4 Essential Oils for Summer

I have so many posts lined up in my brain that I actually had a little difficulty deciding which one to post tonight. I can’t remember the last time I had this problem, so woohoo! ::::dances a little blogging jig::::  I guess this is what happens when you go more than a month without writing anything at all.

It’s June, and summer is officially upon us. I know I’ve posted about essential oils several times here, and some of you find it interesting and others couldn’t care less. For those of you in the latter group, many apologies. But I think that for summer in particular, there are a few essential essential oils (see what I did there?) that everyone—and I really mean every household—should have on hand.

LAVENDER: My poor daughter got EATEN by mosquitoes on Friday afternoon. She came home from daycare with no fewer than 10 bites on her left arm, shoulder, neck, and face. Typically, mosquitoes are only a real nuisance in the evening hours so I don’t even bother to send bug spray to daycare, but this year they are terrible. It was the middle of the day! Nora seems to attract mosquitoes anyway (I tell her it’s because she is so sweet) and she has pretty significant reactions to the bites, too. The poor thing gets big red welts at the spot of every bite, and they itch her so bad that she can scratch them until they bleed. Thankfully, we discovered the power of Lavender essential oil last summer. When bug bites do occur, Lavender helps soothe the skin and relieve the itch.

We all know we should be wearing sunscreen at all times, but unfortunately, sunburns still happen on occasion. Lavender is good at helping to soothe all skin irritations, including sunburn (as well as any other burns you may get—campfire, sparklers, grill, etc.). Mix a few drops of Lavender with some aloe vera gel and apply to burned areas.

Bonus points for the fact that it smells good and is really calming to the mind and body!

TERRASHIELD: To prevent those pesky bug bites in the first place, this is our second summer using TerraShield, doTERRA’s Repellent/Outdoor Blend. You guessed it—it’s an insect repellent. This all-natural formula of citronella, cedarwood, and 11 other essential oils can be used on all members of the family. DEET (the active ingredient in many commercial repellents) is a pretty dangerous chemical, and cannot be used on young children. Last summer, I felt completely comfortable spraying my homemade spray (using TerraShield) all over both of my kids, including their heads and faces. I routinely used it on myself as well and it seemed effective every time. It’s also super affordable—at wholesale pricing (which I am happy to extend to you if you contact me), TerraShield is only $9.50 per bottle. You can make several bottles of the homemade bug spray (about 5-10 bottles depending on the ratio that’s effective for you) with just one bottle of the oil blend. Great deal, if you ask me.

PEPPERMINT: Whether sitting at the beach, mowing the lawn, watching a soccer game, or sweating your way through a family barbecue, have you ever wished for a quick and refreshing way to cool down? Peppermint essential oil can be used to make a cooling face and body spray to do just that. Peppermint oil naturally contains menthol, which provides a cooling sensation. Simply add a few drops of Peppermint to a spray bottle of distilled water. Store in the refrigerator when not in use. When needed, shake well and then mist the solution on your skin (make sure to close and/or completely avoid your eyes!).

LEMON: If you follow this blog regularly or follow me on Instagram, you likely know that I am a HUGE fan of Lemon essential oil. It can be used countless times in life. For summer, one useful tip is to use Lemon essential oil as a fruit and veggie wash. It’s best for fruits and veggies with skin (like grapes, apples, cucumbers, zucchini, carrots, etc.). You can do the washing a few different ways—by soaking, or with a spray. There are also numerous recipes out there for it, utilizing distilled water, white or apple cider vinegar, salt, baking soda, etc. All “normal,” natural ingredients that are cheap and can be purchased in any grocery store.

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These are just a few of my favorites for summertime. If you happen to be interested in trying any of them for yourself, I’m placing my monthly order within the next few days. As a wholesale account member, I get 25% off of retail prices, and I am happy to extend that discount to you to try the essential oils I’ve come to love so much. Contact me at heatherdriveblog at yahoo dot com ASAP to get in on the order. HAPPY SUMMER!