Can you believe that school days are almost upon us (yet) again?

Essential oils can make the whole process easier. As a busy mom myself, I’ve seen the benefits that oils can bring to my young students while studying at home, ranging from boosting concentration during homework to reducing stress while studying for a big test.

For a nervous kiddo on the first day back (or the eighty-seventh day back…) a wearable diffuser with a recipe designed to reduce anxious feelings can give you the edge you need to help your little ones fight the school blues.

I’m not just going to be talking about essential oils beneficial for young students. I’ve been on my essential oil journey for a long time now, so I’ve also got some useful advice for college students—because if you’re one of them reading this now, you know you need every helping hand you can possibly get.

Pro Tip for Students Using Essential Oils

In just a second, we’ll discuss the five most useful essential oils (and oil blends) for back to school. At the risk of sounding like a teacher, I’d just like to quickly remind you that organization for your oils is really, really important, especially during the first few hectic weeks of getting back into the educational groove.

If you haven’t already, pick up a storage box for your oils and put it on your desk or wherever you study regularly. When your essential oils are visible in front of you and easily accessible, you’re more likely to use them.

#1 – Wake Up Call: Citrus and Mint

Whether you’re 8, 18, or 28, there are just those days where the last thing you want to do is get out of bed and go to class. A cheerful blend of your favorite citrus and mint essential oils can give you a much needed pick-me-up, and quickly too. Cheerful oils to blend and diffuse include some of the following mainstays of any serious oilers collection.

The citrusy:

• Lemon
• Lime
• Grapefruit
• Sweet orange

The minty:

• Peppermint
• Spearmint
• Eucalyptus

This can be all it takes to brighten the morning of a student of any age, but if you’re in college we won’t blame you for having a cup of coffee too. These essential oils are also great for those late night studying sessions when you need to stay sharp.

#2 – Protective Immune-Booster Essential Oil Recipe

Ah, school days as a mother. The smiling faces, the projects, the feeling you and your child get after acing that tough test.

The runny noses. The coughs that never seem to be covered. The thought of your child touching fifty doorknobs before they gave you a hug.

Do I really even need to explain why a protective essential oil blend is so important? If you’re a college student, it might even be more important, especially if you live in a dormitory. Can anyone say “shared bathroom”?

Here’s the oils you need:

• Rosemary
• Eucalyptus
• Cinnamon
• Lemon
• Clove

You will also need a carrier oil for dilution. For this blend, I prefer jojoba or sweet almond oil.

For a ten milliliter bottle, try the following recipe:

• 5 drops rosemary
• 10 drops eucalyptus
• 10 drops cinnamon
• 20 drops lemon
• 20 drops clove
• Fill the rest of the bottle with your carrier oil of choice.

Easy! The best part is that these oils can be used topically (use a roller bottle), in your diffuser, or even in DIY spray-cleaners (nice to wipe down shared desks).

#3 – Stress Relief During Finals Week

Did the phrase “finals week” freak you out a little bit?

Never fear, lavender is here!

I talk about lavender as a stress solution pretty often on the Aroma Outfitters blog because it works. (No, really, here’s a little science to back me up.) If I ever have a surplus of any one essential oil on hand, it’s almost always lavender, because we go through it faster than just about any other oil.

Having a bit on-hand in a roller bottle or in your car vent diffuser can be exactly what you need to bring yourself back to a more peaceful state of mind. On the way to a test that you’re feeling a little worried about? Diffuse or apply a little lavender and you’ll have an easier time getting into a state of calm, which is exactly what you (or your young student) needs for success.

Final Thoughts: Stay on the Ball

I might not have always thought it at the time, but my school days gave me the opportunity to have some of the most valuable experiences of my life, both inside the classroom and out. Whether you’re a student yourself or you want to give your kids the best possible chance for success, do yourself a favor and incorporate essential oils into the studying process.

Just as a quick reminder before I wrap things up: don’t forget that autumn is right around the corner. Be sure to check out our mega-post about our favorite autumn essential oil recipes.

If you’re a student or the parent of one, we’d love to hear about your essential oil experiences. Comment below and let us know which oils and blends have worked for you.

Good luck this semester!