The Benefits of Using Lavender Essential Oil for Anxiety & Relaxation

Beauty, serenity and relaxation are often what come to mind when you think about lavender flowers. On one hand, they are delicate and make beautiful floral bouquets and centerpieces. On the other hand, they are a botanical powerhouse for those who want to use them for aromatherapy.

What is lavender oil good for? For centuries, lavender has been admired and celebrated for its natural compounds that help you to kick back and relax. Let's explore why the scent of lavender is so celebrated and then look at some ways easy ways you can use lavender to relax.

Lavender: One of the Most Relaxing Scents for Anxiety

Before anyone knew to give aromatherapy a name, people were using lavender flowers in various ways for relaxation. Over time, those who worked with botanicals learned how to extract the precious oil from these purple beauties, and that opened the door to widespread use of lavender oil for aromatherapy purposes.

So, what are the benefits of lavender essential oil for anxiety? Research studies done on lavender essential oil have shown that it does exactly what generations of people already k It helps ease feelings of anxiety. In fact, one study found that lavender performed similarly to prescription medications aimed at reducing anxiety. But there's more good news: Research has also shown that lavender has other beneficial uses. For instance, lavender may also help to generally improve your mood, and it can even help with insomnia.

Lavender May Be Good for Your Brain

Lavender essential oil has been found to contain powerful antioxidants that can have a positive effect on the brain. In addition to helping with relaxation and sleep, it may help improve memory, reduce discomfort from headaches and migraines and help some people heal from strokes.

Lavender Aromatherapy for Your Dog

Just like humans, dogs sometimes suffer from episodes of anxiety, leading some to wonder if lavender essential oil can also be helpful for anxiety in dogs. The answer is yes, lavender can also soothe an anxious pooch. However, when you're looking for relaxing scents for dogs, it's best to stick with products such as candles that slowly diffuse this lovely fragrance into the air. A dog's sense of smell is over 1,000 times better than ours, and they're also more sensitive to aromas, so a little lavender scent goes a long way for your dog's sensitive system.

Best Lavender Candles

Speaking of candles, lavender is one of the best candle scents for relaxation. Here are two of our best candle scents for creating a relaxing environment:

• Lavender & Cotton. Imagine what it's like to stroll through a country meadow with purple lavender growing on one side and fluffy cotton growing on the other side. The aroma of this candle is clean, fresh and reminiscent of spring.
• Lavender Sugar. This fragrance smells like a sugar cookie infused with lavender. It's a gourmet treat for the senses.

Lavender for the Body

You can enjoy lavender's aromatherapy benefits in different ways. For instance, you can find great-smelling, lavender-infused body care products that you can use throughout the day. A couple of our favorites are:

• Lavender Vanilla Foaming Hand Soap. This rich hand soap is formulated with organic oils that moisturize and vitamins that nourish your hands each time you wash them.
• Lavender Vanilla Hydrating Body Lotion. Indulge in the lingering scent of this amazing fragrance combination and its lush botanical creaminess as you moisturize your skin.

However you choose to indulge in this soothing fragrance, it's sure to get you in the mood to take a deep breath and relax!