5 Ways to Make Your Summer Awesome with Essential Oils

It’s officially summertime, and if you know us, you know we love our seasonal guides. Today, we’re giving you our summer guide to essential oils. Learn 5 ways you can use essential oils for summer–we’re talking bug repellent, barbecues, sunburn, and more!

1. Add the best essential oils for summer to your favorite seasonal recipes 

I don’t know about you, but when I think of summertime, I think about backyard barbecues and time spent outdoors with loved ones. Both of these require some seriously refreshing and delicious foods. These recipes below are sure to be crowd-pleasers for the whole family. 

Lavender Lemonade 

What is more summer than lemonade?! I’ll wait. 

This homemade lemonade recipe with lavender essential oil and lavender sprigs is the perfect hot weather refreshment. 

In this recipe, we’re ditching sugar and replacing it with nutritious honey. Sip on this while you relax by the pool, serve it up at your next barbeque, or mix it up for your kiddos at lunch. Whatever the occasion,it will be sure to please! 

Ingredients 

• Juice of 6 lemons 
• Juice of 1 lime 
• ½ cup raw honey 
• 2 drops lavender essential oil 
• 8-10 cups water 
• Ice for serving 

Instructions: 

1. Melt honey in saucer on stove and mix in lavender essential oil, add to large glass pitcher 
2. Stir well to combine and add water, lemon, and lime juice 
3. Add ice to make it refreshing! Add water to taste 
4. Garnish with sprigs of lavender! Optional *

Guacamoily

Guacamole is the ultimate summer snack. Cut up fresh veggies, serve with your favorite tortilla chips, or top it on a burger right off the grill, whatever the medium, guacamole will make it that more delicious. 

In this recipe, we harness the fresh, therapeutic benefits of lime and cilantro essential oils. 

Ingredients 

•  4 large avocados 
• 2 tablespoons chopped cilantro 
• 1 lime juiced 
• ½ cup red or white onion, chopped  
• 2 medium tomatoes, chopped 
• 1 jalapeno, chopped optional * 
• 3 drops lime essential oil
• 1 drop cilantro oil 
• Garlic powder to taste 
• Salt to taste 

Instructions: 

1. Chop vegetables and set aside 
2. Halve avocados and remove the pit. Scoop out avocado and smash into a medium-sized bowl 
3. Add chopped veggies, essential oils, lime juice, and salt or garlic powder if using 
4. Mix all ingredients 
5. Enjoy with chopped veggies or tortilla chips 

Orange Creamsicle Smoothie 

Orange creamsicles remind me of the ice cream man when I was younger. There’s just something about them that makes them the yummiest summer treat. This summer smoothie is the perfect healthy twist on a summer favorite. The wild orange essential oil will give you the energy and mood boost you’re looking for. 

Ingredients 

• 1 -2 drops wild orange essential oil 
• 2 frozen bananas 
• 1 scoop vanilla protein or ½ teaspoon vanilla extract 
• ½ cup of milk alternative of your choice 

Instructions:

1. Mix the essential oil with a small amount of coconut oil or honey and then blend with the other ingredients. 

2. Keep Bugs & Insects Away 

There is nothing worse than getting your barbeque crashed by a bunch of unwelcome pests. Whatever your outdoor adventures this summer, keep them exclusive with these essential oil for summer recipes.

MOSQUITO REPELLENT DIFFUSER RECIPE

• 3 drops of citronella essential oil 
• 3 drops of lavender essential oil 
• 3 drops of geranium essential oi

Place these in a diffuser and place it on your deck or porch about 20 minutes before going outside.  The essential oils diffusing in the area should give you some much-needed protection by warding off any mosquitoes or bugs.  This is especially helpful if you’re cooking out around sunset.

Easy homemade mosquito repellent spray 

• 2 oz glass spray bottle 
• 1 oz apple cider vinegar
• 5 drops of tea tree essential oil
• 5 drops of peppermint essential oil
• 5 drops of lemongrass essential oil
• 5 drops of eucalyptus essential oil

Instructions:

1. Add the essential oils to the vinegar and shake well to combine
2. Top this off with water and you’ve got your homemade mosquito repellent. Try different oils on occasion and see which are most effective for you.  Be prepared, the scent is going to be strong, but that’s what we want!

DEEP WOODS DIY INSECT REPELLENT OIL

• 2 oz glass bottle
• 2 oz of soybean oil (or another carrier oil of your choice)
• 5 drops of cedar essential oil
• 5 drops of neem essential oil
• 5 drops of rosemary essential oil

Instructions:

1. Combine all of the ingredients and shake well. This is a good one to apply before going out into the woods to prevent ticks and other crawling bugs.  It can even be used on your pets to help repel ticks and fleas.

ANT SPRAY ESSENTIAL OIL RECIPE

Combine ¼ cup of vodka (or vinegar), ¼ cup of distilled water, and any the following essential oil combinations in a spray bottle:

• 5 drops peppermint
• 5 drops tea tree
• 5 drops of citrus oil, like grapefruit, orange, or lemongrass

Instructions:

1. Add to spray bottle and shake well to combine
2. Spray up to three times per day until you notice the ants are gone

3. Post-Sun, Skin Lovin’ Recipes 

You’ve just hit the beach and you swore you reapplied every other hour, but you can still feel that burn coming on. Hydrate and soothe skin with these post-sun recipes with essential oils. 

