Back to School Stress? Relief in 3 Easy Aromatherapy Blends

Back to School Stress-Reducing Aromatherapy Blends

At the transition between Summer and Fall is a season I like to call the Back to School season! It’s those few stress-filled weeks of establishing new routines, meeting teachers, and organizing school supplies. Some of us are parents with kids returning to school. Others are college students heading off to a semester of higher education. All of us, adults and kids, can benefit from having a few stress-relieving aromatherapy blends on hand.

In this Post:

How to survive the Back to School season with a positive mindset? The positive energetics in these THREE aromatherapy blends can help make the season stress-less.

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⭐️Stress-Less Back to School Diffuser Blend Recipe

• 4 drops Sweet Orange essential oil (Citrus x sinensis)
• 2 drops Frankincense essential oil (Boswellia carteri)
• 1 drop Atlas Cedarwood essential oil (Cedrus atlantica)
• 1 drop Black Spruce essential oil (Picea mariana)
• 1 drop Cardamom essential oil (Elettaria cardamomum)

🌺See my Recommended Suppliers below

Diffusing an energetically uplifting aromatherapy blend at the beginning of every day can help the whole family start out on the right foot. Having a stock bottle on hand makes it easy to incorporate essential oils into your Stress-Less morning routine.

⭐️Stress-Less for KIDS! A Back to School Aromatherapy Inhaler Blend Recipe

An inhaler is the easiest ways to always have a supportive aromatherapy blend available when it’s needed. After weeks of summer fun, heading back to school can be especially stressful for grade-schoolers. So, I created this blend just for our K-6 kiddos. (And, hey, I personally like this one for myself, too. So no shame if you make one for yourself!)

• Aromatherapy inhaler & wick
• 6 drops Sweet Orange essential oil (Citrus x sinensis)
• 2 drops Atlas Cedarwood essential oil (Cedrus atlantica)
• 2 drops Frankincense essential oil (Boswellia carteri)
• 2 drops Vanilla oleoresin (Vanilla planifolia)

Remember to stick a label on right away!

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This is a beautiful inhaler to use just before heading off to school. It’s sweet and fresh and familiar. It will help even out energy and be a calming, yet uplifting, way to start the school day.

🛑NOTE: Many schools are hesitant to allow children to use aromatherapy inhalers on school grounds. However, you may be able to work with your child’s school/teacher to have it on-hand should your child need an energetic reset during the day.

I like using disposable aromatherapy inhalers for kids. First off, they’re inexpensive, so if they get lost it’s no big deal. And secondly, they come in so many fun colors! Replace at least monthly.

If you’re making inhalers for yourself, or another adult, try reusable inhalers that can easily be refreshed with the aromatherapy blends you’ve created.

Why These Essential Oils?

The vast majority of us, even young children, deal with some form of stress on a daily basis. Studies show that chronic stress can contribute to an inability to focus, difficulty with memory recall, increased irritability, and social detachment.(1)

Aromatherapy can promote feelings of well-being and positivity. The essential oils in these Stress-Less aromatherapy blends

• provide an uplift to emotions,
• help calm the mind,
• and support a healthy immune system.

Sound good? Yep, I think so, too.

🌺See my Recommended Suppliers below

Sweet Orange (Citrus x sinensis)

Like a glass of freshly squeezed OJ with breakfast, Sweet Orange is the star of these blends.

While it has a sweet, happy aroma, Sweet Orange is one of the “calming” citruses. I find it a lovely citrus aroma to star in morning aromatherapy blends. It provides a gentle lift to the spirit without being overly energizing.

[For comparison, Lime (Citrus x aurantifolia) is a highly energizing citrus essential oil!]

Sweet Orange is very rich in the phytochemical (plant chemical) d-limonene. This is what gives citrus essential oils their recognizable aroma. d-limonene is also wonderful for easing anxiety.

“(Sweet Orange has) a feeling of jollity about it. It seems to carry with it some of the sunshine needed for its ripening.”(2)

Patricia Davis, Aromatherapy An A-Z (2005)

Kids really love the aroma of Sweet Orange. It’s definitely one to bring a smile to their face.

Frankincense (Boswellia carteri)

The aroma of Frankincense is rich, with the resinous quality of freshly cut wood. It also has an exotic fruitiness that’s great with citrus aromas.

I love combining Frankincense with the softer citruses, especially Sweet Orange, Blood Orange (Citrus x sinensis sanguinelli), Mandarin (Citrus reticulata), and Bergamot (Citrus bergamia).

Inhaling Frankincense as a volatile oil or incense, expands the lungs and slows breathing. It’s intensely purifying to energy and spirit, making it a wonderful essential oil for stress blends.

Black Spruce (Picea mariana)

If you want a gentle conifer oil to help open the breath and help clear the mind, Black Spruce is a good choice! Its green, fruity aroma can be penetrating. So, we’re using just a touch in this aromatherapy blend to enhance the fruitiness of the Sweet Orange.

Black Spruce is one of my Desert Island Picks and I use it a lot in my day-to-day blends. A single drop on the floor of your shower, away from the water stream, is great for a decongesting steam!

