Top 5 Essential Oils for Hot Summer Day

Natural ways to stay cool, calm, and collected when it's blazing outside

Let’s be honest—summer can be magical… but also so overwhelming when the heat just won’t let up. Whether you’re stuck in traffic with the AC blasting, tossing and turning through sweaty nights, or just trying to keep your cool (literally and emotionally), essential oils can be the refreshing reset button you didn’t know you needed.

Here are 5 go-to essential oils to help you cool down, feel grounded, and move through these hot months with more ease. And if you're into yoga or want to start slowing down a bit, keep reading—there’s a beautiful way to bring these oils onto your mat, too.

1. Peppermint Oil: Like Air Conditioning in a Bottle

The second you open a bottle of peppermint oil, you’ll feel it—that instant, minty-fresh whoosh that cools you from the inside out.

Try it when:

• You need to wake up, cool off, or snap out of that midday fog.

• Your feet are puffy from walking around all day (peppermint foot soak = game changer).

• You’re stuck inside and need your space to feel less like a sauna.

  
  

How to use it:

Add a drop to a bowl of cold water and swipe it across the back of your neck with a washcloth, blend it into aloe gel and rub onto your temples, or mist it on with rose water for a refreshing face spray. Just be sure to dilute it—peppermint is strong stuff!

2. Vetiver Oil: Cooling and Grounding

Vetiver is the kind of scent that makes you go aaahh. It's earthy, rich, and deeply cooling—almost like laying under a tree with your feet in the grass.

Try it when:

• You’re feeling hot, tired, and totally ungrounded.

• You can’t fall asleep because your body’s still buzzing from the heat.

• You’re craving a calming scent that’s not floral or sweet.

How to use it:

Rub a diluted drop on the soles of your feet before bed, or blend with rose for the dreamiest, most calming perfume you’ve ever worn. It’s also beautiful in a diffuser during wind-down time.

3. Sandalwood Oil: Calm the Heat (and the Mood Swings)

Sandalwood has this incredible way of cooling your body and your emotions. If the heat has your patience running on fumes, this oil can help smooth things out.

Try it when:

• You’re snippy and irritated and don’t even know why.

• You need a scent that grounds you but still smells elegant.

• You want a little moment of peace in the middle of the chaos.

How to use it:

Add a couple drops to a bowl of cool water, dip in a cloth, and press it on your face or back of your neck. You can also dab some on your pulse points or mix with jasmine or rose for a beautiful, calming perfume.

4. Lavender Oil: Summer’s First-Aid Friend

Lavender is basically the all-star of essential oils, and it’s even more helpful in the summer. From sunburns to stress, it does it all.

Try it when:

• You got a little too much sun.

• You’re feeling fried—emotionally or physically.

• You just want your home to feel more peaceful.

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How to use it:

Make a post-sun soothing gel with aloe, chamomile, and lavender. Or take a cool lavender bath (bonus points for dim lighting and silence). You can also diffuse it with a little eucalyptus and chamomile for the ultimate chill-out blend.

5. Clary Sage Oil: Especially If You Overheat at Night

Clary sage is so helpful when heat and hormones are tag-teaming your peace. It’s grounding, cooling, and especially lovely if you tend to feel restless or overheated in the evenings.

Try it when:

• You're tossing and turning at night.

• You're prone to headaches or feel emotionally tense.

• You want to unwind without feeling groggy.

How to use it:

Add a drop to your pillow, blend into a foot massage oil, or diffuse before bed. It also plays well with lavender, vetiver, or chamomile. (Note: skip this one if you’re pregnant!)

Aroma Yoga: Moving with Intention in the Summer Heat

One of the best ways to use essential oils in summer? Aroma Yoga. It’s a gentle practice that blends yoga, breathwork, and essential oils to help you stay centered, calm, and cool—on and off the mat.

Here’s how it works:

• Start class with a drop of peppermint on your palms and take a few deep breaths—it instantly opens up the breath and energizes the body.

• Use lavender or sandalwood during seated poses to help calm the nervous system.

• Vetiver or clary sage is perfect for final rest or breathwork, grounding you into a cool, dreamy state.

Whether you’re in a class or practicing at home, adding essential oils to your yoga creates a deeper connection to yourself and the season. It turns your practice into a personal ritual—one that supports your energy, clears the mental fog, and helps you move through summer with more ease.

Stay Cool, Naturally

You don’t have to suffer through the summer heat—and you don’t need anything fancy. These five essential oils are simple, natural tools that can help you feel better, think clearer, and sleep deeper, all summer long.

Try one. Try them all. Blend them into your daily rituals, your self-care time, or your yoga practice. Your body and mind will thank you.

Got a favorite cooling oil or summer ritual? Tell us in the comments or tag us—especially if you’re rolling out your mat and bringing the oils along. We’d love to see your Aroma Yoga glow.

Want to know more about oils or where to get them? check out https://www.oilandsoul25.com/