4 Easy DIY Essential Oil Recipes for Anxiety Relief
The best essential oils for anxiety and 5 easy DIY blends for diffuser, roller, bath and body oil, with lavender, frankincense and ylang ylang.
In this guide
The best essential oils for anxiety are lavender, frankincense, chamomile, rose, ylang ylang and clary sage. Their soft, calming scents help many people slow their breathing and feel more settled. Below are 5 easy essential oil recipes for anxiety relief: two diffuser blends, a roller bottle, bath salts and a slow-down body oil.
Key takeaways
- Lavender is the most popular calming oil, and it appears in three of the five recipes.
- Frankincense, chamomile, rose, ylang ylang and clary sage are the other best oils for stress and anxiety.
- A diffuser blend needs only 5 or 6 drops. A 10ml roller needs about 6 drops in a carrier oil.
- Roll your blend onto pulse points: the wrists, the sides of the neck and the temples.
- Always dilute oils for skin, patch test first, and take care in pregnancy and around pets.
What are the best essential oils for anxiety?
When life feels busy, a few quiet minutes with a scent you love can be a simple, comforting habit. Aromatherapy oils for anxiety work through your sense of smell. Breathing in a soft, familiar scent can help you pause, slow down and take a deeper breath.
These are the natural oils for anxiety used in this post, and what each one brings.
| Oil | Scent | Why people use it |
|---|---|---|
| Lavender | Soft, herbal floral | The classic oil for calm and sleep |
| Frankincense | Warm, woody resin | Grounding and slower breathing |
| Chamomile | Warm, herbal apple | Gentle comfort at bedtime |
| Rose | Rich, sweet floral | Soothing and heart-warming |
| Ylang ylang | Heady, exotic floral | Relaxing and mood-lifting |
| Clary sage | Nutty, herbal sweetness | Calming busy, anxious thoughts |
| Jasmine | Deep, sweet floral | A warm, positive mood |
| Patchouli | Earthy, musky base | Grounding and unwinding |
| Sweet orange | Juicy, bright citrus | Lifting a low mood |
Choose oils whose scent you truly enjoy. A blend you love will always feel more calming than one you put up with. You can find every oil here in our essential oils collection.
5 easy essential oil recipes for anxiety
These DIY essential oil blends for anxiety are simple to make at home. Each one helps create a calm, restful mood, whether you diffuse it, roll it on, soak in it or massage it in.
1. Lavender Calm Diffuser Blend
Best for: winding down at the end of the day
- 2 drops Lavender oil
- 2 drops Eucalyptus oil
- 2 drops Frankincense oil
Lavender brings soft, soothing calm, eucalyptus adds a fresh, open note and frankincense gives warm, grounding depth. Together they make a balanced, comforting blend.
2. Citrus Refresh Diffuser Blend
Best for: lifting your mood and freshening a room
- 1 drop Lemon oil
- 1 drop Sweet orange oil
- 2 drops Rosemary oil
- 1 drop Pine oil
Bright citrus feels cheerful and energising, rosemary adds a clean, clear edge and pine brings a crisp forest note. Diffuse it when you feel low or flat.
3. Soothing 10ml Roller Bottle Blend
Best for: calm on the go, at your desk or while travelling
- 10ml Carrier oil, such as sweet almond, jojoba or grapeseed
- 2 drops Lavender oil
- 2 drops Chamomile oil
- 2 drops Rose oil
Roll a little onto your wrists, the sides of your neck and your temples. Breathe in the soft floral scent deeply and take a quiet moment to relax.
4. Just Relax Bath Salts
Best for: a long, calming soak before bed
- 1 cup Epsom salts
- 1/3 cup Bicarbonate of soda
- 1 tbsp Carrier oil, such as sweet almond, jojoba or grapeseed
- 3 drops Chamomile oil
- 3 drops Jasmine oil
- 2 drops Ylang ylang oil
- 2 drops Patchouli oil
- Optional A sprinkle of rose, chamomile, jasmine or lavender flowers
Mix the oils into the carrier oil first, then stir into the salts. Add to a warm bath, sink in, breathe deeply and let the day melt away.
5. A Body Oil to Slow Down With
Best for: a slow, mindful self-massage at the end of a long day
- 60ml Sweet almond oil
- 4 drops Rose oil
- 2 drops Clary sage oil
- 2 drops Frankincense oil
- 4 drops Lavender oil
Blend everything in a 60ml dropper bottle, label it and store it somewhere cool. Follow the slow massage steps below.
How to use the body oil for a calming massage
This gentle self-massage helps you slow down, breathe and come back to your body. Take as long as you like.
- Begin by massaging a few drops onto the crown of your head.
- Breathe in the scent as you massage your forehead and temples, then move gently and slowly to your neck and shoulders.
