When looking to level up your sleep game, consider adding aromatherapy to your evening routine. While you could look into Ayurvedic medicine and consider perhaps having your “doshas” or your essential energies and have them balanced, I find the simplest way is to trust your intuition. Sample essential oils and discover a scent you find soothing.

ESSENTIAL OILS FOR SLEEP:
1. Lavender
2. Chamomile
3. Catnip
4. Hops
5. Lemon Verbena
6. Rose
7. Rosemary
8. Sweet Marjoram

Once you have discovered which scents you would like to add to your sleep routine, consider what you and perhaps any co-sleepers will find pleasant and unobtrusive. Below are options that range from a simple scent, appropriate for sleeping on a plane or other crowded spaces, to spa-like room-filling diffusers.

SLEEP BALMS 
With application similar to a vapor rub, sleep balms are an easy and personal way to implement aromatherapy into your evening routine. Simply dab below your nose, on your chest, or on your pulse points and enjoy the calming scent throughout the night.  Sleep balms are great for shared sleeping spaces, such as hostels or airplanes, but may be tricky for use on sensitive or oily skin.

Sleep balm: https://shop.123farm.com/collections/frontpage/products/lavender-sleep-balm

PILLOW MISTS AND INSERTS 
Pillow mists are typically pre-blended sprays that can be lightly spritzed onto your pillow before sleeping. A pillow mist is a great way to localize a scent, however it may linger on your pillow and linens for longer than a day. Another option that does not require daily implementation is a pillow insert- effectively an aromatherapy sachet for your pillow.

Pillow insert: https://shop.123farm.com/products/pillow-insert

Body and pillow mist: https://shop.123farm.com/collections/aromatherapy/products/lavender-sleep-body-mist

SACHETS 
Sachets are small bags filled with dried herbs that can be used to perfume clothing and bed linens. Sachets can be placed in linen trunks, pajama drawers and other small spaces. To maintain lavender sachets, allow them to sit out in the sun one day every four to six months, and knead the sachet to reinvigorate the fragrance.

Lavender sachets are typically easy to come by, however, if you would like to create a custom blend yourself, here is an easy e-tutorial: http://www.almanac.com/content/how-make-lavender-sachets

DIFFUSERS 
Diffusers are great for filling larger spaces and are an easy way to start playing with blending your oils. Typically, a few drops of essential oils are placed added into the water chamber. Be sure to get a diffuser, not a humidifier, as diffusers are made to safely process and disperse essential oils. Diffusers are excellent for getting a scent to fill a room and have the added benefit of preventing the air from becoming too dry.

When purchasing essential oils for a diffuser, be sure to purchase pure essential oils, not essential oils mixed with a carrier oil, such as almond, coconut, or jojoba. These mixes are formulated to be added to moisturizers, and the additional carrier oil may affect the functionality of your diffuser over time.

Author: Nancy Cantine
Editor: Hayley Salmon
Artist Photo Credit: Theik Smith