20 Best Essential Oils for Back to School

Got kids back in school? Check out the best essential oils to help ease the transition, calm first day jitters, help focus during study time and much more! Great for preschool, elementary, junior high, high school and college kids.

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It’s back to school season and with all the excitement of a new school year, it can be overwhelming for both kids and parents to get back into the daily routine. Essential oils are natural solutions for focus and attention, calm, immune support and so much more. Check out this guide for the best essential oils for back to school for younger children going off to preschool and elementary school, as well as older kids going to high school and college.

Best Essential Oils for Back to School

Learn more about my favorite uses for essential oils to get kids ready to go back to school. I don’t use any essential oils though. I use therapeutic-grade essential oils from Young Living. Learn more about Young Living and why I recommend it.

1. Lavender

Lavender essential oil is excellent for promoting a good night’s sleep. Add a drop of Lavender on a pillow to promote relaxation. It’s also excellent for calming those first-day-of-school jitters or feelings of overwhelm come around. Diffuse Lavender oil in the mornings to help. You can also make your own bedtime essential oil blend with this recipe.

2. Cedarwood

Cedarwood essential oil is another essential oil that’s excellent for calming and sleep. It pairs well with Lavender in the diffuser for a great blend that smells good too (so it’s an easy replacement for those plug-in air fresheners). Cedarwood is also great for focus and concentration during study time. Apply it topically diluted with some carrier oil. It has an earthy scent so add in Lavender too.

3. Orange

Orange essential oil is a citrus oil that has a clean, fresh scent that’s great to pair with Cedarwood to promote restful sleep, or first thing in the morning for a refreshing scent for early mornings. Add to a diffuser and enjoy.

4. SleepyIze

SleepIze is an essential oil blend made with Lavender, Geranium, Roman Chamomile, Tangerine, Bergamot, Sacred Frankincense, Valerian, and Rue essential oils. This is a pre-made roller bottle already diluted with a carrier oil so it’s ready to use for kids. Like the name implies, it’s excellent for promoting sleep at nap time or bedtime. Roll on the bottle of the feet, the spine, and even the back of the neck.

5. Frankincense

Frankincense is an ancient essential oil that has been used by cultures around the world for thousands of years. It has a grounding effect that can help with better focus. during study hours. This oil can be expensive, so rather than diffuse it I recommend applying topically to the skin diluted with a bit of carrier oil like coconut oil. Apply to the temples and back of the neck.

6. Lemon

Lemon essential oil is another citrus oil that has a bright, clean scent. Like most citrus oils, Lemon oil can help with focus and alertness, as well as elevate mood and energy levels. Add into the diffuser and enjoy the fresh scent.

7. Rosemary

Rosemary essential oil has shown to boost performance on cognitive tasks, in particular for speed and accuracy. In a study, researchers found that study participants who worked in a cubicle with rosemary diffused in the room showed improvement in working memory, executive function and sustained attention. Add a few drops of rosemary to a diffuser during homework time or to prep for a project to help with cognitive function.

8. Brain Power

Brain Power is focus blend of essential oils high in sesquiterpenes – like Royal Hawaiian Sandalwood, Blue Cypress and Frankincense. It helps with clarity and concentration. Apply a few drops topically diluted with a carrier oil like avocado oil to the temples and back of the neck.

9. GeneYus

GeneYus is a blend of essential oils made with Sacred Frankincense, Idaho Blue Spruce, Palo Santo, Melissa, Cedarwood, Blue Cypress, Galbanum and Angelica that’s already been pre-diluted for use with kids. Just apply topically as needed to help with focus, concentration, and clarity. It’s great to use during homework time.

10. Clarity

Clarity is an essential oil blend made with Basil, Rosemary and Peppermint that can help with mental clarity and focus. This is another one that can be used in the diffuser or topically diluted with a carrier oil to the temples and the back of the neck. Check out more essential oils for focus and concentration.

