Summer is on its way. Here are a few summery essential oil blends to not only get you hyped up for summer, but also provide additional benefits such as improving your mood and cognitive function. For diffusers with the standard capacity, 100ml, use 4-5 drops of essential oils. For 200ml water capacity, you may use 6-9 drops.

Tangerine + Lemon + Yuzu

Imagine you’re having a cool and refreshing fruity drink on a hot summery day by the beach. Although this blend is not drinkable by any means, and should also not be used topically to avoid getting phototoxic sunburns, you can still de-stress and rejuvenate yourself with this invigorating blend.

• 100ml water
  • 2 drops tangerine/yuzu
  • 3 drops lemon
• 200ml water
  • 3 drops tangerine
  • 3 drops lemon
  • 3 drops yuzu

*You can really play around with different citrus combinations with this blend

Lemongrass + Palmarosa + Spearmint

Lemongrass can be quite irritating when applied to the skin but when inhaled, its lemony and grassy scent boosts wakefulness and alertness. Palmarosa, that has a distinctive aroma of a cross between geranium and lemongrass, helps combat stress and fatigue. The cooling and lively scent of spearmint can be helpful for sluggishness and providing respiratory support.

• 100ml water
  • 2 drops lemongrass/palmarosa
  • 2 drops spearmint
• 200ml water
  • 2 drops lemongrass
  • 4 drops geranium
  • 2 drops peppermint

*You can substitute lemongrass with citronella, palmarosa with geranium, and spearmint with peppermint

Eucalyptus + Sweet Marjoram + Tea Tree

For easier breathing, eucalyptus is a popular go-to as it possesses expectorant properties. Its clean and minty scent is like a breath of fresh air. Sweet marjoram’s beautiful herbal aroma is soothing for anxiety and headaches. Tea tree is excellent for seasonal allergies, congestion and negative moods.

• 100ml water
  • 2 drops eucalyptus/sweet marjoram
  • 2 drops tea tree
• 200ml water
  • 3 drops eucalyptus
  • 3 drops rosemary
  • 3 drops tea tree

*You can substitute marjoram with rosemary

Helichrysum + Rose Absolute + Frankincense

Sunflower is one of the most popular flowers for summer, helichrysum comes from the sunflower family. Its sweet and complex scent is emotionally grounding on top of combating stress and respiratory congestion. The exquisite floral scent of rose can further help with unwinding, creating a peaceful ambience. A bit of spice, frankincense, will balance out the floral intensity from the other two oils, and help quiet down the mind.

• 100ml water
  • 2 drops helichrysum/rose
  • 2 drops frankincense
• 200ml water
  • 2 drops helichrysum
  • 2 drops jasmine
  • 4 drops frankincese

*If you don’t have rose, you can use other floral oils such as jasmine, geranium, lavender or even ylang ylang. You can also omit either floral if you think the blend is too flowery for your liking.

Cypress + Geranium + Bergamot

Cypress is fantastic for addressing restlessness, as well as facilitating deeper and more relaxed breathing. Its herbaceous and woody scent complements the following oils beautifully. Geranium’s rosy and citrusy scent has a positive impact on cognitive function and mood. Bergamot’s unique citrusy aroma alleviates anxiety, tension and insomnia.

• 100ml water
  • 2 drops cypress/geranium
  • 2 drops bergamot
• 200ml water
  • 3 drops cypress
  • 3 drops rose
  • 3 drops orange

*You can substitute geranium with rose or palmarosa, bergamot with orange or other citrus oils

Diffuse these blends for not more than 30-60 minutes at a time with plenty of break time in between. Don’t forget to up your sunscreen game during the summer, apply liberally daily whether indoor or outdoor – to prevent sunburn, reduce and slow down sun damage and reduce the risk of skin cancer. Consult a health care or medical professional if you are pregnant, nursing, or have a medical condition.