Botanicals to help you focus

Over the past few years, it has generally become more difficult for us to focus– whether that is on work, study, or simply concentrating on one single task at a time without distraction. Our collective attention spans have reduced as our screen time has increased, and with content online becoming more high speed, snappy and short.

When you are in desperate need of a burst of focus, nature could hold the key. Botanicals can improve your concentration and help you get into the zone, no matter where you are. Plants are perfect for aiding your focus during work, revision and meditation, and can generally improve your overall brain health and memory.

The best botanicals to use for focus

Lemon

Need a little help concentrating on a task at work? A study showed that 54% of workers made fewer errors when they were in the presence of lemon fragrance. Lemon works as a mental stimulant, helping you achieve laser-sharp focus when you need it.

Citrus

Boost your mood, your energy and your focus with an uplifting citrus scent. Each type of citrus oil offers unique benefits– some are energising and invigorating, while others offer a more calm serene focus.

Mint

Minty fresh essential oils, like spearmint and peppermint, are perfect accompaniments to work– with the bonus of waking you up first thing in the morning. “The main chemical component of spearmint essential oil is carvone, which contains energising properties that strongly contribute to the oil’s mood-enhancing abilities,” says Dr Rodriguez, Health and Exercise scientist.

Basil

Basil is a wonderful culinary herb favoured for its flavour, but it also has plenty of interesting health benefits. The essential oil can help enhance memory, and improve alertness, concentration, and attentiveness. It can also help to reduce the symptoms of brain fog.

Cedarwood

Stepping away from herbs and spices, cedarwood is also a great choice when it comes to focus and concentration. Cedarwood can help to refresh the mind and clear mental clutter, helping you to focus on what’s important.

How to use botanicals for focus

Ready to clear away distractions and improve your focus? There are several ways you can weave these powerful botanicals into your work day, but here are a few of our favourites:

• Breathing in pure essential oils is the most powerful way to inhale each scent, so starting your day with this can help you see instant results.
• For more long-lasting fragrance, light a botanical blend candle to create a scented backdrop in your office or workspace– with the added benefit of the meditative flickering light to centre you.
• Help the botanical fragrance to spread throughout your home with reed diffusers or room spray blends. Using these in high-traffic areas or strategic spots in your office will help you reap the most benefits.

If you feel inspired to weave botanical products into your daily routines and help you improve your focus, you can browse our luxury natural candles and reed diffusers here.

You can also learn more about individual botanicals’ history, biology and cultural significance in our extensive Botanicals library.