11. Motivation

Motivation is an essential oil blend made with Roman Chamomile, Spruce and Lavender that smells amazing in the diffuser. This trio of essential oils really helps to start the day refreshed and rejuvenated.

12. Valor

Valor is an essential oil blend made with Spruce, Blue Tansy, Frankincense and Rosewood that can help with normal anxious feelings of a new teacher, new class, new school, or first-day-of-school jitters. Apply to wrists, bottom of feet or diffuse the night before or before school to help calm a racing mind and ease into a positive school routine.

13. Peppermint

Peppermint essential oil is excellent for supporting healthy digestion. Just be sure you use an essential oil that is safe for internal or dietary use. This is one of the many reasons I only use Young Living as they have a whole line of essential oil for dietary use called Vitality oils. Peppermint can be strong for a young students to use internally, but you can use it topically in roller bottle. Just add 1-2 drops to a 5 ml roller bottle and add sweet almond oil or your favorite carrier oil. Roll the blend around the belly. For high school or college students, Peppermint oil can be used internally in water, juice, or even in a vegetable capsule (add 2-3 drops) and then fill with carrier oil. Peppermint can be added to warm water or tea as well. Just remember a little goes a long way. One drop of peppermint oil is the equivalent of 26 cups of peppermint tea.

14. DiGize

DiGize is an essential oil blend made with Tarragon, Peppermint, Juniper, Fennel, Lemongrass, Anise and Patchouli. Like Peppermint, it’s excellent for healthy digestion. It has a strong flavor but works well to help ease upset, bloating, gas, or eating foods that don’t agree with you (like too much fried food or sugar-laden snacks). Add a drop to juice or water or take in a vegetable capsule (1-2 drops) with carrier oil.

15. TummyGize

TummyGize is an essential oil blend made with Ginger, Tangerine, Fennel, Spearmint, Peppermint, and Cardamom that’s already pre-diluted in a roll-on bottle ready for topical use. It helps to ease feelings of tummy discomfort, especially for younger children.

16. Thieves

Thieves is an essential oil blend made with Clove, Cinnamon Bark, Lemon, Eucalyptus and Rosemary. It can help to support a healthy immune system. Like Peppermint and DiGize, be sure you’re using a reputable brand like Young Living that’s made for internal or dietary use. Most essential oils are not. Add a drop to a spoonful of raw honey or make a wellness tea with hot water, raw honey and a drop of Thieves to drink in the morning. It can also be used in the diffuser as well (it smells like cookies baking in the oven).

Keep lunch boxes, desks, chairs and other surfaces clean with the help of Thieves Household Cleaner. Dilute as needed and clean without the harsh chemicals of conventional cleaners.

17. SniffleEase

SniffleEase is an essential oil blend made with Eucalyptus Blue, Palo Santo, Lavender, Dorado Azul, Camphor, Myrtle, Marjoram, Cypress, Black Spruce and Peppermint Essential oils. It’s already pre-diluted with coconut oil in a convenient roll-on bottle. Like the name suggests, this oil blend is great for the sniffles. Apply to the chest or throat for relief.

18. Peace & Calming

Peace & Calming is a blend of essential oils made with Tangerine, Ylang Ylang, Blue Tansy, Orange and Patchouli. Like the name implies, it helps to promote feelings of peace and calm when things feel overwhelming. Apply topically diluted with a carrier oil or add a 6-10 drops in the diffuser.

19. Tranquil

Tranquil is an essential oil blend made with Lavender, Cedarwood and Roman Chamomile in a convenient roll-on bottle. Kids can take it to school or use on the go. It has a comforting aroma that’s perfect for the first day of school too. Apply to the wrists or back of the neck as needed. Keep this roll-on in your child’s backpack to use before school.

20. Stress Away

Stress Away is a blend of essential oils made with Balsam Copaiba, Lime, Cedarwood, Ocotea, Vanilla and Lavender essential oils. This blend is already pre-diluted in a roll-on bottle that can be used on the go for kids and busy moms who need relief from a busy school day.