After Sun Cooling Spray 

I love a good spray to hydrate and soothe skin, and so do my little ones. The lavender in this recipe is perfect for calming irritated skin while the peppermint is perfect for cooling. 

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons witch hazel 
• ¼ cup aloe vera gel 
• ½ teaspoon vitamin e oil 
• 2 tablespoons fractionated coconut oil
• 10 drops lavender essential oil 
• 2 drops peppermint essential oil 
• 4 oz dark colored glass spray bottle 
• Funnel (optional* for easy pour) 

Instructions: 

1. Combine all ingredients in glass measuring cup and mix well 
2. Pour into small, dark-colored, bottle with spray nozzle
3. Shake well before use 

Whipped Body Cream for Sunburn 

Itchy, painful, hot: 3 words that describe sunburn. A little bit of sunburn can ruin your vacation. Ease pain and itchiness while hydrating and soothing with this healing cream for burns. 

Ingredients 

• 1 cup of shea butter (I use Everyday Shea – unscented)
• ½ cup of coconut oil
• ½ cup almond oil
• Essential oils (Frankincense, Lavender, Sandalwood, Myrrh)

Instructions:  

1. Gently melt the shea butter and coconut oil over very low heat. Some say to use a double broiler, but I’ve had success just making sure that the heat is very low. I add the shea butter to the pot first and once it’s pretty melted, I add the coconut oil. The reason for this is because the shea butter takes longer to melt than the coconut oil.
2. Remove from heat and stir in the almond oil.
3. Transfer to a large mixing bowl and place in the refrigerator. You’ll need to chill the oils until they are solidified but still soft to the touch. You should be able to press your finger into the oil and it leaves an indentation.I wish I could say exactly how long it takes to get to this point, but it really depends on your refrigerator and how cold it is. It typically takes my refrigerator 1 ½ to 2 hours to get the right consistency. Check out the video to see exactly what to look for so you know when your body butter is ready to be whipped.
4. Once it’s chilled, using a handheld mixer or KitchenAid, whip the mixture until it’s a thick and fluffy consistency – like smooth creamy butter. Transfer to a clean jar and seal.
5. To use as a sunburn cream – add 1 drop each essential oil to the palm of one hand. Using your index finger, scoop a dollop of body butter into the same palm holding the essential oils. Combine by gently rubbing your palms together. Apply to the sunburned areas using more essential oil and body butter as needed. Apply 3 to 4 times during the day the first 2 to 3 days after a burn and then 1 to 2 times a day after that.

4. Diffuse sunshine 

Even if you’re not at the beach or on vacation, why not still feel like it? Diffuse a little bit of summertime indoors to feel like you’re outdoors. 

Beachy Breeze

• 2 drops bergamot
• 2 drops lavender 
• 1 drop rosemary 
• 1 drop eucalyptus 

Ocean Waves 

• 3 drops lavender 
• 3 drops lime
• 1 drop spearmint 

Seaside Sunset 

• 3 drops lemon 
• 3 drops tangerine 
• 2 drops bergamot
• 1 drop peppermint  

Sun Goddess 

• 3 drops lemongrass 
• 2 drops wild orange
• 1 drop peppermint 

Tropical Oasis

• 3 drops lime
• 3 drops eucalyptus
• 3 drops grapefruit
• 1 drop tangerine

5. Summer Oils for Beauty 

The excessive heat can cause a bunch of skin issues we’d rather not deal with in the summertime. Some people break out more, some people dry up more, others tend to see wrinkles come out. Support plump, healthy, and hydrated skin with these essential oils for summer recipes all summer long. 

HONEY-LAVENDER FACIAL CLEANSER

This gentle wash is perfect for all skin types during the summer. Your skin will come out softer and more hydrated than ever before. 

Make sure all of your makeup is removed and then mix a penny-size amount of raw honey with 1 drop of lavender essential oil in your balms and massage it onto your face. Let it sit for 5-10 minutes. Rinse thoroughly with warm water. 

GERANIUM FACE MIST

Use this mist throughout the day as a toner to liven up too oily or too dry skin. Witch hazel and geranium are powerful natural astringents that will help even out skin tone. Plus, how good does a face mist feel on a hot day?! 

Ingredients

• 8-10 drops geranium
• 2 tablespoons witch hazel
• 4 tablespoons water

Instructions:

1. Put ingredients together in a 4-oz dark colored glass spray bottle and shake to mix
2. Spritz as needed! 

Rose-Geranium Beauty Balm 

Soften skin and improve elasticity with this balm. Not only will it give you a physical lift, but it will also give you a mental one. Summer vibes only. 

Ingredients

• 2 drops rose 
• 2 drops geranium 
• ½ teaspoon of carrier oil (jojoba is my favorite!) 

Instructions:

1. Add oils along with carrier oil to small glass bowl and mix 
2. When combined, use your fingertips to apply blend to face and neck 

Now that you have the tools you need to make the best essential oils for summer a part of your routine, what are you most excited about? Let us know in the comments below.