Ever had this happen? You’ve found a great DIY recipe and you’re gathering the ingredients you need, but you’re missing one of the essential oils in the recipe. We’ve all been there.
Maybe you just used up the last drop of your most recent bottle, and a refill is out of stock or out of our price range at the moment.
Maybe the recipe calls for an oil you’ve never used before, and you’re not sure when you might use it again, so you are hesitant to buy it.
Maybe you don’t have the essential oil on hand for safety reasons: a family member is allergic, or its unsafe for your pet, or it might interact with a prescribed medication.
Or, maybe you just don’t like the smell of the essential oil in the recipe and don’t want to use it.
Whatever the reason, there will be times when you will need to substitute an essential oil in a blend or recipe. Fortunately, essential oils are so versatile, there are good swap options at your disposal when a particular essential oil isn’t available.
click here for a free printable of the essential oil substitution charts used in this blog post
How to Make Essential Oil Substitutions
When making an essential oil substitution, determine if you are substituting the essential oil’s scent or its function. Some essential oils with similar scents can have different therapeutic benefits, and some essential oils with starkly different aromas can serve the same function in a recipe.
If you are making a blend for aromatic purposes, the scent of the replacement essential oil is what matters, and you can focus on swapping in an essential oil with a similar aroma.
If you are making a recipe to serve a specific purpose or create a particular benefit, the function of the replacement essential oil is what matters. In this situation, you can substitute with an oil that serves what you are trying to accomplish without worrying too much about matching scents.
Whatever the purpose of your essential-oil-based creation, always be aware of safety guidelines for each essential oil you include in a recipe.
click here for a free printable of the essential oil substitution charts used in this blog post
1. Scent Substitutes
When substituting essential oils in an aromatic recipe, the goal is to find a replacement essential oil close in scent to the oil you are swapping out.
While no two essential oils smell exactly the same, there are groups of oils with similar aromas. Citrus oils tend to smell like other citruses. Tree oils are going to be closest in aroma to other tree oils.
Below are my guidelines for what some of the most popular essential oils smell like, and some options for scent substitutions for those essential oils.
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Arborvitae Essential Oil Substitutes
What does arborvitae essential oil smell like? Arborvitae has a warm, woodsy masculine scent. Its aroma is reminiscent of fresh cut wood or a cozy, toasty sauna.
What essential oils smell similar to arborvitae? cedarwood, cypress, sandalwood
Common uses for arborvitae essential oil: acne, oily skin, insect repellant, purifying & cleansing air, sleep, seasonal allergies, stress. See section 2 below for substitutes by each of these uses.
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Basil Essential Oil Substitutes
What does basil essential oil smell like? Basil has a unique smell that is both sweet and herbaceous with hints of licorice, pepper, and mint.
What essential oils smell similar to basil? anise, black pepper, coriander, fennel, oregano, tarragon
Common uses for basil essential oil: congestion, energy, focus. See section 2 below for substitutes by each of these uses.
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Bergamot Essential Oil Substitutes
What does bergamot essential oil smell like? Bergamot has a distinctive fresh, bright citrus scent with hints of floral. It smells both sweet and tart like a cross of lemon, lime, and orange with a touch of lavender.
What essential oils smell similar to bergamot? grapefruit, lemon, lime
Common uses for bergamot essential oil: anxiety, sleep, stress, uplifting. See section 2 below for substitutes by each of these uses.
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Blue Tansy Essential Oil Substitutes
What does blue tansy essential oil smell like? While blue tansy essential oil has many wonderful uses, it has an unpleasant odor to many people. More specifically, blue tansy has a somewhat sweet floral aroma with undertones of medicinal camphor making it smell like a cross of a flower bouquet with vapor rub and moth balls.
What essential oils smell similar to blue tansy? clary sage, German chamomile, Roman chamomile
Common uses for blue tansy essential oil: anxiety, skincare (acne/oily skin, dry skin, mature skin, & sensitive skin), stress, uplifting. See section 2 below for substitutes by each of these uses.
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Birch Essential Oil Substitutes
What does birch essential oil smell like? Perhaps surprisingly, birch oil doesn’t smell like wood. Instead, birch essential oil is made from the bark of the birch tree and has a clean, sweet, minty aroma like wintergreen gum and root beer.
What essential oils smell similar to birch? wintergreen
Common uses for birch essential oil: sore muscles, pain relief. See section 2 below for substitutes by each of these uses.
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Cardamom Essential Oil Substitutes
What does cardamom essential oil smell like? Cardamom is a complex seductive scent that smells warm, sweet, and spicy with woody undertones. It evokes the feeling of a heartwarming, homemade chai latte.
What essential oils smell similar to cardamom? allspice, cinnamon, clove, ginger, nutmeg
Common uses for cardamom essential oil: indigestion & upset stomach, stress. See section 2 below for substitutes by each of these uses.
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Cassia Essential Oil Substitutes
What does cassia essential oil smell like? Cassia essential oil is like a mellow cousin of cinnamon. Like cinnamon, cassia has a rich, sweet spicy aroma, but cassia just has a little bit softer scent.
