Aromatherapy On the Go: Traveling With Essential Oils
Have you ever thought about taking your essential oils with you on-the-go?
Wondering if that’s safe or even allowed when it comes to airplane regulations?
In today’s guide, we’ll be answering those questions and more as we discuss hitting the road with your essential oils.
Traveling with Essential Oils: Here’s What You Should Know
If the thought of taking your essential oils with you when you travel has crossed your mind before, you’re probably wondering:
Is It a Good Idea?
It’s not only a good idea, it’s a smart idea to take your essential oils with you when you travel!
Here are six reasons why you should never leave them at home for your vacations or work trips:
#1: Crowded places can leave you susceptible to catching airborne illnesses. Essential oils may give you a natural immunity boost and may provide you with a shield of protection on crowded airplanes, trains, buses and more.
#2: Vacations are fun... unless you have motion sickness. Warm destinations are perfect for all-day boat trips, ziplining, roller coasters and high-altitude hiking -- except if you suffer from motion sickness. Pack the right essential oil and your queasiness may not ruin your plans.
#3: Outdoor activities make you a magnet for bug bites and skin rashes. From camping to dining al fresco, you can help eliminate this irritating situation by adding essential oils to your packing list.
#4: Essential oils may provide natural relief for headaches, digestive upsets and congestion you might find yourself with during your travels.
#5: Essential oils may boost your mood and energy levels, making them perfect for long, exhausting travel days. A peppermint essential oil may be just what you need to keep going.
#6: Essential oils can help you wind down after a busy day of traveling, sightseeing or work conferences. And if the thought of getting on a plane has you stressed out and anxious, you can also turn to oils for a relaxing respite.
Now that you know why it’s a good a idea to take your oils on-the-go, you’re probably thinking:
Is it Really Safe to Travel With Essential Oils?
Since most essential oil bottles are glass, you may be scared to pack them in your suitcase or overnight bag without worrying about the bottles breaking and spilling all over your clothes.
In most cases, it’s perfectly safe to travel with essential oils as long as you take proper precautions, such as:
Never leave essential oils in your car. Extreme temperatures in either direction (hot or cold) may destroy the potency of your oils and potentially shatter the glass bottle.
Follow any TSA regulations for liquids for domestic or international travel. For a quick refresher, the current regulations include:
This means your essential oils must be in bottles smaller than 3.4 oz and all of them must fit in a clear, quart-sized bag that can be easily removed during the security check.
The good thing is that you can find essential oil bottles that are small (such as 0.5 oz), so you can bring more than one.
Avoid using your oils at your seat or around other people. It’s generally not a good idea to break out your essential oils in a crowd, because other people may be sensitive to the aromas you choose.
Instead, use your oils before you board the plane or train to avoid carrying the aroma throughout such close quarters.
Learn how to pack your essential oils safely. While you can stow your essential oils in your checked luggage, it’s not exactly the best idea.
After all, baggage handlers are more concerned with quickly getting your bag in and out of places than protecting what’s inside your luggage.
Be sure to pack your essential oils with care, and place a small plastic bag over whatever you decide to pack them in just in case anything breaks.
If your bottles break while baggage handlers have possession of your luggage and the aroma is suspicious to them, you’ll have a much bigger problem on your hands.
Best Ways to Take & Use Your Essential Oils on the Go
Whether you’re road tripping by car or flying across an ocean, consider using a carrying case.
A case like this one allows you to take multiple oils and only a small amount of each one, so you can maximize how many you bring along.
And when you’re ready to start using your oils, don’t forget to pack your essential oil diffuser to expand your oil’s reach.
After all, if you’re driving, you won’t be able to sit there holding a bottle while you clutch the wheel too.
And while you can apply oils topically, the smell may not last as long or be as strong as when you diffuse it.
Fortunately, there are two types of oil diffusers that work perfectly on-the-go:
- One that can be plugged into your car, a computer or any other USB port
- And this one that goes into a wall outlet
By diffusing your oils, you’ll ensure everyone in the room or car can enjoy the benefits of the oil, not just the person holding the bottle (assuming people want to partake, of course).
If you decide to apply your oils topically, be sure to mix a few drops with a carrier oil to ensure you don’t irritate or burn your skin due to the high potency of the oils.
7 Best Essential Oils to Take With You
These oils may be able to provide you with on-the-go relief:
- Peppermint essential oil might give you an energy boost and may even clear up congestion, which is useful if you’re sensitive to the greenery in a new town.
- Grapefruit also has the same uplifting properties as peppermint, so you may be able to boost your mood while also reducing both mental and physical fatigue.
- Eucalyptus may also help combat tired and sore muscles due to a busy day of sightseeing or hiking.
- Frankincense may be able to provide your irritated skin with natural relief. This one may also help allergy sufferers too.
- Tea tree oil may give you relief from itchy bug bites and other skin issues.
- Lavender. Use this oil when you need a sense of vacation relaxation.
- This calming sleep blend may be useful when you find it hard to fall asleep in a bed that’s not yours, or when you need to take a power nap in a small car or plane seat.
Start Traveling with Essential Oils Today
Now that you know all the ways essential oils may be able to make your traveling and adventuring better, and you understand how to safely do so, you’re ready to select your favorite oils, pack them up and head out to your next Instagram-worthy destination.
To check out all the essential oils mentioned in this guide, view our collection of 100% pure oils, oil blends, and more!