Best Essential Oils for Summer

Summer is the perfect time to get outdoors and enjoy the warm weather. But warm summer months can also bring pesky bugs, sunburns, and stress from travel. Luckily, essential oils can be used to naturally protect us from heat and pests, while also keeping us relaxed and in a positive state of mind. In this article, we’ll explore some of the best essential oils to use in the summer months so you can stay carefree. So get ready to get outside!

Top Summer Essential Oils 

Essential oils are 100% natural and offer a variety of benefits to users, such as calming stress and promoting relaxation, improving mood, and providing relief for sunburns and bug bites. During the summer, citrus and floral varieties are great choices, along with cooling options like peppermint and eucalyptus. Below are some of the most-loved essential oils for this time of year:

• Lavender essential oil
• Orange essential oil
• Citronella essential oil
• Bergamot essential oil
• Spearmint essential oil
• Palmarosa essential oil
• Peppermint essential oil
• Geranium essential oil
• Lemon essential oil
• Lemongrass essential oil
• Grapefruit essential oil
• Ylang ylang essential oil
• Eucalyptus essential oil
• Tea tree essential oil
• Patchouli essential oil

Summer Essential Oil Recipes

Summer is the perfect time to create your own natural remedies and recipes using essential oils. From after-sun spray to bug repellent, there are countless recipes you can make with essential oils that will provide a natural alternative to store-bought products. Here are some of the best DIY summer essential oil recipes to try this year.

After-Sun Aromatherapy Spray 

Spending time soaking up the sun can sometimes result in a not-so-great sunburn. Keep your skin cool and soothe irritation by making this easy after-sun spray recipe from Professional Aromatherapist, Amy Galper, which uses five powerful essential oils.

Supplies:

• Glass beakers or glass Pyrex measuring pitcher
• Wooden or metal stirrers
• Disposable dispensing pipettes
• 1 empty 2 oz glass spray bottle with fine mist sprayer

Ingredients:

• 2 oz of distilled water
• 4 drops of frankincense essential oil
• 1 drop of peppermint essential oil
• 1 drop of spearmint essential oil
• 3 drops of geranium essential oil
• 7 drops of lavender essential oil

Instructions:

Add your total 16 drops of essential oils directly into the glass spray bottle. Use the disposable pipettes to drop out the essential oil, if needed. Using your measuring cups or glass beakers, add 2 oz of distilled water to the bottle. Place on the cap, tighten, and shake well. Place in the fridge and use as often as needed, holding the bottle at least 10 to 12 inches from your body and avoiding your face.

Vacation Vibes Diffuser Blend

Want to create paradise in your own home? This tropical and uplifting diffuser blend will transport you to a state of sheer bliss. Grapefruit, orange, and ylang ylang essential oils provide the perfect combination to freshen spaces and promote relaxation and clarity.

Ingredients:

• 2 drops of grapefruit essential oil
• 4 drops orange essential oil
• 2 drops ylang ylang essential oil

Instructions

Add all essential oils to your diffuser with water (as directed), turn it on, and breathe in the floral-citrusy scent. Be sure to diffuse in a well-ventilated room and not leave your diffuser on for prolonged periods of time. Additionally, avoid diffusing around pets and children.

Bug Repellent Lotion

Do you have plans to hike or camp this summer? Be sure to pack this fast-acting bug-repellent lotion! This recipe from Cliganic is all-natural, easy to make, and effective at keeping those pesky mosquitoes and flies away from your skin.

Ingredients:

• One 8 oz bottle or tin
• ⅓ cup of coconut oil
• 5 drops of peppermint essential oil
• 5 drops of clove bud essential oil
• 5 drops of lavender essential oil
• 3 drops of lemongrass essential oil
• 2 drops of citronella essential oil

Instructions:

Ensure coconut oil is liquid. If solid, microwave for 15 to 30 seconds until its liquid in consistency. Add coconut oil and essential oils to an 8 oz bottle or tin and shake. Place in the refrigerator for 5 to 10 minutes until it’s lotion-like in consistency. Rub the mixture on the skin, especially on areas prone to bug bites. Avoid contact with eyes and mouth. Store in a cool, dark, dry place when not in use.

Bug Bite Balm

Even when we try our best to keep mosquitoes away, sometimes bug bites are inevitable. Soothe itchiness and redness by trying out this fast-acting relief recipe from Cilganic.

Supplies:

• Double boiler or bain-marie bowl and pot to melt the beeswax
• Kitchen scale that can weigh small amounts
• 5 two-ounce glass jars or aluminum salve tins
• Metal spoon

Ingredients:

• 1 ounce of beeswax
• 1 cup of carrier oil of your choice, can be Jojoba, Tamanu or Argan (we don’t recommend Castor for this recipe)
• 35 drops of lavender essential oil
• 15 drops of geranium essential oil
• 25 drops of palmarosa essential oil
• 25 drops of patchouli essential oil
• 15 drops of tea tree essential oil

Instructions:

Measure out beeswax and carrier oil. Add to the double boiler and melt slowly over a gentle flame until everything is melted. Take off heat, and mix in all of the essential oils. Pour carefully into jars or tins and cap quickly. Let sit on the counter for at least 6 hours before using. Apply to itchy and irritated skin to soothe away discomfort from bug bites. Use as often as possible.

Garden Pest Spray

Keep ants, aphids, and other pesky garden pests away using this natural plant spray recipe modified from The Novice Homestead that uses essential oils.

Ingredients:

• 10 drops of peppermint essential oil
• 5 drops of citronella essential oil
• 5 drops of lemongrass essential oil
• Water
• Medium-sized spray bottle
• 1 tablespoon of dish soap

Instructions:

Fill the spray bottle with water, add dish soap, and then peppermint oil. Screw cap on tightly and shake until incorporated. Spray on plants weekly to keep bugs away.

Enhance your summer by incorporating these essential oils and others into your daily wellness routine and lifestyle, and you’ll reap the benefits all year long. For more ways to use essential oils this summer, take a look at this article: Best Essential Oils to Take on Vacation.