What essential oils smell similar to cassia? cinnamon
Common uses for cassia essential oil: congestion, immune support, indigestion & upset stomach. See section 2 below for substitutes by each of these uses.
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Cedarwood Essential Oil Substitutes
What does cedarwood essential oil smell like? Cedarwood essential oil has a warm, woodsy masculine scent. Its aroma is what you’d find in cedar chests, cedar decking and outdoor furniture, and the scent of a good men’s cologne.
What essential oils smell similar to cedarwood? arborvitae, copaiba, cypress, sandalwood
Common uses for cedarwood essential oil: anxiety, hair growth, insect repellant, purifying & cleansing air, acne, dry skin, sleep, stress. See section 2 below for substitutes by each of these uses.
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Chamomile Essential Oil Substitutes
What does chamomile essential oil smell like? While chamomile has many useful properties, many people do not care for its aroma. Both Roman chamomile and German chamomile tend to be love-them-or-hate-them scents. Roman chamomile smells like green apples, flowers, and grass blended together, whereas German chamomile essential oil smells slightly fruity, herbal, and bitter.
What essential oils smell similar to chamomile? blue tansy, clary sage, German chamomile, Roman chamomile
Common uses for chamomile essential oil: anxiety, headaches, dry & sensitive skin, sleep, stress. See section 2 below for substitutes by each of these uses.
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Cinnamon Essential Oil Substitutes
What does cinnamon essential oil smell like? Cinnamon bark oil has a warm spicy scent. Its aroma often triggers happy memories of fall, apple pie, Christmas, warm-out-of-the-oven baked goods, and hot mulled cider.
What essential oils smell similar to cinnamon? cassia, clove
Common uses for cinnamon essential oil: deodorizing, disinfecting, energy, immune support, insect repellant, uplifting. See section 2 below for substitutes by each of these uses.
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Clary Sage Essential Oil Substitutes
What does clary sage essential oil smell like? Clary sage is a polarizing scent. People tend to either love it or hate it. Those who love it say it smells earthy, herbaceous, and floral. Those who hate it say it smells like geraniums growing in an old, sweaty, stinky gym shoe.
What essential oils smell similar to clary sage?  angelica, blue tansy, German chamomile, lavender, Roman chamomile, patchouli
Common uses for clary sage essential oil: anxiety, hair growth, hormones (PMS, menstrual cramps, menopause), dry skin, stress. See section 2 below for substitutes by each of these uses.
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Clove Essential Oil Substitutes
What does clove essential oil smell like? Clove essential oil has a rich warm, spicy, and subtly sweet aroma. Its scent often conjures fond autumn and winter memories like the clove-studded holiday ham, chai tea, pumpkin pie, and molasses cookies.
What essential oils smell similar to clove? allspice, cassia, cinnamon, nutmeg
Common uses for clove essential oil: congestion, disinfecting, immune support, indigestion and upset stomach, pain relief. See section 2 below for substitutes by each of these uses.
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Copaiba Essential Oil Substitutes
What does copaiba essential oil smell like? Copaiba has slightly sweet, warm woody scent with a hint of balsam. Distilled from the resin of an evergreen tree, copaiba essential oil smells similar to other evergreens like cedar and pine. However, unlike many of the woody essential oils which have strong, powerful aromas, copaiba has a softer, more faint scent that doesn’t overpower other essential oils it’s blended with. Copaiba smells like an old cedar chest with a few boughs of pine that you smell from a distance.
What essential oils smell similar to copaiba? arborvitae, cedarwood, cypress, frankincense, myrrh, pine, sandalwood
Common uses for copaiba essential oil: anxiety, acne, oily skin, pain relief, sleep, sore muscles, stress, uplifting, wound healing. See section 2 below for substitutes by each of these uses.
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Cypress Essential Oil Substitutes
What does cypress essential oil smell like? Cypress essential oil has a clean, fresh, outdoor aroma. It’s a scent combination of wood, fresh grass, and a hint of evergreen. Cypress smells so fresh and natural once you’ve smelled it, it’s sure to become one of your favorite essential oils.
What essential oils smell similar to cypress? arborvitae, cedarwood, copaiba, sandalwood
Common uses for cypress essential oil: anxiety, congestion, energy, pain relief, sore muscles, wound healing. See section 2 below for substitutes by each of these uses.
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Elemi Essential Oil Substitutes
What does elemi essential oil smell like? Given that elemi comes from the same botanical family as frankincense and myrrh essential oils, it makes sense that elemi smells similar to those oils. It has a rich, earthy resinous scent with hints of lemon and peppery notes.
What essential oils smell similar to elemi? copaiba, frankincense, helichrysum, myrrh, pine
Common uses for elemi essential oil: congestion, acne, oily skin, dry & mature skin, sore muscles, wound healing. See section 2 below for substitutes by each of these uses.
