How to use essential oils for sleep

Here’s how to use essential oils for sleep; thank us later. 

We don’t mean to brag, but here at Koala we fancy ourselves as experts in all things sleep. With a name like Koala you’d best believe we know a thing or two about facilitating the perfect night’s snooze, but sometimes, comfort can only get you so far.

Picture this. After a long day at the office you dive into bed, cocooned in your freshly washed and silky smooth sheets. You’re exhausted and supremely comfortable but you just can’t get to sleep. Your mind’s racing thinking of everything you need to do this week and you’re counting down the hours you’ll be able to sleep tonight if you just fall asleep… now. 

Sound familiar? You don’t need to climb a gum tree and eat a fistfull of eucalyptus leaves to sleep like a Koala. Rather than googling “how to sleep better”, let’s turn our focus to discovering how to use essential oils for sleep. There are a number of essential oils and scents that you can incorporate in your bedtime routine that have been proven to help you unwind and get to sleep fast.

These include:

☺️ Lavender

☺️ Chamomile

☺️ Clary Sage

☺️ Rose

Lavender essential oil for sleep

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It should come as no surprise that Lavender is at the top of our list. Lavender is the most well known sleep scent and its track record speaks for itself. Lavender is basically synonymous with relaxation as it’s a sure-fire way to soothe your senses after a stressful day.

Multiple studies have proven that lavender can improve sleep quality and alleviate symptoms associated with mild insomnia and restlessness.

Chamomile essential oil for sleep

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You’re probably used to seeing chamomile featured in teas (another great way to help you sleep), but it’s also very useful in oil form as a sleep scent. Chamomile scents are often used as a natural way to help calm anxiety, improve vital signs and overall promote a better quality sleep. Oddly, it’s also been shown to help reduce nightmares.

Clary Sage essential oil for sleep

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No doubt you would have come across sage before. It’s a handy herb for cooking and a plant that’s often burnt for its aromatic (and to some, spiritual) benefits. Clary Sage is closely related to regular sage, but with attributes that are more beneficial in aiding sleep.

Clary Sage is a natural sedative that provides a calming effect, helping you to fall asleep and stay that way until morning. It’s also been shown to reduce the levels of hormones that have been linked to stress, such as cortisol, which makes Clary Sage instrumental in prepping your body for a solid night’s sleep.

Rose essential oil for sleep

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Rose is a unique scent in the way that it not only helps you get to sleep, but studies have shown that smelling rose whilst you sleep can help improve your memory. It’s also been shown to help reduce stress, lower heart rate and act as a natural antidepressant. So don’t forget to stop and smell the roses next time you’re feeling overwhelmed.

How to use essential oils for sleep

It’s all well and good to know the benefits of these sleep scents, but they’re all for nothing if you don’t know what essential oils are best for sleep and how to best use them. Luckily for us, there are plenty of ways that you can utilise these essential oils so that you’re experiencing their benefits both before and during your sleep. Here’s how to use essential oils that make you sleepy:

☺️ Diffusers – Oil diffusers are one of the more commonly used methods to utilise essential oils. Luckily, these can also be quite cost-effective depending on the brand that you buy. Just mix a couple of drops of your nominated essential oil with water and the diffuser will release a fine, scented mist over the next few hours, filling your room with a calming aroma.

☺️ Apply directly to your body – Rub a couple of drops of the essential oil on your wrists, forehead and temples. This allows the scent to stay close to your nose as well as soak into your skin and rub off on your pillow and sheets.

☺️ Make a spray – If you have a spray bottle handy, combine half a cup of water with 4-5 drops of your favorite essential oil. Mix well, then mist your pillow and your room with the solution for a long lasting effect.

☺️ Run a bath – Elevate your pre-bed routine and run a hot bath with a few drops of essential oil. Combined with the steam from the hot water, the oil will be diffused in the air as well as soaking into your skin.

Combine these sleep scents with the luxuriously comfortable Koala Mattress range and lush bedding offerings, and you’ll be drifting off with ease in no time.

Sweet dreams.

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