I’ve suffered from depression and panic disorder for many years and I spent most of my early twenties stuck on a nasty anti-depressant which didn’t really help. After switching to natural skincare products last year, I decided to learn more about essential oils and how they could help my mental state.

I’ve come across many websites discussing the benefits of aromatherapy and discovered that there is an ongoing debate over how helpful it really is. Now I can’t speak for physical ailments, but I do believe that they can have a strong effect on us mentally. How a product smells is very important to me and if I don’t like a certain aroma, no matter how good something might be for me I won’t use it. Conversely, I’ll often buy a product that smells great even if it doesn’t suit me at all. The multi-billion pound perfume industry relies on this, enticing us with fragrances that we probably don’t need but cant resist when they’re wafted in front of our noses. Imagine how dull the world would be if we couldn’t smell!

I’ve always enjoyed using incense sticks and scented candles and will always add something smelly to my bath. Up until recently, it’s been pre-mixed oils in carriers, but now I’m trying essential oils directly. I love how I can mix and match my favourite ones and vary them depending on my mood. I also bought myself an oil burner a couple of weeks ago and am experimenting with that too. This afternoon I was feeling particularly teary and snappy, so I added a couple of drops of bergamot and neroli to the burner, then sat back and relaxed for half an hour. I’m now feeling a lot better, no longer panicky or agitated.

This, to me, is a far better solution to my anxiety issues. Rather than affect my brain chemistry with potentially dangerous medications, I can do it safely the way Mother Nature intended. Sometimes the simplest of solutions really is the best.