11 Mood-Boosting Essential Oils: ‘Cos You Want to Feel Happy

In a bad mood? Uplifting and energizing essential oils are the best natural mood boosters to help you instantly feel happiness and joy…

Written by Sonoma Lavender Wellness Team
Over 20 years’ experience producing lavender spa products in Sonoma County, California.

STORY AT A GLANCE

•  A bad mood can strike at any time, leading to irritability – and even depression. The powerful, uplifting scent of many essential oils works naturally to stimulate the brain, clear the mind, energize the body and make you feel happy – boosting your mood in just a few minutes.

•  Some essential oils are able to immediately prompt the limbic system to release neurotransmitters like dopamine (motivation and reward), serotonin (mood stabilizer), oxytocin (love and bonding) and endorphins (euphoria and comfort for pain relief) – the so called ‘happy hormones’.

•  Essential oils to help calm and soothe stress, anxiety and depression include lavender, sweet orange, and ylang-ylang. 

•  Frankincense, vetiver and clary sage oils boost your mood by promoting grounding, inner peace and contentment. 

•  The refreshing and energizing benefits of rosemary, bergamot and lemon oils help lift sad and depressed moods, as well as deal with tiredness and lack of focus. 

•  Uplifting and invigorating essential oils such as peppermint and eucalyptus help get rid of stress, anxiety, tension and physical exhaustion, as well as brain fog, to improve your mental clarity and mood.

Feeling out of sorts? Try this little trick to quickly lift your mood. Grate a little lemon rind, take a few deep breaths, and you’ll instantly feel refreshed, energetic and happy. You’ve just experienced the power of a ‘feel good’ scent of an uplifting and energizing essential oil – to boost your mood quickly and naturally.

Much as we would like to be happy all the time, a bad mood can often strike without warning. A mix of emotions that can be triggered by anger, frustration, irritation or sadness that we struggle to shrug off. You could even be grumpy because you didn’t sleep well.

Essential oils can change all that. These powerful, potent elixirs have natural mood enhancing scents that can shift emotions, ease anxiety, refresh the mind, lift depression, make you feel happy, and totally boost your mood in a matter of minutes – no matter how bad you feel…

HOW ESSENTIAL OILS BOOST YOUR MOOD

According to Dr. Alan R. Hirsch of the Smell & Taste Treatment and Research Foundation in Chicago, ‘The quickest way to change a mood state - quicker than with any other sensual modality - is with smell.’

Who knew it could be so easy? And why is that?

It’s pretty simple really. Your sense of smell is actually 10 000 times more sensitive than your other senses. As soon as you smell something, a rush of emotions and feelings are immediately released from the brain and sent out into your body. They can be good or bad – depending upon what memories are linked with that scent.

That’s why many of us associate the smell of freshly baked bread with the warm fuzzy feelings of a happy home. And why your mood can change in a heartbeat as soon as you smell something you don’t like – even if you don’t remember why.

This is where the miracle-working, mood-enhancing magic of essential oils comes in. Each has a scent which is associated with an emotion, feeling and mind state that you can now imprint on your brain to boost your whole mood – and outlook on life.

Need a quick pick me up? There are uplifting, energizing oils for that. Stressed out of your mind? Try a calming or grounding oil – or use both together. And if your brain is feeling a little foggy, there are clarifying and stimulating oils for that too. 

There are even ‘happy’ essential oils that can immediately bring joy into your life and lift your mood – just because you want to feel calmer and more content. 

INSTANT ESSENTIAL OIL MOOD BOOSTERS

1.  Calming & Relaxing Oils for Stress, Anxiety & Depression

LAVENDER
Calming, balancing, promotes well-being, releases serotonin

What Lavender is Good For: Anxiety, stress, depression, sadness, sleep

Stressed or anxious about something? A few quick sniffs of lavender essential oil will soon have you sorted. Widely recognized for its calming and soothing effects on your body and mind, lavender is most well-known for promoting better quality sleep. It ensures you wake up feeling refreshed, in a good mood and ready for a new day.

It also helps you get rid of all that unwanted stress and tension, balance mood swings, reduce depression, sad or anxious feelings - and gives you a wonderful feeling of serenity.

TRY: A handful of lavender luxury bath salts into a warm soothing bath to soak away stress. Or liberally spritz a lavender spray mist in your bedroom to guarantee a refreshing night’s sleep. For a quick pick-me-up on the go, inhale lavender essential oil straight out of the bottle.

Depressed? Lavender Oil Can Improve Your Mood in Minutes – Read More

SWEET ORANGE
Uplifting, calming, mental clarity, releases serotonin

What Sweet Orange is Good for: Depression, anxiety, physical and mental fatigue, sleep

Citrus oils are known to be great mood boosters, and sweet orange essential oil is no exception. Interestingly, it’s refreshing scent not only inspires feelings of energy and good cheer, but at the same time also relaxes and calms the mind.

