5 Best Essential Oil Recipes for Stress & Relaxation
by Bella Martinez August 02, 2025
Maintaining a calm, relaxed state of mind has benefits that go beyond just feeling good. Relaxation supports mental clarity, reduces cortisol levels, enhances sleep quality, improves focus, and helps you handle everyday stressors with greater ease. But how can we achieve that much-needed calm?
Aromatherapy with essential oils is a natural, affordable, and research-backed way to relieve stress and promote relaxation. Using calming essential oils in your diffuser or daily routine can help you unwind and recharge.
To support your wellness goals, we’ve curated 5 essential oil diffuser recipes designed for stress relief and emotional balance. Whether you're drawn to floral, earthy, herbal, spicy, or fresh aromas, there’s a relaxing blend here for you. Let’s get into it.
What’s the Best Essential Oil for Stress Relief & Relaxation?
There are many essential oils for stress relief, but these stand out for their calming effects and aromatherapeutic benefits.
YLANG YLANG
This floral essential oil is prized in perfumery and skincare, but it's also one of the top essential oils for anxiety and mood support.
- A 2006 study found that Ylang Ylang oil helped lower blood pressure and improve relaxation when applied topically.[1]
- A 2008 study showed Ylang Ylang oil had a calming effect during timed tasks, suggesting stress-reducing properties.[2]
Ylang Ylang’s sweet and exotic aroma is a common ingredient in many of our best-selling relaxation essential oil blends.
ROSE OTTO
One of the most luxurious and emotionally uplifting essential oils, Rose Otto is deeply relaxing and comforting.
- Clinical studies show Rose essential oil reduces stress, including pre-labor anxiety in pregnant women.[3]
Its beautifully soft aroma promotes emotional balance, helping you feel grounded and at ease.
SANDALWOOD
Used for centuries in Ayurvedic medicine, Sandalwood essential oil is both calming and restorative.
Benefits include:
- Reducing inflammation
- Promoting skin healing
- Calming overactive thoughts
- Supporting emotional grounding
A 2017 study revealed that Sandalwood and Lavender essential oil aromatherapy significantly reduced stress levels in women undergoing medical procedures.[4]
CITRUS OILS
Bright, uplifting, and full of antioxidants, citrus essential oils like Sweet Orange, Pink Grapefruit, and Bergamot are powerful tools for:
- Improving mood
- Reducing feelings of overwhelm
- Clearing the mind
- Offering mild natural antidepressant effects
These oils are popular in stress relief blends thanks to their cheerful and energizing effects.
LAVENDER
No list of relaxing essential oils is complete without Lavender.
Lavender essential oil helps:
- Calm the nervous system
- Support restful sleep
- Relieve anxiety and tension
- Promote overall well-being
Lavender pairs beautifully with other relaxing oils and is a hero ingredient in countless aromatherapy blends for stress.
ROMAN CHAMOMILE
Roman Chamomile is a gentle yet effective oil commonly used for sleep support and nervous tension.
- Often found in bedtime teas, its essential oil counterpart is just as effective.
- Research supports Chamomile’s role in reducing stress and improving relaxation.
Paired with Lavender in blends like Tranquility, Chamomile essential oil offers a soothing touch to your nighttime ritual.
5 Relaxing Essential Oil Blend Recipes
Now that you know the best stress-relieving essential oils, it’s time to try these easy diffuser recipes to create a calming atmosphere in your space.
EARTHY BLEND
Grounding and warm—perfect for meditation or winding down.
- 5 drops Sandalwood
- 3 drops Bergamot
- 2 drops Cedarwood
SPICY BLEND
Bold and uplifting with cozy warmth.
- 6 drops Sweet Orange
- 2 drops Cinnamon Bark
- 2 drops Frankincense
HERBAL BLEND
Fresh and clarifying—ideal for mental clarity and emotional ease.
- 4 drops Lavender
- 4 drops Clary Sage
- 2 drops Roman Chamomile
FLORAL BLEND
Romantic and soothing—perfect for self-care or relaxing evenings.
- 6 drops Pink Grapefruit
- 2 drops Rose Otto
- 2 drops Ylang Ylang
FRESH BLEND
Clean and revitalizing—ideal for reducing tension and refreshing the senses.
- 5 drops Lavender
- 3 drops Eucalyptus
- 2 drops Peppermint
Relaxation Is a State of Mind
If relaxation is part of your wellness routine, these essential oil blends are a simple and effective way to restore peace and balance. The natural properties of essential oils help calm racing thoughts, reduce stress, and promote emotional harmony.
Here are a few more ways to use these relaxing oil blends:
- Bath Soak: Combine 6 drops of your chosen blend with 2 tbsp of carrier oil and ½ cup of Epsom salt. Add to warm bathwater and soak away stress.
- Diffuser Jewelry: Add a drop or two of your favorite blend to diffuser jewelry for on-the-go calm.
- Mio Mist Portable Diffuser: Take your favorite blend anywhere with this sleek, handheld diffuser—perfect for travel, work, or daily commutes.
Want to explore more? Try our Labor-Less Delivery essential oil blend if you're looking for essential oils for labor support and relaxation during childbirth.
SOURCES:
-
Relaxing effect of ylang ylang oil on humans after transdermal absorption. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/ptr.1950?casa_token=rdZufCT-NRYAAAAA:4uD[…]Qxi2t_8jOHGFyryvCys3XFUB0VSMgfE943ZxHG4-D0Vxz88niFnyfr9uw
-
Modulations of Cognitive Performance and Mood by Essential Oils of Peppermint and Ylang Ylang. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/00207450601042094
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Comparing the effects of aromatherapy with rose oils and warm foot bath on anxiety in the first stage of labor in nulliparous women. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4270653/
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A Randomized Controlled Trial Provides Evidence to Support Aromatherapy to Minimize Anxiety in Women Undergoing Breast Biopsy. https://sigmapubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/wvn.12229?casa_token=R9hHnvRFbJ8AA[…]NlsqGnQa1ReiEOFWRKsXENUdeURCDLCSgE9-MPjTLSOY4LrnsoIA
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About the Author, Bella Martinez
Bella Martinez is a Certified Aromatherapist, Natural Skincare Formulator and Edens Garden’s lead aromatherapist. An industry expert, Bella has spent years training and learning in the aromatherapy field, which she continues annually. Her passion is taking evidence-based aromatherapy and making it approachable for all.
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2 comments
Dusty Rogge
August 14, 2025 at 10:31 am
Need stress & anxiety relief. Good sleep. Clarity of mind during the day (apply to skin areas). Help for joint & body pain.
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Edens Garden
August 14, 2025 at 10:36 am
Hi Dusty! We would suggest Anxiety Ease for stress, Good Night for sleep, Concentration & Memory for clarity, and Sore Muscles & Pain Ease for pain. Let us know if you have any further questions!