When the temperatures rise, so do our stress levels. Heat, humidity, and busier schedules can leave you feeling drained. But summer also brings an opportunity, a chance to reset and reconnect with yourself through small, intentional rituals. One of our favorite ways? Aromatherapy.

Let’s break down the best essential oils for summer, why they’re so effective, and how to use them to feel cool, focused, and refreshed all season long.

☀️ What Makes a Great Summer Scent?

When it comes to summer aromatherapy, not all scents are created equal. The best essential oils for summer are ones that feel:

• Cooling or energizing
• Citrusy and uplifting
• Clarifying for the mind and breath

🌿 1. Peppermint: The Ultimate Cool-Down Oil

If you're looking for the most refreshing scent in your summer lineup, peppermint essential oil is your best friend.

Why it works:

Peppermint contains menthol, which gives it that instant cooling sensation. A study showed that menthol activates cold-sensitive receptors in the skin, making you feel cooler, even if your body temperature hasn’t changed. ¹

Extra perk: It also boosts energy, alertness, and focus. If summer has you feeling sluggish, peppermint is your go-to.

💧 Try It: Our Vitality blend combines peppermint with lemongrass and orange for an energizing morning shower that sets the tone for your whole day.

🍋 2. Lemon: Sunshine in a Bottle

When life gives you lemons… inhale. 🍋

Why it works:

Lemon essential oil is known for its bright, clean scent that’s perfect for summer. Research has shown that lemon oil can reduce feelings of anxiety and even improve cognitive performance.² It’s also known for its antibacterial and air-purifying properties, making it ideal for sticky, humid days.

💧 Try It: Our Clarity blend includes lemon and eucalyptus, a duo that helps clear mental fog and revitalize your senses.

🍊 3. Grapefruit: A Natural Mood Booster

Grapefruit isn’t just for breakfast, it’s for boosting your mood, too.

Why it works:

This sweet, citrusy oil is known for its energizing and antidepressant effects. One study found that inhaling grapefruit essential oil significantly decreased stress in participants.³ If your summer’s feeling chaotic, a burst of grapefruit can bring you back to center.

💧 Try It: Grapefruit adds the perfect touch of lift in our Clarity blend, ideal for afternoon slumps or those slow summer mornings.

🌾 4. Lemongrass: Fresh, Herbal, and Grounding

Lemongrass smells like a clean summer breeze, and works like a charm when you're mentally scattered.

Why it works:

Lemongrass oil has natural anti-inflammatory and anxiety-reducing properties. A 2011 study showed that it significantly reduced stress when inhaled, making it an ideal choice for calming nerves before social gatherings or winding down after a busy day.⁴

💧 Try It: Lemongrass joins peppermint and orange in our Vitality blend for a well-rounded, energizing shower experience.

How to Use These Oils Without Any Fuss 💧

The easiest way to bring aromatherapy into your day, without oils spilling in your bag or needing a diffuser, is with shower steamers.

At Onsen & Bloom, our shower steamer pouches are designed to help you embrace aromatherapy through your senses, especially in those small everyday moments, like your morning or post-beach shower.

Simply place one steamer in the corner of your shower, breathe deep, and let the essential oils do the rest.

🌸 Final Thoughts: Summer Scents That Support You

Whether you're hitting the road, planning BBQs, or just soaking in the longer days, aromatherapy can be a simple yet powerful way to reset. Let scents like peppermint, lemon, grapefruit, and lemongrass help you stay energized, focused, and present.

Because summer isn’t just about doing more. It’s about feeling good while you do it.

Sources:

1. Eccles R. Menthol and related cooling compounds. J Pharm Pharmacol. 1994 Aug. 
2. Kiecolt-Glaser JK, Graham JE, Malarkey WB, Porter K, Lemeshow S, Glaser R. Olfactory influences on mood and autonomic, endocrine, and immune function. Psychoneuroendocrinology. 2008 Apr.
3. Komori T, Fujiwara R, Tanida M, Nomura J, Yokoyama MM. Effects of citrus fragrance on immune function and depressive states. Neuroimmunomodulation. 1995 May
4. Costa CA, Kohn DO, de Lima VM, Gargano AC, Flório JC, Costa M. The GABAergic system contributes to the anxiolytic-like effect of essential oil from Cymbopogon citratus (lemongrass). J Ethnopharmacol. 2011 Sep