Hard as it is to believe, the year is nearly halfway through and with that comes the return of the Summer Solstice.
Here in the Western Hemisphere, the longest day of the year is typically a time of warmth, abundant light, and the general merriment that accompanies the balmy months.
If you have ever wondered what makes the Summer Solstice the longest day of the year, it’s the fact that north of the equator, on that day, the North Pole is angled closest towards the sun and the South Pole is tilted away from it.
This year the Summer Solstice – which goes by a handful of other names in English as well, including both Midsummer and, in a Pagan context, Litha – falls on Sunday June 20, 2021.
If you would like to learn more about the beautiful Pagan sabbat of Litha, be sure to check out my post from last year, 12 Ways to Celebrate the Summer Solstice During Covid 19 (or Anytime).
Like many of us, I have always been a very olfactory-driven person. Scents can conjure up nostalgia, bliss, sorrow, hope, heartache, serenity, and so much more.
Both personally and, to a degree, universally, we associate various aromas with each of the seasons.
Summer, which officially begins with this month’s solstice is chock-a-block with incredible smells!
From the juiciest slices of summertime fruit to freshly mowed grass, heady plumes of campfire smoke waltzing across sizzling hot evenings to the many memorable smells connected to days spent at the beach, summer is an awesome time of the year for our noses.
As much as the natural world has to offer on that front, sometimes we may also want to focus on scents that we can utilize anytime we wish from the comfort of our own home (or, in some cases, while on the go).
In this day and age, there is no shortage of ways to fill our lives with a wide array of marvellous aromas.
By far one of the loveliest and most appealing is the use of essential oils.
As a season that positively teems with greenery, fresh produce, and myriad other fantastic nature-based scents, summer lends itself superbly to essential oils.
Whether you have fifty different vials at home already or are just beginning your journey into exploring the aromatherapy benefits of essential oils, I hope that you’ll find the following suggestions for single-note essential oils appealing.
15 essential oils that are perfect for the Summer Solstice
The following is a selection of fifteen different single-note essential oils (along with one online source for good quality versions of each) that are especially well-suited to the Summer Solstice/Midsummer/Litha.
They are, however, by no means the only scents that work well for this point in the year and I readily encourage you to explore the aromatherapy world of essential oils to discover others that might jive for you during the sunniest months of the year.
1. Cherry
2. Coconut
3. Dill
At first glance dill – like this Dill Essential Oil from Divine Essence – might seem like a somewhat unusual choice for an essential oil – calling to mind as it does such savoury delights as pickles and lox – however this aromatic herb can be surprisingly relaxing and even subtly sweet in a way that suits the heat of summer wonderfully.
4. Grapefruit
5. Honeysuckle
6. Lavender
7. Lemon
8. Peach
9. Pineapple
10. Rose
11. Rosemary
12. Sandalwood
13. Strawberry
14. Thyme
15. Watermelon
Ways to use these Litha (Summer Solstice) perfect essential oils
When dealing with essential oils, it is important to remember that there are some individuals for whom these products are not well-suited (or which are best used after getting the all-clear from a doctor or other health care professional).
These include, but are not limited to, babies and young children, pregnant and breastfeeding women, epileptics, those with high blood pressure, people with highly compromised immune systems, anyone who is extremely sensitive to aromas, and individuals with multiple chemical sensitivity.
As well as – if an essential oil is coming in direct contact with the skin – those with highly sensitive skin and people that are impacted by a wide range of different dermatological conditions.
That isn’t to say that everyone who falls into one of those categories has to eschew essential oils. Certainly not, simply that, again, it is always best to consult a health care professional first if in doubt as to your ability to safely interact with essential oils.
If using essential oils is safely possible for you, the following suggestions for ways to enjoy and benefit from Summer Solstice perfect essential oils are apt to tickle your fancy!
-Anoint spiritually meaningful items: From talismans to poppets, crystals to jewelry, magickal tools to the covers of a grimoire or book of shadows, the sky is the limit when it comes to items that you can anoint with essential oils.
In addition, kitchen witches may wish to utilize (100% food grade safe) essential oils in their culinary magick.
