Ten essential oils that support happiness and boost your mood by supporting the limbic system. These natural holistic compounds offer an alternative approach to improving your emotional well-being and reducing stress. Below, please read about the ten best oils and how to incorporate them into your daily life for a happier and healthier you.
Defining Happiness
Happiness is a deeply personal and subjective experience that varies from person to person. Happiness is not a one-size-fits-all concept. Each individual has a unique perception of happiness based on their biases, experiences, and values.
For some, happiness may be tied to relationships, while for others, it could be career achievements, financial gains, or simply having peace of mind. One key aspect of genuine happiness is that it originates internally and is influenced by your definition of life satisfaction and emotional well-being.
Understanding happiness means letting people explore and define it on their own terms rather than imposing external expectations. So, what does happiness look like to you? Being in the right mindset and not living in stress can help provide the answers to help you unveil your victory.
Statistical Insights into Happiness
Studies on happiness provide insightful data about what contributes to a person’s well-being. For instance, research has shown that around 40% of our happiness is within our control through intentional activities and mindset shifts, while 50% is genetically predisposed, and the remaining 10% depends on life circumstances. Here is a link for the supporting data.
The study suggests that factors like income, relationships, and environment matter, but most can achieve happiness through personal choices and their outlook on life.
Furthermore, psychological studies have shown that people who focus on gratitude, positive relationships, and goal-setting are more likely to experience sustained happiness. If you need help finding happiness, guided meditations or online therapy are great resources to support you on your journey.
Why People Struggle with Happiness
Despite knowing that happiness is achievable, many struggle to attain it. One of the main reasons for this is external pressure, a busy, chaotic life, or societal expectations, which can cause a person to chase superficial goals like wealth or status rather than focusing on their values and goals.
People may also become trapped by negative thinking patterns, unresolved emotional issues, or fear of vulnerability, preventing them from truly connecting with their sources of joy.
Moreover, the fast pace of modern life, stress, and the comparison culture fostered by social media can create barriers to experiencing genuine happiness. As a result, people often feel they need help understanding or lose sight of what truly matters to them.
Enter Essential Oils: Nature’s Mood Boosters
Now, this is where essential oils come into play. Essential oils have a high concentration of plant extracts that have been used for centuries. Studies have shown that essential oils can promote physical and emotional well-being. But how exactly do they work?
The Science
Essential oils contain a high concentration of plant extracts gathered through processes like steam distillation or cold pressing. These oils retain the natural fragrance, essence, and protective and beneficial qualities of the plants they come from.
Each oil has unique compounds that give it specific therapeutic effects, such as anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, or calming properties. Because of their potent nature, essential oils are widely used in aromatherapy, influencing emotional, physical, and mental well-being.
Essential oils are usually inhaled through a diffuser or inhaler, applied to the skin in diluted form, or used in salt baths to improve overall health and balance.
Essential Oils and The Brain
Essential oils are fat-soluble, meaning their molecular structure allows them to easily dissolve in lipids, which are fats. This characteristic is critical for their ability to penetrate the blood-brain barrier and support brain health. Because the brain primarily comprises fatty tissue, fat-soluble compounds can easily pass through cell membranes and directly engage and help brain cells.
Essential oils like frankincense and rosemary contain lipophilic compounds that not only reduce inflammation but also protect neurons from oxidative stress and promote cellular regeneration. These properties are beneficial for maintaining and supporting brain function and mental clarity and enhancing cognitive health by nourishing the brain on a cellular level.
Jodi Cohen’s book “Essential Oils to Boost the Brain and Heal the Body” explains how essential oils work and support the brain.
How Essential Oils Improve Mood
Essential oils can shift the brain from a chronic stress response, freeing up the body’s energy and resources to promote healing and happiness. When under stress, the body shifts into “fight or flight” mode, draining energy reserves and focusing on survival. Essential oils like lavender, bergamot, and ylang-ylang help calm the nervous system by interacting with the limbic system, which is the brain’s emotional control center.
Essential oils promote relaxation and can lower cortisol levels, allowing the body to enter a state of rest and recovery. This shift frees up energy and enhances mood, enabling the brain to focus on happiness and well-being.
10 Best Oils to Improve Your Mood
Bergamot: citrus bergamia
Bergamot has a top note of citrus, sweet middle notes of lemon facet, and peppery and lavender-type elements.
