From Panic to Calm with Neroli Essential Oil

But I also understood that what she was doing, beyond wearing a fragrance, was actually a very powerful ritual for her, for herself, and her affirmation, regardless of the perfume or the brand she used... And ironically, years later, I found myself practicing this same ritual, but with Neroli essential oil, and for a completely different reason... and of course, not naked!

But wait, if you're wondering what Neroli is, it's a unique and powerful essential oil, and there’s a beautiful story behind its name:

Neroli is extracted from the flowers of the bitter orange tree, and at this point, two more spontaneous questions might arise... the first is how an essential oil is created... (if you want, I can tell you about it in a future article), and the second is why it isn’t called "Bitter Orange Blossom Essential Oil"?

The name of Neroli essential oil has a fascinating history that dates back to the 17th century. It’s said that the name comes from Anna Maria de La Trémoille, the Princess of Nerola, a town near Rome. The French noblewoman, wife of Prince Flavio Orsini, particularly loved the fragrance of the oil extracted from bitter orange flowers, and she used it to scent gloves, baths, and even clothes. Since then, this essential oil has been named Neroli in honor of the princess. How wonderful, I can imagine her on a spring day spreading this heavenly fragrance...

I was so drawn to it that about 12 years ago, during a wonderful Essential Oils Distillation Course in Tuscany, organized by Elena Cobez of Fiori di Camomilla and Graziano Perugini at the Santa Bianca estate of Claudio Gaiaschi, I had the chance to discover this marvelous essence. We spent a beautiful day learning more about the distillation art and essential oils, and we even committed to doing our first distillation! And to top off that truly magical day, my partner bought me the first bottle of Neroli Essential Oil, which became my treasure... It was a beautiful and incredibly precious gift for me, much more than gold and diamonds.

The properties of Neroli are many, and I’ll read you something from Franco Canteri’s book Complete Guide to Essential Oils. Franco is the founder of Lakshmi, the professional cosmetic company in Verona where I worked for many years and which was the brand we distributed in England...

The book also contains sections with mini stories about the use of Neroli, but of course, I want to tell you mine...

Imagine me, 38 years old, it was late 2020, early 2021, and remember the period of uncertainties, fears, and scares we were living through... My partner and I had returned to Italy... we had closed the shop, but even more seriously, my dad had suffered a stroke after surgery for complications with his carotid artery caused by his diabetes. A routine procedure that didn’t go too well, although fortunately, he survived.

I’ve always considered myself strong, I’ve always thought I could be a surgeon because nothing ever shocked me, yet after a follow-up appointment for my dad, something deeply changed in me...

It was a cold evening in January, 2021. My father had been admitted for a check-up, but at the last minute, they decided to keep him.

I had to leave him there, alone. Covid didn’t allow for anything else. I drove home in the dark, the cold seeping through my hands on the steering wheel. Then, suddenly, emptiness. My heart racing, my breath short, my head spinning.

I had to stop. I was no longer in control of my body. My cousin and her husband came to pick me up. Me, who had always felt strong, independent, was now paralyzed by fear...

Fortunately, that same evening, my dad returned home in an ambulance... they had misunderstood; the things they had seen were the damage already caused by the stroke. Meanwhile, I started grappling with a deep, underlying feeling...

I’ve always loved driving. It makes me feel independent, free, happy. So, when I began to experience that strange sensation in the car—especially on the highway—I couldn’t understand what was happening. Tachycardia, cold sweats, lips and hands turning white, head spinning... If you've ever had an anxiety attack, you might know what I’m talking about.

They weren’t as intense as the panic attack I had that evening, or the one my employee had in London when we had to call an ambulance, but it was still unsettling. And, above all, I was no longer myself.

Then came the opportunity to work again for the brand I had brought to England, but this time as their agent in Italy. That’s when I realized I had to find a solution. I couldn’t let that fear decide for me.

That’s when I decided to apply what I had learned in my aromatherapy courses. I knew Neroli essential oil was known for its calming and balancing properties, so I decided to give it a try.

At first, I simply kept it in my bag, like a kind of lifeline. Then, I started using it consciously: a few drops on a handkerchief before driving, a deep breath from the bottle during moments of tension. And slowly, the anxiety began to make room for a different feeling: a sense of calm that, day by day, became more familiar.

So, I won’t talk to you about a thousand ways to use essential oils because when anxiety knocks on the door, you don’t need too many instructions. You need something that works right away.

When I feel that lump rise in my throat, that heartbeat accelerating for no reason, my hand instinctively reaches for that little bottle. The cap twists off with a familiar motion. If I can, I drop a drop on a handkerchief and breathe deeply, letting the essential oil open all its notes... Otherwise, I simply bring the bottle close to my face, close my eyes, and inhale.

Panic attacks are like lightning bolts when they strike. But experts say they don’t actually come out of nowhere, for no reason. If anxiety reaches that point, it means something inside us has been shouting for a long time, even if we haven’t been listening.

I believe that during the Covid period, the shop closure, and my dad’s health issues, I lived through anxiety as an enemy to fight, something to push away as quickly as possible. But over time, I realized that a panic attack isn’t a mistake, it’s not a threat: it’s a message. It’s my body asking me to stop, listen, and understand what’s wrong.

So, instead of pushing it away with fear, I began to embrace it. To ask myself:

💫 What is really worrying me? 💫 How long has this anxiety been with me? 💫 What is it trying to tell me that I don’t want to see?

And while I asked myself these questions, I began to build my refuge:

First and foremost, my wellness rituals, breathing, mindfulness, respecting my own rhythm.

And yes, Neroli too. That little bottle became my olfactory reminder: an anchor of calm when I need it, but above all, a symbol of care, of tenderness toward myself. Having something nearby that makes me feel good.

I don’t know if it works for everyone, but if you’re going through a difficult time and struggling to rise again on your own, know that you are not alone. If anxiety or panic attacks are intense and frequent, it’s always best to talk to a professional, because every journey is personal and unique.

If, on the other hand, you’re looking for a small help to regain calm in difficult moments, essential oils can be a precious tool. They act directly on the limbic system, the part of our brain that regulates emotions, memory, and behavior. Through smell, they can bring us back to a sense of calm, balance, and well-being. And that’s why it’s called aromatherapy.

For me, it’s a daily ritual, a fundamental part of my well-being and inner beauty.

There’s so much to say about aromatherapy and the safe use of essential oils... if you want to dive deeper with me, let me know.

Thank you for making it this far.

And remember: whatever happens, you can always find the thread and reconnect with yourself.

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