By Elena Zhidkova-Rice, Certified Aromatherapist & Olfactotherapy Practitioner

When life feels overstimulating or emotionally heavy, your nervous system needs more than silence — it needs energetic rest. Aromatherapy and olfactotherapy offer a natural, deeply supportive way to relax the body, calm the mind, and restore emotional balance using essential oils for relaxation.

In this post, I’ll share 6 of my favorite essential oils for relaxation from my 15 Essential Oils Holistic Guide — plus how to use them through aromatherapy rituals, chakra pairings, and olfactotherapy practices for lasting relief and nervous system support.

🌸 6 Essential Oils for Relaxation, Sleep, and Emotional Balance

(Excerpted and adapted from my 15 Essential Oils Holistic Guide)

1. Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia)

• Physical: Calms nervous tension, aids sleep, supports skin repair

• Aromatic: Floral, herbaceous, soft

• Energetic: Calms Shen (spirit), harmonizes Liver Qi

• Element: Wood

• Chakras: Third Eye, Crown

• Use: Diffuse in the evening, add to bath salts, or inhale gently before bed

2. Roman Chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile)

• Physical: Eases digestion, reduces anxiety, soothes restlessness

• Aromatic: Sweet, apple-like

• Energetic: Settles digestion, calms the Liver

• Element: Water

• Chakra: Solar Plexus

• Use: Blend with lavender in a diffuser or massage into the abdomen with carrier oil

3. Ylang-Ylang (Cananga odorata)

• Physical: Reduces blood pressure, calms racing thoughts

• Aromatic: Exotic, floral, sweet

• Energetic: Opens the Heart, calms Fire

• Element: Water

• Chakras: Heart, Sacral

• Use: Add 1 drop to a warm bath or inhale before meditation (use sparingly)

4. Patchouli (Pogostemon cablin)

• Physical: Grounding, stabilizing, deeply relaxing

• Aromatic: Earthy, musky

• Energetic: Grounds Shen, transforms dampness

• Element: Earth

• Chakra: Root

• Use: Massage diluted oil into feet or diffuse in the late evening

5. Clary Sage (Salvia sclarea)

• Physical: Balances hormones, soothes anxiety, supports restful sleep

• Aromatic: Warm, herbaceous, slightly musky

• Energetic: Harmonizes Liver, opens Heart

• Element: Water

• Chakras: Sacral, Third Eye

• Use: Inhale before bed or during emotional overwhelm or PMS

6. Frankincense (Boswellia carterii)

• Physical: Slows breath, calms the mind, reduces stress

• Aromatic: Resinous, woody

• Energetic: Moves Qi and Blood, calms Shen

• Element: Fire

• Chakras: Crown, Root

• Use: Inhale gently in moments of anxiety or during meditation

  
  

🌬️ How to Use Essential Oils for Relaxation and Emotional Support

In Aromatherapy

Traditional aromatherapy uses essential oils through inhalation and skin absorption. These rituals engage the senses and support deep relaxation:

• Evening Diffuser Blend2 drops lavender + 1 drop ylang-ylang + 1 drop Roman chamomile

• Calming Bath Soak4–6 drops of patchouli and clary sage in Epsom salts + a splash of carrier oil

• Grounding Massage Oil5–6 drops frankincense and lavender in 30 ml jojoba oil

In Olfactotherapy

Olfactotherapy is the practice of using essential oils through mindful inhalation — focusing on one oil at a time to connect with your emotional and energetic needs.

• How to Begin:Sit quietly. Inhale 1–2 drops placed on a scent strip or tissue. Let the scent guide your emotional response.

• Choose Based on Your State:

  • Patchouli for anxiety

  • Clary sage for inner tension

  • Frankincense for spiritual grounding

I guide many clients through a 21-day olfactotherapy journey, using a personalized AromaDiary and three support check-ins. This structured yet intuitive practice helps retrain the nervous system and build emotional resilience through scent.

💡 Bonus Ritual: Match Oils to Chakras for Targeted Healing

Pairing essential oils with chakra energy centers helps deepen their healing effects:

• Feeling ungrounded?Inhale patchouli or vetiver — Root Chakra

• Emotionally overwhelmed?Diffuse ylang-ylang or clary sage — Heart/Sacral Chakra

• Can’t quiet the mind?Use lavender or frankincense — Third Eye/Crown Chakra

  
  

🌟 Get the Full Guide Free

Want to explore all 15 oils in depth — with seasonal tips, chakra support, blending suggestions, and safety notes?

👉 Sign up here to get the 15 Essential Oils Holistic Guide free + weekly aromatherapy ritual emails.

Each week, I share one of my favorite relaxation blends and a gentle scent-based ritual you can use at home.

🌿 Book Your Free Consultation

Not sure which oils or practices are right for you?

Let’s talk. In a free 1-on-1 consultation, we’ll explore your body, emotions, and energy — and how scent-based healing can support your wellness.

👉 Schedule your complimentary consultation here

This gentle conversation is the first step toward greater calm, clarity, and personalized healing.

With warmth,

Elena Zhidkova-Rice

Certified Aromatherapist & Olfactotherapy Practitioner