Lemon has also been paired with other scents on this list to add a note of brightness and alleviate some fragrances that may be too rich or sweet on their own. While citrus is more well-known for increasing alertness and energy, it can also help you calm down after a hard day. Ylang ylang can help calm you down after a stressful day and soothe negative moods. Ylang ylang has a heavy, sweet smell, sometimes with notes of fruits and rubber. It’s a fairly common ingredient in candles, perfumes, lotions and soaps. While you might not be familiar with the name of this plant, you’ve probably smelled it before. Ylang Ylang - Try our Los Angeles or Thank you, Mom candle

If you’re looking for a savory herbal scent to help you relax, try experimenting with clary sage. While it does have a similar fragrance profile to regular sage, clary sage is a bit softer and sweeter and doesn’t hit your nose quite as hard.

Clary Sage - Try our Thank you, Mom or Ohio candleĬlary sage is the more colorful, flowering cousin of the common cooking herb often found in grocery stores. As an added bonus, you won’t have to clean sand out of every crevice at the end of the day. After all, we can’t think of anything more relaxing than sitting next to the ocean with a tropical drink in our hand. If you prefer a fresh scent that transports you outside, sea breeze is an excellent choice that will also help you calm down after a stressful day. Sea Breeze - Try our Vancouver or San Diego candle While many people dismiss vanilla as a pedestrian fragrance, it’s a fantastic base scent that will also help you relax-not to mention it makes your whole house smell like baked goods, minus the hassle and mess of getting in the kitchen. This sweet, mild scent doesn’t get enough credit for its calming properties. Vanilla - Try our Book Club or NoCal candle Jasmine is not only available as an oil but can also be found in many candles, perfumes, soaps and even alcohol and desserts. If you’re tired and stressed, this fragrance oil will help soothe your tension and promote relaxation. This sweet, rich floral scent is known for its calming properties. Jasmine - Try our New Home, SoCal or Gone Hiking candle Whether you’re stressed from work or just want to supercharge a relaxing evening, lavender will help you calm down and unwind in no time. This fragrance oil has many calming properties, and it can help release tension, soothe racing thoughts and help you unwind. Lavender is one of the most popular scents for relaxing and falling asleep, and with good reason. Lavender - Try our France or Evening Unwind candle Rosemary has both energizing and relaxing effects, so if you need to improve your concentration and reduce stress while working on a major project, you should definitely try it out. You’ve probably cooked with rosemary before, but you should also consider including this fragrance as part of your aromatherapy routine.

Whenever we need to relax, we turn to these 14 calming scents to help us unwind and destress. Then, we delve into aromatherapy techniques that you can use to destress, including running a diffuser and lighting candles. Whether you’re a newcomer to aromatherapy or an expert looking to expand your fragrance collection, we’ve compiled a list of the 14 best calming scents below. We could all use a little more calm in our lives right now, and aromatherapy can be a great way to relax–especially when coupled with other de-stressing techniques. Don't forget to shop our best sellers after you learn more below.

Another word for relax and unwind