The 18 Best Essential Oils for Weight Loss 2020 (Plus Recipes)

When you mention weight loss, most people think about supplements or tea. It is rare for someone to think about essential oils.

Truth be told, there is a lack of scientific evidence supporting the direct relationship between weight loss and essential oils (1).

Nonetheless, certain essential oils can augment the things the effects of what you are doing to achieve weight loss, such as exercise and diet.

If you are looking for the best essential oils for weight loss, read on and I will share some products that are worth trying.

The Relationship Essential Oils and Weight Loss

I’ll be completely honest here. Essential oils alone will not help in weight loss.

Despite some claims, there should be more conclusive studies to prove the positive relationship between the two.

Nonetheless, this doesn’t mean that this article is useless or that I am lying!

Yes, you can still use essential oils for weight loss but in combination with other methods.

Essential oils can energize your workout routine, curb cravings, and enhance your diet plan, among others. With all these things, essential oils can be promising for weight loss.

The Right Way to Use Essential Oils When Losing Weight

One of the most effective is through using aromatherapy diffusers and humidifiers. When inhaled, the essential oil can help the brain to curb your cravings.

Topical application is also common, which must be done with a carrier oil. This can also be effective in reducing cellulite.

Before its topical application, do a small patch test. If you notice any unwanted reaction, such as redness or swelling, do not apply the oil on the other parts of your skin.

Never ingest essential oil. Even a single drop can be potent and can result in serious problems.

Top Picks for the Best Essential Oils for Weight Loss

No idea about what essential oil is best to use to help you lose weight? Here are some of the top products worth a try.

Pure Body Naturals Peppermint Essential Oil

Peppermint is a great appetite suppressant (2), making this an effective choice for weight loss.

If you hate taking stimulants, peppermint essential oil is a great alternative. It can instantly suppress your cravings.

This oil will affect the part of the brain that is responsible for your cravings. It sorts of distract the brain from thinking about food, and hence, you can cut down what you are eating.

Mary Tylor Naturals Organic Cinnamon Essential Oil

This essential oil does not only improve cravings and make you feel fuller, but it is also effective in the reduction of insulin resistance.

When you are insulin resistant, your fat cells will not readily release energy. This will make you easily tired and you will be craving for food.

It is also believed that cinnamon can help to lower serum cholesterol and blood glucose.

So, the next time you have a craving, inhale this cinnamon essential oil and your mind will stop looking for food.

Nature’s Oil Organic Ginger Essential Oil

As an anti-inflammatory, a ginger essential oil can help in weight loss. As a benefit of the reduction of inflammation, you can enjoy better absorption and digestion.

In one study in 2014, the conclusion was that ginger can suppress obesity. It can effectively counter the effects of a high-fat diet (3).

It is also an excellent cortisol suppressant, which makes it effective for belly fat.

If you are ever unhappy with the use of this essential oil, you can return this to the manufacturer and you will receive an unconditional refund.

Healing Solutions Lemon Essential Oil

Sourced from fresh lemon rinds, this essential oil is a potent source of limonene. The latter is considered a natural fat dissolver.

Using lemon oil helps in breaking down fat cells, especially when it is used in combination with grapefruit essential oil.

Lemon oil is also effective for detox. It can flush the toxins in the body that are possibly stored in the fat cells.

Ola Prima Bergamot Essential Oil

Aside from being one of the best essential oils for depression, bergamot can also be effective against weight loss.

Inhaling bergamot essential oil has physiological and psychological effects in the short-term. It can lower cortisol, a stress hormone that can hurt weight loss (4).

Bergamot is also a rich source of polyphenols, the same compound that you will find in green tea. This will help in improving the body’s natural ability to melt sugar and fat.

Essence-Lux Sandalwood Essential Oil

A lot of times, we tend to over-eat because our emotions are taking over. Therefore, if you are an emotional eater, this essential oil can help in managing your cravings.

The woody scent of sandalwood will be instantly uplifting. It will make you calm, so you won’t resort to eating for the sake of managing stress.

Sky Organics Lavender Essential Oil

Depression and anxiety are two of the primary contributors to weight gain. If you are suffering from these conditions, there is a high risk of suffering from obesity. This is where lavender essential oil can help.

Like sandalwood, this can suppress negative emotions. It also lowers cortisol level, the hormone that slows the breakdown of fats.

Plant Therapy Fennel Essential Oil

Fennel essential oil contains melatonin, a hormone that helps in regulating sleep cycles. This is also responsible for allowing the body to create fat that it can burn instead of simply fat that it stores.

By improving your sleep, fennel essential oil can also provide you with more energy. Hence, you can exercise better, and this will be essential for losing weight.

Cliganic USDA Organic Eucalyptus Essential Oil

This 100% organic essential oil has a refreshing and minty fragrance. This can help boost your energy and enhance mood, which will also improve your performance when working out.

Like many of the essential oils that I am recommending, this is also effective against stress and anxiety. The strong aroma can help you forget about your food cravings! This is a good solution for emotional eating.

Prime Natural Organic Frankincense Essential Oil

This is an essential oil extracted from a Somalian tree.

It has sesquiterpenes, which are molecular structures that can help ease depression and anxiety. As you would know by now, the latter are among the most common culprits of emotional eating.

