The Best Summer Essential Oil Blends for a Fun, Vibrant Season

Over the centuries, summertime traditions have changed drastically, with electric fans and air conditioners replacing cloth fans and swamp coolers.

In the eighteenth century, summer meant reducing cooking times, sleeping in open porches, and shifting much of daily living in outer spaces. With the advent of new cooling techniques, the summer landscape is vibrantly characterized by vacations, fun, and the beach. 

Another way to beat the heat this summer is to incorporate refreshing essential oils into your everyday routine–be it through DIY blends or scented products. You can also use essential oils for wellness and therapeutic effects.

In this article, we dive into all the ways you can make the most of this summer season using essential oils!

Best Essential Oils to Use in Summer

Certain essential oils such as citrus, eucalyptus, and lavender are perfect additions to your summer rituals, with their uplifting, energizing scents. We have curated a list of the best essential oils to add to your summer aromatherapy kit. 

Bergamot Essential Oil

Bergamot essential oil is derived from Citrus bergamia, a species of fruit-bearing trees native to Southern Italy. The bright, lime-colored essential oil is expressed via cold pressing the peels of the bergamot fruit. It has a citrusy, uplifting aroma with fruity undertones and a hint of spice. This aromatic composition makes it a perfect summer scent that blends well with citrusy, floral, and herbal accents. 

When diffused, bergamot essential oil brightens the atmosphere, boosting mood and energy. In addition to its energizing properties, bergamot is also known for its calming effects. It alleviates stress and anxiety by acting on the central nervous system, enhancing the relief of summery coolness. 

Note that citrus essential oils can cause skin burns if exposed to sunlight. To avoid any photosensitizing effects, ensure that you get FCF-free bergamot essential oil for topical use. This will allow you to enjoy the benefits of bergamot essential oil even in your daytime routine. 

Peppermint Essential Oil

Peppermint essential oil is steam-distilled from the leaves of the hybrid plant in the mint family. It has a clear appearance and thin consistency, making it light and absorbent. Peppermint essential oil has a strong, crisp minty fragrance. The scent has a refreshing and cooling effect that adds an invigorating quality to essential oil blends.

Due to its high menthol content, peppermint essential oil is a summer season favorite. When used in topical dilutions, it can calm irritated skin and reduce the discomfort of summer heat. It may also be used to soothe sunburn due to its cooling effect. When diffused, peppermint essential oil is highly refreshing and helps cut through the intensity of a hot summer day. 

Spearmint Essential Oil

Spearmint essential oil is derived from an aromatic plant closely related to the peppermint species. While it has a similar minty scent to peppermint essential oil, it has a lower menthol content and a milder fragrance. Spearmint essential oil is perfect for those looking for a mellow summer scent that has a cool soothing effect.

In terms of bioactive compounds, spearmint consists of carvone, menthol, limonene, and 1,8 cineole. These components contribute to the essential oil’s characteristic coolness while also relaxing the nerves. Use spearmint essential oil while unwinding outdoors in the summer. 

Spearmint essential oil is also ideal for blending with other essential oils such as citrus, lavender, and eucalyptus. 

Eucalyptus Essential Oil 

This essential oil is well suited for warm summer months due to its cleansing and refreshing aroma. It is extracted through steam-distilling leaves of the eucalyptus trees, a species native to Australia. Eucalyptus essential oil has a fresh, slightly medicinal aroma with camphoraceous notes. Many people find the scent soothing and refreshing, providing a burst of energy. 

Eucalyptus essential oil has many uses for the summer season, from acting as an insect repellent to boosting mental alertness when diffused. It is also beneficial for the respiratory system, helping clear the airways and providing relief from congestion. 

Lavender Essential Oil 

A timeless essential oil, lavender complements the peculiarities of every season. It is steam-distilled from the flowers of the lavender plant and has a sweet, herbaceous aroma. Its fragrance has an enduring appeal due to its versatile composition. Lavender essential oil can be combined with fruity and floral scents such as mango and coconut to create a tropical blend to enjoy in warm weather.

When diffused, lavender essential oil can ease stress, refresh the mind, and help with mindfulness. It creates an ideal atmosphere to meditate and recharge as a warm summer breeze whispers. Lavender essential oil can also be used topically to clarify skin complexion and soothe irritation. 

Lemongrass Essential Oil 

Lemongrass is a popular summer fragrance due to its bright, uplifting citrusy notes nuanced by slightly sweet, earthy undertones. The essential oil is derived from the leaves of the Cymbopogon citratus plant native to South Africa. It has a light yellow to amber appearance and watery consistency, making for a light, pleasant aromatherapy experience.