Atlas Cedarwood (Cedrus atlantica)

Atlas Cedarwood has a sweet, smoky, somewhat balsamic (think balsamic vinegar) aroma. It has a breath-opening quality that helps stimulate the mind and uplift the spirit.

Closely related to the Cedar of Lebanon mentioned in the Bible, it’s been used since ancient times in medicine, incense, perfumery, and cosmetics. In fact, even today, Atlas Cedar is used in Tibetan incense.

Cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum)

One of the classic “sweater weather” essential oils, Cardamom contributes a rich warming presence to aromatherapy blends. It has a sweet-spicy aroma that many find energetically refreshing.

“Cardamom is included in the Tibetan preparation ‘Aquilaria A,’ whose medicated fumes are inhaled for stress-related conditions including…anxiety (and) nervous tension.”(3)

Julia Lawless, Aromatherapy and the Mind (1994)

I don’t generally recommend Cardamom for close inhalation for small children. The aroma and chemical makeup (specifically the phytochemical 1,8-cineole) can be a bit too powerful for their little systems. In a diffuser blend in small amounts, however, it adds a roundness and warmth that even children appreciate.

Vanilla planifolia

Not a true essential oil, Vanilla is an oleoresin (oleo = oil) extracted from the pods using an alcohol solvent or carbon dioxide (CO2).

With is sweet, comforting aroma, Vanilla is a beautiful ingredient to include in aromatherapy blends for children. It adds a cozy familiarity that’s like a warm hug in every sniff—just the thing for a little extra comfort as they head back to school.

The combination of Vanilla with one of the gentler citrus oils, like Sweet Orange, Mandarin, and Clementine (Citrus clementina), produces a delightful creamsicle-like aroma!

⭐️Bonus Bedtime Aromatherapy Blend

How you wrap up the day is just as important as how you start it! There’s nothing nicer than ushering in a restful sleep with a softly scented cream.

• 2 ounce glass or PET plastic jar
• 2 ounces unscented lotion
• 6 drops Vanilla oleoresin (Vanilla planifolia)
• 8 drops Sweet Orange essential oil (Citrus x sinensis)
• 2 drop Frankincense essential oil (Boswellia carteri)

Combine all ingredients in the jar. Stir really well with a glass stir rod or spoon handle. Then tighten down the lid and shake vigorously to ensure it’s well-mixed. Finally, affix a label!

Apply a small amount to hands and body at bedtime. My kids have always loved back rubs at bedtime. This Stress-Less Bedtime Lotion is lovely way to incorporate a sleep-supporting, stress-reducing aromatherapy blend into a child’s bedtime routine.

Wishing you a great start to a wonder-filled school year!

Mom’s Recommended Suppliers

You can find all of the essential oils used in these Stress-Less aromatherapy blends in Mom’s Favorites for Stress & Sleep on Amazon. Also check out Mom’s Favorite Aromatherapy Containers & Tools and Skin Care Storage on Amazon.

For a broad selection of sustainably sourced essential oils, be sure to visit Mom’s trusted suppliers below. Here are the suppliers I use for my Stress-Less blends:

• Atlas Cedarwood essential oil (Cedrus atlantica):
  • Plant Therapy, organic (Direct and Amazon)💛
  • Aromatics International, organic.

• Black Spruce essential oil (Picea mariana):
  • Plant Therapy, organic (Direct and Amazon)💛
  • Aromatics International, organic.

• Cardamom essential oil (Elettaria cardamomum):
  • Aromatics International, organic
  • Plant Therapy, conventional (Direct and Amazon).

• Frankincense Carteri essential oil (Boswellia carteri):
  • This is a precious species, threatened by over-harvesting, choose your supplier wisely
  • Aromatics International, organic💛
  • Plant Therapy, organic (Direct or Amazon).

• Sweet Orange essential oil (Citrus x sinensis):
  • Aromatics International, organic
  • Plant Therapy, organic (Direct and Amazon).

• Vanilla planifolia:
  • Plant Therapy Vanilla Botanical Extract, for diffusion & skin care (Direct and Amazon)
  • Edens Garden Vanilla oleoresin, conventional, thick, for skin & lip care (on Amazon)
  • Aromatics International Vanilla oleoresin, organic, very thick, for herbal infusion.

• Aromatics International for ethically wildcrafted, organically sourced, and Certified Organic essential oils (Mom’s AI favorites)
• Plant Therapy for Certified Organic and sustainably sourced, conventional essential oils (Mom’s PT favorites)
  • Also at Plant Therapy on Amazon
• Edens Garden (on Amazon) for sustainably sourced, conventional essential oils (Mom’s EG favorites)

This information has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. It is for educational purposes only.
All recipes provided are for personal use and are not designed for re-sale or large-scale manufacturing.
Please consult your doctor, naturopath, herbal practitioner, or other qualified health professional for medical advice and before starting any herbal regimen, particularly if you are pregnant or nursing, have any existing medical conditions, or are taking any medications.