How to use aromatherapy to boost your mood in lockdown

Sign up to our free Living Well email for advice on living a happier, healthier and longer life Live your life healthier and happier with our free weekly Living Well newsletter Live your life healthier and happier with our free weekly Living Well newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. “With aromatherapy there is a perception that these oils are just for ‘relaxing’, not realising the potency they can have on a therapeutic level,” says Farida Irani, founder of Ayurvedic aromatherapy brand Subtle Energies. “Candles are a great way to create a cosy atmosphere and give off a subtle fragrance suited to your mood,” says Neom Organics founder and creative director Nicola Elliott. Try putting a diffuser next to your bathroom, it makes those early starts a little easier and gives you a great little mood boost as you go about your morning routine.” You can also apply essential oils to the skin, but they must be diluted with a carrier oil first. She says: “Having a designated working area, ideally with natural light and an energy boosting fragrance, can be brilliant for sharpening the mind and keeping you on track.” For calming a cluttered mind, Irani says floral scents such as lavender, rose and jasmine “can assist with balancing the senses to assist with anxiety, sleep and stress.” Elliott suggests lighting a different candle in the evening to signify the end of the working day: “Our world has changed dramatically in a very short space of time so creating comfort and calm in those non-working areas, such as the living room, is super important.”