Lemongrass essential oil is widely used for masking odors and is ideal for livening up your living space. When combined with essential oils such as vanilla and bergamot, the blend smells like walking along the shore on a bright, sunny afternoon. Diffuse it in your living room or patio to unwind and enjoy the weather. 

Summertime Essential Oil Recipes for Skin

Adapting your skincare to the summer heat is important to avoid dryness and irritation. The changing weather means increased humidity, excessive sweating, and skin sensitization. Read on for our handpicked skincare essential oil blends to renew and restore your skin.

Hydrating and Plumping Essential Oil Blend

In the summer months, exposure to the sun can cause the skin to become dehydrated and lackluster. The heat can draw out the moisture and make the cells lose water, affecting plumpness. Additionally, summertime activities such as swimming in a chlorinated pool or in beach water can further dry out and irritate the skin.

Hydrating essential oils such as chamomile, frankincense, and geranium work to restore the skin in several ways. Geranium essential oil balances sebum secretions in all skin types, helping the skin stay comfortably moisturized. Chamomile adds to the hydrating effect as it contains natural oils that nourish the skin. Frankincense essential oil works doubly by promoting skin renewal and regulating sebum levels.

You may combine all three essential oils in a carrier oil such as rosehip oil to apply to the skin. You can also enjoy the skin-plumping effects of these essential oils by diffusing them in your room. 

Sun Protecting Essential Oil Blend

In warmer months, exposure to the sun’s UVA and UVB rays tends to be more direct and damaging, increasing the chances of sunburn and peeling. Therefore, sun protection is the most crucial part of summer skincare, as it shields the skin from getting damaged and aging prematurely.

Essential oils can be used alongside sunscreen to supplement its protective properties while delivering skincare benefits. You can make a UV-shielding blend by combining carrot seed essential oil, raspberry seed essential oil, and lavender essential oil. Carrot seed oil contains carotenoids and vitamin E, compounds that reduce free radical damage while also nourishing the skin. Studies have shown that carrot seed oil provides a measure of SPF protection, and can hence be used before applying sunscreen. Raspberry seed and lavender essential oil add antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects to the blend, protecting from oxidative stress and calming redness. 

To use the blend, mix a few drops in your moisturizer or body lotion and apply on areas exposed to the sun. Once the blend absorbs into your skin, follow up with sunscreen for complete sun protection. 

Summertime Essential Oil Recipes for Wellness

Essential oils have many functional uses for the summer, as they can help deter bugs and insects, improve mood, and energize. These essential oil blend recipes are crafted to enhance your summer experience. 

Bug Repellent Essential Oil Blend

Summer days bring an influx of pests and insects, marring any plans for outdoor enjoyment. As temperatures rise, it can be a challenge to control the level of insects and prevent them from making their way indoors. Essential oils are a natural and effective alternative to chemical insecticides that can harm the environment and pose health risks. 

Tea tree, citronella, and eucalyptus essential oils can be combined to make a natural blend that keeps insects away. Mix the three essential oils in equal parts and add them to a spray bottle containing water. Spritz the mixture on doorways and window sills to create a barrier against unwanted insects entering your house. 

The blend will be effective against mosquitoes, flies, gnats, and other common insects. 

Cooling Mist Essential Oil Blend

Due to a global increase in the summer heat index, additional cooling measures can help comfortably get by on hot summer days. Essential oils that contain menthol, camphor, and 1,8 cineole can provide a refreshing experience and offer quick relief from the sweltering heat. A blend consisting of essential oils such as peppermint, eucalyptus, and spearmint contains all three components and is ideal to escape the heat. 

To prepare, combine all three essential oils in equal parts and store them in a dark, airtight bottle. You may add this blend to your body lotion to apply topically and calm irritated skin. Ensure that you patch-test the essential oil blend, and refrain from using it on facial skin.

Another way to enjoy this blend is to mix it with a few drops of water and add to a spray bottle. You can then use the mist as required. Take care to avoid your facial area and eyes when using this blend as the menthol may cause dryness and irritation

Mood-Boosting Essential Oil Blend

Cheerful and uplifting essential oils are perfect complements to bright sunny days. You can diffuse them to relax during the day or to energize before going to work. Not only do they make your home smell amazing, but they also directly impact the central nervous system, reducing stress and anxiety. 

You can make your own mood-boosting essential oil blend consisting of grapefruit essential oil, cinnamon essential oil, and peppermint essential oil. Add this blend to your diffuser to liven up your ambiance with a zesty, stimulating scent with a hint of spice.

Summertime Essential Oil Recipes for Home Fragrancing

Essential oils are a great way to embrace the vibrance of the summer season and improve your ambiance. Our summer essential oil blend recipes curate the most uplifting, balancing scents for your home. 

