10 Essential Oils to Boost Focus Naturally
Feeling a bit brain fogged today? This one’s for students, busy bees, multitaskers, procrastinators, and anyone who struggles to stay focused! In today’s fast-paced world, the way we work often isn’t working. We’re constantly juggling tasks and end up mentally exhausted. But what if there was a simple, natural way to give your concentration, focus, and productivity a boost?
One effective method is using essential oils. Certain plant aromas have been studied for their effects on alertness, memory, and overall cognitive performance. For instance, rosemary has been shown to improve memory retention, peppermint can enhance alertness and mental clarity, and citrus oils like lemon or sweet orange help reduce fatigue while lifting your mood. Inhaling these oils, or using them in diffusers, personal inhalers, or diluted topical blends can gently stimulate the brain, support blood flow to neural pathways, and provide a subtle, natural boost to your focus exactly when you need it.
Using aromatherapy to help with focus and concentration
I wish I would have known about using essential oils years ago when I was studying in nursing school. By breathing in some stimulating uplifting essential oils, it can allow the brain to stay on task and restore energy.
When we are engaging our sense of smell, it allows us to be more present.
Ever heard the expression “Stop and smell the roses”? The expression came into use in the 1960s and is a rephrasing of a sentiment found in an autobiography written by golfer Walter Hagen: “Don’t hurry, don’t worry. And be sure to smell the flowers along the way.”
In addition to allowing us to be more present, essential oils contain chemical constituents that are stimulating for the brain. This can help enhance memory and allows us to focus and concentrate better.
My favorite essential oils for focus:
Rosemary
Known as the herb of remembrance, Rosemary has a long history of being known to help promote memory. In Shakespeare’s Hamlet, Ophelia declares “There’s rosemary, that’s for remembrance. Pray you love, remember.”
Grecian scholars would wear rosemary on their heads to improve their recall while taking exams. Research has shown that rosemary does have a significant positive effect on the ability to remember things and improve reaction times. (1) Rosemary is known to inhibit the breakdown of acetylcholine, which is a neurotransmitter important for brain function and memory. Simply smelling rosemary can help enhance cognitive performance, helping you stay alert and focused during long study sessions or work projects.
Try: Diffusing while working, adding a drop to a personal inhaler, or blending with a carrier oil and applying to temples.
Peppermint
Peppermint offers a bright, minty scent that awakens the senses. Studies indicate it increases alertness, mental clarity, and reaction time. Its menthol component can stimulate blood flow to the brain and enhance oxygen uptake, which may reduce fatigue.
Try: Diffusing during mid-afternoon slumps, adding to a roller for wrists, or sniffing directly from the bottle for a quick pick-me-up.
Lemon
Lemon essential oil has a crisp, uplifting citrus scent known to reduce stress and improve attention. Research suggests that citrus aromas can enhance mood, increase energy levels, and support focus by activating brain regions involved in alertness.
Try: Adding a few drops to a diffuser or cotton ball at your desk, or pairing with peppermint in a personal inhaler.
Sweet Orange
Sweet orange is bright, cheerful, and energizing. Its scent can reduce mental fatigue and promote a positive mood, making it easier to concentrate on tasks. Citrus oils like sweet orange stimulate the limbic system, which is linked to emotion and memory.
Try: Diffusing in your workspace, or adding to bath salts or a roller blend for morning motivation.
Basil
Basil essential oil has a spicy, herbaceous aroma that supports mental clarity and reduces mental fatigue. Studies suggest it can stimulate neurotransmitters involved in focus and memory.
Try: Diffuse during deep work, or blend a few drops with jojoba oil for a stimulating hand or wrist massage.
Eucalyptus
Eucalyptus has a fresh, camphoraceous aroma that refreshes the mind and increases alertness. Its stimulating effect may improve mental clarity, making it ideal for fatigue or sluggish thinking.
Try: Adding a few drops to shower floor while showering to enhance morning creativity, diffuse in a workspace or add to a personal inhaler for a quick pick-me-up.
Cedarwood
Cedarwood has a grounding, woody aroma that encourages mental stability and focus. Its sesquiterpenes may help increase oxygen flow to the brain and support sustained attention, making it excellent for long periods of work or study.
Try: Diffuse while reading, add to a meditation or focus ritual, or combine with citrus oils for a stimulating but grounding blend.
Frankincense
Frankincense offers a warm, resinous scent that encourages calm yet alert focus. Studies suggest it may improve memory and support clear thinking by influencing the limbic system.
Try: Diffuse during meditation or study, apply a diluted roller to wrists, or inhale directly to create a sense of centered focus.
Vetiver
Vetiver has a deep, earthy, grounding aroma that supports mental clarity and reduces scattered thoughts. Known as the “oil of tranquility,” vetiver helps calm an overactive mind and supports sustained attention, making it perfect for high-stress or multitasking days.
Try: Diffuse at your desk, add to a roller blend for wrists, or combine with citrus oils for an energizing yet grounded focus boost.
Pine
Pine essential oil has a crisp, forest-like scent that refreshes the mind and reduces mental fatigue. Its aroma is uplifting yet grounding, stimulating alertness and clarity while promoting a sense of focus. Research shows forest-like scents may positively influence cognitive performance and mood.
Try: Diffuse during work, add to a personal inhaler for mid-day refreshment, or blend with citrus oils for an energizing combo.
Other helpful essential oils for focus and concentration:
Ylang Ylang
Fir
Sandalwood
Cardamom
Cypress
Lavender
Some ways to use essential oils to help promote focus, memory and concentration:
Make an aromatherapy inhaler
Use in a roller and apply to neck and behind ears when studying
Diffuse a stimulating blend
Essential Oil Recipes to Try:
Focus Roller Blend
3 drops Rosemary
5 drops Grapefruit
3 drops Eucalyptus
Add essential oils to 10ml glass rollerball. Fill rest with carrier oil. Apply to wrists, temples, or neck when needing a little focus and energy.
Get It Done Diffuser Blend
3 drops Orange
2 drops Frankincense
2 drops Eucalyptus
1 drop Cardamom
Adjust drops accordingly per diffuser size and water volume.
Clear the Mind Aromatherapy Inhaler
10 drops Cypress
8 drops Rosemary
6 drops Pine
Mix essential oils together. Using dropper or pipette add the synergy to cotton wick inside the aromatherapy inhaler. Return wick to glass tube and reassemble inhaler.
Disclaimer: This blog is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute the practice of medicine, nursing or other professional health care services, including the giving of medical advice. The use of information on this blog or materials linked from this blog is at the user's own risk. The content of this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Users should not disregard, or delay in obtaining, medical advice for any medical condition they may have, and should seek the assistance of their health care professionals for any such conditions.
References:
Moss M, Oliver L. Plasma 1,8-cineole correlates with cognitive performance following exposure to rosemary essential oil aroma. Ther Adv Psychopharmacol. 2012 Jun; 2(3): 103–113.