Summer brings its share of little troubles : sunburn, insect bites, motion sickness, excessive sweating… Fortunately, essential oils offer effective, natural, and organic solutions to manage these situations.
Here’s a complete guide to must-have essential oils for summer – their uses, health and wellness benefits.
Discover our selection of organic aromatherapy products, available now on our e-shop to help you get summer-ready.
What is an essential oil?
Essential oils are concentrated extracts from aromatic plants, obtained through steam distillation or cold pressing. They are composed of active molecules from the plant’s leaves, flowers, bark, or roots. Used in aromatherapy since ancient times, they offer powerful therapeutic properties.
Their benefits are numerous: they can be calming, energizing, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, digestive, or even repellent. They’re used in diffusion, topical application, massage, or even orally — always with caution. Each one has its own unique characteristics.
1. Peppermint – Motion sickness, headaches, digestion
Use: 1 drop under the tongue or diffused in the car.
Peppermint essential oil is well-known for its digestive and energizing properties. It’s ideal for relieving motion sickness and nausea. Applied to the temples, it can also ease mild headaches thanks to its cooling effect on the skin. For a gentler option, you can use essential oil diffusers in your car.
2. Lemon eucalyptus – Mosquito repellent, anti-inflammatory
Use: 1 drop on the bite, repeat every 15 minutes as needed.
Lemon eucalyptus essential oil, similar to citronella, is a summer must-have for keeping mosquitoes away. It acts as a natural repellent and effectively soothes itching from bites. Its citronellal-rich leaves give it well-known anti-inflammatory properties. Applied to the skin, this essential oil helps relieve inflammation.
3. True Lavender – Soothing, healing, antiseptic
Use: Apply 1 drop to a cleaned wound, 3 times a day.
True (or officinal) lavender essential oil offers both gentle and powerful action. Applied directly to the skin, it promotes healing, disinfects, and soothes irritations. Its pleasant floral scent also brings a calming effect on nervous tension.
4. Spike Lavender – Sunburn, burns, stings
Use: Mix 2 drops of spike lavender with 4 drops of carrier oil and 4 drops of aloe vera gel. Apply to the sunburned area 3 times a day until improved.
Spike lavender essential oil is a must-have for treating sunburn or painful stings. Its anti-venom action is ideal for jellyfish, nettle, or sunburn reactions. It immediately soothes pain and reduces skin inflammation.
5. Pistachio Lentisk – Heavy legs, circulation
Use: Mix 1 drop of pistachio lentisk oil with 9 drops of carrier oil. Massage legs from bottom to top, morning and evening for 20 days.
Pistachio lentisk essential oil is well-known for its circulatory benefits. In cases of heavy legs, it helps boost venous return and relieves discomfort, making it especially popular during summer.
6. Palmarosa – Sweating, natural deodorant
Use: Apply 1 drop under the arms after showering.
Palmarosa is an excellent natural alternative to conventional deodorants. It regulates perspiration and fights odor-causing bacteria while remaining gentle on the skin. This organic essential oil is well-tolerated, soft, and highly effective.
7. Chinese Cinnamon – Traveler’s diarrhea, digestive issues
Use: Oral intake with a carrier oil.
Chinese cinnamon essential oil is warm, powerful, and highly antimicrobial. It is effective for digestive issues like diarrhea or intestinal infections. Its application must be carefully monitored, as it can be irritating to the skin. However, its action is fast and potent.
8. Tea Tree – Purifying, antiseptic
Use: 1 drop on a pimple or minor wound.
Tea tree essential oil is known for its strong antibacterial and antifungal properties. It's a go-to for purifying the skin, treating blemishes, or disinfecting small wounds. An essential to pack when traveling.
9. Ylang-Ylang – Stress, tension, overheating
Use: Diffused or applied in massage diluted with a carrier oil.
Extracted from tropical flowers, ylang-ylang is known for its relaxing, hypotensive, and balancing effects. In times of stress, heat exhaustion, or nervous tension, it helps restore calm and serenity. It also naturally perfumes the skin.
10. Tropical Basil – Bloating, cramps, motion sickness
Use: 1 drop on a neutral tablet or diffused.
Tropical basil essential oil is highly effective for digestive discomfort. It soothes bloating, intestinal cramps, and nausea. While traveling, it can be combined with peppermint for a stronger effect. A must-have in your essential oil kit.
Precautions and Usage Tips
Even though they are natural, essential oils must be used with care:
- Do not use on children or pregnant women without medical advice.
- Always perform a skin patch test before applying.
- Respect recommended dosages.
- Choose high-quality oils: 100% pure, organic, and chemotyped.
- Check the expiration date and storage conditions.
Before purchasing, make sure to check reviews and product availability to avoid stock shortages.
Conclusion
Choosing organic essential oils in summer means opting for natural, effective, and versatile solutions. Whether it’s to soothe a bug bite, calm a burn, aid digestion, or ease your mind, each oil has a role in your wellness kit.
Always prioritize high-quality, properly stored products and follow expert advice or read our product guides. With these 10 essential oils, you’re ready for a peaceful, healthy summer — whether you’re out in nature or on vacation.
FAQ – All About Summer Essential Oils
1. Can I use essential oils on children? Some, yes — but only with medical approval. Prefer gentle uses like diffusion.
2. Are essential oils effective against mosquitoes? Yes, especially lemon eucalyptus and citronella, which are proven natural repellents.
3. Which oils are good for sunburn? Spike lavender is highly recommended. It soothes and relieves inflammation quickly.
4. Where can I buy high-quality essential oils? In organic stores, pharmacies, or on trusted websites offering tested and in-stock products.
5. Is tea tree good for the skin? Yes, tea tree is great for purifying and cleansing the skin.
6. Which oil helps with stress? Ylang-ylang is perfect for emotional stress or nervous tension.
7. Can I mix multiple essential oils? Yes, but respect dosages and always dilute them in a carrier oil.
8. Is basil good for digestion? Yes, tropical basil is very effective against digestive spasms.
9. Can all essential oils be diffused? No, some like cinnamon are too strong for diffusion.
10. How should I store my essential oils? Keep them away from light and heat, tightly closed. Always check shelf life based on the plant part (leaves, flowers, roots…).
