I’ve created 10 essential oil blends for sleep to help you function better, feel better and well… sleep better!
Getting enough sleep fuels you to function all day long. It is so important (on so many levels), for us to regularly get a good night’s rest!
With an increase in everyday stress levels and the general pace of life, we can all use some help to improve sleep.
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Essential oils’ natural therapeutic properties can support your sleep and evening routine. Below you’ll find my signature collection of essential oil diffuser blends for sleep.
I’ve tried and tested every blend in this set, and I love them all for different reasons.
But before I simply post a bunch of recipes, let me explain the aromatherapy background of my blends.
Best Essential Oils for Sleep
Many essential oils help us to relax our mind and body. My go-to oils for sleep include:
- Lavender: Most well-known essential oil. Generally soothes and relaxes our bodily systems.
- Vetiver: An aromatherapy base note; emotionally very grounding. Strong aroma so works best using just a drop in your blend.
- Cedarwood: A woodsy, yet sweet scent that is mildly sedative. Works well for cases of insomnia and to help calm that 2 am racing mind.
- Clary sage: This oil acts as a hormone-balancer. It can also help reduce levels of cortisol in our system, a hormone often associated with stress.
- Patchouli: Some people love it, some people hate it. It’s a musky, grounding, very centering essential oil. Use it for stress-related sleep interruptions or in combination with emotional trauma.
- Chamomile: After Lavender, this is likely the most-used oil for sleep. It’s soothing, gentle, and light in aroma. Chamomile helps to relieve stress and anxiety, the leading causes for depression. In small dilutions, both Roman and German chamomile are also safe for babies as young as 6 months.
- Sweet Marjoram: Marjoram oil is an ancient home remedy to help your brain relax. It is a more herbal note, slightly spicy and sharp. Use it it for insomnia-related sleep problems, or if you have trouble unwinding before bed.
- Ylang-Ylang: This is a sweet, flowery scent that’s calming and soothing to our body. Use it to promote feelings of happiness and contentment before turning off the lights. It is also a lightly aphrodisiac essential oil.
- Valerian: Many ancient medicines use Valerian oil for its balancing and grounding properties. This oil can help remove nervous tension, and help you let go of negative thoughts and self-talk. You can also manage panic attacks with Valerian essential oil.
- Sandalwood: Sandalwood has a wooden yet sweet and pleasant aroma. It is a luxurious and sensual oil. Research has shown that Sandalwood may have a sedative effect by reducing wakefulness.
How To Use Essential Oils For Sleep
The Mofado Diffuser in Faux Dark Wood.
Get it here
Most often, essential oils are used in an essential diffuser together with water. Aromatherapy works over our olfactory system, which is our sense of smell. Scent alone can trigger many emotions. Introducing healing support through scent is a powerful home remedy.
While there are other ways to use essential oils to promote better sleep, diffuser blending is a fun art and hobby on its own. Many essential oil enthusiasts enjoy collecting and trying out new diffuser blend recipes.
To get started, you’ll need:
- An essential oil diffuser. You can find the top rated models that sell for under $40 here. The diffuser blends on this page are for a diffuser with a 150-200 mL sized water tank. If you own a smaller, adjust the drops of oils used accordingly. If you own a larger unit, fill it only partially with water; or double the recipe.
- Essential oils. If you already own a set of essential oils that work with my recipes below, great! If you’re shopping for oils, have a look at the top 10 highest ranked essential oil brands, and select a company you like to buy your oils from.
Essential oils are not only helpful to improve sleep. Diffusing essential oils at night can also help relieve snoring, stress or anxiety. Or if you frequently experience nightmares, there are specific oils for bad dreams, too.
If you own an essential oil diffuser, be sure to also maintain and clean it regularly.
10 Best Diffuser Blends for Sleep
Essential oil diffuser blends work in diffusers of any size. Most entry level models will need around 100 ml of water. If you have a larger diffuser with a bigger reservoir, you will have to adjust how many drops of oil you put into your water tank. The diffuser blends I mix are made for 150-200 ml sized diffusers.
