A few simple, natural remedies that can help you sleep better

It is not always easy to be able to go to bed in the evening, with the mind free from worries. Stressful days can linger on our minds and make it difficult to fall asleep.

One remedy can induce sleep and will make bedtime more pleasant: this is to be enveloped in a light perfume, an aroma that can truly relax the mind. It's the principle that lies behind aromatherapy and is worth giving a try (using DIY methods).

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The aromas that help relax and induce sleep vary, and the easiest way to take advantage of this is to use appropriate essential oils. The most effective are the oils extracted the following plants:

• Lavender, which also seems to relieve pain and is often included in insomnia therapies;
• Vanilla: definitely sweeter, this aroma is recognized as sedative;
• Rose: this is the floral perfume par excellence and is also used in various cosmetics which are applied in the evening before going to sleep!
• Jasmine: one of the most elegant and inebriating perfumes, jasmine helps you to sleep in a more relaxed and deep manner;
• Sandalwood: a bit like vanilla, this perfume is quite intense and has a resinous undertone that not everyone likes. But if this doesn't bother you, it's another essential oil that's great for inducing restful sleep.

So, how are these oils used? There are mainly two methods:

• By putting 4 or 5 drops on your pillow, to be refreshed as soon as you no longer smell the chosen aroma (generally, every 3 or 4 days);
• Infuse one (or more) cotton pads with 2 or 3 drops each, inserting them into the pillowcase. Instead of using a cotton pad, you can also use scraps of fabric or pieces of an old towel.

Again, you could look for aromatic diffusers that have these scents, although it is always best to make sure that they are 100% natural perfumes, such as those found in herbal shops.

Have you ever tried any of these remedies using essential oils?