12 Essential Oil Routines for the Whole Family

Using essential oils in our house has become a routine that the whole family loves. From waking up in the morning to going to bed at night; from cooking a delicious dinner to cleaning up the mess–everyone needs a little essential oil magic in their life. 

If you’re a mom, then this is your ultimate mom’s guide to using essential oils for the whole family. I’m excited to share with you how our family brings essential oils into our everyday life. 

12 Ways to Use Essential Oils in Your Family Routine 

Room Freshener 

We are spending a LOT of time at home right now with 3 littles and a 2-month-old, so we want to make sure our home is a place we want to be. This Room Freshener diffuser blend is the perfect amount of cozy and inviting. Not only does this combo of oil neutralize bad smells, but it also promotes a fresh, clean, and calming space. 

It’s my go-to “signature scent” for our home right now, and the whole gang is loving it. I’ve been leaving the diffuser right by the door to smell it when we come in. I also love to use it in spaces where my kids will be doing schoolwork or playing. If you want a fresh scent that can make your home feel even homier, look no further than this diffuser blend. 

DIY Room Freshener Diffuser Recipe 

• 4 drops doTERRA purify 
• 2 drops Wintergreen 
• 2 drops Lavender 

Kitchen Clean-Up  

Raise your hand if family dinners are the best and worst thing. Sometimes the overwhelm of cleaning up after a messy dinner can be a little too much. I would’ve never ordered my white farmhouse if I knew that red sauces and coffee could stain so badly. Thankfully, I can still make my family their favorite meals and keep my sink white, naturally.  

This kitchen sink scrub is excellent for scrubbing my sink clean and free of stains. The essential oils in this recipe help crush bacteria and disinfect. Post scrub, my kitchen smells fresh and clean.  

DIY Non-Toxic Kitchen Scrub  

Ingredients: 

• ½ cup baking soda 
• ¼ cup white vinegar
• 1 scoop Ecos Oxobrite (like OxiClean but natural) 
• 5 drops lemon essential oil 
• 5 drops lime essential oil 
• 5 drops doTERRA OnGuard 
• Tea tree? 

To Use: 

Combine all ingredients in a bowl to form a paste. Apply a sponge or scrubbing pad and wipe the sink out. Either rinse away with warm water immediately or allow it to sit overnight for the best results. 

For more cleaning recipes with essential oils, check out this article. 

Bust Bad Odors  

My kids are rough on their shoes: jumping in rain puddles and stomping through the mud. Their shoes can stink like mildew, and I’m sure other mamas can relate. For this, I’ll add several drops (5-7) of lemon essential oil or doTERRA purify to a cotton ball and place it inside of their shoes overnight. These oils help neutralize the odor insanely well. It even works for stinky gym bags or the car. Just put a cotton ball with essential oils in the foul spot, and it will smell good before you know it. 

Morning Invigoration 

With 3 kids and a new baby, the whole family needs a little boost in the morning, me especially. To feel excited and ready for the day, I add a couple drops of essential oil to the shower floor to awaken my senses. It creates a steam room and the perfect aromatherapy atmosphere. I love doTERRA citrus blend or elevation. It helps me wake up and start the day even if I feel a little groggy. 

Natural Hand Sani 

There is a lot of over-sanitizing going on, everyone seems to be offering sanitizer everywhere. We want to avoid ingredients in conventional hand sanitizer, so we opt for the doTERRA OnGuard sanitizer. It kills bacteria that causes illness like strep as well as other viruses. We keep several bottles on hand (especially in the car and purse), so we can always use our own to avoid using conventional ones. 

Cooking with Oils 

Meals need to be quick and easy these days. We rely on standbys like spaghetti but using oils in cooking adds a nice twist and enhances flavor. I love to add a drop of basil to my sauce when it simmers. Simple mix 1 drop with a healthy fat like EVOO before stirring it in. The whole fam loves it. 

Optimizing Focus & Productivity 

I have very little time to work right now because my primary focus is my baby. She wants to be held by no one but me or Dad, which makes it hard. I still want to create space for my passions and keep up with household things like bills, so I need to be productive with my time. Doing this allows me to be the best mom possible. 

I love this diffuser blend to help with focus and productivity. It helps with mental clarity and adrenal fatigue–and I need support with both since I’ve been sleep deprived.  

Try diffusing this recipe when you need a break from “Mom life” to focus on your passions so that you can be the best version of yourself for your family. 

Focus & Productivity Diffuser Recipe 

• 4 drops Basil  
• 2 drops Peppermint 
• 2 drops Lemon 

Bath Time Oils 

I have baths at least 3 to 4 nights a week; it’s my favorite way to unwind after a long day. Obviously, this doesn’t have as much to do with family as much as it does with me. As a parent, taking time to yourself to reset and rest is crucial to show up for your family in the best way possible. Baths are my time. I love to add essential oils to my bath to help balance hormones (which I need right now after baby) and to calm and soothe. Not only do the oils offer aromatherapy, but they also have incredible health benefits. 

Here’s my go-to right now: 

Mix below oils with bubble bath and add under running water. This recipe is for a deep soaking tub, so cut drops in half if you have a smaller tub. 

• 10 drops Clary sage 
• 10 drops Basil 
• 5 drops Lavender 

Option to add a cup of Epsom salt to ease sore muscles. I love to do this because it helps after a long day of holding the baby all day. 

Start your tub and then light some beeswax candles for ambiance. These are some of my favorites. Then put some natural melodies on. I always play my favorite tracks from my Calm app. 

Freshen Up the Bathroom 

If you’re trying to get your kids to enjoy cleaning, then this might do the trick. My boys love this. All you have to do (or all they have to do) is add a couple drops of essential oil to the toilet water after flushing. It helps freshen up the bathroom, and it’s so easy a 4-year-old can do it. 

 Opt for citrus oils for a fresh and clean aroma, but really any oil will do as long as you like the aroma. 

 Ease Tight Muscles 

I feel like I’m on my feet literally the entire day. Eliana likes to be held and rocked while we’re standing, so we’ve been doing lots of walks and standing with her. By the end of the day, my legs feel sooo cramped. 

Isaac and I like to stretch before bedtime (one of our favorite rituals) and we always use doTERRA Deep Blue Roll On before stretches. I focus on my legs, calves, and feet. 

You can also use it as a massage oil (Isaac will massage my feet with it). This powerful essential oil blend helps relieve muscle tension and inflammation to get the best stretch possible before bed. 

Bedtime Oil 

Lately, I feel like I’ve needed frankincense before bed. Frankincense is the perfect oil to help calm the senses due to its intense grounding effect. And I really need that after 10+ hours a day with the baby and 3 other kids. 

Frankincense has many health benefits, but it really works to reduce inflammation, which I love. I add a drop or 2 to my palms and inhale deeply. I’ll also apply a drop to my pillow or massage into my neck.  

Post-Baby Body  

I’m still taking it easy, but I’m also looking to do more physical support post-baby. DoTERRA Body Renewal Serum is part of my daily routine. I mix it in with coconut oil and massage into my whole body. Because I’m nursing, I avoid my chest and breasts. 

The serum contains Yarrow Pom, which supports smoother, firmer, younger-looking skin. It also promotes skin luminosity so you can glow and feel more like yourself after this massive change. 

Now that you’ve learned about the 12 ways we love to use essential oils in our house, are you excited to adopt any into your routine? Let me know in the comments below.