Create that cozy feeling: Fabulous fall essential oil blends

The best autumn-inspired essential oils

Essential oils can be grouped into categories or “scent families”. When you’re looking for the best essential oil blends for fall, these are the categories that best suit the season:

Citrus oils

The citrus family includes bergamot, bitter orange, grapefruit, lemon, lime, mandarin and sweet orange essential oil. Citrus oils mix well with floral, herbal, spicy and woody oils.

Floral oils

Clary sage, chamomile, geranium, jasmine and lavender essential oil fall into this category and blend well with citrus, spicy and woody essential oils.

Herbal oils

In the herbal oils family, you’ll find basil, cilantro, lemongrass essential oil, marjoram and patchouli. Blend these with woody and spicy oils.

Spicy oils

Spicy oils include the likes of anise, cinnamon, nutmeg, oregano and tea tree essential oil. These scents go well with citrus, floral and woody oils.

Woody oils

This category includes cedarwood essential oil, eucalyptus, frankincense, myrrh and sandalwood. They mix wonderfully with oils from the citrus, floral, herbal and spicy groups.

There are many other oils that fit into these categories, and some even overlap, falling into more than a single category at a time. Don’t think of these rules as hard and fast - there is plenty of room to experiment. Let your nose be your guide as you create fall essential oil diffuser blends that are unique to your liking.

How to use autumn essential oil blends

There are a few different ways that you can use your fall essential oil blends, and the way you incorporate them into your home or life is completely up to you. Some people prefer to use a diffuser, while others love using them in massage oils or in their body products.

If you’re using a diffuser, always check the instructions before starting to experiment with autumn essential oil diffuser blends. You may, for example, need more or less of a particular oil because of the size of your diffuser.

In addition to diffusing, you can use your favorite fall essential oil blends in your bath, as a massage oil, in a hand or body lotion and as a room or pillow mist.

Just remember to always dilute essential oils properly using a carrier oil before they come into contact with your skin. If you’ve created an autumn essential oil blend as a bath or massage oil, or for use in a cream or lotion, it’s a good idea to do a small patch test on the inside of your arm first. This allows you to check if you have a reaction, as the skin here is sensitive and will react to any irritations.

If you’re making a blend and don’t have all the essential oils listed in a recipe, there’s no need to worry. You can try substituting an oil in the same category, or do some research and find out which oils work well in place of one another.

Essential oil blends for fall

There’s something for everyone in this list of recipes. Trust your nose and take in the wonderful fragrances you create while you benefit from all the other advantages essential oils offer emotionally, mentally, physically and even spiritually.

The citrus spark

To create one of the best essential oil blends for fall, you’ll need to combine 4 drops of sweet orange with 3 drops each of lemon essential oil and fir. With its zesty scent, citrus is an instant pick-me-up, and it also has a soothing warmth that makes you think of summer. Add the warm, woody scent of fir and you’ve got a wonderful energizing combination.

Come on in

The combination of earthy, spicy and sweet in this autumn essential oil diffuser blend will make your space seem welcoming and snug. You’ll need to put 3 drops of bergamot, 3 drops of fennel and 2 drops each of clove and frankincense essential oil into your diffuser to create it.

Fall into place

When things are feeling a little topsy-turvy, make letting go a little easier with this fall essential oil diffuser blend. Mix 3 drops each of peppermint essential oil and pine with 2 drops of rosemary. Finally, add 1 drop each of eucalyptus and tea tree and wind down.

Woodcutters winter is coming

With fireplaces blazing across the country during this time of the year, it’s no stretch to associate the smell of newly-cut wood with autumn. Now, you can enjoy this warming woody smell even if you’re not lucky enough to be curled up in front of a blazing fire. Combine 3 drops each of lemon and juniper berry oils with 2 drops each of cedarwood and patchouli to make this glorious autumn essential oil blend.

Kiss summer goodbye

This fall essential oil blend is a wonderful way to get those citrus oils busy boosting your mood. Mix up 3 drops each of fennel, grapefruit essential oil, lemon and Scotch pine, and welcome autumn in style.

