Stress, a busy schedule, and dietary choices are a few factors that can affect your sleep—and not getting enough shuteye can take a toll on your quality of life. Luckily, aromatherapy can lead to a restful night’s slumber. If you’ve ever wondered about aromatherapy for sleep, here’s a guide to which essential oil blends belong in your diffuser and why sleep and scent are so closely related.
The Link Between Fragrance & Sleep
It might come as no surprise that fragrances can trigger different emotions or bring back fond memories. When essential oils are inhaled, the molecules interact with olfactory receptors in the nose. Based on the properties of a scent, the receptors send different messages to the brain’s limbic system to provoke specific emotional responses. The brain then releases neurotransmitters to make the desired emotional response happen.
Certain essential oils have sedative effects, so they can ease stress and anxiety. Inhaling scents with these properties triggers the brain’s release of serotonin, a neurotransmitter that evokes a sense of calm. The brain also synthesizes melatonin, which is a hormone that regulates your sleep-wake cycle and interacts with dopamine to influence sleep quality.
There’s more: Pleasant smells help the brain release mood-boosting endorphins, which can curb stress and irritability and help you get a better night’s rest.
Best Essential Oils for Sleep
Lavender
Canopy blends contain a variety of essential oils to help with sleep. Many people enjoy the light, floral scent of lavender oil, which is part of the Lull blend in the Little Dreams by Canopy Aroma Kit, the Dusk blend in the Canopy x Open Spaces Aroma Kit, and the Lavender Dream blend in the Laneige x Canopy Aroma Kit.
Made from the plant’s distilled flower spikes, lavender oil is a known anxiety reliever with sedative properties that can help stop running thoughts and other brain activity that make it difficult to fall asleep.
Chamomile
Extracted from the flowers of the chamomile plant, chamomile essential oil aids the body’s release of serotonin. The sweet aroma is similar to apples or straw, depending on the type of chamomile. This earthy fragrance is part of the Salt Cave blend in the Rituals by Canopy Aroma Kit.
Peppermint
Peppermint essential oil is sourced from the leaves of the peppermint plant. The sharp coolness of this refreshing aroma is a stress reliever. According to studies, it has a similar effect on sleep as lavender essential oil. This bold fragrance takes center stage in the Peppermint Twist blend included in the Laneige x Canopy Aroma Kit.
Why Getting Enough Sleep Matters
Adults aged 18 to 64 should get 7 to 9 hours of sleep each day to wake feeling well-rested. This is typically how long it takes to complete each sleep cycle. Throughout the different sleep stages, the brain’s neurons regroup and help get rid of toxins in the central nervous system. This process prevents brain fog, which can affect concentration and memory when you’re awake.
Getting enough sleep can help keep you emotionally stable, too, by keeping the hippocampus, amygdala, and other parts of the brain that regulate mood in check.
Quality sleep can also reduce the likelihood of getting sick. While you sleep, your body produces cytokines, immune cells, and antibodies. These cells and proteins attack germs to give your immune system response a boost.
Let Canopy help you put an end to sleepless nights. Use the essential oils for anxiety and sleep in the waterless aroma diffuser to release tranquil fragrances in up to 400 square feet of space. If you’re looking for scent plus hydration, our original humidifier is the perfect bedside companion.