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Eucalyptus Essential Oil Substitutes
What does eucalyptus essential oil smell like? Eucalyptus essential oil has a fresh, minty scent that’s slightly sweet. It leaves a room smelling clean, airy, and crisp. There really isn’t another essential that smells similar to eucalyptus. The closest scent substitutes are bay laurel and tea tree; however, those essential oils smell more medicinal than eucalyptus.
What essential oils smell similar to eucalyptus? bay laurel, eucalyptus globulus, eucalyptus radiata, rosemary, tea tree
Common uses for eucalyptus essential oil: congestion, deodorizing, disinfecting, energy, headache, immune support, mold & mildew, sore muscles, pain relief, stress. See section 2 below for substitutes by each of these uses.
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Fir Essential Oil Substitutes
What does fir essential oil smell like? Fir is the essential oil that smells most like Christmas trees. It has a fresh, crisp, evergreen and woodsy scent.
What essential oils smell similar to fir? balsam fir, black spruce, blue spruce, Douglas fir, pine, Siberian fir, white fir
Common uses for fir essential oil: congestion, disinfecting, deodorizing, pain relief, purifying air, sore muscles. See section 2 below for substitutes by each of these uses.
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Frankincense Essential Oil Substitutes
What does frankincense essential oil smell like? Frankincense has a complex yet balanced aroma. While it’s a heavy, earthy, resinous scent, it also has subtle notes of pepper and citrus.
What essential oils smell similar to frankincense? copaiba, cypress, elemi, helichrysum, myrrh, pine
Common uses for frankincense essential oil: anxiety, congestion, focus, hormones, immune support, indigestion and upset stomach, pain relief, dry skin, mature skin, sensitive skin, sleep, stress, wound healing. See section 2 below for substitutes by each of these uses.
click here for a free printable of the essential oil substitution charts used in this blog post
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Geranium Essential Oil Substitutes
What does geranium essential oil smell like? Geranium essential oil doesn’t smell like the geranium plants on your porch. Compared to its plant cousins, geranium oil has a much stronger and more old-fashioned floral, perfumery smell that’s overwhelming to many. It’s the kind of scent that people either love or hate.
What essential oils smell similar to geranium? jasmine, neroli, rose, rose geranium, ylang ylang
Common uses for geranium essential oil: congestion, hormones (PMS, menstrual cramps, menopause), insect repellant, skin care (acne/oily, dry, mature, sensitive), sore muscles, uplifting, wound healing. See section 2 below for substitutes by each of these uses.
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Helichrysum Essential Oil Substitutes
What does helichrysum essential oil smell like? Helichrysum essential oil smells like good tea. It has an earthy, woody, herby, and slightly sweet honey-like scent.
What essential oils smell similar to helichrysum? cedarwood, elemi, frankincense, myrrh, patchouli, sandalwood
Common uses for helichrysum essential oil: skin care (acne/oily, dry, mature, sensitive), would healing. See section 2 below for substitutes by each of these uses.
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Jasmine Essential Oil Substitutes
What does jasmine essential oil smell like? Jasmine has a rich floral and slightly sweet aroma. It’s a well-loved scent used in many perfumes. There really isn’t another essential that smells exactly like jasmine. That makes jasmine’s scent difficult to replicate. The closest you can probably get to an essential oil substitute for jasmine is to combine geranium and a bit of ylang ylang or blend geranium with a bit of patchouli.Â
What essential oils smell similar to jasmine? geranium, neroli, patchouli, rose, rose geranium, vetiver, ylang ylang
Common uses for jasmine essential oil: anxiety, hormones (PMS, menstrual cramps, menopause), skin care (dry, mature, sensitive), sleep, stress. See section 2 below for substitutes by each of these uses.
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Juniper Berry Essential Oil Substitutes
What does juniper berry essential oil smell like? Juniper berry essential oil is from the same evergreen tree that produces gin, so it’s not a surprise that juniper berry oil smells a lot like gin. It has a fresh, woody winter aroma with a hint of pine.
What essential oils smell similar to juniper berry? bay laurel, caraway, cardamom, pine, rosemary
Common uses for juniper berry essential oil: indigestion & upset stomach, insect repellant, purifying air, skin care (acne/oily), sore muscles, stress. See section 2 below for substitutes by each of these uses.
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Lavender Essential Oil Substitutes
What does lavender essential oil smell like? Lavender essential oil has a smooth, delicate scent. While its aroma is mostly floral, it’s also layered with subtle notes of woody, herbal, smokey, mint, and evergreen which give it a distinct, instantly recognizable aroma.
What essential oils smell similar to lavender? clary sage, hyacinth, hyssop
Common uses for lavender essential oil: anxiety, disinfecting, hair growth, headaches, hormones (PMS, menstrual cramps, menopause), insect repellant, mold & mildew, purify & cleanse air, seasonal allergies, skin care (acne/oily, dry, mature, sensitive), sleep, sore muscles, stress, uplifting, wound healing. See section 2 below for substitutes by each of these uses.
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Lemongrass Essential Oil Substitutes
What does lemongrass essential oil smell like? Lemongrass essential oil has a crisp, sharp lemony scent that also has a secondary fresh, grassy element. It’s a strong, powerful scent where a little essential oil can go a long way.