Mountain mornings

This essential oil blend for fall will bring to mind a wisp of fresh mountain air on a bright, cool day. Take 1 drop of rosemary essential oil and add 3 drops of Scotch pine, 2 drops of cedarwood and 4 drops of lemon. Soothing yet energizing, you’ll be ready to take on the crisp mornings with a smile.

Spice things up

Pumpkin spice may be a trendy autumn smell, but this blend will never go out of style. The soothing scent of vanilla pairs wonderfully with clove and cinnamon in this recipe. Combine 5 drops of vanilla with 2 drops of orange essential oil and 1 drop each of cinnamon and clove. Relaxing never smelled so good!

Stop SAD in its tracks

For some of us, the shorter daylight hours and sudden drop in temperatures can bring on Seasonal Affective Disorder or a lower mood. For an uplifting fall essential oil blend to banish the thought of winter blues and calm you simultaneously, mix 5 drops of bergamot essential oil with 3 drops of lavender and 2 drops each of lime and patchouli.

A walk in the woods

If you’re hankering to get outside but are stuck behind closed doors for a while, this essential oil blend for fall may be just what you need. You’ll need 3 drops each of frankincense essential oil and fir and 2 drops each of bergamot and juniper berry. Revitalizing and reinvigorating, this blend will make you feel brighter and lighter, even if the weather is dark and gloomy.

Cozy comfort

This fall essential oil diffuser blend is so comforting you’ll feel like you’re wrapped in a soft blanket sipping your favorite cup of tea when you smell it. Mix 3 drops each of orange and patchouli with 2 drops of cinnamon and 2 of black pepper essential oil. Then all that’s left to do is snuggle in.

Watch out winter

This is one of the best essential oil blends for fall as it has powerful immunity-boosting benefits, and it does an excellent job of purifying the air around you. Mix 2 drops each of cinnamon, clove, eucalyptus essential oil, orange and rosemary. You’ll start feeling better the minute this mixture hits your nasal passages.

If you’re missing any of the essential oils in the recipes above that you want to try, try substituting with another oil in the same scent family.

Blending essential oils by note

When you’ve gained some confidence creating the best essential oil blends for fall, don’t be afraid to expand your horizons and experiment with mixing oils together. Perhaps you’ve gone through all these recipes and you’re looking for some new inspiration.

If that’s the case, consider making fall essential oil diffuser blends by grouping essential oil fragrance notes together. This is a very simple method of mixing oils, and you’ll soon be creating your next favorite blend. Essential oils evaporate at different speeds, so creating autumn essential oil blends with various notes will give you an aroma that changes over time. It’s much the same way that your aftershave or perfume alters the longer you wear it.

The oil fragrances that fade the fastest are the top notes. Grapefruit, lemon, neroli, peppermint and orange all fall into this category. These will evaporate in an hour or two.

Next up are the middle note essential oils. These include clary sage, geranium essential oil, juniper, lavender and tea tree. These will last for between four and six hours.

Cedarwood, frankincense, patchouli, vetiver and ylang ylang essential oil are classified as base notes, and these will last between six and eight hours.

When you make your autumn essential oil diffuser blends by note, the first scents you’ll notice will be the lighter top notes. The base notes will ground your mix and ensure it lasts longer, and the middle notes will pull the two together.

Fall essential oil blends FAQs

Which essential oils blend well together?

You’ll find broad guidelines as to what oils go well with one another, but it also comes down to what you like and what blend of scents affects you in the most beneficial ways.

How many essential oils can you blend together?

There’s no real limit, with many autumn essential oil blends containing six or more oils. Too much mixing and mingling should be avoided, however.

What are essential oil blends used for?

Whatever you need them for. You can use them to create an energizing fragrance or a relaxing one. There are blends that promote health and well-being, mental clarity, sleep and so much more. You may even just like the scent they give off. The possibilities are endless.

What happens if you don't dilute essential oils?

You can cause burning and irritation to your skin, and you could also inflame your mucous membranes and respiratory tract. Essential oils are pure and potent, which is why they always need to be diluted before being used on the skin.

Do essential oils cancel each other out?

This can occur, but very seldom. Generally, oils that pair well together complement one another and don't cancel out a scent.