One of the best calming essential oil blends combines lavender, bergamot, and clary sage to create a relaxing aroma that helps you slow down during busy summer days. These oils are incredibly calming and can be incorporated into your diffuser, roller blends, and daily self-care rituals.
Summer should be fun and laid back.
And yet somehow, it becomes one of the most hectic and busy times of the year. Travel, time spent with loved ones, longer summer days filled with activity, and simply packing so much into a jam-packed itinerary – it becomes difficult to take a breath. Over the last several summers I have found myself needing even more of those moments of slowing down than during any other time of year.
Calming essential oils come into play here.
While a favorite diffuser blend will not make your day less busy, it can provide peaceful moments that can be accessed throughout the day. Whether it's a morning roller blend before you leave the house or a soothing diffuser recipe that you run after dinner, some aromas have a way of making an environment feel calmer and more welcoming.
Over the years, I have tried many different calming essential oil blends, but I keep coming back to the same few oils that I feel grounded, centered and very easy to work into daily life.
Why Calming Aromas Matter During Busy Summer Days
Summer runs on a different clock than the rest of the year.
The days are long, the social schedule can get overwhelming, vacationing needs planning, and school is out. Even just the act of everyday life seems to get harder when it’s hot.
One thing I’ve realized is that relaxation doesn't always come to us naturally.
You need to create it.
For me, that often begins with a scent. Just walking into a room that is fragrant with lavender or bergamot can change the entire feel of the space. Nothing in the room has changed, but the experience of the room has.
That’s one reason why essential oils for relaxation remain so popular. They are a way to bring moments of peace into your daily life with very few changes.
The trick is incorporating them into your routine by diffusing, wearing a rollerball, or even using a room spray during busy moments at work or while home schooling. They're just a little added bonus that makes your world just a bit calmer.
Best Calming Essential Oils
Not all essential oils feel relaxing. Some essential oils feel vibrant and invigorating; some feel cool and refreshing. But when I’m wanting to use relaxing essential oils in my diffuser recipes, I typically gravitate toward these.
Lavender
Lavender has got that reputation for good reason.
This light floral scent is versatile, widely available, and will combine well with just about any other essential oil.
If I’m creating a calming diffuser blend, lavender is almost always the place that I start.
One thing I really like about the lavender essential oil aroma is its adaptability. It will work with morning diffuser blends, evening diffuser blends, etc.
Bergamot
If lavender is the queen of calming oils, bergamot is what I use the most in the summertime. Bergamot essential oil aroma is uplifting but not over stimulating at the same time. It has a gentler side compared to some of the very energetic citrus oils and therefore is quite relaxing to diffuse. In the summer, I would reach for bergamot more readily than the stronger heavier oils as it would be lighter for the warmer season. Lavender and bergamot still make one of my top favorites for an everyday aroma.
Clary Sage
When I'm looking for something more grounding and deep I love to go with clary sage and frankincense. A good quality clary sage essential oil blend will smell herbaceous, earthy and grounding, without being over-powering.
Frankincense
Frankincense will bring warmth and depth into your blend. It is a powerful essential oil with a rich smell and works great for bedtime practices when you are trying to unwind and get rid of all the demands from the day. I love to mix clary sage and frankincense to make my favorite grounding essential oils.
Quick Comparison of Calming Oils
|
Essential Oil |
Aroma Profile |
Best For |
|
Lavender |
Soft, floral |
Everyday relaxation |
|
Bergamot |
Bright, citrusy |
Daytime calm |
|
Clary Sage |
Herbaceous, earthy |
Grounding routines |
|
Frankincense |
Warm, resinous |
Evening rituals |
7 Calming Blends to Try
These are formulated for regular ultrasonic diffusers and roller bottles. Scale up or down for your particular diffuser size and for your personal preferences.
Daytime Calm Roller
• 3 drops Bergamot
• 2 drops Lavender
• 10 mL carrier oil
This blend is something I try to always keep with me on a busy workday. It is not overly sleepy while being grounded and simple.
Afternoon Reset Roller
• 2 drops Bergamot
• 2 drops Clary Sage
• 1 drop Lavender
• 10 mL carrier oil
Perfect for those afternoons when your to-do list seems to grow faster than you can complete it.
Focus and Breathe Roller
• 3 drops Frankincense
• 2 drops Bergamot
• 10 mL carrier oil
Something comforting but light and easy to use for the day.
Evening Wind-Down Diffuser Blend
• 4 drops Lavender
• 3 drops Bergamot
I've tested countless evening blends over the years, and I keep returning to this combination because it feels calm without being overly heavy.
Sunset Relaxation Blend
• 3 drops Lavender
• 2 drops Frankincense
• 2 drops Bergamot
I really love this one for quiet evenings at home.
Quiet Reading Blend
• 3 drops Frankincense
• 3 drops Lavender
This blend would be wonderful enjoyed in a comfy armchair with a good book.
Weekend Unplug Blend
• 3 drops Clary Sage
• 2 drops Bergamot
• 2 drops Lavender
Perfect for unwinding and embracing an unstructured day.
How and Where to Use Calming Essential Oils
My favorite part about summer wellness essential oils is the versatility.
In a Diffuser
One of the simplest ways to use essential oils is to add them to a calming diffuser blend and let it fill your home with fragrance. I often use oils in my living room while I work during the day, or in my bedroom at night.
As a Roller Blend
I love roll-ons because of how easily they travel! A little glass roller bottle can slip into your purse, backpack, or even your desk drawer.
During Quiet Moments
Some of my favorite aromatherapy rituals are surprisingly simple.
A diffuser running while I read.
A roller blend before a long drive.
A little quiet time before the rest of the house wakes up.
Those little rituals are often the ones we grow to appreciate most.
For ideas to incorporate aromatherapy throughout your day, Plan Your Whole Day With Essential Oils offers plenty of ideas for morning, afternoon, and evening routines.
If you are curious to try new combinations of oils, Diffuser Blend Recipes include combinations for every season and mood.
Safety and Dilution
Using essential oils safely is just as important as choosing the right blend.
Always Dilute for Topical Use
It is important that essential oils be diluted into a carrier oil when applied topically. Some common carrier oils:
• Fractionated Coconut Oil
Watch Sun Exposure with Bergamot
Bergamot can make skin more sensitive to sunlight and may cause irritation or burns on sun-exposed skin. Since several of these are daytime summer roller blends, use bergapten-free (FCF) bergamot on skin, keep treated areas under clothing, or apply roller blends where the sun won't hit — and avoid direct sun on the area for several hours after applying.
A Note for Pregnancy
Clary sage is generally advised against during pregnancy (it's traditionally associated with labor). If you're pregnant or breastfeeding, skip the clary sage blends and check with your doctor before using essential oils.
Patch Test New Blends
It's also worth remembering that even “mild” oils can irritate people.
I always do a patch test on a small section of skin when I'm first creating a new roller blend.
Less Is Often More
When you're first starting with essential oils, one of the most common errors is using far too much oil. You only need a few drops.
Daily Use
Many people enjoy using calming essential oils daily as a part of personal self care. As always, remember to always use caution as directed on individual product instructions and stop using if any irritation develops.
Final Thoughts
Summer keeps getting busier that part's not changing. But carving out small pockets of relaxation is easy, and that's the point.
Whether it's a roller blend, a diffuser running after dinner, or both, the right aroma turns an ordinary moment into a more intentional one. For me it always comes back to lavender and bergamot versatile, easy to blend, and good in any season. Sometimes a few drops in a diffuser is all it takes to slow down a bit.