Often referred to as the ‘happiest oil’, it’s been found to have antidepressant effects, with an energizing and uplifting aroma that acts as a refreshing pick-me-up enough to brighten anyone’s day. It also boosts motivation and clarity while fostering creativity. One study found it enhances cognitive abilities; and, together with lavender, lemon and rosemary oils, also improved mental clarity in dementia patients.

TRY: Place one drop each of sweet orange, peppermint, and frankincense into your hand. Rub hands together and inhale deeply for an uplifting aroma.

YLANG-YLANG
Calming, relaxing, improves self esteem, releases oxytocin

What Ylang-Ylang is Good for: Stress relief, anxiety, anger, negativity, depression

One of the well-known relaxing oils, ylang-ylang has mild sedative properties that instill a wonderful sense of calm. This study found that it actually reduces blood pressure and heart rate, so if you’re feeling stressed and all wound up, it will relax and soothe both the body and mind. It can even help alleviate anger.

Another study found clear evidence that ylang-ylang can also significantly boost your confidence and self-esteem, guaranteeing a more positive outlook and lift in mood. 

TRY: Blend several drops of ylang-ylang with a carrier oil and massage onto the back and shoulders to help reduce the effects of daily stress, lift depression and enhance your mood.

2. Refreshing & Energizing Oils for Exhaustion, Stress & Lack of Focus

ROSEMARY
Energizing, refreshing, mental stimulant, releases dopamine

What Rosemary is Good for: Exhaustion, depression, stress, brain fog, focus and memory

Is your brain a little foggy? If you’re feeling mentally or even physically exhausted, rosemary is known as a wonderful stimulant to boost your brain, body - and mood.

A refreshing, energizing and invigorating oil, rosemary has been shown to increase activity, heart rate, blood pressure and respiratory rate. It’s anti-depressant properties also help to boost focus and memory so improving overall brain performance.

TRY: Make an energizing roll-on by blending 6 drops rosemary, 3 drops sweet basil, and 2 drops peppermint into an ounce of jojoba oil. Or diffuse rosemary with frankincense and peppermint for a little brain boosting power.

BERGAMOT
Refreshing, uplifting, energizing, reduces anxiety & stress, releases serotonin

What Bergamot is Good for: Mood stability, sadness, depression, negative thoughts, tiredness, emotional health

While bergamot is another refreshing and mood boosting citrus oil, it works in a slightly different way from the rest of the family. It’s been found to be particularly helpful when you’re feeling down due to stress, negativity, anxious thoughts or sad, depressed feelings – and can quickly perk up your mood after a rough day at work.

One study found that bergamot oil reduced stress and cultivated positive feelings, and in doing so, improved overall mental health and well-being almost immediately. Furthermore, this study found that bergamot not only significantly reduced blood pressure and heart rate, but also promoted a more balanced mental state amongst highly stressed teachers.

TRY: Dot bergamot essential oil onto the temples and back of the neck to calm runaway stress and emotions. Blend 3 drops bergamot and 2 drops lavender with 2 teaspoons of carrier oil and apply it to the abdomen to promote a relaxed mood.

LEMON
Uplifting, invigorating, happiness, promotes energy, releases serotonin

What Lemon is Good for: Sadness, depression, lethargy, lack of focus

Lemon is one citrus oil that is guaranteed to bring a smile to your face and quickly perk up your mood – and day. This bright, fresh and joyful essential oil actually increases your serotonin levels that make you feel happy, lifting depression, and putting you in a positive and uplifting mood. A study has found it can even boost your self-confidence and body image.

It may also work to enhance your brain power. Nursing students were found to perform much better when exposed to lemon, which effectively reduced their test anxiety by 43.3%. It also improves concentration and promotes energy and alertness. 

TRY: Diffuse lemon with rosemary to lift your mood and increase energy. A happy essential oil blend of 4 drops of bergamot, and 2 drops each of lemon, grapefruit and ylang-ylang will lift your spirits and bring joy into your life.

Always Feeling Tired? Time To Use Essential Oils For A Seriously Quick Energy Boost – Read More

3. Grounding & Soothing Oils for Stress, Irritability & Emotions

FRANKINCENSE
Grounding, balancing, promotes inner peace, releases dopamine

What Frankincense is Good for: Emotions, lack of concentration, depression, worry, stress, sleep

While studies on Frankincense are limited, many people love the warm, sweet and woody aroma, and find that the scent eases irritability and balances their emotions. Well known for its comforting and grounding properties, it promotes feelings of relaxation, improves concentration and lifts the mood.

It can also help calm a busy mind, especially when you’re feeling stressed and overwhelmed, creating a sense of inner peace. In fact, one small study suggests that frankincense has anti-depressant effects.

TRY: To banish worried, anxious thoughts, create a 100ml diffuser blend using 1 drop vetiver, 2 drops frankincense, 3 drops ylang-ylang, 4 drops Clary sage, and 5 drops lavender. 

CLARY SAGE
Soothing, contentment, self-confidence, releases oxytocin

What Clary Sage is Good for: Bonding, depression, stress buster, mood swings, anxiety, memory

All stressed out and don’t know which way to turn? A recent small study amongst women in their 50’s has shown that Clary sage has been found to very effective in reducing cortisol - the hormone your body releases when you’re stressed.

