Sleep Aromatherapy Roll-On

A 10 ml aromatherapy roll-on of essential oils blended for the Sleep theme: vetiver, chamomile, lavender and lemon. Vetiver is a deep, smoky, earthy root oil; lavender and chamomile sit on top of it and lemon lifts the blend so it does not become heavy. It is the warmest and earthiest scent of our three roll-ons, and the one people reach for in the evening.

The three blends were designed by Claudia, the founder's 14 year old daughter, and created by Mel Foot, an aromatherapist and friend of the shop. They are made in the UK and not tested on animals, and they are a Herbastore own-label line.

What it is

A roll-on is essential oil diluted in a carrier oil and sealed under a rollerball. You roll it onto the skin at pulse points, the wrists, the sides of the neck and the temples, where the warmth of the skin releases the scent. The scent fades over an hour or two, and the brand's figure of over 100 uses from 10 ml reflects how little comes out with each roll.

Vetiver is the unusual oil here. It is distilled from the roots of a tropical grass and smells of damp earth, smoke and wood, and it is used in perfumery as a base note because it lasts. Lavender and chamomile are the two classic evening florals, and lemon is added in a small proportion to brighten the top of the blend. The result is a scent that starts fresh and settles into something warm and grounded on the skin.

Lemon oil can increase sun sensitivity on skin, so avoid rolling this blend on skin that will be in strong sun; in practice, as an evening roll-on, that is rarely an issue. The brand has not published the carrier oil or the dilution, so we do not state them.

The Sleep blend is also sold in the Wellbeing Trio set with the Self Love and Focus roll-ons for £14.99.

How to use it

Roll onto the wrists, the sides of the neck or the temples in the half hour before bed, or whenever you want to mark the end of the day. Some people roll it onto a wrist and breathe it in; others keep it on the bedside table with a book. A little goes a long way, which is where the brand's figure of over 100 uses comes from.

• 10 ml roll-on bottle
• Over 100 uses per bottle, per the brand
• £5.99 works out at under 6p a use
• External use only; avoid strong sun on skin where lemon oil has been applied

Essential oils are concentrated. Roll onto pulse points rather than broad areas, keep well away from the eyes, do not use on broken skin, and patch test on the inner forearm if you have reactive skin or have not used essential oils before. This is an aromatherapy product for the skin, not a food supplement.

What's inside

• Vetiver essential oil
• Chamomile essential oil
• Lavender essential oil
• Lemon essential oil
• Carrier oil (not specified by the brand)

Vetiver oil is distilled from the roots of Chrysopogon zizanioides, a tall grass grown in India, Haiti and Indonesia. Chamomile oil comes from the flowers of Roman or German chamomile. Lavender is steam distilled from Lavandula angustifolia flower spikes. Lemon oil is cold pressed from the peel of Citrus limon.

Who it's for

People who like to mark the end of the day with a scent, and anyone who already has an evening routine of herbal tea, a book or a bath and wants to add to it. It suits a bedside table, an overnight bag and a gift for someone who finds it hard to switch off from screens. The earthy vetiver base makes it the least sweet of the three blends, so it also suits people who dislike floral perfumes.

If you want something floral, the Self Love blend is built on rose and ylang-ylang. If you want bright and fresh for the daytime, Focus is the one.

Pairs well with

The Self Love aromatherapy roll-on is the floral blend and the Focus aromatherapy roll-on the fresh one; all three come in the Wellbeing Trio set. An evening herbal cup goes with it: the hemp tea bags are caffeine free. See the whole aromatherapy shelf, the new supplements collection, and the rest of the store under all products.

Frequently asked questions

How do I use a sleep roll-on?

Roll it onto pulse points such as the wrists, neck or temples in the evening. The warmth of the skin releases the scent, which fades over an hour or two.

What is vetiver?

An essential oil distilled from the roots of a tropical grass. It smells earthy, smoky and woody and is used as a long-lasting base note.

Which oils are in it?

Vetiver, chamomile, lavender and lemon, diluted in a carrier oil the brand has not named.

How long does a bottle last?

The brand estimates over 100 uses from the 10 ml bottle.

Our label guide explains how to read a brand's statements on a pack, including what it leaves out about ingredients. Herbastore ships this product from the UK, with free UK shipping on orders over £40. Orders are packed by Herbastore UK, so if you are buying from more than one of our brands everything arrives together.