What essential oils smell similar to lemongrass? citronella, lemon, lemon eucalyptus, lemon verbena, melissa
Common uses for lemongrass essential oil: deodorizing, headache, energy, hair growth, immune support, indigestion and upset stomach, insect repellant, pain relief, purify air, skin care (acne/oily), sore muscles, stress. See section 2 below for substitutes by each of these uses.
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Marjoram Essential Oil Substitutes
What does marjoram essential oil smell like? As a cousin to oregano in the mint family, marjoram has a similar, but much less intense aroma compared to oregano. Marjoram has a mild herbal scent with touches of sweet minty notes softly folded in.
What essential oils smell similar to marjoram? clary sage, eucalyptus, tea tree, thyme
Common uses for marjoram essential oil: headache, hormones (PMS, menstrual cramps, menopause), indigestion & upset stomach, pain relief, sleep. See section 2 below for substitutes by each of these uses.
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Myrrh Essential Oil Substitutes
What does myrrh essential oil smell like? Myrrh essential oil has a warm, resinous, and woody scent similar to frankincense but with more of medicinal aroma.
What essential oils smell similar to myrrh? frankincense, helichrysum, patchouli, sandalwood, vetiver
Common uses for myrrh essential oil: pain relief, skin care (dry, mature), wound healing. See section 2 below for substitutes by each of these uses.
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Oregano Essential Oil Substitutes
What does oregano essential oil smell like? Oregano essential oil has a sharp herbal, green, spicy aroma that smells like pizza.
What essential oils smell similar to oregano? cajeput, marjoram, tea tree
Common uses for oregano essential oil: congestion, disinfecting, immune support, mold & mildew, pain relief. See section 2 below for substitutes by each of these uses.
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Patchouli Essential Oil Substitutes
What does patchouli essential oil smell like? Patchouli essential oil has a strong musky, earthy scent with sweet and spicy notes. It’s a polarizing aroma. Those who love patchouli associate it with the bright outdoors and natural living. For those who don’t, patchouli evokes thoughts of overcrowded music festivals and wet dogs and cats.
What essential oils smell similar to patchouli? clary sage, myrrh, sandalwood, vetiver
Common uses for patchouli essential oil: insect repellant, skin care (acne/oily, dry, mature, sensitive), sleep, stress. See section 2 below for substitutes by each of these uses.
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Peppermint Essential Oil Substitutes
What does peppermint essential oil smell like? Peppermint essential oil has a strong cool minty scent like the smell of Christmas candy canes.
What essential oils smell similar to peppermint? spearmint
Common uses for peppermint essential oil: congestion, deodorizing, disinfecting, energy, focus, headache, indigestion upset stomach, insect repellant, pain relief, purify & cleanse air, seasonal allergies, sore muscles, uplifting. See section 2 below for substitutes by each of these uses.
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Rose Essential Oil Substitutes
What does rose essential oil smell like? Rose essential oil has a floral, sweet scent that is rich and deep, so a little bit goes a long way.
What essential oils smell similar to rose? bourbon geranium, palmarosa, rose geranium
Common uses for rose essential oil: anxiety, hormones (PMS, menstrual cramps, menopause), skin care (acne/oily, dry, mature, sensitive), stress, uplifting. See section 2 below for substitutes by each of these uses.
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Rosemary Essential Oil Substitutes
What does rosemary essential oil smell like? Rosemary Essential Oil smells fresh, herbaceous, and sweet, with a slightly medicinal scent that reminds people of Vicks VapoRub.
What essential oils smell similar to rosemary? eucalyptus, marjoram, sage, tea tree, thyme
Common uses for rosemary essential oil: deodorizing, disinfecting, energy, focus, hair growth, headache, immune support, insect repellant, pain relief, skin care (acne/oily, mature), sore muscles. See section 2 below for substitutes by each of these uses.
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Sandalwood Essential Oil Substitutes
What does sandalwood essential oil smell like? Sandalwood is a deep, woody scent with a rich mix of floral and sweet accents.
What essential oils smell similar to sandalwood? arborvitae, cedarwood, cypress, myrrh, patchouli, vetiver
Common uses for sandalwood essential oil: congestion, skin care (acne/oily, dry, mature, sensitive), purify air, sleep, stress, wound healing. See section 2 below for substitutes by each of these uses.
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Tangerine Essential Oil Substitutes
What does tangerine essential oil smell like? Tangerine essential oil has fresh, sweet citrusy scent, much like its tangerine peels source. The aroma is a little more intense than other citrus essential oils.
What essential oils smell similar to tangerine? clementine, mandarin, sweet orange
Common uses for tangerine essential oil: anxiety, energy, focus, grease & grime, purify air, stress, uplifting. See section 2 below for substitutes by each of these uses.
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Tea Tree Essential Oil Substitutes
What does tea tree essential oil smell like? Tea Tree essential oil is a polarizing scent. Those who like it enjoy its woody, earthy, herbaceous, slightly medicinal aroma. Those who don’t, say it smells like paint thinner.