Ways to Use Essential Oils

There are three key ways to use essential oils. If you’re new to using them, be sure to check out my Beginner’s Guide to Essential Oils.

1. Aromatically

Aromatherapy is one of the best ways to use essential oils. Inhaling the aroma of essential oils is one of the fastest ways to reach the limbic system in the brain, and can have a powerful affect on mood modulation, stress, focus, alertness, and concentration.

Inhale the oil directly from the bottle: simply smell it! You can rub a drop or two on your hands and cup your nose or just inhale directly from the bottle.
Diffuse the oils with a diffuser which disperses the oils in a micro-fine vapor throughout the air. A diffuser does not heat the oils which can damage their therapeutic properties. Be sure to buy quality essential oil diffusers that have a product warranty (like this) and works well to diffuse essential oil. Add anywhere from 6-12 drops of essential oils (depends on the size of the diffuser) to a diffuser and add to the water line.
Add essential oils to a spray bottle with water and a bit of witch hazel (to keep the water sanitized longer). Use it as air fresheners, room sprays, or even to spray bedding before bedtime. Typically for an 8-10 oz spray bottle, you could add 10-15 drops of essential oils, 1 tsp of witch hazel and fill with water.
Add a few drops of essential oils to a diffuser necklace or bracelet that made with leather, felt or clay pendants. It’s a great way to diffuse on the go.

2. Topically

Essential oils are rapidly absorbed by the skin, which is not surprising considering the skin is the largest organ of the body. In fact, one of the best places to apply essential oils is the bottom of the feet – which have over 2,000 pores and some of the largest pores on your body. Look on the essential oil bottle for suggested dilution ratios. And remember to always dilute when using essential oils for kids. Find out how to dilute essential oils for kids and which essential oils are safe for kids.

When using essential oils topically on the skin, consider using them with carrier oils – which are fatty or nutty oils like coconut, almond, sesame, jojoba, avocado, or even olive oil. Look for organic and cold-pressed oils. They help to dilute essential oils to make it easier to use on a larger area of the body (like the back) and help to time release essential oils to make them last longer. Carrier oils are also suggested for use on kids.

3. Dietary

Essential oils can be taken as a dietary supplement, but this is where it really depends on the quality of the essential oil. Remember look at your product labels. Young Living is the only brand of essential oils I use to take internally.

You can get benefits from ingesting these Young Living essential oils by putting them in an empty vegetable capsule and taking them as a pill. Other ways to ingest oils are to add a drop to your water, or even your cup of tea. You can cook with the oils and add them in your food.

Can I Make My Own Blends?

Certainly! Here are suggestions on combinations that work well:

Sleep: Lavender, Cedarwood, Roman Chamomile, Valerian
Grounding & Calming: Frankincense, Cedarwood, Vetiver, Spruce, Pine (tree oils)
Focus & Homework Time: Frankincense, Cedarwood, Rosemary, Basil, Spruce, Peppermint
Healthy Digestion: Peppermint, Spearmint, Ginger, Fennel
Energetic (great for mornings): Lemon, Orange, Bergamot, Peppermint, Rosemary

I recommend making roller bottles or essential oil diffuser blends. With a 10 ml roller bottle, add about 10 drops of essential oil total and then fill with your favorite carrier oil. This will make the roller bottle pre-diluted and ready to use. Check out 8 Best Essential Oils for Kids for a guide on dilution strength and essential oil safety for kids.

To use in a diffuser, add about 5-10 drops of essential oil (depends on the size of the diffuser) and fill to the water line. Place diffusers in a room where kids will be to get the best benefit. You can leave windows and doors open for ventilation too.

Before you get started with essential oils, be sure to do your own research and consult with a health care professional as needed. I’m not a doctor or health care professional. But I am an avid researcher and have used essential oils (only the Young Living brand) for my own family.

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