Improve Your Mood with Aromatherapy Perfumes

Not all perfumes will change your mood, but I'm sure that goes without saying. What I like to do is purchase natural perfumes with scents that are well-known mood boosters. For long, stressful days, I turn to these fragrances to keep me lively, and to help cope with anxiety.

We all want a burst of positive energy in the morning. It gives us the strength of body and mind to take on the day with confidence.

While a positive start may not guarantee a great day, it is an essential component. Many of us include coffee or energy drinks to re-invigorate the body and mind. But there's another approach you may not have tried: therapeutic scents that come directly from your perfumes.

Peppermint: Increases alertness, making it perfect for sluggish mornings. A cooling aroma that increases your mood. Lavender is also known to relieve headaches and sinuses. Best used in the morning, right before you take on the day.

Citrus: Uplifts, restores and re-energizes. An aroma that relaxes the mind to create a calm energy. Best used during that "midday crash". A spritz of perfume on your pulse point or face will liven your spirits (you can use perfumes on your face only if they contain gentle, natural ingredients).

Lavender: Soothes anxiety and improves your mood by making you feel relaxed in stressful situations. Lavender is a personal favorite of mine. Best used right before a stressful situation, such as speeches or a test.

Rosemary and Peppermint: A blend of essential oils that energizes and activates the memory. It's refreshing properties restores the body and mind, and keeps your mind alert when it wants to take a "mental nap". Best used in the morning and before cognitive situations, such as tests.

Many essential oils work better in pairs, like rosemary and peppermint. A unique balance of aromatherapy comes in this citrus body fragrance. While the citrus from the grapefruit, orange and tangerine essential oils will keep you energized, it's also infused with vanilla and bergamot to add a gentle scent. This creates a feminine perfume with a delightful fragrance that secretly acts as a mood lifter.

While this article is centrally focused on scented perfumes that lift your mood and keep you energized, this may not be what you're going for. Many who suffer from sleepless nights (insomnia) don't need that extra energy. So as an added note, I'm going to include a few scents that can help calm your mind.

• Lavender
• Geranium
• Clary Sage
• Cypress

Look for perfumes that are based with these essential oils, particularly lavender essential oil. Lavender perfumes are well known for their ability to calm your mood and relieve stress. The reason it also works as a mood booster is because it relieves stress and anxiety.

There's nothing wrong with a cup of coffee in the morning. But rather than making a second cup, try aromatherapy with a delightful perfume. Not only will you feel better, you'll smell better, too.