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I’m staring out the window, thinking how dreary it is right now. It’s pouring rain, the sky is gray, and the trees have lost most of their leaves. Sigh.

Yow, I need something to lift this blue mood I’m in! As usual, aromatherapy to the rescue! And this is definitely a case where I like to use my tea light candle oil diffuser, as it makes the scent last a long time. As a cautionary note, remember not to take any of these oils internally or use them on your skin until you research them thoroughly. Not all essential oils can be taken internally and/or used topically.

My favorite mood elevator is Rose essential oil (rosa damascena). One drop of this heavenly scent in a diffuser is enough to make me feel happy! However, rose essential oil is extremely expensive.

A cheaper (although still not cheap) alternative to rose essential oil is geranium (pelargonium graveolens), sometimes called rose geranium. When you smell geranium essential oil, you won’t believe how much it smells like rose essential oil! And again, one drop in a diffuser is plenty. At least it’s economical to use!

Roman Chamomile essential oil (anthemis nobilis) is renowned for its ability to calm people down. It can be somewhat sedating, so use it only when you know you don’t have to be completely alert. Don’t confuse Roman Chamomile with German Chamomile (matricaria recutita). They are very different essential oils.

Lavender essential oil (lavandula augustifolia) is also wonderful for making happy thoughts. It smells so clean and fresh.

The citrus oils are also known as mood elevators. One of my favorite citrus essential oils is mandarin (citrus reticulata). Don’t confuse mandarin essential oil with tangerine essential oil. Even though they smell similar, tangerine essential oil does not have the anthranilic acid ester that makes mandarin oil so good for anxiety. In his book Advanced Aromatherapy, Kurt Schnaubelt notes that Mandarin essential oil is also suitable for “children suffering from anxiety, nervousness, or stress” (p. 77).

Although I love the scent of patchouli (pogostemon cablin) and vetiver (vetiveria zizanoides) essential oils, I wouldn’t use them on a day when I need my mood lifted. They are known as dark, heavy, earthy scents and aren’t the best for feeling happier when you feel a bit down.

A quick look at some of my references gives a list of essential oils that are known as mood elevators. They are the kinds of oils that give you a “feel good feeling” when you have a mild case of the blues. Here are some other essential oils recommended for “despondency” by Shirley Price in her Aromatherapy Workbook:

Bergamot, Neroli and Petitgrain (all are varieties of citrus aurantium)
Clary Sage (salvia sclarea)
Coriander (coriandrum sativum)
Cypress (cupressus sempervirens)
Ginger (zingiber officinale)
Melissa (melissa officinalis)
Niaouli (melaleuca quinquenervia)
Rosewood (aniba rosaeodora)
Sandalwood (santalum album)
Ylang Ylang (cananga odorata)

There are other mood elevating essential oils out there, and the fun of aromatherapy is in the discovery of how a particular essential oil affects you. You might want to compile your own personal “blue day” essential oils list so that it’s handy the next time you feel a bit down.

Remember that these oils are traditionally used for an occasional feeling of sadness or anxiety or just feeling “down in the dumps”. If you have a serious case of depression, you need to be under a doctor’s care.