What essential oils smell similar to tea tree? cajeput, eucalyptus, oregano, rosemary
Common uses for tea tree essential oil: congestion, disinfecting, deodorizing, hair growth, immune support, insect repellant, mold and mildew, purify air, skin care (acne/oily), wound healing. See section 2 below for substitutes by each of these uses.
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Vetiver Essential Oil Substitutes
What does vetiver essential oil smell like? Vetiver essential oil has a warm, earthy scent that evokes the feeling of walking through tall, dry grass on a warm day.
What essential oils smell similar to vetiver? myrrh, palo santo, patchouli, sandalwood
Common uses for vetiver essential oil: anxiety, focus, insect repellant (termites, ticks), stress, sleep, uplifting, wound healing. See section 2 below for substitutes by each of these uses.
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Ylang Ylang Essential Oil Substitutes
What does ylang ylang essential oil smell like? Ylang ylang essential oil has a rich exotic floral aroma with ripe fruity notes, like the tropics of the Indian Ocean.
What essential oils smell similar to ylang ylang? geranium, honeysuckle, jasmine, neroli, rose
Common uses for ylang ylang essential oil: anxiety, hair growth, skin care (acne/oily, dry, mature), stress, uplifting, wound healing. See section 2 below for substitutes by each of these uses.
2. Substitutes by Reason for Use
Some pairs of essential oils smell a lot differently from each other, but are still useful substitutes because they provide similar therapeutic benefits. If the recipe you are making has a function other than providing a pleasant aroma, your substitution options are different from when you are trying to match a scent.
After extensively researching compositions of essential oils and experimenting with them across many purposes and combinations, I have compiled these lists to help you match essential oils to the reason for use, and to give you more options when you might be out of an essential oil listed in a recipe you want to try.
These lists also include links to some of my favorite posts about blends and recipes I’ve made over the years, from DIY house cleaning recipes to skin care to helping with a good night’s sleep. I hope this compilation helps and inspires you.
click here for a free printable of the essential oil substitution charts used in this blog post
Cleaning
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Deodorize
- a few essential oils that help eliminate odors: cinnamon, eucalyptus, fir, lemon, lemongrass, peppermint, rosemary, tea tree
- How to use essential oils to deodorize
- Click here for my odor eliminating spray recipe. I use it to freshen my bathrooms and kitchen, get rid of stale, musty odors, eliminate pet odors, and more.
- Make a trash can deodorizing spray by pouring a couple of natural ingredients into a spray bottle along with essential oils, give it a shake, spray, and odors are gone in seconds! Or, make one or two of these trash can deodorizer tabs to absorb the stinky, smelly odors from trash cans. (These deodorizing tabs also work in other odor-collecting spots around the house, like refrigerators, laundry hampers, and more!)
- Learn more about how to use essential oils to deodorize your home here. In that blog post, I share 13 ways to use essential oils to get stinky smells out of your home. It includes DIY essential oil recipes for stinky shoes, smelly washing machines, getting musty smells out of clothes & towels, deodorizing diffuser blends, homemade poo-pourri, carpet freshener, fixing a smelly dishwasher & more.
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Disinfect
- a few essential oils that help disinfect surfaces: cinnamon, clove, eucalyptus, fir, lavender, orange, oregano, peppermint, rosemary, tea tree, thyme
- How to use essential oils to disinfect surfacesÂ
- Find my recipe for homemade “Lysol” here
- Prefer using wipes to clean and disinfect surfaces? Get my disinfecting “Lysol” wipes recipe here
- And for an easy way to keep hands clean when you don’t have access to soap & water, try my DIY essential oil hand sanitizer
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Grease & Grime
- a few essential oils that help clean grease & grime: grapefruit, lemon, lime, orange, tangerine
- How to use essential oils to clean
- Get my degreaser spray recipe here. It dissolves grease & grime on all kinds of hard, non-porous surfaces like stovetops, ovens, microwaves, countertops, kitchen cabinets and more.
- Make hand washing dishes easy with this homemade essential oil dish soap.
- Clean your kitchen counters and appliances with ease using this pumpkin spice cleaning spray.
- Learn how to clean your oven with essential oils here. No toxic chemicals or fumes.
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Insect Repellant
- a few essential oils that help repel insects: arborvitae, cedarwood, cinnamon, citronella, geranium, juniper berry, lavender, lemon eucalyptus, lemongrass, patchouli, peppermint, rosemary, spearmint, sweet orange, tea tree, vetiver
- How to use essential oils to repel insectsÂ
- Learn which essential oils work best to repel each type of bug (ants, bed bugs, beetles, flies, mosquitoes, spiders, and more) plus 17 tried-and-true recipes to repel bugs
- Find my DIY bug spray recipe here
- Get my recipes for bug repellant rollerball blends here
- Keep mosquitoes, flies, and other pesky bugs away from outdoor gatherings with this simple essential oil bug-repellent candle
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Mold & Mildew
- a few essential oils that help with mold & mildew: black pepper, cinnamon, citronella, eucalyptus, geranium, lavender, lemon, peppermint, oregano, tea tree, thyme
- How to use essential oils for mold & mildewÂ
- Use this spray to keep mold & mildew out of showers and bathtubs
- Mold & mildew can easily form in damp washing machines. Learn how to use essential oils to clean your washing machine and get rid of any trapped mold and mildew.