And, by the same token, witches and magickal souls of all sorts are apt to find many different ways to use essential oils in their workings (think sigils, witch bottles, handmade salves and ointments, altar offerings, and much more!).
-Create essential oil blends! Beyond those found in books pertaining to essential oils, the internet is rife with many excellent essential oil blend ideas – including plenty for the Summer Solstice.
Here are some of my favourite Summer Solstice essential oil blend recipes that you can make yourself from various blogs and websites:
–Litha, Summer Solstice Incense and Oil Recipes from Raven and Crone
–Midsummer Faerie Oil from Lupas Lunam Grimoire
–Midsummer Oil from The Darkest of Lights
–Summer Diffuser Blend from Earthroma
–Summer Essential Oil Blends from Today’s Creative Life
–Summer Solstice Oil Diffuser Blend from The Witch of Lupine Hollow
–Summertime Oil Blends from Simply Life
–Summer Solstice Scent Blend from Cauldron and Brew
–Top Ten Summer Diffuser Blends from Kim Reid
In addition to making your own blends, there are many terrific, high-quality pre-made essential oil blends on the market from a wide range of independent, small-scale, and larger companies. Be sure to check out Etsy and Instagram if you’re looking to find some great premade essential oil blends from reputable sellers.
Much as with single note oils, essential oil blends can then be used either on their own (aka, simply sniffed and savoured) or utilized in any of the following ways.
-Apply essential oils to your skin: Begin by diluting any essential oils (single note or blends alike) with a suitable skin-safe carrier oil first.
If you are not certain as to how your skin will respond to a given essential oil or oil blend, do a skin patch test on your inner forearm, wrist, or behind your ear first and wait at least 24 hours to see if you develop a reaction.
Assuming no negative reaction is experienced, apply a larger amount of diluted essential oil as desired on one or more points across your body. If a negative reaction is experienced, cease use of that oil/oil blend at once and, if needed, seek appropriate medical attention.
As well, avoid applying essential oils on or near the eyes, mouth, or ear, to wounded or broken skin, on burns, on acne, on inflamed skin, to fresh tattoos, piecing or scars, or to surgical incisions that are still healing.
Be mindful as well that some types of citrus oil are known to cause photosensitivity when applied to the skin and exposed to sunlight in the following 12 – 36+ hours (some sources cite lime essential oil as being photosensitive up to 72 hours after application).
Thus, if using citrus-based essential oils, you may wish to avoid direct contact with sunlight for at least a day after applying said oil to any exposed areas of skin.
-Create a hot or cold compress: Soak a washcloth or hand towel in water, apply a few drops of diluted essential oil, and place on the desired part of your body. I find essential oil-infused cold compresses to be a stellar way to help take the edge of summer’s scorching heat and highly recommend this approach to others – especially if you live in a home without central air!
-Dress unscented or lightly scented candles with essential oil: A long-time favourite approach of many a witchy and Pagan soul, dressing candles with essential oils (be sure to only use oils that are safe to burn) is a marvellous way to create your own scented candles with ingredients that are meaningful, seasonal, or just plain wonderful smelling.
-Dry evaporation method: Ensuring (test a small amount of the oil or oils to be used in an inconspicuous spot before proceeding) that the use of essential oils will not stain or otherwise damage the material involved, place a few drops of your chosen essential oil or essential oil blend on either a scrap of fabric or a suitable fabric item. For example, a pillowcase or dishtowel.
In addition to scraps of fabric, you can also utilize the essential oil dry evaporation method with cotton balls, cheesecloth, thicker pieces of dryer lint, dried corn husks, hay, and untreated natural wooden beads.
Placing these items in spots around your home and/or vehicle that you wish to infuse with a given aroma.
(Be sure to keep any potentially dangerous materials safely away from animals, babies, and children.)
-Employ essential oils in your household cleaning: Add essential oils to suitable homemade recipes for various household cleaners, such as all-purpose cleaners and glass cleaners.
Combine essential oils with water in a spray bottle and use as a lovely misting spray for vehicle interiors, rooms, carpets, rugs, furniture, and linens (apply first in an inconspicuous area to ensure that the oils do not damage your furnishings, linens, etc).
