There's always a point, usually about halfway through packing, when I proudly announce that this year I'm travelling light. Half an hour later, my other half Stephen is wrestling to shut the suitcase while I'm trying to justify why I absolutely need six different skirts, three books I'll never read and an emergency stash of herbal tea bags.
Some things, however, genuinely do earn their place and for me that's always been our little aromatherapy travel kit.
Whether we're heading off for a weekend away or a longer adventure, there are a handful of essential oils that always make it into our luggage. They take up hardly any room, yet they can make such a difference to those little travel niggles that seem to creep in along the way. Some of them are absolute essentials for my carry-on luggage as they help with flight anxiety and travel nausea, while others are there for the landing on the other side to help with headaches, bumps, scrapes and insect bites.
So what are my top picks for travel essential oils, for dealing with delayed flights, stuffy cabins, winding coach journeys, hotel rooms that are either far too hot or arctic cold, and that first night's sleep where your brain is convinced every unfamiliar sound deserves your full attention? Well, here are the full list and I hope you get to take advantage of them in the same way that I have for many years:
Lavender – for switching off
If I could only take one essential oil away with me, it would probably be lavender.
Whether it's pre-flight butterflies, trying to unwind after a busy day exploring or settling into an unfamiliar hotel room, lavender has an incredible ability to help create a sense of calm. And it's also an absolute marvel for sunburn, bruises, cuts and scrapes AND aching muscles. It offers an all round antidote to so many things that can come up on hols and I never leave home without a bottle.
Peppermint – the travel lifesaver
Peppermint is the one I always find myself reaching for during the journey.
It's wonderfully fresh if you're feeling tired after an early start, brilliant for those stuffy plane cabins, and many people find it really helpful if they're prone to motion sickness or travel related headaches (a drop neat behind each ear lobe or at the base of the neck, is great for headaches - top tip!). It's also great to keep your spirits up during a long and painful drive.
One of my favourite little travel hacks is simply putting a drop onto a tissue and keeping it on hand so that if nausea or tiredness kick in I can take a few slow breaths. It's amazing how refreshing something so simple can feel after a few hours in transit.
Tea Tree – the holiday first-aider
Tea Tree is one of those oils I always pack just in case. It's a brilliant all-rounder to have on hand when you're away from home and works beautifully with lavender to help repair any kind of breakage in the skin whether that be and insect bite or a little cut or scrape from exploring. It's also great for to help keep hands feeling fresh after a day of travelling - simply add a couple of drops to your palms rub together then rinse with hot water. Tea Tree is wonderfully versatile. Its naturally cleansing properties have made it a staple in our cupboards for years.
It's the essential oil I hope I won't need to use too oftern... but I'm always glad I packed.
Lemongrass – for long summer evenings (and mozzies)
The fragrance of Lemongrass essential oil always reminds me of warm holidays, sitting outside with a glass of wine as the sun goes down. I love the bright, lemony scent of Lemongrass and it's traditionally used to help discourage insects, so I apply a few drops of the oil to discreet areas of clothing to deter insects from coming near (NB I wouldn't advise you to use neat on white muslin or linen as the oil is quite yellow and can stain)
Even if the mozzies ignore it (they can be rather determined!), it still smells absolutely gorgeous and instantly makes everywhere feel a little more summery.
An airport routine I'd like to share
One thing I never fly without is a little rollerball that lives in my handbag from the moment we leave home.
Simply mix:
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10ml jojoba oil
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3 drops Lavender (calming and soothing)
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2 drops Frankincense (helps deepen the breath and soothe the nervous system)
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1 drop Sweet Orange (uplifting and bright, optimism in the face of anxiety)
- 1 drop Cedarwood (grounding and serene, combats ruminating anxious thoughts)
I roll it onto my wrists while I'm waiting at the gate or just before boarding.
Is it a miracle cure? No but it does absolutely encourage me to stop, breathe deeply and remind myself that the holiday has already started and that the flight will be OK (of course it will, it's the safest form of transportation!). If i'm wanting to feel especially calm and relaxed instead of making a mini blend for travel i'll just pop one of our Serenity pulse roll-ons into my bag instead. You can find them here.
Our Serenity blend is the perfect antidote to nerves for the anxious flyer (that would be me) as the blend is composed of 6 essential oils that encourage feelings of calm, resilience, grounding and relaxation. Our mini sets include a travel sized mist too, which you can spritz directly onto your skin if the flight is long haul and your skin is feeling deyhdrated. You can find them here
Tiny rituals that make travelling feel easier
Over the years I've realised that aromatherapy isn't really about carrying lots of different products. It's about carrying a little familiarity with you - three or four mini bottles of oils, a pulse point mini for the journey, possibly a mini mist that you love with a familiar fragrance that makes every hotel room feel a little more like home. Perhaps a calming body oil after a long day of sightseeing or beach dehydration.
They're tiny moments, but they gently remind your mind and body to slow down and enjoy where you are, and for me that's what holidays are all about.
So wherever you're heading this summer, from a Cornish staycation to somewhere much further afield, I hope you find time for a few little rituals along the way.
From all of us here at Team Bloom, have a wonderful holiday—and don't forget to leave a tiny bit of room in your suitcase for the essentials, the aromatherapy ones that will make every moment of travel that much lighter and brighter.