In honor of National Relaxation Day on Saturday August 15th, we’ve rounded up our favorite relaxing and comforting scents to help you unwind.  Did you know that scent plays a significant role in our mood, focus and creativity? In this day and age, it’s so easy to get caught up in daily stressors and forget to take time for ourselves to relax and rejuvenate. Relaxation is so important for our bodies and mind as it restores energy, improves our health and allows us to better deal with any challenges that may come our way.

Try out these simple relaxation techniques and relaxing Aera scents or Aromatherapy Blends to begin de-stressing your life and improving your health.

1. Lavender: A go-to scent for relaxation, lavender is known to help with insomnia, anxiety, depression and restlessness. Our Lavender fragrance combines soothing French lavender with fresh mandarin and bergamot. A few of our favorite relaxation ideas to pair with Lavender include:

• A bubble bath or warm Epsom salt soak for a soothing and meditative experience. No bathtub? Try a simple foot soak to receive the same health benefits.
• Yoga or stretching.
• During a massage. Don’t forget to look into self-massage tools for an affordable, easy at-home option.

2. Deep Relax: Shrug off daily fatigue, slow your racing mind and ready yourself for undisturbed sleep with our Deep Relax Aromatherapy Blend. Made with 100% natural essential oils of chamomile, vetiver and sandalwood. A few of our favorite relaxation ideas to pair with Deep Relax:

• Journaling. Try out a gratitude journal or the 5 Minute Journal if the idea of journaling tends to overwhelm you.
• Meditating before bed. New to meditation? Try out apps like Insight Timer that provides over 10,000 guided meditations.
• Read a book. Studies show that reading before bed helps you sleep better at night – try this to get an ever deeper sleep.

3. White Tea: Our White tea fragrance is a refreshing infusion of white tea, jasmine, wild thyme, rose and citrus – some of the most relaxing scents. A few of our favorite relaxation ideas to pair with White Tea include: 

• Try a DIY spa treatment at home, we recommend these hydrosol sheet masks by Aromatherapy Associates.
• Learn or practice a new hobby like knitting, sewing, blogging or cooking.
• Write a letter (or a text) to a relative or friend. A simple I'm thinking of you text to a loved one will bring you happy thoughts too!

4. Forest Therapy: Ever walk in the woods and feel completely rejuvenated? The smell of the outdoors is proven to help lower depression and stress levels. Made with 100% natural essential oils of pink pepper, cypress and ho wood, our Forest Therapy Aromatherapy Blend will transport you to nature. A few of our favorite relaxation ideas to pair with Forest Therapy include: 

• Brainstorming vacation ideas or bucket list items.
• A fun DIY home project (Pinterest is great for inspiration!).
• Listening to your favorite music or podcast.

5. Citrus: Citrus can help you feel more energized and is a great scent to help you feel more uplifted and joyful. Our Citrus fragrance combines sparkling lemon and orange with clary sage and mellow cedarwood. A few of our favorite relaxation ideas to pair with Citrus include: 

• Browsing recipes for a new treat you’d like to bake. We love Pinterest for this too!
• Dancing – who says you can’t dance at home? Turn up the tunes and get moving!
• Entertaining. Whether it’s a game-night, or a dinner party, having family and friends around you can help you feel more calm, happy and loved.

We hope you try out some of these relaxation techniques and scents. Let us know in the comments your favorite relaxation/self-care ideas, and be sure to follow along on our Instagram and Facebook for more inspiration.