Fill your home with traditional scents of the season with our top holiday essential oils, inspired by the aromatic plants used throughout the centuries.
For centuries, aromatic plant material was gathered and brought into homes for holiday celebrations, filling the air with sweet, natural fragrances. Even today, many people like to drape pine branches on the fireplace mantle or fill bowls with cinnamon and clove buds to emit the natural aromas we associate with the holidays.
While these hands-on traditions can be fun, it’s not necessary to use the actual plants to experience their beautiful aromas during a holiday celebration — especially if you're busy navigating other areas of life or prefer a minimalist look in your home. Instead, it's quick and easy to use holiday essential oils that have been extracted from the very aromatic botanicals our ancestors enjoyed once upon a time.
There are a number of specific fragrances associated with the yuletide season that evoke memories of home and family. Explore the best holiday essential oils to enjoy all winter long, plus enjoy our favorite scent combinations to create your own blends.
Bay Laurel (Laurus nobilis)
Bay Laurel is a versatile essential oil for any time of the year. Therapeutically, it offers great support for the respiratory system and can be helpful for allergies, sneezing, and stuffy heads. It works well in diffuser blends because it lends an uplifting spicy note to the aroma and helps keep the whole family healthy while adding a peppery, herbaceous scent to your home.
Blends Well With: Bergamot, Clary Sage, Eucalyptus, Fir Needle, Ginger, Lavender, Orange, Patchouli, and Rosemary.
Cinnamon Leaf (Cinnamomum zylanicum)
No other aroma announces the arrival of the holidays quite like cinnamon. It is a quintessential Christmas scent for essential oils and adds a warming fragrance to the air. It's also strongly antibacterial, making it perfect for diffusing during gatherings of family and friends.
Note: Use sparingly and avoid using near children, as it can be very irritating.
Blends Well With: Anise, Cardamom, Clove, Ginger, Lemon, Orange, and Tangerine.
Cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum)
Cardamom belongs to the same family as ginger and has a warming, sweet, spicy aroma that's perfect for Christmastime. It is traditionally used to help with digestive issues and respiratory congestion. During the holiday season, it can also help increase mental concentration when your mind is busy with long lists of things to do.
Blends Well With: Bergamot, Cedarwood, Cinnamon, Clove, Orange.
Clove Bud (Eugenia caryophyllata)
The wonderfully warm aroma of clove bud is another closely associated with the holidays (think mulled wine). The classic blend of orange essential oil and clove bud in your diffuser will create a welcoming atmosphere that appeals to everyone. This can be an irritating essential oil on skin so keep away from children.
Blends Well With: Bergamot, Lavender, Lavendin, Rose, and Ylang Ylang.
Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia)
Lavender isn’t necessarily an aroma one associates with the holidays, but it can be incredibly calming during the stressful nature of the holiday time and the need to Just. Be. Add it to any of your other holiday blends for a relaxing evening at home or to unwind after a large social event
Blends Well With: All essential oils.
Orange (Citrus sinensis)
Orange offers an uplifting citrus aroma, a favorite of everyone at any age during the holidays. It is guaranteed to brighten even the darkest days of fall or winter.
Blends Well With: Black Pepper, Cinnamon, Clove, Nutmeg, and Cardamom.
Fir Needle (Abies sibirica)
Fir needle, also known as Siberian Fir, has a clean and earthy aroma reminiscent of standing in the woods. If you have an artificial Christmas tree, you can give it the aroma of a real conifer by adding a few drops to a spray bottle of water and lightly mist over the tree. Avoid any expensive wooden surfaces as it may damage the varnish. Fir needle can also be added to a steam inhalation to clear your sinuses.
Blends Well With: Other conifer essential oils as well as Grapefruit, Lemon, Lavender, Rosemary, and Spearmint.
Ginger (Zingiber of cinale)
This warming oil is both sweet and spicy. As a bonus, it's also helpful when you lack motivation and just can’t seem to get anything done on a gray winter day. Historically, ginger has been used to help with digestive issues and is also great for respiratory support.
Blends Well With: Cedarwood, Frankincense, Lemon, Lime, Orange, Patchouli, Sandalwood, and Tangerine.
Frankincense (Boswellia carterii)
For many, frankincense has a religious connotation since it is associated with the birth of baby Jesus. Regardless of your faith, this deeply relaxing essential oil can help open the lungs and deepen breathing, increasing the relaxation response. Frankincense is a wonderful oil to help children sleep and can settle them when they become over excited as often happens during the celebratory season.
Blends Well With: Geranium, Lavender, Lavendin, and Marjoram.
Cedarwood (Juniperus mexicana)
The rich, woody aroma of cedarwood offers an earthy, grounding quality when holiday nerves are stretched by too much activity. Create a relaxing ambiance in the living room by adding four drops of cedarwood oil in your diffuser with four drops of orange and two drops of ylang ylang essential oil. The result is a sweet, earthy, and calm atmosphere that makes you want to snuggle in front of a roaring fireplace.
Blends Well With: Cypress, Geranium, Lavender, Marjoram, Patchouli, and Tangerine.