- Click here for easy instructions on how to clean your dishwasher naturally with essential oils
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Purify & Cleanse Air
- a few essential oils that help purify & cleanse air: arborvitae, cedarwood, eucalyptus, fir, grapefruit, juniper berry, lavender, lemon, lemongrass, lime, peppermint, sandalwood, spearmint, tangerine
- How to use essential oils to purify & cleanse airÂ
- Try this air purifying diffuser blend: 2 drops lime + 2 drops eucalyptus + 2 drops spearmint
- Or make a homemade room spray to cleanse and purify the air
click here for a free printable of the essential oil substitution charts used in this blog post
Beauty
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Dry Skin
- a few essential oils that help with dry skin: blue tansy, cedarwood, chamomile, elemi, frankincense, geranium, jasmine, lavender, myrrh, patchouli, rose, sandalwood, ylang ylang
- How to use essential oils for dry skin
- Get my recipe for homemade body wash for dry skin here
- Learn how to make my rich & creamy hand lotion here
- Need all over moisturizing? Here’s my recipe for a soft & silky body butter using essential oils.
- Or try my lavender, oatmeal & milk bath. It’s fabulous for dry wintertime skin.
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Mature Skin (wrinkles & fine lines)
- a few essential oils that help with mature skin: blue tansy, cypress, elemi, frankincense, geranium, helichrysum, jasmine, lavender, myrrh, patchouli, rose, rosemary, sandalwood, ylang ylang
- How to use essential oils for mature skin
- Learn how to customize your DIY face serum to be perfect for your exact skin type here
- Get my recipe for gentle, tightening face toner here
- Learn about the best essential oils for tightening skin; plus, get simple DIY recipes using essential oils to make your own anti-wrinkle serum, cellulite cream, firming body butter, magic eye serum, stretch mark cream, tightening body oil, and more.
- Find my easy roller recipe for fine lines and wrinkles around eyes here
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Oily Skin & Acne
- a few essential oils that help with oily skin & acne: arborvitae, cedarwood, copaiba, geranium, juniper berry, lavender, lemongrass, rose, sandalwood, tea tree, ylang ylang
- How to use essential oils for oily skin & acneÂ
- Spot treat pimples with this essential oil acne gel
- Relax with a facial steam and deep clean pores at the same time with these Lush copycat Tea Tree facial tabs
- Get my easy recipe for tea tree toner here
- Make this easy clay face soap to help deep clean pores, soothe redness, and balance oil production.
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Sensitive Skin & Redness
- a few essential oils that help with sensitive skin & redness: blue tansy, chamomile, frankincense, geranium, helichrysum, jasmine, lavender, patchouli, rose, sandalwood
- How to use essential oils for sensitive skin & redness
- Get my recipe for homemade face wash here – it’s gentle and perfect for sensitive skin.
- Learn how to customize your DIY face serum to be perfect for your exact skin type here
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Hair Growth
- a few essential oils that help with hair growth: cedarwood, clary sage, geranium, lavender, peppermint, rosemary, tea tree, ylang ylang
- How to use essential oils for hair growthÂ
- Get my recipe for mermaid hair growth spray here. It helps hair grow in faster, thicker, and longer. It also helps reduce hair fall and improves hair strength to reduce breakage.
- While not specifically for hair growth, using a dry shampoo can help hair stay better moisturized and healthy due to not shampooing as often. Get my recipes for dry shampoo powder and dry shampoo spray.
- Click here for my recipe for eyebrow growth serum. Simply swipe the serum onto eyebrows then massage in for 1-2 minutes and leave on overnight. It helps eyebrows grow in thicker, fuller, and faster.
click here for a free printable of the essential oil substitution charts used in this blog post
Wellness
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Seasonal Allergies
- a few essential oils that help with seasonal allergies: arborvitae, lavender, lemon, peppermint
- How to use essential oils for seasonal allergies
- Get my step-by-step instructions for how to make a rollerball blend for seasonal allergies here.
- In addition to topical application with a roller bottle, another great way to fight seasonal allergies is with a personal inhaler. You simply breathe in the essential oils and they go to work. Get my recipe and instructions for making a seasonal allergy inhaler here.
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Anxiety
- a few essential oils that help with anxiety: bergamot, blue tansy, cedarwood, chamomile, clary sage, copaiba, cypress, frankincense, jasmine, lavender, rose, sweet orange, tangerine, vetiver, ylang ylang
- How to use essential oils for anxiety
- Get my step-by-step instructions for how to make a rollerball blend for anxiety here.
