The use of aromatherapy dates back to the ancient Egyptians and other early civilizations. Today essential oils are making a big comeback. Not only are they used to perfume our homes, but essential oils also have health-promoting properties. Among their many uses comes the power to soothe people to sleep. Let's take a look at the different aromatherapy scents for sleep and how they can improve your life.

Lavender

This popular choice for sleep aromatherapy today has been a soothing, anxiety-relieving scent for many, many years. If you want to begin your journey into the relaxing world of sleep aromatherapy, then you will most likely start with lavender. Lavender not only relaxes and soothes away anxious feelings, but it also has the sedative ability to put you to sleep. Unlike sleeping pills, which can leave you tired and useless in the morning, lavender's sleeping effects improve your natural sleep, thereby leaving you more alert in the daytime. Other benefits include headache relief and improved digestion.

Vanilla

Mmmm. Breathe in the sweet, delicious smell of vanilla. It's like a cake baking in the oven, tantalizing and calming. Do cakes make you anxious? Well, the smell of them shouldn't, even if you are on a diet! With vanilla essential oils, you'll rest easy, relax, and enjoy a better mood as you drift into dreamland.

Jasmine

Improve the quality of your sleep with the floral scent of jasmine. This essential oil also reduces anxiety and restlessness, producing a calming effect that enables better sleep.

Chamomile

Remember Peter Rabbit's mother giving her wayward son a dose of chamomile tea after his harrowing garden adventure? Take a lesson from the wise bunny mama. Choose a variety called Roman Chamomile for its insomnia-fighting properties. It also treats stress and tension. Relax the mind and the body with Roman Chamomile as you prepare to go to sleep after a hard day.

Bergamot

Never heard of bergamot? It's a citrus fruit grown in parts of Europe and Asia. This versatile essential oil can play several roles in the world of aromatherapy, one of which is a sleep aid. Along with those sedative properties comes the ability to improve mood and lower anxiety levels. It is a pain reliever, muscle relaxer and an antispasmodic. It's an excellent choice for those who are working on improving their overall health. Sleep is restorative, and bergamot helps you get maximum time in that all-important restorative stage of sleep.

Ylang Ylang

When you're feeling stressed-out, and your mind is racing, give Ylang Ylang essential oils a try. It will help you calm your state of mind, making it easier to fall asleep and heal your emotional disarray.

Rose

A beautiful flower gives off a lovely scent that can be useful in sleep aromatherapy. Use this one alone or try it in combination with other scents to reduce anxiety and stress.

Sandalwood

Maybe you're a person who shies away from sweet, floral scents and prefers rich, earthy scents. In that case, try sandalwood for relaxation. Some people experience sedative effects from sandalwood, while others use it in the daytime as a daytime relaxant. Experiment to see how this essential oil affects you.

Lemon

Another citrus scent, lemon oil can relieve depression and anxiety. When your mind is relaxed, you can drift away into sleep. While lemon oil may not have the sedative effects of other essential oils, you may prefer the scent and how it leaves you feeling relaxed in a clean, refreshing way.

Marjoram

Sweet Marjoram fights insomnia well. It helps lower your blood pressure, reduces anxiety, and soothes nerves. People who are mourning the loss of loved ones or suffering from loneliness may find Sweet Marjoram to be a remedy to help them find the peaceful bliss of sleep.

Frankincense

An essential oil found in the Bible, Frankincense is known for its calming properties as well as pain-relieving properties. Are you down with the flu or a cold? Try falling to sleep with Frankincense. It could also improve your breathing, thereby reducing bothersome snoring.

Now that you know a few wonderful essential oils and their valuable properties make sure you purchase the oils that say they are "pure" or "100% essential oil." It will increase the likelihood that your essential oils will be helpful and benefit you in the expected ways.

How to Use Your Essential Oils for Sleep Aromatherapy

There are many ways to use essential oils to help you sleep. Try one of these tips, or try them all:

• Massage your neck and shoulders with diluted essential oils (undiluted oils can irritate your skin).
• Massage pressure points such as wrists and behind ears with diluted oils.
• Shake a drop of the oil on a cotton pad and place it next to your pillow.
• Use several drops of the oils in a soothing before-bedtime bath.
• Diffuse the oils into the air (follow your diffuser manufacturer's instructions).
• Mist an oil-water combination in your bedroom using a spray bottle.

Combine Aromatherapy with Traditional Sleep-Improvement Practices

Sleep aromatherapy works wonders when it comes to relieving sleep problems. As with most sleep therapies, the essential oils work best when combined with other methods of improving your sleep habits.

For instance, proper amounts of exercise during the day will help you sleep better at night. Exercise speeds up your metabolism and increases your cortisol levels. Just make sure you don't exercise right before bedtime, or you'll find yourself wide awake and restless.

You've always heard that it's important to go to sleep at the same time every night. While this might be hard for some of us, it's worth an effort to stick to a sleep schedule or at least strive for sleeping the same number of hours every night. (Hint: naps do help when you're behind on your nighttime hours!)

Use aromatherapy as one element of your relaxing bedtime routine. Make sure your bedroom is comfortable, and the light is low. Take slow, deep breaths to calm yourself. Allow yourself to let go of your worries. Your bedtime routine should be one of comfort and peace. Slow down after a busy day, and calm your racing thoughts by focusing on the present moment. Soon you will train your mind to drift naturally to sleep every night.

Find the perfect mattress to go along with your new aromatherapy scents for sleep! Contact us for more information on which bed is right for you.