Most diffusers come with a water cup that lets you fill the desired amount of water into your unit.
Dreamcatcher
- 3 drops Cedarwood essential oil
- 3 drops Clary Sage essential oil
Take A Nap
- 4 drops Neroli essential oil
- 2 drops Marjoram essential oil
- 2 drops Patchouli essential oil
See You In Dreamland
- 2 drops Cedarwood
- 2 drops Ravensara
- 2 drops Lavender
Earthy Lullaby
- 3 drops Cedarwood essential oil
- 1 drops Vetiver essential oil
- 3 drops Sandalwood essential oil
Sleeping Beauty
- 4 drops Bergamot essential oil
- 2 drops Marjoram essential oil
- 2 drops Lavender essential oil
Delightful Sleep
- 2 drops Lavender essential oil
- 2 drops Marjoram essential oil
- 2 drops Sweet Orange essential oil
- 2 drops Roman Chamomile essential oil
Sandman’s Soothe
- 3 drops Clary Sage essential oil
- 3 drops Lavender essential oil
- 1 drop Vetiver essential oil
Mama’s Calm
- 4 drops Roman Chamomile essential oil
- 2 drops Clary Sage essential oil
- 2 drops Bergamot essential oil
Bedtime Breeze
- 3 drops Frankincense essential oil
- 2 drops Lavender essential oil
- 2 drops Marjoram essential oil
- 1 drop Vetiver essential oil
Sweet Slumber
- 1 drop Patchouli essential oil
- 4 drops Frankincense essential oil
- 3 drops Sweet Orange essential oil
The above night time essential oil diffuser blends are for a 150-200 ml size diffuser.
Sleep Aid Essential Oil Blend
Now, this post wouldn’t be complete if I didn’t give you the easiest option for better sleep. Plant Therapy makes an amazing sleep blend, named Sleep Aid™. It contains the 100% pure, undiluted essential oils of Lavender, Mandarin, Ylang Ylang, Valerian, and Neroli.
If you want another easy way to get started, build your own set of 6 essential oils at Edens Garden. You’ll be able to make all my recipes when your kit comes in the mail!
If you just need an oil or two to add to your collection, here are a few of my favorites that you can easily add to your next order from Amazon:
Final Thoughts
I hope you have added an essential oil diffuser to your bedroom and are experimenting with essential oil diffuser blends for better sleep. For more recipes, have a look at these oils for a calmer state of mind or these relaxing diffuser blend recipes.
Diffusing in the bedroom can help your sleep habits.
Essential oils are a great way to help you get better sleep. Experiment, and find a blend that works for you and your family! Get started now by downloading my FREE printable diffuser blend recipes:
Do you have favorite diffuser blend for sleep? Which oils work for you, and which don’t? Let us know in the comments below!
Deb
I am new to oils and my husband didn’t believe until I put “Mama’s Calm” into the diffuser last night and he was knocked out!
Emma Carter
Hi Deb, YES!! That is AMAZING, thanks so much for letting us know!
Christine Wilson
I have had insomnia for a long time, too. I would also like to know the strongest recipe to help me sleep. Melatonin does not help me. Thank you.
Nannette
I have had insomnia for a long time and recently started taking liquid Melatonin, which seems to work for me, however it tends to leave me sleepy/groggy during some of the day. Is there one of the 10 recipes that might be a little more potent for my circumstance? I have been using ess. oils for 3-4 years. Thank you in advance.
Nannette
Emma Carter
Hi Nannette, this is a tough question to answer. Each individual’s body chemistry is so different. Some people love Patchouli, some hate it. I can’t tell you which recipe will work for you, you’d just have to try them out and see if you notice a difference. If you don’t want to invest in so many single oils to start, a Sleep blend that’s already mixed (like Sleep Aid from Plant Therapy) can be a great place to start!