There’s nothing more relaxing than an at-home spa night after a long, stressful day. And whether you’re indulging in a face mask or running a bath, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a better way to unwind than with aromatherapy.
The benefits of essential oils extend beyond making your home smell good. “Clinical studies have shown that aromatherapy by inhalation can have real benefits for people with, for example, anxiety, [difficulty with] mental focus, depressive symptoms, and menstrual pain,” Robert Tisserand, an essential oil educator and aromatherapy expert previously told Allure.
Lavender and bergamot are excellent for alleviating stress, for example, while lemon and peppermint can enhance focus and cut through brain fog. And then there’s tea tree oil, known for its use in acne-fighting products and being beneficial for dry and oily skin types alike. “Tea tree oil also has been shown to have some efficacy in the treatment of nail fungus, athlete’s foot, and dandruff,” says Aegean Chan, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and dermatopathologist based in Santa Barbara, California.
The TL;DR: Essential oils are a fun way to incorporate aromatherapy into everyday rituals. To help you wade through the hundreds (if not thousands) of search results, we’ve gathered the best essential oils on Amazon to jumpstart your aromatherapy journey.
Best known for their chic stoneware diffusers, Virtuvi’s portfolio of products also includes premium essential oils — and their eucalyptus option is not to be missed. Chinese eucalyptus leaves are steam-distilled, packed into a minimalist dropper bottle, and meant to exude spa-like vibes in the comfort of your own home.
Summer memories — running through the grass, enjoying a barbecue, that sort of thing — are captured and bottled with Plant Therapy’s citronella oil. This potent blend is beloved by reviewers for its insect-repelling properties, keeping aggressive mosquitoes away so you can enjoy your backyard in peace. Don’t forget to dab a few drops on your ankles to avoid the most frustrating of itchy bug bites.
Dreamland has a scent, and that scent is captured via Hotel Collection’s Dream On Fragrance Oil. Add a few drops of this white tea, sweet vanilla, and cedar trio to your pillowcase or diffuser for a soothing pre-bed ritual — the kind that will have you drifting off to la-la land in no time. This is the perfect alternative for noses sensitive to lavender, the ingredient most commonly used in calming blends.