Life in the Stress-Free Zone: 4 Ways to Use Lavender Oil
Seems like it’s getting harder and harder to get in the stress-free zone and just bliss out, doesn’t it? When you need more relaxation in your life, practicing essential oil aromatherapy is one of the best hobbies you can get into.
Diffusing and mixing aromas like lavender oil isn’t just a fun way to be creative with your home fragrance. According to Mayo Clinic, aromatherapy is actually one of several relaxation techniques beneficial for stress management.
Using relaxation techniques in your daily life, is an important part of a healthy lifestyle. Managing stress with relaxation techniques like aromatherapy, yoga, deep breathing and music therapy can help lower blood pressure, reduce stress hormone activity, and help you sleep better.
Just practicing aromatherapy as a fun and creative relaxation technique can be a delightful part of your stress management routine. You can even get more specific by choosing the most soothing and serene essential oils.
For creating a peaceful relaxing atmosphere where you can unwind and let go of tension, pure lavender oil stands out from the crowd. While lavender oil has been used in soothing home remedies for hundreds of years, it’s only recently that modern science has begun to investigate this beloved essential oil.
Scientists looking into the effect of lavender oil via inhalation have come away with some promising research about lavender oil and anxiety. For example, people smelling lavender oil for 3 minutes felt significantly more relaxed and had significant changes in the autonomic nervous system.
With its reputation for soothing, and scientifically promising aroma, it’s easy to see why lavender oil is a must-have for relaxing. Of course, you can always drop some in your diffuser, straight no chaser, but there’s so much more you can do with lavender oil.
If you feel like your life “got flipped-turned upside down,” and you find yourself yearning to spend your days “chillin' out maxin' relaxin' all cool” try one of our 4 favorite ways to use lavender oil to get in the stress-free zone.
1) Use Lavender Oil in Your Bath to Soothe Muscle Tension
Let’s clear up a common essential oil misconception right now: you can’t just dump essential oils in a bath and hope for dilution. Lavender oils and other essential oils are oils after all. And we’re sure you know that old saying about oil and water not mixing.
That’s not to say lavender oil can’t be used in baths. On the contrary, we consider a warm bath infused with lavender oil one of this earth’s greatest pleasures— when it’s done right.
Because oil and water don’t mix, pure lavender oil droplets you add to a bath will just cling together on the water’s surface. This can result in painful burns and irritation so it’s crucial you always mix essential oils with a proper carrier before adding to your bath!
Luckily we’re kinda bath experts over here. We’ve got not one, but two awesome lavender oil bath recipes for you.
Lavender oil bath salts are perfect for the DIY beginner (the recipe is very difficult to mess up), and lavender oil bath bombs are a super fun project if you’ve got a little more time on your hands.
DIY Lavender Oil Bath Salts
Ingredients & Supplies
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2 cups plain epsom salts
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2 ½ tsp lavender oil
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Bowl/spoon
Instructions:
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1. Add lavender to epsom salts. Mix well until combined
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2. Add lavender oil salt mix to bath water as hot as is comfortable. For a standard-size bathtub use entire mix.
Lavender Lemonade DIY Bath Bombs
Ingredients & Supplies
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1 cup baking soda
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½ cup plain epsom salt
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½ cup corn starch
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½ cup citric acid
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3 Tbsp jojoba carrier oil
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1 Tbsp water
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1 tsp lavender oil
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½ tsp lemon oil
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½ tsp lemongrass oil
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Large mixing bowl
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Small mixing bowl
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Whisk
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Silicone mold
Optional: Add up to 1 tsp food coloring and/or 1 Tbsp biodegradable glitter. If you do choose to add color to your lavender oil bath bombs, you may want to use gloves to avoid staining your hands .
Instructions:
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In a large bowl, add dry ingredients only. Mix until fully combined.
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Whisk together lavender oil and other wet ingredients in a separate bowl.
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Slowly add wet ingredients to dry, whisking as you go. If it begins to fizz, slow down!
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Once all wet ingredients are added, use your hands to mix thoroughly to avoid any clumps— it should be the texture of damp sand.
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Work quickly to press the mix firmly into the mold while it’s still damp.
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Let sit overnight or until completely dry.
