18 Energizing Essential Oils to Try

If you often lack energy, feel fatigued, or struggle to focus, essential oils may be able to solve your problems. However, since not all essential oils are energizing — in fact, many help you to relax — it’s important to specifically choose those that will make you more alert, improve your motivation, and enhance your fitness levels. Here are a few to consider.

1. Lemons

Lemons have long been associated with rejuvenation. In addition to increasing your energy levels, using lemon essential oil will help boost your mood. There are multiple ways to use the oil, but if you want your whole home to smell great — such as to motivate all your family members — it’s worth adding a few drops to your cleaning products. An added advantage is that lemon doubles up as an insect repellent.

2. Peppermint

In addition to helping you concentrate and boosting your energy, peppermint essential oil is a stress reliever. This makes it a top choice for when you lack energy due to mental exhaustion.

3. Spearmint

Studies have found that spearmint essential oil increases energy levels for better athletic performance. Milder than peppermint, it’s perfect for children as well as adults.

4. Sweet Orange

Another essential oil linked to athletic performance is sweet orange. You should also try this oil if you’re struggling with productivity due to a low mood — it’s particularly effective for overcoming mental fatigue caused by chronic stress or depression.

5. Rosemary

Rosemary essential oil enhances energy levels in multiple ways, including by stimulating your mind and boosting your mood. These effects were found in studies that looked at brain wave activity and the impact of the oil on the autonomic nervous system. In particular, rosemary oil is useful for helping school children focus and retain information for longer. It’s even more potent when combined with spearmint — research has found that the two together lead to even more pronounced changes in learning and memory. A mice study also discovered that using the two oils together resulted in an improvement in brain tissue that had oxidative damage, which occurs with aging.

6. Wild Orange

Like other citrus essential oils, wild orange has uplifting properties. To see the greatest benefits, add some to a diffuser at the beginning of the day. This will help you cope no matter what life throws your way.

7. Eucalyptus

One of the best essential oils to use in your home is eucalyptus, as it brings a sense of freshness to the air. Since it’s a powerful disinfectant, it’s ideal for adding to homemade cleaning products. In addition, the scent reduces muscle pain, acts as a decongestant, and reduces feelings of negativity to restore your motivation — all things that can increase your energy levels.

8. French Basil

By stimulating the adrenal glands and reducing mental fatigue, French basil essential oil makes you feel energized and balanced. Research indicates it opens the heart meridian to activate the cardiovascular system, strengthening the energy in your chest.

9. Cinnamon
Cinnamon is a stimulant that can help with a lack of motivation due to depression. It has a physical effect on the brain by increasing the blood flow and allowing you to focus better. If you lack energy due to a viral infection, inflammation, or poor blood sugar regulation, cinnamon essential oil can help by combating these problems.

10. Lemongrass

Some essential oils have the quality of being both energizing and relaxing — lemongrass is one of these oils. If you’re feeling down, add some diluted oil to your wrists or put the oil in a diffuser to immediately improve your mood.

11. Grapefruit

If you need help boosting your energy while trying to lose weight, there’s no better choice than grapefruit essential oil. It helps break down fat in cells, enabling you to gain energy from stores you already have. At the same time, it suppresses your appetite. Grapefruit essential oil works even better when combined with other citrus essential oils or with basil or rosemary.

12. Cedarwood

Used in Reiki to help with stabilization, cedarwood essential oil is a great choice for improving energy levels for multiple reasons. For instance, it provides support for chronic stress, reduces tension in the body, lowers hyperactivity to help with focus, and regulates brain activity. It’s a top choice for using with children who have ADHD. You can use cedarwood at any time of the day, including before going to bed — by stimulating the pineal gland, it increases the release of melatonin to help you fall asleep faster, meaning you’ll wake up feeling refreshed and energized.

13. Tea Tree

Mostly used as an anti-inflammatory, tea tree essential oil is also a mood booster. If you need help waking up, sniff some of this oil in the morning.

14. Ginger

With ginger essential oil, you can treat physical causes of a lack of energy, including muscle pain and cardiac fatigue. It also helps with issues like nausea (such as due to morning sickness), arthritis, indigestion, and poor circulation.

15. Bergamot

The active compounds alpha-pinene and limonene in bergamot increase energy levels by improving circulation. The positive effects of this essential oil on the olfactory system also make it useful for treating depression.

16. Lime

Like bergamot, lime essential oil contains limonene. It also has large amounts of beta-pinene — another compound that contributes to energy and feelings of positivity. This is the perfect essential oil to start your day, especially when you’re feeling unmotivated or tired.

17. Pine

If your low energy levels are due to intrusive thoughts, try using pine essential oil. It helps refocus your thoughts as well as reducing physical fatigue.

18. Thyme

For centuries, thyme has been associated with vitality. These associations appear to have merit, as studies have found the essential oil is linked to positivity and a desire to be active. You should use thyme essential oil when the seasons change, throughout the winter, and whenever you’re suffering from insomnia.

Essential oils have many applications beyond increasing your energy levels. At LaCura, you’ll find essential oils to boost your immune system. Check out our online store to find a range of products, all made with 100% natural ingredients.

About the author, Liat Chiprut

Liat Chiprut is a Functional Medicine Practitioner and licensed pharmacist. As an essential oil expert, Liat spent years researching and training on the root cause of disease and how to prevent illness and heal the body naturally. Her mission is creating new blends and helping all those that want to heal naturally have the information and products to do so.