Frankincense essential oil also has a crucial role in facilitating the secretion of gastric and bile juices. This will increase your metabolic rate, and it will positively impact weight loss.

Plant Therapy Lavender Essential Oil

Whether used in an inhaler or diffuser, lavender is a powerful essential oil that can be effective when used for weight loss.

For centuries, lavender is used as a relaxant, with many people claiming that it works like Valium. If you are often anxious and this makes you eat a lot, the sniffing a few drops of this lavender essential oil from your wrist will work.

Pura D’Or Sweet Orange Essential Oil

Orange oil is a part of a group of citrus oils, which is known for releasing toxins that are present in your metabolic pathways. It also has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, which will deliver several benefits for weight loss.

The manufacturer of this essential oil is offering a 100% satisfaction guarantee. This means that you can get your money back if you are unhappy in any way.

Sun Essential Oils Grapefruit Essential Oil

Grapefruit contains nootkatone, which is a compound essential for the stimulation of AMPK enzyme. In turn, the latter is responsible for controlling metabolic activity.

Another compound that you will find in grapefruit is limonene, which stimulates lipolysis. This is the process at which protein and fat break down, resulting in weight loss.

Like most of the oils mentioned in this guide, it also has mental health benefits. Because of this, you can expect that you will have lesser cravings.

Maple Holistics Pure Rosemary Essential Oil

Known as a flavoring for food, the powerful scent of rosemary can also be beneficial when its essential oil is used for losing weight.

Rosemary essential oil is popular for boosting mental functions. It can instantly uplift your mood, which is a great way to prevent stress eating.

This is also effective for the reduction of cortisol levels. A high level of cortisol can increase the chances of heart problems and hypertension, which are also common issues linked to obesity.

Now Essential Oils Cinnamon Cassia Oil

The warming and stimulating scent of this essential oil can also be powerful if your goal is to lose weight.

It helps in regulating sugar and insulin levels. Because it balances sugar in your body, there is a lesser chance that you will end up having unhealthy cravings.

Cinnamon essential oil can also be beneficial in reducing water bloating to help you reduce weight.

Gya Labs Ginger Essential Oil

Ginger helps in improving digestion. It is also effective in increasing the absorption rate of vitamins and minerals. Because of this, it can improve your cellular energy, and the outcome is that you will lose some pounds.

One of the key components that you will find in ginger is gingerol. This reduces inflammation. It effectively deals with pain and swelling, which means that you can exercise more to lose weight.

L&I Apothecary Organic Basil Essential Oil

Like many of the essential oils mentioned, it can also help in cortisol level, which is the hormone responsible for stress. When you are in a stressful situation, you will most likely gain weight as a result of emotional eating and poor digestion.

This therapeutic-grade essential oil comes with a money-back guarantee if you are unhappy in any way with its use.

Edens Garden Juniper Berry Essential Oil

The subtle aroma of juniper berry combines fruity and piney notes. It may not be as popular as the essential oils mentioned above, but it is equally effective when you use it for your weight loss journey.

Juniper oil is potent with compounds that can help combat obesity. The topical application of this essential oil will also work against water retention.

Essential Oil Recipes to Try

To make the most out of the best essential oils for weight loss, here are some recipes you might want to try.

Natural Weight Loss Inhaler

Considered one of the best essential oils for sleeping, lavender has a relaxing effect. In the same way, it can also send a signal to the brain to reduce your food cravings. Using a personal inhaler is one of the best ways to take advantage of lavender’s effectiveness.

• 15 drops of lavender essential oil
• Cotton wick
• Personal inhaler cartridge

Pour essential oils in a bowl and add a cotton wick. Wait until it soaks the oil. Use a tweezer to pull the wick and transfer in a cartridge.

Fennel Oil for Reduction of Cravings

This works in the same way as lavender can help in your weight loss journey.

• 18 drops of fennel essential oil
• 1-ounce fractionated coconut oil
• Small bottle

All that you have to do is mix the essential oil with the carrier oil. Transfer in a bottle and rub a few drops on your wrist when you are craving carbs.

Citrus Anti-Cellulite Blend

If you would like to lose weight, chances are, you would also like to lose cellulite.

• 30 drops of grapefruit essential oil
• 10 drops of lemon essential oil
• 2 tablespoons of beeswax
• 2 tablespoons of witch hazel
• ¾ cup of coconut oil

In a small bowl, add grapefruit and lemon essential. Add melted beeswax and coconut oil. Mix thoroughly and let it cool down. Transfer in a bottle with an air-tight lid. Wait three hours before using this oil blend. Rub it on the areas with cellulite to help improve the skin’s appearance after losing weight.

Conclusion

Looking for an effective solution to aid in your weight loss journey?

Try essential oils, including those I recommended above.

They won’t produce magical results overnight. Rather, they will help gradually improve the effects of the other things you are doing to lose weight.

Sources:

1. https://www.healthline.com/health/diet-and-weight-loss/essential-oils-for-weight-loss#benefits, Accessed March 19, 2020
2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4103722/, Accessed March 19, 2020
3. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24615565, Accessed March 19, 2020
4. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25824404, Accessed March 19, 2020