Creating Stress-Busting Bedroom Scents

Let's face it: some days our stress levels are set to Overflow, and most nights, falling asleep is about as easy as telling your mind to stop thinking. But if you set the tone with serene bedroom scents, the power of aromatherapy can help to put your mind at ease, and relax the body.

Avoid potentially toxic artificial fragrances by creating a "mood mist" from essential oils that you can spritz on linens and in the air. One benefit of this method, versus the store-bought air fresheners found in the cleaning aisle, is that you can alternate scents quite easily. If you need a get-up-and-go boost in the morning and an adrenaline buffer at night, no problem! You're not locked into one scent for the next 30 days.

Because stress is perceived through all five senses, it makes sense to relax through the five senses, as well. Before bed, fill your bath with warm water, and add an infusion of essential oils created just for relaxation. The warmth will relax you, as will the sensation of a loofah exfoliating your skin. Turn on an instrumental soundtrack (Mars Lasar is fantastic!), sip on a mug filled with chamomile tea, and softly gaze at the soothing scene out before you while taking deep belly breaths. Leave the bathroom door slightly open, and the scent of the infusion and tea will diffuse into your bedroom.

So which scents work best to induce relaxation? Start with lavender. Lavender is one of the most effective calming and mood-balancing scents, so when it's used with complementary chamomile or vanilla, the result is even more potent. Also try jasmine, which is a triple threat in the aromatherapy kingdom: it acts as a nervous system sedative, insomnia buster, and aphrodisiac. Bergamot (that yummy scent of Earl Grey tea), sandalwood, and ylang-ylang are also great options.

A word of caution: just because these essentials are "natural" does not automatically mean they're safe. Before you use any of these, take proper precautions in their application, and be sure you buy them from reputable sources.