How to Use Essential Oils

Between work, relationships, endless notifications, and the general chaos of being alive lately, it’s easy to feel mentally overloaded. Sometimes your body stays tense even when the day is technically “over.” And while essential oils aren’t magic cures, they can create small moments of calm that help your nervous system slow down and reset.

Think of them as a soft ritual. A tiny luxury. A way to make your space feel safer, warmer, and more grounding.

What Are Essential Oils, Exactly?

Essential oils are highly concentrated plant extracts pulled directly from flowers, leaves, bark, roots, peels, and herbs. They contain the aromatic compounds that give plants their signature scent and properties.

Because they’re so concentrated, even a few drops can completely change the atmosphere of a room.

How Essential Oils Are Made

Steam Distillation

This is the most common method.

Plants are exposed to steam, which releases their aromatic compounds. The steam and oil rise together, cool into liquid form, and separate naturally, with the oil floating on top.

This process is used for oils like:

• lavender

• peppermint

• eucalyptus

• cedarwood

Cold Pressing

Mostly used for citrus oils like:

• orange

• lemon

• bergamot

The fruit peels are mechanically pressed without heat, which helps preserve the fresh scent and potency.

Solvent Extraction

Some delicate flowers, like jasmine and rose, are too fragile for steam distillation. Instead, solvents are used to gently pull out the fragrant compounds.

The result is often called an “absolute,” which tends to smell richer and more complex than traditional essential oils.

CO₂ Extraction

This newer method uses pressurized carbon dioxide to extract oils very cleanly and efficiently.

It creates extremely pure oils, though they’re usually more expensive.

Why Smell Affects Your Mood So Quickly

Unlike your other senses, smell has a direct pathway to the brain’s emotional center. That’s why certain scents can instantly remind you of a memory, a person, or a feeling before you even consciously process it.

Scents like lavender, cedarwood, and frankincense often create the emotional feeling of safety, warmth, stillness, and comfort. For some people, diffusing oils before bed or during journaling becomes a signal to the body that it’s finally okay to relax.

And honestly? In a world where many of us are constantly overstimulated, that cue matters.

Essential Oils That Feel Especially Calming

Lavender

The classic calming oil.

Lavender is known for helping ease anxiety, support sleep, and create a softer atmosphere overall. It’s perfect for:

• nighttime routines

• baths

• pillow sprays

• stressful days

Frankincense

Warm, slightly spicy, and grounding.

Frankincense feels almost meditative. A lot of people use it while:

• journaling

• praying

• stretching

• meditating

• decompressing emotionally

Bergamot

A citrus oil that somehow feels uplifting and calming at the same time.

It has a brighter scent without feeling overwhelming, which makes it great for anxious mornings or low-energy afternoons.

Cedarwood

Earthy, woody, and comforting.

Cedarwood creates that cozy, “safe cabin during a rainstorm” feeling. It’s especially good at night or during wind-down routines.

Ylang Ylang

Sweet, floral, and emotionally soothing.

People often use it to ease tension, racing thoughts, and emotional overwhelm.

Diffusers Worth Trying

Asakuki 500ml Diffuser

Large tank, soft lighting, auto shut-off, and ideal for bedrooms or cozy spaces.

Woodgrain Essential Oil Diffusers

Minimalist, aesthetic, and blend easily into wellness-focused spaces.

LED Aromatherapy Humidifier Diffusers

Great if you want both scent and ambient lighting at the same time.

Essential Oil Brands People Actually Trust

Plant Therapy

Affordable, third-party tested, and beginner-friendly.

Vitruvi

Known for beautiful branding and mood-focused blends that feel elevated and luxurious.

Edens Garden

Transparent sourcing, ethical focus, and lots of blend options.

Aura Cacia

Easy to find in stores and committed to ingredient transparency.

Easy Ways to Use Essential Oils

You don’t need an elaborate wellness routine to enjoy them.

Simple options:

• Add a few drops to a diffuser while winding down

• Mix oils with a carrier oil and apply to wrists or neck

• Put a drop on a tissue before journaling or meditation

• Add oils to Epsom salt baths

• Create a lavender linen spray for pillows and sheets

• Diffuse calming scents while cleaning or studying

The goal isn’t perfection. It’s creating little moments where your body can exhale.