A guy’s guide: How essential oils perk you up – above & below the waist

Bergamot essential oil has a citrusy, fresh scent profile, akin to orange but with the floral, round notes of lemon added to the mix. This oil can be an amazing antidote to feelings of depression, grief and sadness because of its compounds. Bergamot contains roughly 30% linalyl acetate and esters, and these can have calming, soothing effects on us whilst still being a brilliant essential oil scent for men.

Bergamot oil is so refreshing it’s sometimes referred to as ‘nature’s Prozac’, and it’s excellent for treating states of nervous tension and mental agitation and can calm you down when you’re feeling overwhelmed emotionally. It’s even effective when it comes to reducing vascular tension, turning it into a weapon in the fight against cardiovascular disease - something that's more prevalent in men than women. And hey, vascular tension is something guys don’t want when the mood is right - you’ll need all the blood supply you can get!

With a woodsy scent and an undertone of citrus, cedarwood essential oil has balsamic hints and a somewhat camphorous odour, making it a widely used ingredient in many colognes. Along with its brilliant smell, cedarwood oil will do wonders for your skin, priming it for new beard growth to flourish if that’s your aim. It’ll also regulate the amount of oil your body produces, helping to keep the skin underneath your beard free of blemishes. No wonder many beard oils contain cedarwood oil.

What makes it one of the best essential oils for men is that it does all this while encouraging mental clarity and focus too, so you can not only look sharp but be sharp too!

Frequently described as having a sweet, woodsy scent with an undercurrent of lemon, frankincense essential oil has been used in scents and perfumes for thousands of years. It’s still a common base note in many perfumes and colognes. It has an earthy, spicy scent that is tied to spirituality - which for some, also means sensuality.

Frankincense is popular in aromatherapy for treating tiredness, turning bad moods around and boosting confidence. Use it when you feel like you need a bit of a pick-me-up and need some positivity injected into your day or night.

Add a few drops to your diffuser when you’re feeling anxious or stressed and you’ll soon start feeling much better. It also helps with symptoms of asthma, bronchitis and severe coughing. Research has shown that frankincense is also effective in battling inflammation.

And mixing it with a high-quality carrier oil and your other favourite essential oils before rubbing it into your skin to deal with scars is a popular way to include it in essential oil blends for men you’ll use all the time.

While grapefruit may seem like a bit of a feminine scent, it offers surprisingly tasteful top notes to many men’s cologne. We get grapefruit essential oil by cold pressing or steam distilling the rinds of the fruit. Interestingly, as bitter as the peels are, the oil is remarkably sweet, citrusy, uplifting and pleasant. This oil is another one that is good at fighting throat and respiratory infections and it can also be a miracle worker in terms of muscle aches and fatigue.

Emotionally, you can use grapefruit oil to balance out your mood and restore a lost connection to the way you’re feeling. It promotes the healthy release of anger and resentment, making it the perfect choice if you’re the strong and silent type, and you may find relief from symptoms of depression and nervous exhaustion after extended use of this unlikely essential oil for men.

If you’ve ever taken a trip to a spa then you’ll be no stranger to the wonderful scent of lavender essential oil, one of the best essential oils for men. The reason it’s so popular in places where you need to destress is that it’s ultra-soothing and relaxing.

Lavender oil is also rich in anti-inflammatory properties, so it’s the perfect product when you want to calm skin inflammation or redness as it’s a great healer too. Nicked yourself shaving? Splash on some diluted lavender essential oil and you’ll be good to go. Plus, it can help with erectile dysfunction because it boosts blood flow to the penis, so if you’re getting let down when you lay down, this could be the answer.

So keep some in the bathroom to help with your skin needs. And if you’re having trouble with sleep or sex, be sure and add a few drops to your diffuser at bedtime.

A versatile scent that’s wonderfully uplifting, sweet orange essential oil is one of the most popular products in the aromatherapy field. Its cheerful aroma is wonderful when you’re feeling down in the dumps, and it can instantly clear a stale or smoke-filled room if you pop a few drops in your diffuser.

Sweet orange oil can also help with a range of physical ailments, including colds, constipation, dull skin, flatulence and the flu. It’s also proven to aid in the prevention of cancers that typically affect men and it acts as a supplementary treatment too. On the metaphysical side of things, it’s believed by many that this oil helps to open the heart and frees it from anxiety, nervousness and sadness.

Date Night

The heady mix of amber, bergamot, frankincense and lavender in Volant’s Date Night Blend is what you need when you’re getting a little romantic. Its earthy and relaxing aromas may help put you both in the mood for some intimacy. Diffuse it before, during or after your night out with a special someone or use it when you’re home alone and need some cheering up.

The fresh citrus fragrances of bergamot, grapefruit and lime essential oils along with a splash of amyris in the Volant’s Energy Blend are the perfect way to start your day. Or use it whenever you’re flagging, since these oils are famous for their ability to put some pep in your step.

Do you find it difficult to wind down after work? Or does work wake you up at night? Then the Sleep Blend from Volant has your name all over it. The combination of frankincense, lavender, palma rosa and Roman chamomile will help you relax, unwind, get to sleep quicker and stay asleep, leaving you fresh for the next day ahead.

If you’d like to boost your beard growth, tackle skin issues or relieve tired feet or sore muscles, a topical application would be the recommended route. Mix a few drops into your shampoo, dilute your oils and add them to your body wash or after shave, put your diluted mix into a foot soak, or use a carrier oil with them to massage painful spots on your body.

Diffusing the right essential oils can help you start your day right, boost your energy, help you focus and be more productive at work, unwind when the day is done, sleep better, and help put you and your partner in the mood. On the other hand, if you’re tackling mental issues like self-confidence, depression, anxiety or low motivation, adding a few drops of the best essential oils for men to your diffuser is recommended.

If you want to change up your scent on a whim, or should you need to use it in a small shared space like an office or the car, a room mist might be just the thing you need. Spritz oils that boost your confidence, help you focus, relax or lighten up. Or use it at home to freshen up your linen, furniture or car before your guest or hot date arrives.

This 2014 study found that the smell combination of lavender essential oil and…pumpkin pie…has the most significant impact on blood flow to the penis in male volunteers - a 40% increase, that is. Other studies have also found that lavender increased alpha waves, an effect which is most commonly associated with relaxation, another reason penile blood flow increases.

Men who inhaled grapefruit essential oil were found to have immediately increased blood pressure which waned over the following 10 minutes. This goes to show that grapefruit does indeed have a stimulating effect when you need a pick-me-up.

It has been revealed that frankincense essential oil has a particular cytotoxicity to malignant cells. This research showed that frankincense is further able to distinguish bladder cancer cells from normal ones and, at a precise concentration, it is able to block bladder cancer cells’ growth cycles, induce apoptosis and inhibit cell growth.

While this is exciting, these types of studies are often performed in vitro or in animals where it’s given orally. While it isn’t safe to consume frankincense essential oil, we can still benefit from its powerful anti-inflammatory benefits when used topically.

Heart disease is one of the leading causes of death in men in the UK. Severe side effects are standard for most therapeutic treatments, making plant metabolites an interesting option for treatment since they have few side effects. This study revealed that the linalyl acetate and linalool in bergamot oil saw a vasorelaxant effect taking place in men exposed to it, promising news for relieving the burden of CVD risks and proving that bergamot is more than just a fabulous essential oil scent for men.

The most common cancers men are diagnosed with include colorectal, lung, prostate and skin. Multiple experimental medical studies like this one have shown that essential oils like orange oil can be used in prevention along with proving beneficial as supplementary treatments to standard chemotherapy.