Essential oils for concentration and study are powerful natural remedies that really do make an enormous difference…
It's 3pm and you’ve hit a mid-afternoon slump – right in the middle of studying. Your mind is all over the place and your concentration is shot. What’s more, your ability to focus has decided to go on vacation, and energy levels have hit an all-time low. In short, you’re a mess. And your exam is tomorrow…
We’ve all been there. Student life can be fun – but it’s also hard to keep up with all the studies, assignments and extracurricular activities. But what if a simple but remarkably powerful natural remedy can help you study better and more effectively? Enter the world of aromatherapy, essential oils and Sonoma Lavender!
Need more focus and energy? Try crisp, zesty peppermint. And improved concentration? The fresh juicy scent of lemon is your new BFF. What about easier learning and a better memory? The bracing woodsy-green aroma of rosemary can help.
Here’s how you can use 9 different essential oils, either alone or as a blend, to boost your focus, concentration and energy - and chase away those studying blues…
THE BEST ESSENTIAL OILS FOR STUDYING
Peppermint Essential Oil
Best for: Mental Clarity, Focus, Concentration, Improved Memory, Easier Learning, Energizing, Fighting Exhaustion
By far one of the most popular oils for increasing focus and concentration is peppermint. Its brisk, fresh aroma that not only stimulates the brain - and gives you a quick burst of energy - but also substantially improves mental clarity and the ability to retain information. It works by stimulating the hippocampus, part of the limbic system, which helps form new memories and promote learning.
Scientific studies have also shown the effectiveness of peppermint essential oil to fight burnout and exhaustion. A study with athletes has even shown that those who had a sniff of peppermint performed better overall than those who didn’t. Research has also found that a whiff of peppermint helped people concentrate and do better on tasks that required continuous attention. This makes a quick sniff of peppermint oil a must-have during exams.
Try adding 6 drops each of peppermint and lemon together for the best diffuser blend while studying and when you need to get things done.
Lemon Essential Oil
Best for: Energy, Motivation, Concentration, Focus, Brain Fog, Energizing, Productivity
Having trouble concentrating? All the citrus oils like lemon, grapefruit, sweet orange and bergamot are known to be energizing, invigorating, and potent mood boosters.
Recent research at Ohio State University has shown the bright fresh smell of lemon oil raises levels of norepinephrine, a brain chemical linked to more stamina, easier decision-making and increased motivation. This helps you to clear any fog, focus better and improve productivity.
It has also been found to dramatically improve concentration and mental accuracy. A Japanese study found that workers made 54% fewer errors when they inhaled lemon oil. This makes it the perfect scent for the morning to kick start your day in an energizing way.
Try combining 3 drops each of lemon and rosemary essential oils in a diffuser to boost clarity of thought.
Rosemary Essential Oil
Best for: Memory, Mental Alertness, Focus, Stimulation, Speed, Easier Learning.
Rosemary oil is known to stimulate the mind and the memory. A recent study showed that 1,8-cineole (AKA eucalyptol), one of the main active chemicals in rosemary oil, helps improve cognitive ability. It has an earthy aroma and contains active compounds that improve the pathways of the brain responsible for focus, memory, and retaining new information.
Another study has shown that inhaling rosemary essential oil improves both speed and accuracy on demanding mental tasks, and raised memory test scores by 60-75 percent. Another recent study in the International Journal of Neuroscience found that rosemary significantly improved the quality of memory and increased participant’s mental alertness.
Try applying 1-2 drops of rosemary mixed with a teaspoon of a carrier oil on the back of the neck and hairline, or add a few drops to your bath.
Frankincense Essential Oil
Best For: Improves Memory Retention, Concentration, Mental Clarity, Stimulating, Lifts Mood
Frankincense includes high levels of a compound which stimulates and oxygenates the limbic system of the brain to help you better process and remember information. This makes it one of those go-to essential oils to promote mental clarity, stimulate the mind and improve memory retention.
A 2019 study found that using frankincense helped with the acquisition and retention of memory after four weeks. And as an added bonus, it also lifts your mood.
Try applying 1-2 drops of frankincense essential oil to the back of your neck and your temples to enhance your concentration.
Eucalyptus Essential Oil
Best For: Refresh and Re-Energize, Stimulation, Focus, Concentration, Mental Clarity, Lifts Brain Fog, Anxiety
The invigorating scent of eucalyptus oil, which also contains 1,8 cineole (AKA eucalyptol), stimulates the senses. This helps refresh and re-energize the body and also has a calming and soothing effect on the mind. In doing so, it helps reduce anxiety, enhance focus, concentration and memory, effectively clearing brain fog and promoting mental clarity. Consider adding eucalyptus essential oil from Sonoma Lavender to your focus essential oil blend.
It’s also been found to improve brain function and has been proven to be effective for treating dementia.
Try spritzing your study area with a eucalyptus room spray to invigorate your body and clear your mind. Or use this stunning eucalyptus room reed diffuser which doubles as a décor piece.
20 Incredible Health Benefits Of Eucalyptus Oil That Seem Too Good To Be True – Read More
Holy Basil Essential Oil
Best For: Alertness, Concentration, Memory, Boosts Focus, Creativity, Stress
Holy basil is arguably one of the best multipurpose oils when it comes to mental alertness, concentration and clarity. It lifts mental blocks and brain fog, strengthens memory, boosts focus and attentiveness, and enhances creativity. It has also been shown to be a great stress reliever and so promotes calm and clear thinking.
