Whenever I'm Frazzled, I Always Come Back to This One Product

Everyone has that one thing they can call upon when they're feeling a bit frazzled. It might be running a hot bath, pedalling away worries in a spin class or hunkering down on the sofa to switch off with a Netflix series and a candle. I can vouch for all of these, however, there is one ritual I come back to time and time again to relax, boost my mood and sleep, as well as give me a sense of calm, and that's aromatherapy.

Aromatherapy has been used for thousands of years, particularly in Ancient Egypt, India, Pakistan, Iran and China, but it was only in the 1800s that aromatherapy was viewed through a scientific lens, and was proven to have a whole host of benefits for the mind and body.

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(Image credit: @iliridakrasniqi)

You would be forgiven for thinking that aromatherapy only provides benefits through our sense of smell, but it actually works on multiple levels. Indeed, smelling essential oils taps into our olfactory senses and our limbic system—the part of our brain concerned with memory and emotion—to bring a sense of calm and well-being. That being said, the actual inhalation of aromatherapy oils can provide great benefits to our respiratory system too. When you inhale the aroma of essential oils, they are also absorbed inside the body. This makes it great if you've been struck with the lurgy, as it helps to support the respiratory system, and the antibacterial and antiviral properties of essential oils make them great for fending off the symptoms of a cold.

Finally—this one blew my mind—is that aromatherapy oils can actually be absorbed through the skin. This means that the molecules can enter our bloodstream and deliver all of the benefits from an inside-out approach too. Some blends have anti-inflammatory and anti-viral effects, so if you're feeling achy or want to soothe post-workout muscles, applying some directly to your skin can work wonders. But it's important to always use a carrier oil (like jojoba or coconut oil) with essential oils if they're not pre-blended like the ones below. Never use pure essentials neat as they can cause skin irritation.

So, which aromatherapy blend is right for you? Whether you want to boost your sleep, your mood or just give yourself a little pick-me-up, there's one for everyone. Aromatherapy can come in many forms to suit your lifestyle, whether via a rollerball roll-on, a bath oil or a diffuser. Ahead are the best blends to try.

To Boost Sleep

To Relax and Unwind

To Relieve Anxiety 

To Energise

To Soothe Aching Muscles

To Boost Immunity

To Balance Hormones

Eleanor Vousden
Beauty Editor,Best Knockoff Luxury Clothing UK

Eleanor Vousden is the beauty editor for Who What Wear UK. She was previously deputy editor at Hairdressers Journal, health writer at Woman Home and junior beauty editor at beauty website Powder. She has also contributed to Wallpaper and Elle Collections with written and styling work.Working as a beauty journalist since 2015 after graduating in fashion journalism at the London College of Fashion, she has been highly commended at the BSME Talent Awards for her work on Powder and also contributed to the title winning Website of the Year at the PPA Awards.Eleanor’s journalistic focus is to provide readers with honest and helpful beauty content. Through words, video and live broadcast, she has interviewed several celebrity makeup artists, hairstylists and top dermatologists throughout her career, as well as celebrities such as Sarah Jessica Parker and Scarlett Johansson. She has a particular interest in finding solutions for acne and eczema, which she has experienced firsthand. She has also amassed a large collection of fragrances and can never say no to a new candle.When she’s not writing or testing Wholesale Replica Bag beauty product or treatments, she’s on the seafront in her hometown of Brighton and Hove, where she lives with her partner and her miniature dachshund.