Can Aromatherapy Impact Our Nervous System?

As I move through the years leading up to menopause, I’ve had to listen to my body in new ways. Sleep has become more fragile. Stress feels heavier in my system. The pace I used to run at doesn’t always serve me now. What I’ve learned is that caring for my nervous system isn’t optional anymore. It’s the foundation that allows me to feel well, think clearly, and show up for the people and projects I care about.

Your nervous system is the command centre for your body. It influences your hormones, digestion, mood, and sleep. When it’s in balance, you feel energised yet calm, focused yet flexible. When it’s overtaxed — by stress, disrupted rest, or constant stimulation — the effects ripple through everything: fatigue, a shorter fuse, brain fog, restless nights.

For too long, we’ve normalised living in “fight or flight,” running on stress chemistry. Over time, this drains our resilience, leaves us prone to burnout, and affects our long-term health. That’s why nervous system care is moving from the edges of wellness to its very heart.

Supporting your nervous system is about consistent, gentle shifts that help your body spend more time in “rest and digest.” There are many ways to calm the central nervous system, such as breathwork — slow belly breathing, inhaling through the nose and exhaling for a count of two or longer, sends a powerful safety signal to the brain. The heart rate eases, cortisol levels drop, and the mind becomes clearer.

Connecting to nature also comes with a whole host of benefits. Immersing yourself in green spaces, often called forest bathing, surrounds you with light, colour, and sound patterns that calm the brain’s alarm centre and restore presence.

Then there’s sensory ritual — fully engaging sight, sound, scent, touch, and taste anchors the mind in the moment. These cues can stimulate the vagus nerve, helping regulate heart rate, digestion, and mood.

And the element I’m currently most excited about: aromatherapy, with the idea that essential oils can influence neurotransmitters that shape our mood, stress response, and focus. Clinical studies suggest that citrus oils like neroli and sweet orange can lift mood by supporting serotonin, while florals like rose and geranium help support oxytocin and balance hormones. And lavender and vetiver have been shown to lower cortisol and calm, while rosemary and lemon can sharpen focus and boost dopamine.

TWO EXTRA PARAGRAPHS HERE ABOUT HOW AROMATHERAPY INFLUENCES THE NERVOUS SYSTEM, THE EFFECTS OF SCENT ON THE BRAIN/BODY/ANY RESEARCH STUDY RESULTS EG WHEN USED 3 TIMES A DAY PEOPLE REPORTED FEELING MORE RELAXED ETC. I REALLY WANT TO KNOW THE LINK BETWEEN AROMATHERAPY AND A MORE REGULATED NERVOUS SYSTEM HERE.

As the founder of Evolve Organic Beauty, my aim has always been to help people feel better, not only through their skin, but through their whole being. Drawing on my experience as a Reiki master, I’ve seen how our energy is constantly shifting, meaning at different moments we need different kinds of energetic support. So, I wanted to create something that moved beyond skincare, and a collection of energetically designed essential oil blends that guide you into the state you most need was the answer.

This is the basis for our Bioenergetic Wheel: four aromatherapy collections that nurture energetic, mental, emotional, and physical wellbeing. Included is Joyful Light (a blend of neroli, sweet orange, and ylang ylang that’s bright, optimistic, and uplifting), Wild Divine (including rose, cacao, and geranium for a soft, nurturing, and heart-opening scent), Zen Whisper (featuring lavender, frankincense, and vetiver that’s deeply calming and a bridge to rest), and Vital Clarity (with lemon, rosemary, and basil that’s fresh, focusing, and energising). LINE HERE ON HOW TO USE THEM, EG SIMPLY SNIFF WHENEVER YOU’RE IN NEED OF A LITTLE TLC AND TAKE NOTE OF HOW YOU START TO FEEL AFTERWARDS.

Whether you choose to invest in my products or already have some oils at home, the beauty of using aromatherapy for nervous system support is its gentleness. It starts with noticing when you’re out of balance and guiding yourself back, one breath, one ritual, one whiff at a time. For me, this shift has been the difference between pushing through and truly feeling present in my own life. And as we all navigate changing seasons, whether it’s menopause, a career transition, or simply the pace of modern life, tending to the nervous system might just be the most restorative act of all.