7 Essential Oils To Help You Nail That SLEEP

Struggling to sleep? We’ve got you!

At NEOM, we believe that if you have a perfect night’s sleep, you will always look and feel like the best version of you. Sleep is never to be under-estimated when it comes to your overall wellbeing.

And if you are one of the many who struggle to get a good night’s sleep, you may find yourself desperately searching for an effective way to help combat restless nights, sleeplessness and insomnia.

But wait!

We’ve got good news, there’s something pretty powerful about what nature has to offer - hello those pure and relaxing essential oils.

Whilst the aromas and fragrances of some essential oils may well have an invigorating effect, there are so many others which are linked to relaxation and sleep.

The BEST essential oils for sleep are below - plus brilliant tips for how you can use them to help you get a better night’s sleep.

Best Essential Oils for Sleep & Insomnia

Lavender

A soothing oil with all the hype.

Usually considered the most popular essential oil for sleep and relaxation, research into the use of lavender oils consistently suggests it may calm the nervous system by lowering blood pressure, heart rate and skin temperature. A no brainer for those zzz’s.

Using lavender within an essential oil blend means that you can ensure those all-important calming aromas are released.

An added perk is that the oil can be easily diluted so may be a natural option to help with children’s sleep.

The oil that NEOM use is picked at high altitude and steam distilled – we only use this particular lavender because it gives the purest, most relaxing effect.

Chamomile Oil

Chamomile is another essential oil that releases scents and fragrances associated with relaxation and sleep.

It is a soothing wonder and also has anti-inflammatory properties.

It’s also one for all ages and is a popular oil in lots of children’s products.

Ylang Ylang

With a decidedly delicious sweet and florally scent, ylang ylang is often used to help relieve symptoms of stress and feelings of anxiousness to help you get a better night’s sleep.

The essential oil can be dropped into a warm bath prior to heading to bed.
Ylang Ylang essential oil is another oil we use in our Scent to Sleep range.

Cedarwood

Cedarwood oil has a natural woody aroma. Interestingly, it has been suggested that the oil can help to reduce muscle pain and minimise skin irritations. The result may well be that good night’s sleep you have been longing for.

It also has anti-inflammatory properties and is associated with helping support better sleep through its sedative qualities.

Patchouli

Woody, sweet and even a bit spicy, this beautiful essential oil is a real treat for the senses.

Patchouli’s natural properties have been linked with an increase in the production of certain neurotransmitters such as serotonin and dopamine (some say the happy hormones). What’s interesting about these neurotransmitters is that they are known to ease anxiety and stress so the use of the oil may well help you to have a continuous night’s sleep.

Jasmine

Jasmine is a true natural hero - soothing, rich and luxurious, this essential oil goes above and beyond its reputation and packs a punch when it comes to associated benefits, one of which is being a natural sedative. This makes it not only a beautifully aromatic scent but also one that is perfect to help support better sleep.

It also has an association with reducing irritability, making it a great solution to help relax the mind and body before sleep.

Jasmine has a sweet gem of an essential oil with it’s honey-like, intensely floral scent.

Basil

Basil is a true natural wonder. But, it's the main ingredient to my pasta dish you say? Well the humble basil has A LOT more up its sleeve.

Basil oil is very aromatic and produces a fresh floral scent, really like no other.

Studies have shown that basil soothes mental fatigue, whilst also relieving stress. It’s ideal at bedtime, as it supports the wind down process and allows the body to release tension too.

How Essential Oils and Aromatherapy Help Sleep

The way essential oils work on our mind and body isn’t anything new – oils and natural ingredients have been used to create scents and fragrances for thousands of years (even Greek mythology claims the Gods were given fragrances as gifts).

The way aromatherapy works is using the oils from what nature has to offer - sometimes cold extracting other times gently steam distilling (usually from a delicate petal) to work to help our mind and body feel better. We always say that your body knows best what your mind needs most. When you inhale different essential oils, the scent travels to the hypothalamus and is instantly stimulated producing the hormone that addresses your wellbeing need. Meaning your body will tell you whether you need more sleep, less stress, more energy or a mood lift.