Supports emotional health and well-being.
Safety Data: Avoid direct sunlight and tanning beds for 18 hours. It must be diluted with carrier oil.
Clary Sage: salvia sclarea
Clary Sage is a middle note and has a distinctively sweet, light, woody, and herbal fragrance.
Clary sage improves your mood and can lower cortisol, which helps reduce your stress level.
Safety Data: No known safety issues from research. It may increase menstrual flow.
Frankincense: boswellia carterii
Frankincense is coniferous, pine-like, and woody, with lemon elements on the top note.
Proven to reduce stress, encourage emotional healing, and quiet the mind.
Safety Data: It can be skin irritating if oxidized
Jasmine: jasminum grandiflorum
Jasmine has a warm floral scent with lily-like notes. It also has a fruity, spicey, tea-like fragrance with green notes.
Jasmine has been shown to improve your mood, release inhibitions, relieve depression, and support self-comfort.
Safety Data: may produce an allergic reaction with fragrance-sensitive dermatitis
Orange: citrus sinensis
Orange is fresh, fruity, and very similar to the orange peel.
Emotionally uplifting, calming, and relieving anxiety, it calms tension and an overwhelmed mind.
Safety Data: Non-toxic, may cause skin irritation.
Patchouli: pogostemon cablin
Patchouli is complex and has an earthy, spicy, bitter chocolate, peppery, and wine-like aroma.
It opens up your breath, balances an overactive mind, calms and balances the mind, and supports one’s sensual nature.
Safety Data: Non-toxic, non-irritating
Peppermint: mentha x piperita
Peppermint falls into a medicinal fragrance and has a strong, fresh, penetrating mentholic scent.
Uplifts the mind, clears energy, awakens and refreshes. Supports creativity and self-confidence.
Safety Data: This may cause skin and mucous membrane irritation. Avoid using with children under five
Rose: rosa x damascene
Rose has a rich, sweet, smooth rose scent. Look for honey-like and spicy notes.
It brings a feeling of love, significant mood improvement, and soothes and heals the heart.
Safety Data: Non-toxic and non-irritating when appropriately diluted.
Ylang Ylang: cananga odorata
Ylang Ylang has a strong, sweet, smooth, rich tropical-floral aroma. Look for fruity and spicy notes.
It has been shown to enhance mood and reduce stress. It encourages euphoria, pleasure, and joy and promotes sensual awakening.
Safety Data: It may cause skin irritation or be sensitizing, especially in young children.
Incorporating Essential Oils into Your Happiness Routine
Here are some common ways you can use the power of essential oils for your happiness journey:
- Aromatherapy: Use a diffuser to fill your space with mood-boosting scents.
- Topical Application: Apply diluted oils to your skin, focusing on pulse points.
- Inhalation: Place a few drops of your preferred essential oil on a tissue or inhaler and take a deep breath for an instant mood boost.
To Wrap Up
Remember, while essential oils can be a powerful tool in your happiness toolkit, they work best as part of a holistic approach to well-being. For the best results, combine their use with other happiness-promoting activities like practicing gratitude, building positive relationships, and goal setting that align with your values.
By understanding the science behind happiness and leveraging the natural benefits of essential oils, you can take significant steps towards a more joyful, balanced life. So why not give it a try? Your brain, mood, and smile will thank you!
Disclaimer: Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting a new wellness routine, especially if you have pre-existing health conditions, are pregnant, or are nursing.
Affiliate Disclaimer: As an affiliate, I earn commission from some of the products promoted on this website. However, this does not influence my recommendations on the products or services promoted. I only promote products that can bring value to my audience.
Disclosure: The content on my website is for informational purposes only, expressing my opinions of what I have experienced and what has worked for me. The information I write about is NOT designed to supplement or replace professional medical guidance, diagnosis, or treatment.
You should always research and seek advice from your family physician or a qualified healthcare professional for any queries about medical conditions you might have.
Research
Here are the studies that have been done supporting essential oils:
- Lavender: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3612440/
- Bergamot: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5980530/
- Frankincense: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7403576/
- Ylang Ylang: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20559739/
- Clary Sage: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24802524/
- Orange: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/7589563/
- Rose: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19451698/
- Peppermint: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17995988/
- Jasmine: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20560726/
- Patchouli: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4000937/