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Essential Oils for Mental Clarity, Concentration, and Focus
Mental clarity lets you think clearly, focus, and concentrate without feeling overwhelmed or distracted. The benefits of using essential oils for mental clarity result from the scent molecules traveling through the olfactory nerves directly to the brain's limbic system—a group of structures that regulate your emotions, behavior, motivation, and memory.
Experiment with different essential oils, as not everyone experiences the same results because each brain is wired differently.
Essential Oils for Focus
To support focus, The Complete Book of Essential Oils and Aromatherapy suggests these essential oils:
- Basil
- Bergamot
- Cardamom
- Grapefruit
- Lemon
- Lemon eucalyptus (Eucalyptus citriodora)
- Peppermint
- Rosemary
Focus Blend
- 8 drops peppermint essential oil
- 8 drops rosemary essential oil
- 6 drops basil essential oil
- 2 drops cardamom essential oil
Diffuse according to your diffuser's instructions or make an aromatherapy inhaler.
Source: Essential Oils to Boost the Brain & Heal the Body
Focus Support Stock Blend
- 40 drops peppermint essential oil
- 40 drops lemon essential oil
- 1 to 2 drops rosemary essential oil
- 1 to 2 drops basil essential oil
Add essential oils to a 5-ml dark-color dropper bottle. Cap and shake well. Let sit for at least eight hours before using.
Diffuse a few drops, according to your diffuser's instructions, or make an aromatherapy inhaler.
Source: Essential Oils Complete Reference Guide
Additional oils that may support focus and mental clarity: amyris, bay laurel, black pepper, cedarwood, cinnamon leaf, citronella, clary sage, cypress, elemi, frankincense, geranium, helichrysum, lavender, melissa (lemon balm), lemongrass, manuka, myrrh, neroli, niaouli, orange, palmrosa, patchouli, petitgrain, pine, ranvintsara, sage, spearmint, and tea tree, according to Llewellyn's Complete Book of Essential Oils.
Essential Oils for Concentration
The Complete Book of Essential Oils and Aromatherapy suggests the following essential oils for mental clarity to support concentration:
- Basil
- Bergamot
- Cardamom
- Cedarwood
- Eucalyptus globulus
- Lavandin
- Lemon
- Lemongrass
- May chang (Listea cubeba)
- Orange, sweet
- Peppermint
- Rosemary
Blends
- 20 drops lemon essential oil
- 6 drops basil linalool essential oil
- 2 drops rosemary essential oil
or
- 10 drops may chang essential oil
- 10 drops cardamom essential oil
- 10 drops lemon essential oil
Uses:
- Add a few drops in a diffuser, according to instructions, or make a room spray or inhaler.
- Create a massage oil by adding 15 to 30 drops to 2 tablespoons carrier oil.
Additional essential oils for concentration recommended by Essential Oils for Emotional Wellbeing are rose, spearmint, and vetiver.
The book suggests the following three blends.
Massage Oil
- 5 drops cedarwood essential oil
- 3 drops bergamot essential oil
- 2 drops rose essential oil
- 2 drops basil essential oil
- 4 drops vitamin E oil
- 2 tablespoons carrier oil
Diffuser Blend
- 2 drops peppermint essential oil
- 2 drops rose essential oil
- 2 drops bergamot essential oil
Bath Salts
- 5 drops rosemary essential oil
- 5 drops vetiver essential oil
- 5 drops rose essential oil
- 5 drops bergamot essential oil
- 2 tablespoons carrier oil
- 4 drops vitamin E oil
- 3 cups salts (Epsom, sea, pink Himalayan, etc.)
- Blend all the oils in a small glass container.
- Place the salts in a dark-color glass container (minimum 3-cup size) that has a tight-fitting lid.
- Stir the oil blend into the salts.
- Place lid on container and let sit in a cool, dark place for 24 hours.
- Stir mixture again.
- Use 1/2 cup in a bath. Store salts in a cool, dark place for up to 3 months.
More Blends of Essential Oils for Mental Clarity
Inhalers
Drop the essential oils onto the cotton pad in an aromatherapy inhaler. Attach lid. Inhale as needed.
Focus and Clarity Inhaler
- 10 drops rosemary essential oil
- 5 drops pine essential oil
- 5 drops may chang essential oil
Source: The Healing Power of Essential Oils
Focus and Concentration Inhaler
- 5 drops rosemary essential oil
- 10 drops lemon essential oil
Source: Essential Living
Diffuser Blends
Use these blends in your diffuser according to its instructions.
Clarity Diffuser Blend
- 3 drops palmarosa essential oil
- 2 drops petitgrain essential oil
- 2 drops peppermint essential oil
Source: Aromasense
Mental Clarity Diffuser Blend
- 8 drops rosemary essential oil
- 4 drops peppermint essential oil
- 4 drops lemon essential oil
Source: Floracopeia ebook
Sprays
Mental Clarity Room Spray
- 5 drops peppermint essential oil
- 5 drops rosemary essential oil
- 5 drops grapefruit essential oil
- 2 tablespoons distilled water, approximately
- 1-ounce dark-color glass spray bottle
Add essential oils to bottle. Fill with distilled water. Close bottle and shake. Spray around room. Shake well before each use.
Source: Heal With Essential Oil
Alert Mind Spray
This spray is great first thing in the morning.
- 40 drops grapefruit essential oil
- 30 drops peppermint essential oil
- 10 drops ginger essential oil
- 10 drops basil essential oil
- 4-ounce glass fine-mist spray bottle
- 4 ounces (1/2 cup) distilled water, approximately
- Drop essential oils into bottle. Fill with distilled water. Close bottle and shake.
- Spray in the air over your head, and breathe in the scent deeply. Don't let the mist fall into your eyes.
Shake well before every use.
Source: Rocky Mountain Oils Ultimate DIY Guide
Productivity Stock Blend
To a 5-ml dropper bottle, add these essential oils:
- 50 drops peppermint essential oil
- 20 drops lemon essential oil
- 20 drops cinnamon leaf essential oil
- 10 drops atlas cedarwood essential oil
- 1 to 3 drops basil essential oil
- 1 to 3 drops rosemary verbenone essential oil
- 1 to 3 drops black spruce essential oil
Cap and then shake vigorously. Let synergize for eight hours. Ways to use this blend:
- Place 1 to 3 drops on a cotton ball or smell strip and inhale fror 10 to 15 seconds. Repeat as needed. Or make an aromatherapy inhaler.
- Diffuse a few drops according to your diffuser's instructions.
- Make a perfume: Add 15 to 30 drops of the blend to 2 tablespoons carrier. Apply a few drops to the sinus points around the nose and forehead and on the back of the neck.
Source: Essential Oils Complete Reference Guide
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To use essential oils for depression relief, select stimulating oils, such as basil, lemon, and cedarwood.
Essential oils for panic attacks may help you manage your symptoms or stop a panic attack. Lavender is calming, as are helichrysum, frankincense, and marjoram.
Learn how to use essential oils for anxiety relief. Includes blends for diffusers, inhalers, aromatherapy baths, and massage.
Photo by Lorin Both on Unsplash