3 Essential Oils For Better Sleep
By Karen Williams · October 24, 2022 · 4 min read
Three essential oils for better sleep
Poor sleep has a familiar shape. Tossing, turning, and feeling grouchy the next day. Many essential oils can support a restful night, and after years of research and hands-on blending, three have become my favorites. Lavender, petitgrain, and vetiver. Each brings something different to the night. The Sweet Sleep blend below uses all three.
Why sleep slips away
The reason changes from night to night. It could be stress or anxious feelings. Sometimes diet, not feeling well, or jumpy legs. When you know why you are awake, the right oil is easier to pick. Matching the oil to the reason is what makes the night work. All three oils in the blend below soothe the stress and anxious feelings behind most bad nights.
Sweet Sleep diffuser recipe
This blend fits any diffuser.
- 2 drops Lavender Oil (Lavandula angustifolia)
- 2 drops Petitgrain Oil (Citrus aurantium var. amara or Bigaradia)
- 1 drop Vetiver Oil (Vetiveria zizanoides)
Start it a little while before you turn in. Preparing for a good night begins when you wake up, so let the blend be part of a calm evening.
What each oil brings
Lavender is a middle note, soothing to the nervous system. It also softens the earthier oils in a blend, which keeps the mix balanced. Petitgrain soothes stress and anxious feelings, the two culprits behind most restless evenings.
Vetiver is called the Oil of Tranquility. It suits anyone who feels mentally overtaxed, exhausted yet wide awake. As a base note it is warm, woody, and earthy, and it helps us get to sleep and stay asleep. When you want more at bedtime, the essential oils for sleep field guide lays out the oils, four ways to use them, recipes, and safety.
Common questions
Can I use these oils on my body instead of in the diffuser?
Yes. A simple way is the Less Stress, More Rest bedtime body oil, which blends lavender, cedarwood, vetiver, and patchouli into jojoba. It works by day as well.
When should I start the diffuser?
About 15 minutes before bed gives the scent time to fill the room. Already tucked in? A 1-hour run works too.
Why do vetiver's drops come out so slowly?
Vetiver is a thick oil, so the drops come out slowly. That is normal. Give the bottle a moment and the drop will arrive.
Learn the why behind sleep oils
If you want to understand why these oils work, the Color Me Sleepy workshop spends 90 minutes on five primary essential oils for sleep, along with strategies for a better night.
Lead instructor and face of Aromahead. Karen has taught tens of thousands of students to blend with confidence, from first drop to clinical practice.
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