My essential (pun intended) oils for traveling

I love essential oils.

I love traveling.

So if it’s a quick weekend trip to Boston to see family or 2 weeks in Southeast Asia, I know I’m bringing some oils with me. These are my favs as they have multiple benefits and fit into a small pouch. No diffuser needed, these oils can be enjoyed topically (applied to the skin) or in some cases internally (ingested). And of course they smell amazing right out of the bottle.

Balance - Earthy and grounding! I love this on the soles of my feet before a yoga practice or behind the ears before a flight. I enjoy a drop on the inside of my mask to relax and settle in. Balance is lovely at the end of the day to chill out.

Deep Blue - The go-to for sore muscles. I have used this blend after walking miles of city streets in Granada, Budapest and Buenos Aires, hiking mountains in Patagonia, Alaska and Montana, on yoga retreats in Nicaragua, West Virginia and Vermont as well as surfing in Costa Rica and Indonesia. If I know I’m going to be active, which is pretty much every trip but Turks & Caicos this past December, Deep Blue is coming with me. I use is solo or mix a few drops with lotion and apply to sore areas. It can also help with headaches when applied to the temples, just be careful to not get any in your eyes.

DigestZen - Have you heard the story about the yoga teacher who almost popped her pants while on the back of a scooter with a surf instructor in a remote area of Indonesia in Winter 2019? Wellllll, that’s my story and if it wasn’t for DigestZen, the tale would have ended very differently! I was experiencing some, ahem, digestive discomfort in Jogjakarta which only got worse when we hit the beach for a surf lesson. With the help of DigestZen topically on my belly + some time in the shade with lots of water + an incredibly kind husband who got me additional medication despite the pharmacist not speaking any English, I was able to make the most of a rough situation. DigestZen is a clutch oil when traveling, especially when you’re eating completely random / foreign food from a roadside Warung in Java. This oil is also available in a softgel.

Frankincense - The king of oils, of course this is coming with me! Perfect to add to tea or coffee, it’s ideal for grounding and centering. Frank is helpful to apply to temples or wrists before takeoff to settle any nervous feelings if you’re not a fan of flying. Layer with Lavender and Peppermint around your hairline to tame a headache / fatigue.

Grapefruit - My go-to for making my own N/A cocktails on the road. I add 2 drops to club soda with a slap of cranberry and a twist of lime. If you do enjoy some libations, have a few drops of Grapefruit in a big glass of water before bedtime to help ease a hangover. I have tested both methods and indeed they are lovely. Be sure to not use this oil topically if you’ll be out in the sun as it causes photosensitivity.

Lavender - The Swiss army knife of oils! If I could bring only 3 oils with me, this would be one of them. I use lavender to help with travel stress (I was practically bathing in it during the missed flight > lost luggage fiasco while traveling in Vietnam in the winter of 2016) This oil is especially helpful with sunburn or any minor cuts / scratches. I tested this while jumping from the top of the snorkeling boat during a yoga retreat in Key West in March 2021. Confirmed…lavender FTW with both the sunburn + cuts! If you’re staying in a fancy hotel with a nice bath tub, add a few drops to the warm water for a relaxing soak after a day of site seeing.

Lemon - I add this to hot water in the morning for a little detox. I got some craft honey (sure, that’s a thing) while in Asheville in October 2019 + the lemon for a lovely morning pick-me-up. And if I’m traveling to a sunny spot, I might add a drop to my conditioner to lighten my hair a bit. Just be careful to not get any lemon on your scalp as this citrus oil (like grapefruit) causes photosensitivity .

OnGuard - Traveling can bring you into contact with a whole lot of grimmy surfaces, like every “bathroom” in India during a yoga retreat in February 2020. OnGuard, as an oil, sanitizing spray or wipe is designed for these spaces. After using the bathroom on a plane, I spray my hands back at my seat. I’ll wipe down a surface in my hotel or hostel. And I can add a drop of OnGuard to hot water for added immune benefits. Pairing this oil with an acupuncture treatment within 48 hours of traveling has been a game changer for me and I highly recommend it!

Peppermint - Time to wake up! After a nap > espresso / coffee, I dab a bit of Peppermint behind my ears to get moving to take on the night life in a new city. Also clutch for headaches (with Frank + Lavender as mentioned above), tummy trouble if you don’t have DigestZen and nausea in a car / bus / train. This was a great help while in the sketchiest “cab” of my life on a winding road in Indonesia en route to a sketcher ferry to get to Gilly T island. A few drops on your wrist or behind the ears will cool you off after a day at the beach. And if you find yourself without a tooth brush or gum you can add a few drops of Peppermint + OnGuard to water for a quick mouthwash + breath fresher.

These are the oils I’m packing for Costa Rica this week and I know I will use each and every one of them. Do you your essential oils while traveling? If so I’d love to know your favorites and how you incorporate them.

Interesting in getting your own oils? You’re welcome to purchase a kit here or send me a message and we can customize your selections based on your unique needs. Travel safely my friends, it’s a weird and wonderful world out there!