Using expertly chosen essential oils, aromatherapists can transform a room into a wellbeing haven. The type of scent you inhale will be dependent on the essential oils used.

Benefits of Essential Oils for Sleep

The benefits of getting a better night’s sleep are endless. From physical health to emotional wellbeing, and everything in between, getting GOOD sleep, not only makes you feel good. It’s also seriously important for our overall health and wellbeing too.

You can enjoy essential oils in a variety of ways – from body oils, diffusers, candles, mists, lotions, bath salts, the choice is yours.

Whatever floats your boat, you can harness the power of natural, clean ingredients to get better sleep.

Using Essential Oils Alongside a Good Sleep Routine

When we ran the NEOM Lifestyle Stress Audit, lack of sleep came up as a main concern. In fact, half of you told us that you would feel happier and healthier if you got both a greater quantity AND better quality sleep each night.

So, at NEOM, we focus on the things we CAN change – the small steps that make a big difference to our health, every single day. While we can’t write that last minute presentation for you, we can definitely help you unwind completely once it’s done – and turn your bedroom into a science-backed sleepy haven while you’re at it!

So, along with a potent essential oil blend from NEOM, try some of these tips for better sleep.

Tune Out the Tech

Try unplugging from things like email, social media and other mental distractions long before you go to bed. Checking your work email just before bed is never a good way to get some sleep!

Not only does tech stimulate the mind, lots of studies have proven just how disruptive blue light is for sleep. Long story short, stop using your phone, tablet or laptop in bed!

Say Um No thanks to the Extra Cappuccino

Caffeine can be a dear friend but can also contribute to troubled sleep. Watch your caffeine intake, particularly in the afternoon. Late afternoon coffees may be contributing to your sleepless nights and something that may be worth cutting out if you’re struggling to sleep at night.

Keep it Light at Night

Big meals (especially carb heavy meals) can boost sugar levels and metabolism and the production of insulin. This inhibits the production of melatonin, the sleep hormone.

Eating earlier may help encourage a better night’s sleep too.

Keeping a food diary and recording what you eat against the quality of sleep may be an exercise worth doing.

Strike a (Yoga) Pose

Yoga can also be a great way to improve sleep. According to the Sleep Foundation, there are certain yoga poses that help relax your body and prepare you for sleep.

Similarly, don’t worry if you’re not a yogi, there are simple stretches that will work too.

Practice Makes Perfect

The power of routines and the subsequent impact this can have on our minds is worth remembering. Simply having a routine and sleep ritual you follow each night can help prepare you mentally for sleep. After a while, as soon as you light that candle, take a soak, or whatever it is you do, you’re telling your mind sleep is just around the corner!

Using NEOM Essential Oil Blends for Better Sleep

We know how important a good night’s sleep is, so we created fragrances and scents specifically designed to help you relax and prepare for a good night’s sleep. Say hello to our Scent to Sleep range.

We’ve blended together the perfect natural sleep recipe, using only natural, clean ingredients. A super complex blend using only 100% natural fragrances, with 19 of the purest possible dreamy essential oils including English lavender, precious jasmine & sweet basil plus little touches of other perfectly chosen natural essential oils expertly blended to help you relax and prepare for sleep.

From candles and diffusers, to bath salts and body oil, this range is dedicated to helping you sleep and harnesses the power of natural ingredients and essential oils in a range of home and beauty products.

Sleep Heroes and Bestsellers

The simplicity of combining the calming aromas of an essential oil with a relaxing routine at bedtime may well have a profound effect on how quickly you fall asleep and the quality of your sleep throughout the night. It may be that for you, a blend of multiple oils is the most effective.

We suggest simply inhaling a fragrance to discover the scent you feel most drawn too. Then it is down to you to experiment as to what works best when combining the oils into your bedtime routine. You could add the oils to your bath, use a diffuser, apply to the body directly or use a mist.

So, over to you. Try some of these tips and see if it helps you drift off into blissful slumber.

Sweet dreams!