’t be afraid to drop this calming essential oil blend into a fragrance oil for a better disguise!
Try it in:
Safety:
- Do not use it during pregnancy. If you are pregnant and need this blend, remove the Myrrh and replace it with Frankincense, but still don’t use it topically in the first 16 weeks.
Don’t Panic!
Workload, family, relatives, money, time, tiredness, expectations, loneliness and overload!
It’s so easy to feel overloaded and overwhelmed over the holiday period. Turn to calming essential oils when the panic starts to set in.
If your heart is racing and your breath quickens and your mouth starts to feel dry. Nausea sets in and your chest starts to hurt and a sense of dread suddenly sets in, chances are you are having a panic attack.
Let’s get you feeling calmer with this easy blend, try it in a rollerball or aroma pendant if you feel you need something on hand to get your through.
For longer-term advice, seek out Essential Oils Blends for Meditations To Calm Panic.
Makes 10 ml of undiluted calming essential oil blend
- 120 drops of Roman Chamomile Essential Oil (Anthemis nobilis L.)
- 60 drops of Neroli Essential Oil (Citrus aurantium)
- 20 drops of Himalayan Cedarwood Essential Oil (Cedrus deodara)
Safety:
- Do not use it topically in the first 37 weeks of pregnancy.
Antidote To Anxiety Overload
Oh my, I only have to think about the holidays at the moment and I can feel that anxiety quicken. Thankfully, I have many calming essential oils on hand to help me relax and feel calmer.
This calming essential oil blend is the perfect antidote when you start to feel your own anxiety levels rising. Nip it in the bud and wave this under your nose.
Makes 10 ml of undiluted calming essential oil blend
- 100 drops of Rose Geranium Essential Oil (Pelargonium Roseum X Asperum)
- 80 drops of Mandarin Essential Oil (Citrus reticulata)
- 20 drops of German Chamomile Essential Oil (Matricaria chamomilla L.) (Remember this is bright blue and will affect the color of the calming essential oil blend).
Safety:
- Do not use it topically in the first 16 weeks of pregnancy.
I’m having a hard time, so uplift me!
The holiday season can be impossibly hard for so many. Whether it’s down to financial pressure, family grievances, loneliness and lack of people to connect with, or even the reminder that a special someone is no longer here, it can be an extremely hard time to navigate.
This blend with calming essential oils also features essential oils that will uplift, but also make you feel a bit better about life. The Rose is perfect for giving you a rosier outlook on life.
Use this blend in thick, unctuous body creams or butters or even a hand cream. It helps you feel more comforted and cosseted, and is a lovely bit of self care to uplift your mood.
Makes 10 ml of undiluted calming essential oil blend
- 150 drops of Mandarin Essential Oil (Citrus reticulata)
- 30 drops of Sweet Orange Essential Oil (Citrus sinensis L)
- 20 drops of Rose Essential Oil (Rosa damascena)
Safety:
- Do not use it topically in the first 37 weeks of pregnancy.
- Sweet Orange is phototoxic, so do not expose your skin to the sun, UV light, or sunbeds for up to 12 hours after application.
If you are feeling depressed or suicidal, there is always someone to listen to at 988 Lifeline. Simply call 998 or visit 988lifeline for more guidance.
Somebody Shut Those Kids Up
Got a houseful of rowdy and rambunctious kids driving you to distraction? Even worse if they aren’t your own kids and you can’t just bribe them into five minutes of silence. There comes a point during every family celebration when the kids need a quiet five minutes (preferably thirty).
Try this calming essential oil blend and use it in an aroma diffuser about twenty minutes before you suggest a ‘quiet time out’ and playing some quiet, sit down games instead.
Kids Safety Dilution Rates For Perfume Rollerballs
…Or you could be really canny and suggest they make their own ‘perfume’ from a very select few essential oils. Adult supervision is needed of course. But they will love applying their ‘perfume’! Can you tell I have done this before?
To use the calming essential oil blend below follow this guide:
The number of drops given relates to the drops of the finished blend to add to the carrier oil.
- 6 mths - 5 years use a 0.5% safety dilution rate mix 10 drops with 100 ml of carrier oil
- Over 6 years old use a 1% safety dilution rate mix of 20 drops with 100 ml of carrier oil
- 16 + use a 2% safety dilution rate mix of 40 drops with 100 ml of carrier oil
- Adults use a 3% safety dilution rate mix of 60 drops with 100 ml of carrier oil
This calming essential oil blend is not suitable for babies less than 6 months of age.