Try using 20-25 drops in a diffuser and inhaling basil essential oil deeply to get yourself ready to go when heading into a late-night study session.
Cedarwood Essential Oil
Best For: Stress, Anxiety, Calm, Clears Mental Clutter, Focus, Concentration
Cedarwood is a lesser-known oil which has remarkable stress reducing, calming and meditative benefits. Its oil contains more than 50% of sesquiterpenes, a chemical that delivers much-needed fresh oxygen to your brain cells – especially important when you’re studying. It’s known to help clear mental clutter allowing you to focus and concentrate on what is important. You need cedarwood essential oil in your calming essential oil blend!
Try 1-2 drops cedarwood oil with a teaspoon of carrier oil on the feet at morning and bedtime, or add to a diffuser in combination with vetiver and lavender oils.
Sage Essential Oil
Best For: Memory, Immediate Recall, Reasoning, Concentration, Understanding, Alertness, Boosts Mood
Another essential oil containing 1,8-cineole, sage helps improve cognitive ability. Studies have shown that it appears to enhance memory and brain function. Long used to help with declining mental functions like Alzheimer’s, it has been shown to boost and stimulate the senses and improve memory, immediate word recall, reasoning and understanding.
In larger doses, it also elevates mood, and increases alertness, calmness and contentedness.
Try rubbing 1-2 drops of sage oil in your hands and inhaling to open your mind and memory.
Lavender Essential Oil
Best For: Stress, Anxiety, Burnout, Memory Retention, Regenerative Sleep, Stamina, Energy
Lavender is one of the most popular and best-smelling essential oils that can also provide benefits in improving memory and concentration. It has been used to alleviate stress in school, allowing students to concentrate on questions and have better memory recall.
Lavender is known as an adaptogen, and so can assist in many different ways when adapting to stress, anxiety or imbalances. It can not only help you relax and unwind but also turns out it’s a great booster for when stamina and energy run low - and helps prevent work burnout, too. A study on work performance found that using lavender during work breaks seemed to prevent deterioration of performance in later work sessions.
And of course, lavender oil is known as the “Queen of Sleep”, and is a non-negotiable for refreshing and regenerating both the body and brain overnight to make sure you retain all you’ve learned for the best exam results. Better sleep guarantees better memory and concentration!
Try rubbing 2-3 drops of lavender oil in your cupped palms, then inhale the scent all the way into your brain to calm and focus the mind. For better sleep, cuddle up with a comfy pink heatable lavender heart pillow or spritz your pillowcases with a 100% pure lavender linen spray. A heatable lavender neck pillow will also work wonders if you’re feeling a bit tense and stressed, and want to ease those knots in your neck and shoulders.
Essential Oils To Beat Brain Fog: ‘Cos You're Tired Of Feeling Like You're Losing Your Mind – Read More
HOW TO USE ESSENTIAL OILS AND BLENDS FOR STUDYING
There are a couple of different ways to use essential oils for concentration and study. Aromatherapy using a diffuser is the most common - either using one or a mix of essential oils diluted in water - to disperse their healing properties into the air.
Topical application on skin is also popular. Always blend a few drops with a teaspoon of carrier oil as undiluted oils are very potent. Apply to pulse points on your wrist, the side of your lower jaw, on the temples, or the side of the neck.
Essential Oil Rollerball Blend For Energy, Focus and Concentration:
- 5 drops of rosemary essential oil
- 5 drops of cedarwood essential oil
- 5 drops of peppermint essential oil
- 5 drops of lemon essential oil
- 2-3 tablespoons of fractionated coconut oil (or carrier oil of your choice)
Add the essential oils to a dark glass or non-BPA rollerball, and fill up with the fractionated coconut oil. Shake well. Use it whenever you need to boost focus by applying to your wrists, temples, and neck.
Essential Oil Rollerball Blend For Memory:
- 3 drops of Sweet Orange essential oil
- 2 drops of Rosemary essential oil
-
1 drop of Eucalyptus essential oil
- 1 ½ teaspoons of Sweet Almond Oil (or carrier oil of your choice)
Add the essential oils to a 10ml amber roller bottle and fill with the sweet almond oil. Shake well until ingredients are thoroughly combined. Store in a dark, cool location.
Always Feeling Tired? Time To Use Essential Oils For A Serious Energy Boost – Read More
So, if you’ve already tried every trick in the book to help you study better – but had no luck – maybe it’s time to try the best-smelling essential oils for a diffuser to naturally boost your energy and brain power….
Important Notes:
If you have any medical condition, please consult with your health care professional before you use eucalyptus or peppermint essential oils. There are certain people who should avoid them altogether, including babies, young children under 5 years old, pregnant women and the convalescing or elderly, unless under the guidance of a qualified practitioner. Care must be taken when using with asthmatics, as they may not respond well to these oils.
Before using an essential oil on your skin, always do a patch test on the inside of your upper arm for 24 hours to check for any reactions.
As essential oils are potent, please do not apply anywhere too close to your eyes. Apply to the temples or on the neck, or sniff directly out of the bottle. They quickly permeate your skin and body and get to work within minutes.
Ensure that you always use top quality essential oils. There's a difference between an essential oil and simply an oil, which is basically a perfume. If a label does not clearly state that it is an 'essential oil,' then it is not a pure oil and should not be used as suggested.
At Sonoma Lavender, we excel at what we do, and you definitely need our essential oils for concentration and study. Contact us today and order!