Our Favorite Roller and Diffuser Blends to Unwind

Do you ever struggle to slow down at the end of the day? Or should we ask if you have kids and a job? Ha! We think those two go hand in hand, and a few calming essential oils are how we take the edge off.

Life gets full. There is always something coming up, a problem to solve, or a to-do list a mile long, and slowing down is so much easier said than done.

That is usually when we reach for our essential oils. There is just something about a warm, grounding scent that helps me take a breath and unwind.

Below we're sharing our favorite calming oils, plus the roller and diffuser blends we come back to again and again.

Our Favorite Calming Essential Oils

Essential oil roller bottles with dried flowers and fruits on wooden table.

Lime: So fresh and uplifting. It has a bright, clean citrus scent that instantly lifts our mood.

Bergamot: One of our personal favorites. It’s calming and a little bit bright all at once, with a soft, lovely citrus scent.

Lemon: Like lime, lemon is bright and invigorating. It’s the scent we reach for when we want to feel a little more awake and clear-headed.

Lavender: The classic calming oil. That soft, floral scent is like a deep breath, and it’s our go-to when we want to relax.

Copaiba: This one was newer to me, but it quickly earned a spot in our routine. It comes from the resin of the copaiba tree and has a mild, woodsy, grounding aroma.

Shop these calming essential oils.

A Few Calming Blends we Love

10mL roller bottle and amber colored essential oil bottles on table.

We usually keep the journal away from brand-specific blends so anyone can follow along, but these three are the ones we personally reach for most, so we have to share them.

Serenity (the restful blend): A soft, sweet blend of lavender, marjoram, roman chamomile, ylang-ylang, Hawaiian sandalwood, and vanilla bean. It smells exactly as calm as it sounds.

Balance (the grounding blend): Spruce, ho wood, frankincense, blue tansy, and blue chamomile. We like to call this one our “we have four kids five and under” blend. It has such a beautiful, woodsy scent, and we use it almost daily.

Citrus Bliss (the invigorating blend): A happy blend of wild orange, lemon, grapefruit, mandarin, bergamot, tangerine, clementine, and vanilla. It’s like sunshine, and it’s the one we diffuse when we want to brighten up the whole house.

How to Use Calming Essential Oils

Roller bottle on table with dried flowers in background.

When you want to slow down, there are a couple of easy ways to enjoy these oils.

Aromatically: Add your favorite blend (or a drop of each) to a diffuser and let it fill the room. No diffuser? Add a few drops to a cotton ball or tissue and breathe in the scent, or just inhale straight from the bottle.

Topically: Our favorite way is a roller bottle. It makes it so easy to dab a little on your wrists or the back of your neck, and you can tuck a spare in your purse for on the go.

Our Calming Roller Bottle

To make this roller, add the following to a 10 mL roller bottle: 4 drops lavender, 3 drops bergamot, 3 drops copaiba, 2 drops lime, 2 drops lemon, 2 drops Serenity, 2 drops Balance, and 2 drops Citrus Bliss. Top it off with fractionated coconut oil and shake well before use.

Roll it onto your pulse points whenever you need a moment.

Calming Diffuser Blends to Try

If diffusing is more your thing, here are a couple we love to run in the evening:

Cozy Evening: 3 drops lavender, 2 drops wild orange, 1 drop frankincense.
Unwind: 2 drops bergamot, 2 drops cedarwood, 1 drop lavender.

Variations

This roller is easy to make your own. We haven’t tried every combination myself, but a lot of people love to swap in or add:

Ylang ylang or clary sage for a softer, sweeter scent.
Cedarwood or vetiver for something more grounding and woodsy.
A little extra frankincense, which pairs beautifully with just about everything.

An Honest Word

That little ritual genuinely helps me, and sometimes that pause is the whole point. We'll be real with you: a roller bottle isn’t going to erase a hard day. But taking a second to stop, breathe in something calming, and reset?

Expert Tips

Always dilute your oils in a carrier oil before they touch your skin.
Citrus oils (like lemon, lime, and bergamot) can make your skin more sensitive to the sun, so skip the sunshine right after you apply.
Keep a spare roller in your bag, your car, or your nightstand so it’s there when you need it.
Store your oils out of reach of children.

A Few Safety Tips

Dilute essential oils in a carrier oil before applying to the skin.
Do a quick patch test first if you have sensitive skin.
Citrus oils are photosensitive; avoid direct sun on freshly applied skin.
For external use only, and keep oils out of reach of children.

Calming Essential Oil FAQs

What are the best calming essential oils?

Lavender, bergamot, and copaiba are our favorites, and frankincense and the citrus oils are lovely too. It really comes down to the scents you find most soothing.

How do you use essential oils to relax?

The two easiest ways are to diffuse them or to dab a diluted roller blend on your pulse points and breathe in the scent.

Can we use a calming roller before bed?

Absolutely. A calming roller on your wrists or the bottoms of your feet is a lovely part of a wind-down routine.

If you tried this Calming Roller Bottle or any other tutorial on our website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below. Thanks for visiting!

Calming essential oil roller bottle on a table with dried flowers.

5 from 28 votes

Calming Roller Bottle

By the studio Ascher Prep: 2 minutes minsAdditional Time: 3 minutes minsTotal: 5 minutes mins Servings: 1 10 mL roller bottle LEARN HOW TO MAKE THE ULTIMATE STRESS AND ANXIETY ROLLER BOTTLE. APPLYING ESSENTIAL OILS TOPICALLY CAN HELP WITH THE BODIES STRESS RESPONSE AND PROMOTE CALMNESS.