Essential oils for sleep: lavender, cedarwood and how to use them

A soft aroma in your bedroom can be part of your bedtime routine. That's what aromatherapy does: it uses the scent of essential oils to create a calm atmosphere. Here we tell you which oils we carry that their labels describe as soothing, how to use them and what care each bottle has printed on it.

The oils their labels describe as soothing

1. Lavender

NOW 100% Pure Lavender Essential Oil (Lavandula angustifolia) has printed:

• Aroma: "Floral."
• Attributes: "Soothing, normalizing, balancing."
• How it's made: "Steam Distilled from flowering tops."

2. Cedarwood

NOW 100% Pure Cedarwood Essential Oil has printed:

• Aroma: "Warm, woodsy, balsamic."
• Attributes: "Soothing, strengthening, empowering."
• How it's made: "Steam Distilled from Virginian Cedarwood trees."

How to use them

• In the diffuser: both labels say "For aromatherapy use." A few drops in the diffuser a while before bed fill the room with their aroma.
• In a massage: for any other use, the label asks you to dilute it first in a carrier oil, such as jojoba, grapeseed, olive or almond. The amount is given by an essential oil book or another professional source, as the bottle says.

A simple nighttime routine

1. A while before bed, put a few drops of lavender or cedarwood in the bedroom diffuser.
2. Dim the lights and put your phone aside.
3. If you like massage, use the oil already diluted in a carrier oil on your feet, hands or arms.

What the bottles say about care

The lavender and cedarwood labels say, word for word:

• "Natural essential oils are highly concentrated and should be used with care."
• "Caution: Keep out of reach of children. Avoid contact with eyes. If pregnant or nursing, consult your healthcare practitioner before using. Not for internal use."

"Not for internal use" means essential oils are not to be swallowed.

Where to find them

All the oils we carry are in Pure Essential Oils.

For more details, call us at 787-304-0458.

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.