What combination of aromas helps with focus, attention and sleep?

Although you might commonly think of lavender, there are other essential oils that outperform lavender for sleep and focus. 

Studies show that sandalwood, jasmine and vetivert essential oils significantly improve calm, focus, attention and improved quality of sleep.

In addition, each of these oils helps stabilize emotions which is another key factor that affects sleep, as well as the ability to focus, pay attention, learn new things and memory.

Sandalwood Essential Oil

With a rich, woody, earthy scent, sandalwood has one of the longest histories for use in relaxation and anxiety relief.

Studies on Sandalwood

• Supports remaining asleep all night
• Reduces snoring
• Helps lower anxiety
• Improved alertness

Science shows it's wonderful woody scent can be effective for reducing anxiety.  as well as having a sedative effect and very direct ability to help with staying asleep. In addition, it helps reduce snoring caused by allergies.

An interesting note regarding sandalwood is that it is good for both day and night-time use. While it assists with deep relaxation and sleep, it also can help with alertness which makes it highly beneficial in bringing balance to both the body and your emotions.

Jasmine Essential Oil

...has been revered for centuries around the world for its variety of physical and emotional benefits.

Used in European health programs for helping to calm and stabilize moods, it helps to both relax and uplift at the same time.

It is considered both yin and yang - so wherever your system may be weak, it can assist in creating harmony and balance...for both your body and emotions.

Studies on Jasmine

• Supports better quality of sleep
• Improved levels of alertness
• Helps balance negativity that can contribute to anxiety
• Promote greater feelings of optimism and happiness

Assistant Professor of Psychology at Wheeling Jesuit University, Dr. Bryan Raudenbush reports that his research showed that the dispensing of jasmine odor into a room where participants were sleeping “led to greater sleep efficiency and reduced sleep movement.”

This research showed greater quality of sleep even though there wasn’t more quantity of sleep.

They found that participants who breathed jasmine in the air “rated their level of anxiety and vigor lower, and performed cognitive tests more rapidly.”

Further, “level of alertness in the jasmine odor condition was greater during the afternoon hours, thus helping maintain students’ focus on academic work throughout the day.”

The Journal Of Health Research from the College of Public Health Sciences, Chulalongkorn University in Thailand, reported that jasmine essential oil stimulates beta brain waves (when brain frequency is alert), moods and nervous system.

One test report showed “exposure to jasmine oil increased positive emotions including feelings of well being, active, fresh.”

It goes on to say, “negative emotions such as feeling drowsy were significantly reduced.” Journal of Health Research, vol. 27 no. 2, April 2013; 73-77.

 

Vetivert Essential Oil

...offers fabulous benefits, but its aroma smells a bit like dirt.

Vetivert is stabilizing, calming and grounding to the central nervous system.

It helps to slow things down, quiet the overactive mind, promote focus and calm, and increase restful sleep.

It is known to even help children with ADD and ADHD because of its calming properties, and ability to help focus.

It is known by many moms to help calm things down when kids get "sensory overload."

Studies on Vetivert

• Supports better focus and cognitive performance
• Significant improvement in alertness
• Assists sleep 
• Improves breathing during sleep

In fact, a 2001 study by Dr. Terry Friedman, M.D., M.D.(H), A.B.I.H.M., “found that smelling vetivert essential oil improved the performance of children with ADD and ADHD by 100 percent. These results were much stronger than lavender's performance increase of 53 percent and cedarwood's 83 percent.”

Vetivert improves mental performance, alertness, and refreshing the mind to come out of a deep fog. While at the same time, it has been found to help support deeper sleep, as well as breathing while sleeping.

Want to see how well these work for you or a loved one? Get the benefits of all these essential oils in one easy product with Kaliana Calm Formula.

Updated May 1, 2019

About the Author: Kaliana has been studying natural healing since 1976. She developed her own line of aromatherapy products in 1995, is a gifted intuitive, Master Energy Healer, author of 4 books, professional speaker, and offers private consulting for spiritual women and moms.

Kaliana is a certified Phyto-Aromatologist, graduated from Queens University as a Presidential Scholar, sat on the Board for Eating Disorders at The University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, holds a 4-year Advanced Certification from the Mastery of the Heart School, and teaches certified courses for Continuing Education Hours by NCBTMB.