Aromatherapy for Stress and Anxiety: How Scent Can Help

Aromatherapy uses natural plant extracts, usually essential oils, to help you relax and feel better. A few breaths of the right scent won't fix a hard day, but it can help you calm down, lift your mood and change how the space around you feels. Here's which scents to try and how to use mists and roll-ons in your daily routine.

Picture a long, complicated day, and a scent that gives you a moment of calm.

Life moves fast, and stress and anxiety have become constant companions for a lot of us. It's no surprise that more people are looking for simple ways to relax and feel better. That's where aromatherapy comes in, using plant extracts to support both body and mind.

Some studies suggest scent really can change your surroundings and your mood, helping you let go of tension and find your calm again.

Scents that make your day better

Many scents are known for their relaxing, calming qualities, and each one brings something different to a stressful day. Here are the mists and roll-ons from the Mexican aromatherapy brand Forest Soul, and what each one was made for.

Mists

• Bendita Alegría mist: made to lift your mood and bring a sense of joy. It's meant to help you feel more energized and focused, ease stress and settle your mood. It's also a favorite for meditation.
• Conexión mist: for days when you need motivation, focus and a little more confidence. Its blend is meant to ease tension, freshen the air and help you feel calmer and more grounded.
• Sueño Profundo mist: made for deep, restful sleep. It's meant to help you unwind at night and feel calm and confident, and it works well before meditation too.

Roll-ons

• Crea Activo roll-on: wakes up your mind and gets your creativity going. It's meant to lift your mood, sharpen your focus and confidence, and ease the stress of a long day.
• Claridad roll-on: a fresh blend with eucalyptus and mint to clear your head and help you concentrate. The cool scent makes breathing feel easier and brings you back to the present.
• Calma y Paz roll-on: made to help you let go of tension and relax, body and mind. It's meant to soothe an anxious mood and bring a sense of inner peace, especially at the end of the day.

Feel free to explore and choose the scents that work best for you.

How to use aromatherapy every day

How you use aromatherapy makes a big difference. The good news is that it fits easily into your routine with a few simple, enjoyable habits.

Mists are for your surroundings. Spray them around your bedroom, on your pillow or anywhere you want a more relaxing or energizing atmosphere. You can even mist a little above your head for an "aromatherapy shower." As you breathe in the scent, inhale for 4 seconds and exhale for 4 seconds, 4 times in a row.

Roll-ons go directly on your skin, on pulse points like your wrists, your temples or behind your ears. Because they're portable, their essential-oil blends go wherever you go, at any time of day. After you apply one, do the same breathing: in for 4 seconds, out for 4 seconds, 4 times.

For the best results, combine both. And always follow the safe-use instructions on the product.

Why aromatherapy makes a thoughtful gift

Giving aromatherapy to someone special is a meaningful way to show you care. Gifts for emotional well-being have become some of the most appreciated, because they bring calm and bring people closer. They also support local brands and makers who work with natural ingredients and handmade design.

When everything moves this fast, giving someone a little calm says a lot: love, peace and a real wish for them to feel good.

Discover our scent and self-care gifts and choose the perfect one