Makes 10 ml of undiluted calming essential oil blend
- 100 drops of Mandarin Essential Oil (Citrus reticulata)
- 50 drops of Lavender Essential Oil (Lavandula angustifolia)
- 50 drops of Roman Chamomile Essential Oil (Anthemis nobilis L.)
Safety:
- Do not use it topically in the first 16 weeks of pregnancy.
I Just Need To Sleep
Try this calming essential oil blend to help calm your mind, body and spirit for a good night sleep.
Marjoram helps with twitchy muscles, German Chamomile helps with itchy skin and moods and Lavender has that ubiquitous tranquility and calm that you can rely on. With a few drops of Vetiver, you’ll sleep like a baby!
Makes 10 ml of undiluted calming essential oil blend
- 100 drops of Lavender Essential Oil (Lavandula angustifolia)
- 45 drops of Marjoram Essential Oil (Origanum majorana)
- 45 drops of German Chamomile Essential Oil (Matricaria chamomilla L.) (Remember this is bright blue)!
- 10 drops of Vetiver Essential Oil (Vetiveria zizanoides)
Safety:
- Do not use it topically in the first 16 weeks of pregnancy.
Using Your Calming Essential Oil Blends
There are so many exciting ways you can use your calming essential oil blends. All of the blends provided are skin-safe when diluted appropriately.
|
Skin Safety Dilution Rate Chart For Your Calming Essential Oil Blends To dilute all 10ml of your calming essential oil blend into a base or carrier oil, use the following guide. |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
| Age Group | Maximum Skin Safety Dilution Rate | Amount Of Calming Essential Oil Blend to Dilute | Amount of Base needed to dilute to skin safety limits. |
| Adults | 3% | 10ml blend | 333 ml base/carrier |
| 16 - 18 years or weakened adults | 2% | 10ml blend | 500 ml base/carrier |
| 6-15 years | 1% | 10ml blend | 1 litre base/carrier |
| 6 months to 5 years | 0.5% | 10ml blend | 2 litre base/carrier |
| Under 6 months | Not recommended | - | - |
Inhalation
Inhalation is a wonderful way of using your calming essential oil blend. I have a bottle upstairs that I made a while ago now. It’s packed with one drop each of really precious essential oils. It’s so powerfully uplifting that just a couple of deep inhales and I can feel my mood being uplifted.
Since I diluted it in a base oil, I can add a couple of drops to my wrists. I cover my nose with cupped hands and take a deep breath of the sublime oils. It’s sensational. You can do this with your calming essential oil blend too.
Many aromatherapists advocate not diluting your blends for inhalation. I, however, do. Especially if you plan to inhale it right from the bottle. It’s so easy to catch the end of your nose and the last thing you want is undiluted essential oils on your sensitive and delicate mucus membranes.
Always dilute your calming essential oil blends, even for inhalation to at least 10%, please.
You will need to dilute your 10ml calming essential oil blend into 90ml of carrier oil for a 10% dilution rate for an adult.
Diffuser
Your calming essential oil blend can be used in various aroma diffusers. This is the perfect way of bringing calm to a rowdy room in as little as twenty minutes. Always allow the essential oils at least twenty minutes to get to work and start to make their effects known.
The beauty of this is that you can have aroma diffusers in different rooms, all with different calming essential oil blends to spread festive calm and tranquility throughout the household. Gosh, that sounds lovely, doesn’t it?!
It’s the secret weapon of relaxation and calm that no one will ever see coming. Use them to influence the mood in your home through the holiday period and beyond, because, these blends are suitable all year through.
Double-check your manufacturer's instructions for your individual diffusers, as they can vary. Some may require you to dilute the calming essential oil blend, others may not.
Not sure what you can use in your diffuser? How To Use Vinevida Oils.
Rollerball
I fall into the fan club of pockets in dresses. Mostly because pockets give you a place to store tissues, calming crystals, and a handy rollerball full of a fragrant and calming essential oil blend.
Rollerballs are wonderful to pop in your pockets or purse; heck I even keep them in my bra where pockets are not available! It’s calming power on demand, at your fingertips.
Simply apply the rollerball to your pulse points and rub in the oil gently and you are good to go. It’s the perfect way to give yourself a refreshing energy boost or a hefty dose of relaxation and calm.
Use your choice of calming essential oil blends in a rollerball and make your busy days more bearable.