And consider applying a drop or two of essential oil to unscented dryer sheets or balls to lightly scent your laundry.
-Incorporate essential oils into a bath or shower: Ensuring that any oils that come in contact with your body are skin-safe (combine essential oils with a therapeutic grade, skin-safe carrier oil first, if needed).
Sometimes we need a nice, long soak in the tub or a refreshing shower to help get that feeling of summertime perspiration (not to mention layers of sunscreen) off our skin. Why not jazz up your bath or shower by using one or more of your favourite essential oils or oil blends in your water?
By the same token, you can also inhale essential oils via the steam bowl method, which, as its name implies, involves placing a few drops of essential oil in a bowl of warm water then draping a towel or lightweight piece of cloth over both your head and the bowl as your nostrils lap up the relaxing aroma of whatever oil(s) you’re working with.
-Infuse a plain moisturizing lotion or oil with essential oils: Select a plain, unscented or very mildly scented (i.e., one with notes of honey or oats) lotion or moisturizing oil and mix in a few drops of your desired essential oil or oil blend.
This can be a marvellous way in some cases for those (myself included) with sensitive skin to enjoy scented moisturizers when commercially prepared ones are often unsuitable due to the irritation they may cause.
-Liven up your summertime road trips (or daily commutes): Purchase an essential oil diffuser (such as this Car Diffuser Essential Oil Humidifier) that is created specifically for vehicles and enhance your summertime driving with your favourite scents of the season.
-Make homemade wax melts: Utilize online instructions (such as those from the blog One Good Thing’s Homemade Wax Melt post to help you create your own homemade wax melts that are free from the questionable ingredients found in some commercially prepared versions.
Handmade wax melts make for a fantastic gift year-round, usually keep for ages (assuming they’re not stored in an especially hot area!), and can be scented with a huge range of different essential oils to create single note and blended recipes that are sure to have your nose singing a merry tune in no time!
-Make Soothing Honey Essential Oil Drops: Make sure that any essential oils used for this recipe are 100% nontoxic and food-grade safe (some essential oils are not safe for human or animal consumption; always ensure before creating a culinary recipe that includes essential oils that they are completely safe in this respect), then whip up a batch of these lovely, natural throat aids that Sheryl kindly shared on her site, The Cents’ Able Shopping.
-Use an essential oil diffuser: There are a number of different types of essential oil diffusers on the market today. Prices and quality can vary a bit, but many budget-friendly options still do the job to a tee.
Some of the most common types of essential oil diffusers include ceramic, candle, electric, reed, lamp rings, and ultrasonic options.
Diffusers are a superb way to imbue your home (and, if applicable, magickal workings) with an array of different essential oil scents and blends the whole year through.
They also make for thoughtful gifts at any point in the year.
And speaking of essential oil diffusers, Bren from the blog Bren Did has a fantastic post called 30 Ways to Naturally Scent Your Home Using Essential Oils (Without a Diffuser) in which she provides a ton of great ideas for DIY essential oil diffusers. It’s well worth checking out even if you already own a diffuser!
Essential oils are scentational!
Essential oils are anything but new, however the range of scents available and the popularity of using essential oils have both exploded in recent years. And for good measure!
Whether one simply enjoys and finds positives benefits in the attractive aromas of essential oils or wishes to utilize them for medical (for example, some essential oils have antibacterial and/or antifungal properties), therapeutic, and/or spiritual purposes, essential oils are a handy, fabulous product to bring into your life.
(Important note: always seek appropriate medical care from a health professional for any serious or emergency medical issues before using essential oils. There are a lot of positive things that essential oils can do for many people, however they are not a substitute for more serious medical care/treatment.)
Essential oils can be used year-round. Some scents transcend the seasons and are a great choice irrespective of the month or weather. Others lend themselves superbly to particular chapters of the calendar.
I hope that the 15 summertime essential oils – and delightful ways to use them – featured in this post inspire you to reach for (or begin building up) your own oil collection this summer.
As action-packed and outgoing a season as summer can be, this point in the year also has some wonderful inherent elements of serenity to it.