Ocean Breeze Essential Oil Blend

You can bring the sea to your home by combining essential oils that create a refreshing atmosphere on a warm summer day. To DIY your own beach-inspired blend start with a fresh, minty scent such as spearmint or peppermint essential oil as your base. Then, add eucalyptus essential oil for a ‘clean’ vibe, reminiscent of the ocean’s serenity. 

Then, to add brightness to the blend, you can choose between lime essential oil and bergamot essential oil. To complete the coastal atmosphere, mix in a few drops of cedarwood essential oil. 

This ocean breeze blend can be used indoors, for workspaces, and as a personal fragrance. 

Refreshing Tropical Essential Oil Blend

This blend will transport you to a warm, sunny tropical vacation. It combines a blend of fruity, floral, and exotic notes to recreate the ambiance of a tropical getaway right at home.

To make, combine vanilla, passionfruit, lemon, and ylang-ylang essential oils in equal parts. Vanilla essential oil provides a warm, creamy base note that grounds the blend. Passionfruit and lemon essential oil together add an exotic undertone to the blend, while adding zest and brightness. The addition of ylang-ylang essential oil completes the blend with a floral note. 

This refreshing tropical blend is perfect to use on breezy evenings to add sophistication and charm to your surroundings. 

Bright Citrus Essential Oil Blend

Citrusy fragrances are a hallmark of the summer season, energizing and brightening up spaces. Our citrus essential oil blend recipe incorporates essential oils from four citrus fruits: lemon, sweet orange, grapefruit, and bergamot. 

Sweet orange essential oil forms the base for this citrus medley, as it has a nectarous and uplifting character. Lemon and grapefruit essential oils balance the sweetness by incorporating zest and tartness into the fragrance. Bergamot essential oil adds a final complex fruity-citrus note.

Formulate this blend by mixing all four essential oils in equal parts and storing it in a dark, glass bottle. Once prepared, you can use the blend to create a scented essential oil candle or dilute it in a carrier oil and use it as perfume. It is also great to diffuse in the mornings before going to work to prepare yourself for the day. 

Ways to Cool Down with Essential Oils in the Summer

Besides diffusing your essential oil blends, there are several more ways you can enjoy them for a holistic summer experience. 

Enjoy a Refreshing Essential Oil Shower

Cool, refreshing showers are the best way to relax on hot, stuffy days. To make summer showers even better, you can add essential oils to your routine. Diffuse minty essential oils in the shower using a portable, nonelectric diffuser for an icy, invigorating effect. You may also DIY an uplifting shower bomb infused with essential oils such as eucalyptus and peppermint. 

For morning showers, you can use bright essential oils such as bergamot and lime to awaken your mind and body. If you plan to shower before bed, use lavender or chamomile essential oils to relax your senses and wind down for a peaceful sleep. 

Cool Down Using Essential Oil Mists

Mists come with the multipart effect of helping you relieve the summer scorch while plumping and hydrating your skin. Facial mists are incredibly easy to DIY and can be kept in your purse or bag for easy access throughout the day. Whenever you feel warm, simply spritz your face and decolletage with the mist and feel refreshed. 

To make an essential oil mist, start by mixing distilled water and rosewater in equal parts. For every cup of this mixture, add 4 drops of lavender essential oil. Once prepared, you can store your mist in a spray bottle for easy access. For the ultimate cooling effect, store your spray in the refrigerator so that it is chilled before use. 

Scent Your Linen With Breezy Essential Oil Blends

Creating a comfortable, enlivening home environment can vastly improve your summer days. Use essential oils to fragrance your linen, creating a relaxing ambiance where you can recharge while seeking respite from the outdoor heat. 

Make your own linen spray by combining eucalyptus, spearmint, and lavender essential oils in a blend. Next, fill a spray bottle with distilled water and add to it about 5-8 drops of this blend. You can now spray this on your linens and other upholstery to personalize your home environment. 

Key Takeaways on Summer Essential Oil Blends

Essential oils are a fun, easy way to make the most of warm, sunny days and transform your summer experiences. You can choose between a variety of essential oils and use them in cooling DIY recipes. 

To make sure that your experiences are safe and enjoyable, keep the following tips in mind:

• Patch test and dilute any essential oils or essential oil blends that you intend to use topically
• If you have pets around, ensure that the essential oils you use are pet friendly
• Store your essential oils away from sunlight and humidity to extend their shelf life
• Choose lightweight essential oils such as citrus or minty scents for a revitalizing effect

If you follow these tips, you can craft the perfect summer essential oil blends to make the season even brighter.