Even better, Clary sage simultaneously increases both dopamine and serotonin levels (the ‘happy’ and mood-enhancing hormones) which cuts down depression and mood swings while calming the mind. Another study showed that Clary sage also reduces blood pressure and slows breathing.

TRY: Add ¼ cup of Epsom salts to a warm bath, then add 3 drops of Clary sage and 2 drops of lavender, and soak away your worries by reducing cortisol levels, effectively easing nervous tension, anxiety, and mild depression.

VETIVER
Calming, grounding, reduces anxiety

What Vetiver is Good for: Nervous tension, anger, exhaustion, stress, irritability, lack of focus

The smoky, earthy scent of vetiver can help you feel more grounded if you’re feeling out of balance. Often used to quieten the nerves and lift a bad mood, vetiver can help soothe and calm anxiousness, as shown in this study. So, whether you’re having trouble sleeping or just need to chill out, vetiver will help balance out your mood.

And when your mind is feeling a little scattered and unfocussed, vetiver will also stimulate a tired brain to help you stay alert and on task.

TRY: Combine vetiver with lavender and apply topically to the feet, spine or back of the neck to soothe a tired, troubled mind and lift your mood and promote deep restful sleep.

The Ultimate Guide on How to Best Use Essential Oils – Read More

4.  Invigorating & Uplifting Oils for Mental & Physical Fatigue

PEPPERMINT
Invigorating, motivating, mentally clarifying, releases dopamine

What Peppermint is Good for: Mental and physical fatigue, distracted mind, tiredness, tension, anxiety, stress, brain fog

If you’re feeling sluggish and mentally exhausted, one whiff of peppermint’s fresh, crisp scent will quickly turn your mood - and day - around when you need it most. Widely used to boost mental alertness and improve concentration, it’s invigorating aroma can immediately make you feel refreshed and energized.

This study found that participants inhaling peppermint oil not only reported increased alertness but also enhanced memory. Its natural energy boosting properties have also been shown to prevent the onset of fatigue.

TRY: Diffuse an energizing blend of peppermint, lemon and sweet orange to immediately boost your mood.

EUCALYPTUS
Invigorating, uplifting, mental clarity, releases endorphins

What Eucalyptus is Good for: Stress, anxiety, mental lethargy, physical exhaustion, brain fog

If you’re feeling a little down, an uplifting boost from eucalyptus oil could be just what you need. Best known for its refreshing, invigorating scent, it stimulates the brain, clears your mind, energizes the body, and puts a positive spin on your mood.

Widely known to ease symptoms of stress, it has also been found to effectively reduce anxiety. It also has the ability to enhance concentration by boosting circulation to the brain, waking up a sluggish mind. On the flip side, it even increases feelings of calm and relaxation, so rejuvenating body and soul.

TRY: Recharge your mind and body by diffusing an uplifting blend of eucalyptus and lemon. These vibrant, refreshing oils help reduce mental fatigue, enhance focus, and create an invigorating atmosphere.

20 Incredible Benefits of Eucalyptus Oil That Seem Too Good to Be True - Read More

Who would have thought that something as simple as an essential oil could make such a powerful difference to your mind and your mood, so you can feel happy again? Maybe it’s time to give them a try…

Essential oils should be used as part of a holistic approach to healing. Sometimes it may be just enough to inhale an essential oil to lift your mood; while at other times you may need the more comprehensive support offered by clinical treatment.

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. Always use 100% pure essential oils as found in Sonoma Lavender’s luxury bath and body product range - including lavender, eucalyptus, peppermint and sweet orange oils.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What are the best essential oils for happiness?

Sweet Orange has a sweet, fresh scent that is uplifting and comforting and is known to be a great mood booster that inspires feelings of energy and joy. Lemongrass is a bright, fresh, and cheerful essential oil that promotes the release of serotonin – AKA the happy hormone. Ylang-Ylang has a sweet, floral scent that can help reduce stress, create a calming, joyful atmosphere, and promote a healthy boost in self-esteem.

Which essential oils help increase dopamine and serotonin?

Which essential oils help increase dopamine and serotonin?

Bergamot, lavender, and lemon essential oils are the primary oils clinically highlighted to prompt the brain to quickly release mood lifting hormones like serotonin and dopamine to help alleviate stress and improve your mood. Clary sage and ylang-ylang oils also help elevate serotonin levels.

Dopamine drives motivation and reward-seeking, while serotonin acts as a mood stabilizer that promotes feelings of well-being, calmness, and contentment. 

What are the best aromatherapy oils for depression?

A blend of lavender, bergamot and ylang-ylang essential oils helps to quickly reduce and soothe depressive thoughts and feelings to both lift your mood and make you feel more content, at ease, and happier.

Which essential oils are good for stress and anxiety? 

Invigorating and uplifting essential oils such as peppermint and eucalyptus help get rid of stress and anxiety. A few sniffs out of the bottle or a couple of quick drops on the wrists and neck will bring instant relief and fill you with a quiet sense of calm.