- In addition to topical application with a roller bottle, another great way to lessen anxious feelings is with a personal inhaler. You simply breathe in the essential oils and they go to work. Get my recipe and instructions for making an essential oil inhaler for anxiety here.
- And for something fun and unexpected make my homemade calming aromatherapy playdough. As you play with it, the scents of essential oils are released helping you to feel more calm and relaxed. It’s a great thing to use before bed or when you’re feeling a little stressed or anxious.
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Congestion
- a few essential oils that help with congestion: basil, cedarwood, cassia, clove, cypress, eucalyptus, fir, frankincense, geranium, oregano, pine, peppermint, tea tree
- How to use essential oils for congestion
- Find my recipe for homemade vapor rub here. It’s very easy to make and only takes two ingredients plus essential oils. Just like store-bought vapor rub, this DIY version is packed with cooling menthol to help open airways and ease coughs, but unlike the commercially made stuff, this is all natural and chemical free.
- Get my step-by-step instructions for how to make a rollerball blend for congestion here.
- In addition to topical application, diffusing essential oils for congestion is often very helpful. Get 25 of my favorite essential oil diffuser blends for clear breathing here.
- Combining steam with essential oils is also a great way to open up the airways and relieve congestion and stuffed-up noses. Try my DIY shower steamers, shower mist spray, or vapor bath salts. All have recipe versions specifically made for congestion.
- For scratchy sore throats and coughs, try making my homemade cough drops. Here’s my recipe for easy no-cook cough drops.
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Energy
- a few essential oils that help with energy: basil, cinnamon, cypress, eucalyptus, grapefruit, fir, lemon, lemongrass, lime, peppermint, rosemary, sweet orange, tangerine
- How to use essential oils for energy
- Find my recipe for fatigue-fighting energy rub here. It’s simple to make with just 2 ingredients plus essential oils.
- Get my step-by-step instructions for how to make a roller bottle blend for energy here.
- In addition to topical application with a rub or roller bottle, another great way to boost energy is with a personal inhaler. You simply breathe in the essential oils and they go to work. Get my recipe and instructions for making an essential oil inhaler for energy here.
- Find my favorite energizing diffuser blends here
- Try my shower steamers or shower mist spray. Both have recipe versions for fighting energy slumps and help waking up.
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Focus & Concentration
- a few essential oils that help with focus: basil, fir, frankincense, lavender, lemon, peppermint, rosemary, sweet orange, tangerine, vetiver
- How to use essential oils for focus & concentration
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Headache
- a few essential oils that help with headaches: eucalyptus, frankincense, lavender, lemongrass, marjoram, peppermint, Roman chamomile, rosemary
- How to use essential oils for headaches
- Get my recipe for headache relief balm here.  This balm works for all kinds of headaches – tension, stress, allergy-triggered, hormones (PMS and menopause), migraine, and sinus headaches. Plus, I love that it’s so portable. I keep a jar of headache balm in my purse so I always have it with me at work, school, running errands, and kid’s sports games.
- Get my tension tamer (aka headache) roller bottle recipe here
- In addition to topical application with a headache balm or roller bottle, another great way to soothe headaches is with a personal inhaler. You simply breathe in the essential oils and they go to work. Get my recipe and instructions for making an essential oil inhaler for headaches here.
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Hormone Support (pms, menstrual cramps, menopause)
- a few essential oils that help with hormone support:Â clary sage, frankincense, geranium, jasmine, lavender, marjoram, rose, ylang ylang
- How to use essential oils for hormone support
- Use this peppermint cooling spray for hot flashes. It’s like air conditioning in a bottle.
- Try this chill out rollerball blend for menstrual cramps and PMS irritability
- Get my recipe for homemade headache relief balm here. It’s great for tension headaches as well as hormone-induced migraines.
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Immune Support
- a few essential oils that help with immune support: basil, cassia, cinnamon, clove, eucalyptus, frankincense, lavender, lemon, lemongrass, marjoram, oregano, rosemary, tea tree, thyme
- How to use essential oils for immune support
- Find my recipe for immune support footrub here. It’s simple to make with just 3 ingredients plus essential oils.
- Get 5 of my favorite immune support roller bottle recipes here
- In addition to topical application, diffusing essential oils for immune support is often very helpful. Get my diffuser blend for immune support here.
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Indigestion & Upset Stomach
- a few essential oils that help with indigestion and upset stomach:, cardamom, cassia, clove, coriander, fennel, frankincense, ginger, juniper berry, lemongrass, marjoram, peppermint, sweet orange, tangerine
- How to use essential oils for indigestion & upset stomach
- Find my recipe for “Happy Tummy” upset stomach salve here. It’s simple to make with just 3 ingredients plus essential oils.
- Get my tummy tamer roller bottle recipes here. It’s great for stomach upset and nausea.
- In addition to topical application with an upset stomach salve or roller bottle, another great way to soothe an upset stomach is with a personal inhaler. You simply breathe in the essential oils and they go to work. Get my recipe and instructions for making an essential oil inhaler for nausea and stomach upset here.
