Emotional trauma can leave lasting scars. Your healing journey may feel long, but nature is here to support you through essential oils. These botanical elixirs can offer comfort and promote emotional release. We explore the essential oils that are good for emotional trauma and how to use them properly.

The Healing Power of Emotional Aromatherapy

Aromas trigger memories. A whiff of apple pie may instantly transport you to your mother’s house, or the smell of roses may remind you of a loved one. It evokes a memory or a feeling that makes you feel certain emotions.

This is where emotional aromatherapy comes in. It’s an effective emotional healing tool because of its relaxation benefits. The key lies in the profound connection between your sense of smell and memories. Two brain parts are primarily responsible for the link between aroma and emotion — the amygdala, the emotional center of the brain and your hippocampus, where memories are formed. Dr. Drew Cumming, MD explains why scents evoke memories. 

“Smell signals bypass the thalamus and go directly to the olfactory bulb and then quickly to the amygdala and hippocampus. This unique wiring in your brain reflects the importance of smell throughout our evolutionary history. It also makes sense that you could use scent memories as a form of therapy." He continues “There’s a strong link between smell and the emotional systems in our brain. Inducing a scent memory may be helpful if you’re feeling down or overwhelmed".

This connection is the cornerstone of emotional aromatherapy. Choosing essential oils that provide emotional relief can positively affect your limbic system, the part of the brain responsible for emotions, memory and learning.

What essential oils are good for emotional trauma?

Traumatic memories can trigger negative emotions like stress, anger and fear. You may also ruminate about what happened until your fear manifests as physical discomfort, such as sweating, stomach pain and headache. 

Whatever you do, remember that aromatherapy can help you manage your symptoms. Here are some of the essential oils that are beneficial for emotional trauma.

Ylang Ylang

Ylang Ylang has a fruity, floral and sweet scent that promotes a calming atmosphere. It has a sedative effect, which helps reduce stress and hyperactive feelings like frustration, anger and anxiety. This oil is also an excellent mood booster. Its uplifting aroma triggers serotonin production, making you feel happier.

Lavender

Lavender is recognized worldwide for its delicate, floral and herbal scent. Its powdery and soft notes make it a popular choice for many personal care items. Like Ylang Ylang, Lavender has sedative and relaxing effects, regulating the central nervous system. After inhaling it, your mind and body will feel relaxed and refreshed. It can also help reduce the anxiety in moments of distress.

Sweet Orange

Did you know that the aroma of orange peels can help alleviate your emotional trauma symptoms? Citrus essential oils like Sweet Orange can calm and uplift your mood, which is helpful if you’re having PTSD flashbacks. Mix it with Lavender and Sandalwood to create a natural elixir to help you sleep better. 

Lemon

Lemon is another uplifting citrus oil. Its fresh, sweet aroma has an anti-depressant action that can help uplift your mood and spirits. This essential oil can help declutter your mind when you’re overwhelmed with worries. It’s also believed to boost concentration and eliminate emotional confusion, helping you stay productive throughout the day.

Bergamot

Dealing with emotional trauma is challenging enough, but it’s worse when you also have to deal with other problems. Over 50% of people with PTSD often struggle with an addiction, and they may look for easy ways to numb the pain. Bergamot is an excellent essential oil that can help you deal with symptoms. It can help alleviate depression, stress, memory problems and sleep issues without the potential for abuse.

Chamomile

Chamomile has a herbaceous, fruity apple aroma. Its soothing, comforting effects make it a popular choice when dealing with trauma. It can help soothe frayed nerves, reduce anxiety and promote relaxation, making it easier to find moments of peace. Think of it as a warm hug whenever you feel overwhelmed. Aside from these mental health benefits, chamomile can also help calm skin allergies and balance menstrual problems - both of which can be affected by trauma.

Clary Sage

Clary Sage has a musky, dry, bittersweet floral scent that elicits a euphoric feeling. It’s a powerful relaxant, making it ideal for stress and overwhelm. If you’re struggling with mood swings, exhaustion or difficulty concentrating, this essential oil can provide gentle yet powerful support, helping you find your inner strength. 

Rose

Rose essential oil has a fresh, rosy aroma often associated with love, healing and compassion. It’s a powerful, concentrated elixir that can help ease anger, grief, and sadness and help foster self-acceptance. Aside from its mental and emotional health benefits, it can also help soften and rejuvenate the skin and balance the female reproductive system.

Sandalwood

Sandalwood is one of the best essential oils for emotional trauma. Its woody, soft, sweet aroma can benefit those experiencing flashbacks or feeling disconnected from their bodies. It is a deeply relaxing, grounding essential oil that can bring a sense of stability when you feel stressed, depressed or anxious. It can help calm and quieten an overactive mind, and when the past feels overwhelming, Sandalwood can help you reclaim your sense of self.

How to use essential oils

Here are the most practical ways to incorporate these natural oils into your emotional aromatherapy practice.

Add to a diffuser

A calming atmosphere is crucial for any emotional healing practice. Add up to 12 drops of essential oil to a diffuser and let the aroma permeate the air. This method is particularly ideal for calming down ongoing anxiety or creating a serene environment for meditation.

Add to an inhaler

Inhalers are ideal for carrying around with you, so you can benefit from your oils wherever you may be. Try making up an aromatherapy inhaler with 2 drops Clary Sage, 1 drop Chamomile and 3 drops Rose and sniff as and when required to help ease feelings of panic and depression.

Add to bath or shower

A warm bath soothes the body and mind. Dilute 4-10 drops of essential oil in 15ml of SLS Free Bath & Shower Gel or Bath Oil and add it to the bathwater. Try mixing 3 drops Lavender essential oil, 2 drops Sweet Orange and 1 drop Chamomile in 15ml Bath Oil. This can be beneficial for releasing tension and stress before sleep. When showering, place a few drops of oil on the floor.

Topical application

Mix essential oil with a carrier oil like coconut, olive or jojoba oil and massage it into your skin. Apply it to pulse points, such as your temples or wrists, or massage it into areas of tension, like your shoulders or neck. Use 4 drops of essential oil per 10ml of carrier oil, or lotion or aloe vera gel if you prefer.

Practice breathwork

Adding aromatherapy to your breathwork ritual can help ease your mind and boost your energy. Essential oils can help boost your focus, leaving distracting forces behind. Choose an oil and diffuse it in the room. Then, find a comfortable position and focus on your breathing. Try the pursed lip breathing technique — breathe in through your nose and exhale at least twice as long through your mouth with your lips pursed. You can also read our other blog for additional breathwork tips.

Find comfort in essential oils

Essential oils can provide gentle yet excellent support to your healing journey. While they shouldn’t replace professional therapy, they can help you manage negative emotions. Work with your mental health professional to find the best oils and methods for you.

Note: when choosing essential oils be guided by your sense of smell as the ones you are most drawn to will likely be the ones that your body and mind need the most.

Beth Rush
Managing Editor at Body+Mind

Beth Rush is the mindfulness editor at Body+Mind. She writes about mental health during pregnancy and beyond. She also shares tips for coping with emotional trauma, autoimmune disorders, and climate anxiety. Subscribe to the Body+Mind Newsletter for more posts by Beth.