Aromatherapy For Sleep?
Aromatherapy has many applications, from relieving stress and calming our nerves, to more specific function such as stimulating your appetite or increasing one’s libido. It should, therefore, be of no surprise that there are many scents which have been linked to improving the quality of our sleep.
These sleep-inducing scents, or sleep scents for short, come from all sorts of natural sources, from fruits to flowers an herbs.
If you’ve ever investigated aromatherapy for sleep then you’ve almost certainly encountered lavender. This is the most commonly known scent which is associated with improving your sleep quality. It has been linked to relieving anxiety, as well as slowing down the nervous system, which can lead to better sleep. However, if lavender hasn’t worked for you, or you’re simply not a fan of its fragrance, then read on for some less well-known but equally viable alternatives.
8 Great Sleep Scents You Might Not Know
Jasmine
Jasmine has a very good track record for helping people get to sleep. The sweet scent produced by this small white flower can greatly improve your sleep efficiency and can reduce the amount you move about in your sleep. The calming effects of jasmine relax your mind, allowing you to drift off and improving your sleep quality. Perhaps one of the most overlooked sleep scents, jasmine has even been known to outperform lavender in aiding sleep. This scent can be especially useful for helping those with headaches enter a peaceful slumber.
Chamomile
Chamomile has long been popular as a home remedy for helping to induce sleep. While commonly consumed as a herbal tea, the very scent of chamomile is said to have calming and relaxing properties. A popular way of using chamomile for its scent is to apply a few drops of chamomile oil to your pillow. This will provide a constant source of the fragrance all through the night.
Vanilla
The scent of vanilla is well-known for its strong relaxing qualities. While this could simply be due to the fragrance conjuring thoughts of home-baking and other comforts, it has also been linked other sleep-benefitting properties. For example, smelling vanilla is thought to reduce stress by lowering blood pressure and helping to stabilize your heart rate.
Valerian
A more uncommon fragrance, valerian is less well-known for improving sleep. This is probably due to the scent being somewhat less fresh than other more popular options, such as lavender or jasmine. However, this doesn’t mean that the fragrance is without sleep-inducing qualities. The smell of valerian is said to speed up the process of falling asleep while also increasing sleep duration.
Sandalwood
Sandalwood is an excellent option for those who are kept awake by an overactive mind. The scent of sandalwood helps to calm your emotions and allows you to enter a more meditative state. This scent is particularly helpful if muscle cramps wake you up in the night, as it acts as a relaxant. These combined effects make it one of the best sleep scents, and it has become a popular aid for relieving chronic insomnia.
Bergamot
Bergamot is a citrus fruit grown primarily in Italy. In terms of scent and flavour it is somewhere between an orange and a lemon. This fresh aroma improves your mood by reducing anxiety and relaxing your mind. Bergamot increases the quality of your sleep by keeping you in the restorative sleep state for longer. This means that you’ll wake up feeling more energetic an refreshed than you otherwise might.
Marjoram
Majoram is a herb most commonly used to add flavour in cooking. However, the variety known as Sweet Marjoram produces a scent which has been hailed as a treatment for insomnia. While the effectiveness of this may vary from person to person, it is said to outperform both lavender and chamomile in inducing sleep. This makes it a valuable addition to your list of scents for sleep aromatherapy. This sleep scent works to calm the nervous system, which can help to ease anxiety and bring down your blood pressure.
Ylang Ylang
The scent of Ylang Ylang comes from a flowering Southeast Asian tree which produces a sweet floral aroma. This is a great scent for relieving stress, allowing you to calm your mind before sleep. Like many other sleep scents, Ylang Ylang has been shown to lower blood pressure. This helps to pacify the nervous system, thereby relieving tension which can keep you awake. Commonly found as an essential oil, Ylang Ylang is perfect for seeking to expand their aromatherapy options.
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