Can Diffusing Essential Oils Actually Improve My Sleep and Mood? I Tried to Find Out ...Middle East

In the past year, I've gotten married, moved to a new state, traveled (a lot), and my husband changed jobs - all while dealing with the normal ups and downs that come with daily life (and the current state of things politically and economically). Suffice it to say, I've been stressed.

I know how fortunate I am to have been afforded all of these experiences, but that doesn't stop me from feeling overwhelmed or panicked over a seemingly endless to-do list. I'm proud to say that I have a lot of strong self care practices that keep me feeling grounded - I try to get 7,000 steps a day (outdoors, if possible), I'm in bed by 9:00 pm, I have hobbies that don't involve a screen - but I won't lie: I could use more.

Then, on a recent trip to Hawaii (I know, I know, as I mentioned, I'm very fortunate when all is said and done), I was introduced to the power of essential oils. While my mother used them occasionally as I was growing up, I never fully understood how - or why - they worked. But depending on how I was feeling, she'd say, "Dab some of this oil on your wrist." These days, I mostly come across them in spas, like when I'm getting a massage or facial, but again, I didn't fully comprehend what they were doing; they just smelled nice.

In Hawaii, I had the pleasure of spending some time with DoTerra, an essential oil brand and multi-level marketing company that prides itself on creating pure, high-quality blends. The trip took us to the Kealakekua Mountain Reserve, a nearly 10,000-acre property that the brand established in 2018 as the largest reforestation effort in Hawaii.

There, I learned about different essential oils and their unique purposes (like lavender for tranquility, lemon for a mood-boost, and peppermint for awakening), as well as the importance of using quality oils. It may sound woo-woo, but considering the very real practice of aromatherapy, it seems there is some merit to it.

To put it to the test, I decided to diffuse essential oils in my apartment for a week, day and night, to see if it made a difference in my sleep, stress levels, and overall mood. Here's what happened.

Using Essential Oils & Aromatherapy to Reduce Stress

You can apply some oils topically, but I wanted to test the efficacy of aromatherapy, so I opted to diffuse them in my Saje Aroma Om Ultrasonic Diffuser ($124). DoTerra also makes their own, the Laluz Diffuser ($60), and if you want a waterless option, the Canopy Bedside Diffuser ($65) is also great.

During the day, I used the Wild Orange Essential Oil ($18), which has a sweet citrus scent and is said to help energize, uplift, and add freshness to the air. At night, to promote sleep - something I desperately need as I have insomnia - I diffused the Lavender Oil ($38), which is said to promote calmness and help with relaxation.

I had two diffusers for this experiment: one in my bedroom and one in my living room. In the morning, I put a few drops of the orange oil into some water and let the machine do its thing while I worked. At first, the scent was noticeable and strong as it made the room smell really fresh and bright. After a while, though, my senses got used to the fragrance and I didn't notice it as much anymore.

At night, I tried to recreate the relaxing environment of a spa. I dimmed the lights, put a few drops of the lavender oil in my diffuser, and set my noise machine to peaceful waves. The lavender oil filled the room with its fragrant, flowery scent while I read my book in bed.

My Results

After a week of doing this routine, the results were surprising. While I enjoyed the scent of the orange oil that I diffused during the day, I didn't notice a huge difference in my overall mood while working. My apartment did, however, smelled really, really good, which is a win in and of itself. In order to feel energized or calmer, I felt it was more effective to apply some of the oil to my wrist and take a few moments to breathe it in deeply.

The lavender oil I diffused at night was more impactful for me. Using it, I was able to successfully create a little zen oasis for myself before bed. The scent, combined with the other habits I was stacking with it, signaled to my brain it was time to wind down. During this little weeklong experiment, I had significantly less difficulty falling asleep than usual. And even on the nights that I did still have trouble getting to bed, I still felt more relaxed overall. Since sleep has always been a huge pain point for me that no amount of medication or sleepy tea could curb, this was definitely a win.

Considering there certainly weren't any cons to using essential oils to promote relaxation, I'll continue to implement this little wellness habit into my daily routine here and there. It's a nice way to transform the vibe of my space with minimal effort.

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