Rollerballs are great for kids too. Fill them with appropriately diluted calming essential oils so your kids can use them when they feel a little stressed, overwhelmed, or anxious. They are ideal for popping into school bags for the new semester.
To turn your calming essential oil blend into a rollerball solution. Take a 20 ml rollerball bottle, add the required number of drops of your calming essential oil blend, top up with a suitable carrier oil like Sweet Almond or Jojoba. Cap and label clearly listing all ingredients and an expiry date of 3 months.
Dilution Guide for 20 ml Rollerball
- In 20 ml of carrier oil add the following:
- 3% dilution = approx 12 drops
- 2% dilution = approx 8 drops
- 1% dilution = approx 4 drops
- 0.5 % dilution = approx 2 drops
Always double-check the safety information for your chosen calming essential oil blend too!
Aroma Pendant
This is one of the easiest and most attractive ways of using your calming essential oil blend. You simply drop a few drops of your diluted blend onto the felt pad in the pendant and refresh as needed.
You can take the tranquil fragrance of your calming essential oil blend wherever you go in an extremely discrete way. There are some very simple aroma pendants on the markets and some very beautiful and ornate ones, choose one that meets your style and add your oils for instant calm and serenity.
I used to find this was a good way to use essential oils at work discreetly. You can swap the felt pads out with a new blend to suit your mood. Go from calm and relaxing to mood-boosting and focused clarity in a heartbeat.
Delve deeper into the world of aroma pendants in How to Make an Essential Oil Necklace.
Quick Absorb Lotion
There is something about applying a lotion by hand that can automatically comfort us and help us to relax.
Touch is a magical thing and can affect physical change in our bodies, from reducing our heart rate to deepening our breath. It makes sense that rubbing a lotion into our skin affects all on its own, even before the essential oils get to work!
Try this ultra-speedy recipe to create your own quick absorbing lotion laced with your gorgeous calming essential oil blend.
You Will Need:
- Measuring jug
- Stainless steel spoon
- Funnel
- 250ml bottle
- Oil and waterproof label
Ingredients:
- 100 ml of Aqueous Cream (Various ingredients)
- 110 ml of Rosewater (Rosa Damascena)
- 30 ml of Glycerine (Glycerol)
- 5-10ml of your chosen calming essential oil blend
Optional: Preservative of your choice - follow the manufacturer's instructions.
Safety:
- Double-check the safety information for your chosen calming essential oil blend
- Do not use in intimate areas
Method:
- Mix your calming essential oil blend into the glycerine.
- Mix the glycerine and essential oil mixture into the aqueous cream.
- Add the rosewater and mix thoroughly for a couple of minutes.
- Use a funnel and decant into a 250ml bottle.
- Label clearly, listing all ingredients on an oil and waterproof label.
- Add a production date and expiry date of 6 months.
How To Use:
- Do a 24-48 hour patch test before first use.
- Apply to the skin with your fingers and rub in gently.
- It should absorb very quickly and you can dress right away.
This is a truly lovely way to wind down the last thing at night and ready yourself for sleep. Try it with my ‘I Just Need To Sleep’ calming essential oil blend for a blissful night of dreams.
Room Spray vs Body Spray
Now, I don’t mean to preach here and tell you what to do, but I’m gonna anyway.
Imagine this: You are stressed, and overwhelmed, a relative has just insulted you for the last time and you’re about to lose your stack. You grab a room spray and decide the room needs a real good spritz of calming vibes. But the guests are still in it!
This is where you need to be canny and pre-prepare yourself for this eventuality. Don’t make a room spray, make a body spray. That way you can spritz it round the room, full of guests or not, to your heart's content.
However you must consider carefully if you have guests with health issues, you may need to keep your hand and reach for a diffuser instead.
If you want to use your spray for meditation, again plump for a body spray rather than a room spray with your calming essential oil blend. You can shroud yourself in a beautiful fragrant mist for the ultimate in tranquility
Find out How to Make Body Spray With Essential Oils and Fragrance Oils.
How To Create Calming Essential Oil Blends
When you come to design your own calming essential oil blends, there are some things you need to consider first.
The first questions you need to ask yourself are:
- Do I want to use this calming essential oil blend on my skin
- If so, how do I want to use it?
- What type of product do I want to put in?
- Or do I want an inhalation, diffuser or candle blend that won’t go anywhere near my skin?
If you want to use calming essential oils on your skin, then there are certain safety guidelines (IFRA Standards) you must follow to make sure your products will be skin-safe. Don’t panic though please, I’ll walk you through it. It’s easy enough.