Essential oils can be a beneficial way to further support relaxation, tranquillity, self-care, and overall wellness during the hottest months of the year.
What scents do you associate most closely with summertime? Do you have any favourite Summer Solstice essential oils? 🍉🌞🍑
I use my essential oils quite often, really enjoyed this informative post Autumn!
That’s awesome, Donna. 🙌 I reach for mine frequently as well and must say, after researching and penning this post, am itching to grow my current collection with a broader range of summertime perfect scents (happily though, care of a gift from my very thoughtful sister a few years back, I already have a bottle of grapefruit essential oil).
🖤 Autumn
I am a very very olfactory driven person, too, and Summer scents are especially evocative for me. Whole chunks of my childhood can be conjured up by the scent of mown grass, or the slightly cloying scent of flowering privet hedge.
Thank you for sharing your insights on this variety of essential oils! xxx
We are so often two peas in a pod, my dear friend. It’s wonderful that you’re an olfactory-driven person as well. 😃
I adore discussing this topic (back, many years ago now, on my retired vintage blog, one of my all-time favourite posts there was a look at several of my most beloved scents) and hope to pen more posts here pertaining to the joys and importance of aroma in our lives.
I’m with you completely regarding the fabulous scent of freshly mowed grass. Few olfactory delights say summer quite like that timeless classic.
Various brands offer essential oils in the scent “fresh cut grass”, including both P&J Trading and Nature’s Note Organic. I haven’t worked with either of them yet so can’t speak to the realism of their takes on cut grass. However, about twenty years ago now (how time flies!) I had a green grass-scented candle from the brand Yankee Candle that did an impressively good job of capturing that beautiful aroma in wax form.
I hope that you have a terrific spring-into-summer week and a gorgeous, relaxing, safe, and happy season (complete with lots of your favourite scents) ahead. 💚
🖤 Autumn
I love sandalwood, lavender and rose – some of my favourite smells. I have a perfume called “Cut Grass” that I bought in an Anthropologie in Seattle 20 years ago – it does smell just like a mowed lawn!
Sadly the summer solstice is forever associated with the loss of my dear friend Karen last year to cancer. We plan to go down to the waterfront on Tuesday and remember her and celebrate her spirit. I may wear my Cut Grass.
Dearest Sheila, I am sorry beyond measure about Karen’s passing and sincerely understand how that heartbreaking occurrence has forever impacted this chapter of the year for you.
Thank you very much for sharing that fact with me. Please know that my heart and ongoing condolences are with you around the clock. 💗
What an awesome selection of summertime perfect scents you listed. I love, love, love the aroma of roses sooo much (and perhaps not surprising then, they rank as my all-time favourite flower 🌹).
Cut grass sounds like such a cool scent for a fragrance. Is it perchance from the brand Demeter? 💚
I well remember when their scents were all the range about 12 – 20 years ago. Happily, the brand is still around and the more I think it about it now, the more I miss owning some of their offerings. I might have to treat myself and pick up a bottle or two again. 😃
🖤 Autumn
Great post Autumn! I love adding essential oils to my unscented body lotion, in my diffusers and for making homemade insect repellent. Thanks for all the different links/recipes.
Take care, Tammy
Thank you very much, dear Tammy. Aww! You are thoroughly welcome. It is my absolute pleasure! 😘
I was rather surprised in penning this post to realize that this was the first time in Witchcrafted Life’s 1.5 years of life that I’d focused an entry solely on essential oils.
Hopefully, it will be one of many here that shine the spotlight on essential oils as time goes on.
Big hugs & the loveliest of summer wishes coming your way!
🖤 Autumn
I love the idea of adding these oils to a cold compress- perfect for the long hot humid days in Mississippi. Thank you for including so many lovely suggestions, Autumn!
Debi
Thank you very much, my beautiful friend. It is my absolute pleasure!
We recently experienced a record-breaking heatwave here, during which I put that very use for essential oil into practice. It was to the skin as an ice-cold drink is to the inner body.
I hope that the temps have been quite as brutal on your end so far this summer, and that your July is going splendidly.
Oodles of hugs,
🖤 Autumn