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Remove essential oil bath bombs from silicone mold. Drop 1-2 in a bath and enjoy!
2) Diffuse Lavender Oil Before Bed for More Relaxing Sleep
The first (and maybe most obvious) way to use lavender oil for relaxation is to help yourself unwind and get a better night’s sleep. Using lavender oil for bedtime might even be what introduced you to essential oils in the first place.
If so, congrats! You’re already using lavender oil for relaxation and are on your way to the stress-free zone. Now it’s time to take your diffusing technique to the next level and make your very own lavender oil diffuser blend.
The reason this is such a marvelous lavender oil blend for bedtime is because it smells fantastic and also has some added little bonuses. Regarded as very calming, peppermint oil can also help settle your stomach.
Tangerine is used by aromatherapists to inspire creativity, joy and imagination. Together, peppermint, tangerine and lavender oil are just the right combo of sweet and sharp with a bright citrus zing and soft herbaceous floral tones.
Lavender Oil Sweet Dreams Diffuser Blend
10-20 drops lavender oil
5-10 drops tangerine oil
2-4 drops peppermint oil
3) Stay Calm Under Pressure with Lavender Oil at the Office
We love a good essential oil DIY you can take with you on the go. For pure travel ease, essential oil roll-on blends can’t be beat.
Rollerball bottles are so easy to tuck into a purse or pocket. Then, simply apply your favorite lavender oil aromatherapy blend to your pulse points and natural body heat diffuses the aroma.
It’s important to note that essential oils are wonderful to include in skincare products, but should never be applied directly to your skin all by themselves.
One way to use lavender oil and other essential oils safely on your skin is by diluting them with plant-based beauty oils, also called carrier oils. Pairing the right carrier oil with your lavender oil blend is key when making an essential oil roll-on.
We prefer jojoba oil because it’s lightweight, fast-absorbing, and the scent is barely detectable. Fractionated coconut oil is another great (completely odorless) option that doesn’t compete with or alter aromas like lavender oil.
Calm Under Pressure DIY Lavender Oil Roll-On
3 drops lavender oil
3 drops grapefruit oil
2 drops lime oil
2 Tbsp jojoba carrier oil
4) Keep Calm & Drive On: Lavender Oil Ideas for Your Commute
When you’re commuting hours each day (or getting ready for a long car trip) your car turns into a home away from home. Why not make it an oasis of relaxation?
Essential oils in general are a clever natural replacement for synthetic chemical car fresheners. Simply adding a few drops of lavender oil to a cotton ball and leaving it in a cup holder adds serene and peaceful fragrance to your car.
Making your own car freshening spray is another way to use lavender oil on the go. We love this recipe because it’s light, refreshing and peaceful, but also cleansing.
The light, fresh, laid-back DIY blend we’ve dubbed “Lavender Lemonade” feels like sitting under a shady tree on a warm day, but it’s more than that. Lemongrass and lavender oil antimicrobial activity is what helps fend off bacteria that contribute to funky smells in your car.
If you’ve ever left a bag of soccer gear in your trunk too long, this one’s for you.
Lavender Lemonade Fresh Car Spray
Supplies & Ingredients
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7.5 Tbsp witch hazel
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½ tsp lavender oil
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⅛ tsp (about 12 drops) lemongrass oil
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⅛ tsp (about 12 drops) lemon oil
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4 oz dark glass spray bottle
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Optional: funnel
Instructions
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1. Add lemongrass, lemon and lavender oil to your glass bottle, using a funnel if needed.
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2. Fill the rest of the way with witch hazel.
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3. Cap tightly, shake to mix. Spray in car as needed.
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4. Store out of direct sunlight, shake before using again.
How Do You Use Lavender Oil in Your Self-Care
Did you know you could be using pure natural essential oils for more than just the enticing aromas? How many ways can you think of using lavender oil for relaxation?
Comment and see if you can stump us with a new use for lavender oil!
Tangerine Essential Oil refreshes the senses, helps comfort and soothe emotional stress, as well as help alleviate anxiety, tension, and anger.
*Disclaimer
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. The information on this site is meant for educational and informational purposes only, it is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please confirm any information obtained from or through this web site with other sources, and review all information regarding any medical condition or treatment with your physician. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking medical treatment because of something you have read on this website.