Skin Safe Blends
If you want to take your calming essential oil and make skin-safe blends, you must follow the recommended safety recommendations.
There are two ways of finding these. Click on the webpage for your chosen essential oil, and scroll down until you see an option bar, the third option from the left says DOCUMENTS, so click on that. Look for the documents called IFRA Statement and Safety Synopsis.
Safety Synopsis
The safety synopsis gives you an overall view of how much essential oil you can safely use in topical products.
See a Safety Synopsis example here for Amyris essential oil, you will find that it says:
- 3% dilution for adults,
- 2% for people in a weakened state
- 1% for children over the age of 6.
- 0.5% for babies aged 6 months to children aged 5
- We do not recommend using essential oils on children under the age of 6 months old unless it is an emergency.
If you are making a lotion with calming essential oils for an adult you can only use a maximum of 3% Amyris essential oil, in 100ml of lotion that equates to 3ml or approximately 60 drops.
You must check every essential oil you wish to use as the advice may differ.
If you need to work out how much you need for children, follow the guide in Developing Essential Oil-Safe Practices.
IFRA Statement
The IFRA Statement gives you different product categories like perfume, deodorant, face and body products, candles, washing detergents, and home cleaning products.
It tells you the maximum amount you can use in each particular category. See an IFRA Statement example here for Amyris essential oil.
We can see in categories 1 - 11 that the maximum skin safety dilution limit is 3% and it is not restricted in category 12 (candles/air fresheners etc).
You can see the information is the same as the Amyris safety synopsis and IFRA recommended maximum skin safety dilution rate is 3% for a healthy adult.
Remember these percentages (%) are maximum skin safety dilution limits, they are not recipe recommendations!
VINEVIDA Calculator
If you get a bit stuck or need a quick solution, we have a handy tool to help you work out your safety information with a couple of easy clicks, the VINEVIDA Calculator.
Simply select the product you wish to make, and the oil you wish to use, there are options for both essential oils and fragrance oils, enter the volume or weight of the product you intend to make, click calculate, and voilá! It’s as easy as that. Try it for yourself now!
More Assistance
It’s important to us to provide you with all the information you need to work safely with our products so you can find out much more about working with safety information in these useful articles:
Products Not Intended For Use On The Skin
If you want to use your calming essential oil for your aroma diffuser, an inhalation blend or a candle the safety is a little more lax.
However, you do need to check your IFRA categories, because products like reed diffusers, household cleaners, and detergents fall into categories that still have restrictions. This is because they could still come into contact with your skin.
Don’t fall into the trap of presuming that just because you are not applying it to your skin, it won’t have any skin safety restrictions. Always double-check before you begin to make sure you are working safely!
The following products appear in IFRA Category 10 and have maximum skin safety dilution rate recommendations.
- Air freshener sprays
- Hand surface cleansers
- Toilet seat wipes
- Household cleaning products
- Fabric enhancing sprays
- Floor wax
- Fragrance oil for lamp rings, reed diffusers, pot-pourri, liquid refills for air fresheners
- Ironing Water
If in doubt - check the safety information before you start creating wonderful products with your calming essential oil blends. Alternatively, just use my favorite recipes where all the safety information is worked out for you!
The Final Word
I hope by the time you reach this point your mood has uplifted a little, your blood pressure and stress levels have reduced and you feel distinctly less murderous than before.
….And breathe!
Now you have all the best calming essential oils secrets to help you calm yourself and your household for the perfect holiday season. Make a few calming essential oil blends and have them on hand to deal with any eventuality. Tailor them specifically to your needs and fill your home with serenity.
Remember to check in with the kids. How are they doing? Would they benefit from a burst of lovely calming essential oils too? Just follow the skin safety dilution rates and you will be good to go!
However, you choose to use your calming essential oil blend I hope they bring you the tranquility you seek. Happy and calm holidays you guys!
More Articles On Calming Essential Oils
Can’t get enough? Our blog is chock full of useful articles with calming essential oils, to see you through challenging times. Try some of these for starters:
- 10 Best Calming Essential Oils: Fragrant Bliss
- Essential Oils Blends for Meditations To Calm Panic
- Calm Your Fury: Essential Oils for Anger Management
- How To Make A Calm Kit With Essential Oils For Your Autistic Child
- Unlock Calm: Essential Oils for Anxiety Relief and Empowerment
- Melissa Essential Oil: The Elixir of Life for Calm and Uplift
