Top 5 Best Essential Oils For Sleep & Relaxation

At the end of my first yoga class, I remember feeling so calm and relaxed, and loving the way the room smelled. I told my teacher that if my house smelled the same as her studio did, I would be zen 24/7! Then she introduced me to essential oils and my whole world changed.

From that day on, I have used essential oils almost every day in one way or another. I have my favorite essential oils for sleep, for energy, for nausea, you name it. There is tons of scientific evidence to back up the use of essential oils for sleep, but honestly, finding your favorite preferred scent is best! I say this because I offered my sister lavender as an essential oil for sleep, only to find out that lavender reminds her of doing laundry, which she hates. Go figure! 🙄

If you’re wondering what are the best essential oils for sleep and relaxation, this is a great place to start! I’m going to introduce you to the best essential oils for sleep, plus five unique ways to enjoy your essential oils for sleep! They’re great for pre-bedtime, or anytime you’re feeling especially stressed or tense. You’ll enjoy the smells as much as you love the effects!

What Are Essential Oils?

Essential oils are literally compounds extracted from different plant sources. For example, peppermint essential oil is extracted from peppermint leaves, and lavender essential oil is extracted from lavender buds! They’re highly concentrated liquid oils, and because they’re so strong, you only need a little bit at a time. Just a drop will go a long way!

For example, when using an essential oil for sleep, you could just rub a small drop or two on your wrists or temples. By comparison, if you were using a lotion that contained a small amount of essential oils for sleep, you could rub it all over your arms and legs! This just goes to show how powerful essential oils can be!

Best Essential Oils For Sleep

Now for the good stuff! What are the best essential oils for sleep and relaxation? Well, let me tell you! This is by no means every single one of the essential oils that are great for sleep, but these are definitely the best essential oils for sleep. You can use one or all of these when you’re getting ready to wind down, or alternate between them every night. Once you get into the groove of things, before you know it, you’ll have your very own favorite essential oil for sleep time.

1. Lavender essential oil

I believe lavender is one of the absolute best essential oils for sleep. It is so naturally calming, and smells amazing. For me, lavender reminds me of fresh, cozy laundry. (Unlike my sister.) I like to just take a few drops of it and rub it behind my neck and on my earlobes as I’m getting ready for bed. It also works great for stressful days and situations. I keep a dropper in my purse and next to my bed.

2. Rose scented candles

Rose scented candles fix everything! Had a bad day? Light her up. Stressed about tomorrow? Rose scented candle, on. Trouble falling asleep? Read a book next to your favorite rose scented candle! But seriously, rose is a great essential oil for sleep time, because its floral aroma is naturally relaxing. If you’ve ever sniffed a just-bloomed rose bush, you’ll know what I’m talking about!

3. ZzzTox tea

There’s a reason people suggest having a warm cup of decaffeinated tea as bedtime nears! Not just any tea will do, though. ZzzTox is my favorite, because it contains herbal essential oils such as lavender and peppermint, and chamomile tea, which are all proven to help reduce stress and improve sleep. (And are all some of the best essential oils for sleep!) For more ways to enjoy ZzzTox, check out our blog on all the best teas for sleep where we talk about the seven best teas for winding down at night, plus things that may be causing you to have trouble sleeping.

4 Chamomile temple balm

This one is soooo good! You can buy it in a store, or make it yourself! Just get a small tin (about 1-2 oz.) of hardened coconut oil, and mix in about 10 drops of chamomile essential oil. I swear, it is the most amazing, calming temple balm ever. Chamomile, like the tea, is a great essential oil for sleep. It’s known as one of the best essential oils for sleep because it naturally calms the nervous system! Pair this with some relaxing ocean sounds and you’re practically at a spa!

5 Sandalwood room spray 

Room sprays are the easiest way to change the vibe in a room. Plus, they’re SO easy to make. Get an empty 4 oz. spray bottle, fill it up ¾ of the way with water, add about 10 drops of sandalwood essential oil, and top off with some more water. Give it a good shake, and you’re good to go! I love sandalwood as an essential oil for sleep, because unlike the other oils I mentioned, this one has a very earthy, grounding scent to it.

The Bottom Line 

I hope this helped answer your question about what are the best essential oils for sleep and relaxation. These have all helped me during bouts of insomnia in my life, and I hope that they help you out too! Remember, finding the best essential oils for sleep all comes down to preference. Find what you look forward to, and what works for you, and then stick to it! Sweet dreams!