(Originally posted on QUORA)
While each of us has unique reactions to scents in general, there are two facts we can count on. Almost all Americans are sleep-deprived. And everyone has an alert response to citrus scents.
That means depending on your preference after testing, you can use the essential oils of orange, lemon, grapefruit, lime, and bergamot for a quick lift. One easy trick is to start your day with Earl Grey tea, which already contains essential oil of bergamot! Try to find a Fair or Direct Trade organic blend stored in an airtight container. Loose teabags in a cardboard box will have lost most of the essential oil’s impact due to poor storage and evaporation. I like the Numi line of teas, always fresh and environmentally responsible.
Not a tea drinker? Take a few sniffs straight from the little glass EO bottle without touching your skin to the drop dispenser. Spritz a blend of water and essential oil into the air upon waking. Or make a morning toner to wipe away the dirt, sweat, and oils of night with natural witch hazel or rosewater, with enough drops of your favorite citrus scent so you can smell it in the mixture from six inches away. Apply generously to a cotton pad and wipe your face, neck, and armpits, paying special attention to the T-zone of your face (forehead, nose, and chin). You’re now ready for your morning routine. Coffee and shower? Shower and breakfast? Your morning run, walk, or yoga? Try to get outside into the sunlight for a few minutes immediately upon waking. That’s another great way to tip your pituitary gland that you are wide awake and ready to go.
tropical toes 