- Massage towards your heart, breathing deeply along the way.
- Use long, soothing strokes, or gentle tapping over each area.
- Carry on down your body until you reach the soles of your feet.
- Finish by noticing your feet on the ground and a few slow, gentle breaths.
For more ideas, read our guide to making your own massage oil.
Where to apply essential oils for anxiety
Once an oil is diluted in a carrier, the best places to apply it are where you can easily breathe it in. Pulse points are warm, so they release the scent slowly through the day.
- Wrists: roll on, then cup your hands over your nose and take three slow breaths.
- Sides of the neck: the scent rises gently as you move.
- Temples: a small amount only, and keep well away from your eyes.
- Chest: lovely at bedtime, as you breathe the scent in while you rest.
- Soles of the feet: a calming spot for the body oil before bed.
Pro tip
Pair your anxiety roller with slow breathing. Breathe in for a count of four and out for a count of six, three or four times. The scent and the slow breath work well together.
How to use a diffuser blend for anxiety relief
Fill your diffuser with water to the line, add your drops and switch it on. Start with fewer drops and add more if the room is large or you want a stronger scent.
- Use 5 or 6 drops in total for a standard diffuser and an average room.
- Run it for 30 to 60 minutes, then give the room a rest.
- For anxiety and sleep, diffuse the Lavender Calm blend in your bedroom half an hour before bed.
- Mix diffuser blends fresh each time.
Want more ideas? Try our 8 lavender diffuser blends to relax and de-stress.
Can essential oils help with stress and low mood?
Many people reach for essential oils when they feel stressed, worried or low. Citrus oils like sweet orange and lemon are known for their bright, uplifting scent, while florals like rose, jasmine and ylang ylang feel warm and comforting.
The Citrus Refresh blend is a good start on a flat, grey day. For more, read our list of the top 7 essential oils for stress relief.
Essential oils can be a lovely support, but they are not a treatment for anxiety, depression or panic attacks. If you feel anxious or low most days, please talk to your GP. You do not have to manage it alone.
Are essential oils for anxiety safe?
Safety first
Never put essential oils on your skin undiluted. The roller and body oil recipes above are already diluted in a carrier oil, so keep to the drops listed.
- Patch test anything you put on skin. Apply a little diluted blend to your inner forearm and wait 24 hours.
- Keep oils out of reach of children. Avoid diffusing eucalyptus and rosemary near babies and young children.
- If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, ask your GP or midwife first. Clary sage is best avoided in pregnancy.
- Cats and dogs are sensitive to oils. Diffuse in an airy room and always leave pets a way out.
- Lemon can make skin sensitive to sunlight. This matters on skin only, not in a diffuser.
- Speak to a doctor first if you have asthma, epilepsy or a serious health condition.
FAQs
What is the best essential oil for anxiety?
Lavender is the most popular essential oil for anxiety. Its soft floral scent is well known for helping people feel calm and settled. Frankincense, chamomile, rose and clary sage are close behind.
What essential oils mix well for anxiety?
Lavender, frankincense and eucalyptus make a calm diffuser blend. Lavender, chamomile and rose make a gentle roller. Florals and resins work well together for a soft, grounding scent.
How do I make an anxiety essential oil roller recipe?
Fill a 10ml roller bottle with a carrier oil such as sweet almond or jojoba. Add 2 drops each of lavender, chamomile and rose, then shake gently. Roll onto your wrists, neck and temples.
Where do you apply essential oils for anxiety?
Apply your diluted blend to pulse points such as the wrists, the sides of the neck and the temples. You can also rub a little on your chest at bedtime, so you breathe the scent in as you rest.
Which essential oils help with sleep and anxiety?
Lavender, chamomile, frankincense and patchouli are good choices at night. Try the Lavender Calm diffuser blend before bed, or the Just Relax bath salts for a soothing evening soak.
Can I use essential oils in an inhaler for anxiety?
Yes. Add a few drops of lavender, frankincense or chamomile to the cotton wick of a blank personal inhaler. Breathe in slowly whenever you need a calm moment.
How long will these blends keep?
Make the roller and body oils in small batches and use them within a few months, stored somewhere cool and dark. Bath salts keep well in a sealed jar away from moisture.
Are these recipes safe during pregnancy?
Some essential oils are best avoided during pregnancy and breastfeeding, including clary sage. Ask your GP, midwife or a qualified aromatherapist before using any blend.
The bottom line
Lavender, frankincense, chamomile, rose and ylang ylang are the best essential oils for anxiety, and they are easy to use at home. Start with the Lavender Calm diffuser blend or the soothing roller, then try the bath salts and body oil on slower evenings. For more ideas, read how to reduce anxiety with essential oils, and find every oil in our essential oils collection.