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Pain Relief
- a few essential oils that help with pain: birch, clove, copaiba, cypress, eucalyptus, fir, frankincense, juniper berry, lavender, lemongrass, marjoram, myrrh, oregano, peppermint, rosemary, wintergreen
- How to use essential oils for pain relief
- Get my recipe for Joyful Joints pain relief cream here. It improves circulation, lessens stiffness, and reduces inflammation to temporarily help ease joint pain.
- Overdo it at the gym? Try my sore muscle massage bar. It’s a copycat recipe of Lush’s wonderful Wiccy Magic muscles lotion bar. Simply rub it over sore muscles for a warm, tingly sensation that feels like a massage.
- Get my recipe for homemade headache relief balm here. It’s great for tension headaches as well as hormone-induced migraines.
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Sleep
- a few essential oils that help with sleep: arborvitae, bergamot, cedarwood, chamomile, copaiba, frankincense, jasmine, lavender, marjoram, patchouli, petitgrain, sandalwood, vetiver, ylang ylang,
- How to use essential oils for sleep
- My favorite essential oil recipe to help me sleep is my calming magnesium body butter. I apply a little to my feet and shoulders before bed to help me relax and get a great night’s sleep.
- Find my recipe for “Swet Dreams” sleep salve here. It’s simple to make with just 3 ingredients plus essential oils.
- Another great way to improve sleep is with a diffuser. You simply breathe in the essential oils and they go to work. Get my favorite diffuser recipes for sleep here.
- Try my shower steamers or shower mist spray. Both have recipe versions for relaxing and getting ready for a sound night’s sleep. Or if you have more time, take a nice relaxing soak in the tub with my Silent Night bath salts.
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Sore Muscles
- a few essential oils that help with sore muscles: birch, black pepper, copaiba, cypress, elemi, fir, geranium, juniper berry, lavender, lemongrass, peppermint, rosemary, wintergreen
- How to use essential oils for sore muscles
- Find my recipe for sore muscle rub here. It’s simple to make with just 3 ingredients plus essential oils.
- Want a little more relief? Try my sore muscle lotion massage bar. It’s a copycat recipe of Lush’s Wiccy Magic Muscles massage lotion bar. The combination of cinnamon and peppermint essential oils provides a warm, tingly sensation that helps ease and soothe sore, achy muscles. As a bonus, it also has adzuki beans that feel like tiny little fingertips giving you a wonderful relaxing massage.
- Get my muscle soother roller bottle recipe here. Just simply roll it over sore muscles and rub in.
- For arthritis and sore, achy joints, try my joint pain relief cream. It improves circulation, lessens stiffness, and penetrates deep to give relief exactly where you need it.
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Stress
- a few essential oils that help with stress:, arborvitae, bergamot, blue tansy, cardamom, cedarwood, chamomile, clary sage, copaiba, eucalyptus, frankincense, jasmine, lavender, lemongrass, ocotea, patchouli, petitgrain, rose, sandalwood, sweet orange, vetiver, ylang ylang
- How to use essential oils for stress Â
- Find my stress buster rollerball recipe here
- Another great way to reduce stress is with a diffuser. You simply breathe in the essential oils and they go to work. Get my favorite calming diffuser recipes for stress here.
- For something fun and unexpected make my homemade calming aromatherapy playdough. As you play with it, the scents of essential oils are released helping you to feel more calm and relaxed. It’s a great thing to use before bed or when you’re feeling a little stressed or anxious.
- Learn how to make an aromatherapy stress ball here. There is just something so comforting about squeezing a stress ball. But it’s even better when that squishy stress ball smells like calming essential oils!
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Uplifting
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- a few essential oils that help lift spirits: bergamot, blue tansy, cinnamon, copaiba, geranium, fir, frankincense, grapefruit, helichrysum, lavender, lemon, lemongrass, myrrh, peppermint, rose, spearmint, sweet orange, tangerine, vetiver, ylang ylang
- How to use essential oils to lift spirits Â
- Put a few drops of carrier oil (like olive oil) in the palm of your hand, then add 1 drop of peppermint and 1 drop of sweet orange. Rub palms together briskly, then cup hands over nose and breathe in deeply for several seconds, hold for several seconds, then exhale deeply for several seconds. Repeat.
- Make a mood-boosting shower mist spray or uplifting shower steamers to help lift your spirits in the morning and start your day right.
- Help keep winter blues away with this uplifting essential oil body spray
- Try out one of these 21 roller bottle recipes for emotions. Uplifting blends include Hapy Place, Good Times, and Liquid Sunshine.
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Wound Healing:
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- a few essential oils that help with wound healing: copaiba, cypress, elemi, frankincense, geranium, helichrysum, lavender, myrrh, sandalwood, tea tree, vetiver, ylang ylang
- How to use essential oils for wound healing
- Get mt recipe for essential oil healing salve here.
- Find my wound-healing rollerball recipe for minor cuts and scrapes here. Note: don’t roll directly on wound, instead roll onto clean, dry skin or other surface and transfer owie serum to wound.
click here for a free printable of the essential oil substitution charts used in this blog post
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