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How to Make an Aromatherapy Travel Kit with Essential Oils and Hydrosols
Get out your notebooks, a cup of coffee, or lemon verbena iced tea, whatever you’re drinking, as we talk about making an aromatherapy travel kit.
I gave a lot of thought to this episode before recording. Using aromatherapy while you’re traveling is a big topic, and at first, I thought, “Gosh, there are so many essential oils and hydrosols that are useful!” I realized I was making it harder than it needed to be. I thought, “Why don’t I just talk about what I do when I travel?!”
What is an Aromatherapy Travel Kit?
Definition
I’ve already shared in other episodes how much I love making aromatherapy kits for myself and as gifts. Here’s my definition of an Aromatherapy Kit:
An Aromatherapy Kit typically includes a selection of premade blends or essential oils in very small bottles and jars, along with other materials that support the purpose of the kit. For example, a green cleaning kit might include healthy sprays and scrubs, brushes, and gloves.
What’s in My AromatherapyTravel Kit?
I always travel with an Aromatherapy Travel Kit which is the same items 90% of the time depending on where I’m going and what I’m going to be doing when I get there. I’m going to give you the top seven or eight things I put in my kit, then offer some recommendations of what those products should be made of, and let you decide what you want to put into your own, personal travel kit.
Gifts and Usage
If I’m giving the aromatherapy kit as a gift, or if others besides myself are going to be using the kit, I include a printout of what is in the kit, the purpose of those items, and how to use each product. Here’s a podcast episode and blog post I created on How to Make a College Survival Aromatherapy Kit.
In a minute, I’ll share with you 7 or 8 blends or products that I typically include in my own aromatherapy travel kit. The recipes for each of the blends can be found on Patreon.
Traveling with Your Aromatherapy Kit
Keep Your Kit With You!
Personally, my I like to keep my kit with me when I travel. That’s kind of the whole point, isn’t it? I keep it in my handbag or, if I’m flying, in my carry-on or backpack. It’s especially important to keep it with you when you don’t have access to your luggage because it’s been stowed out of sight, as happens with bus and airplane travel, and sometimes on trains.
The 3-1-1 Rule for Air Travel with Essential Oils and Hydrosols
If I’m flying, I follow the official 3-1-1 rule set by the airlines to avoid problems with security:
- 3: Each container must be 3.4 ounces (100 milliliters) or less
- 1: All containers must fit inside a single, clear, quart-sized, resealable bag
- 1: One person
In truth, 3.4 fluid ounces (100 mL) is the official limit, but I think in terms of 3 fluid ounces. I carry liquids in travel-size 2-ounce bottles because they are easy to find, and that’s generally all I’m going to need.
Types of Containers for an Aromatherapy Travel Kit
When possible, I use PET plastic bottles and jars. PET (polyethylene terephthalate) is a clear, strong, and lightweight plastic known for its durability and is commonly used for health and beauty products.
- Avoid Glass: Glass is heavy and can break.
- Silicone Containers: While popular, I don’t trust how silicone reacts with essential oils. Use them for unscented cream or oils if you prefer.
Keeping It Simple
I bring as many pre-blended products as possible. Essential oils are versatile, so you can make a blend for one thing and use it for multiple purposes. I like to pre-formulate my products and keep things simple.
If I think there’s a chance anything will leak, I wrap it in a small plastic bag. I sometimes use those small bags from supermarkets for loose fruit and vegetables; they are lightweight and thin.
Suggested Products for an Aromatherapy Travel Kit
Essential Oil Nasal Inhalers
Nasal inhalers are versatile and easy to make. I always carry at least two essential oil nasal inhalers in my travel kit. If you’d like a pdf of the recipes below, they are available for Aromatic Wisdom Insiders on Patreon.
- Stress-Relief and Get-Some-Sleep Nasal Inhalers: For stress relief and aiding sleep, my inhaler contains lavender and other calming essential oils.
- Energizing Nasal Inhaler: This inhaler helps with jet lag and energizes me in the morning. I use Rosemary, Eucalyptus and sometimes Spike Lavender.
- Nasal Inhaler for Immunity: Essential oils high in monoterpenes, especially d-limonene are great for boosting immunity! The citrus oils are always a great choice.
Hydrosols
I always carry a hydrosol for your face and hands, which could be a single hydrosol or a blend. Hydrosols are aromatic waters from plant distillation and are gentle for enclosed spaces like airplanes.
- Peppermint Hydrosol: Refreshing and cleansing.
- Cucumber and Lime Hydrosols: Refreshing and soothing.
Pain-Away Body Cream
A pain relief body cream is useful for sore necks, feet, and legs. Use a base of unscented lotion or cream and add essential oils.
- Trauma Oil: For hardcore movement, consider adding Trauma Oil with essential oils like Wintergreen, Birch, or Black Pepper.
Antibacterial Hand Cleanser
An antibacterial hand cleanser made with essential oils and aloe vera gel is handy when you don’t have access to water.
- Ingredients: Aloe vera gel and essential oils. Avoid using alcohol as it dries the skin.
- Buy True Aloe Vera Gel: Purchase from reputable suppliers like Mountain Rose Herbs.
Frankincense Hydrosol for the Face
A two-ounce misting bottle of Frankincense hydrosol is great for refreshing and toning your skin, especially when you travel.
Three Single Note Essential Oils
Carry Lavender, Tea Tree, and Helichrysum essential oils. They cover various needs and are versatile.
Additional Tips
- Travel-size Diffuser: Consider a travel-size diffuser with a pre-made essential oil blend.
- Improvisational Diffuser: Lay a wet washcloth with essential oil across the air register in hotel rooms to add both humidity and aroma.
Smell My Life
How about now we transition into what I like to call …Smell My Life! *Children Cheering*
Toward the end of each episode of the Aromatic Wisdom Podcast, I like to add a little segment called ‘Smell My Life’, in which I share how I recently used aromatherapy in my real life. Though I do that throughout the entire episode, there’s always a little bit at the end where I say, “Hey, this thing came up and this is how I addressed it with aromatherapy!”
A couple of days ago I saw a massage client who’d had three questionable spots removed from her back by her dermatologist. He wanted to test them for skin cancer.
This left me faced with three small wounds on her back. Honestly, I don’t like to work on skin with an open wound because massage can introduce bacteria to the area; but these wounds were scabbed over. They were also red and redness can sometimes indicate setting in, not necessarily, but I always put a little tea tree on an area of possible infection, just to be safe.
So while we were talking, I asked her to turn around with her back facing me and lift her shirt. I put one drop of Tea Tree essential oil on the three scabbed areas.
During the massage and added Tea Tree again and avoided those three areas and put a towel over them when I pulled up the draping (top sheet) to cover her. Before she left my massage studio, I had her lift her shirt again and I put a couple drops of tea tree on again. Might sound like overkill, but it’s also client care. I really love caring for people; my clients, my friends, my family. My client told me she had Tea Tree essential oil at home and I instructed her to have her husband repeat what I had done.
So very simply, I used Tea Tree essential oil, neat to address three small topical wounds. I could have used lavender, but Tea Tree is what I had, and what I felt intuitively was that she needed.
So, there it is. That was this week’s smell my life.
Resources and Links
- Other Examples of Aromatherapy Kits:
- How to Make a Nasal Inhaler
- Blank Nasal Inhalers
- 5 Ways to Use Aloe Vera Gel as an Essential Oil Carrier
- Peppermint Hydrosol Benefits and Uses
- Frankincense Hydrosol Benefits and Uses
- Lavender Hydrosol Benefits and Uses
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The Recipes
You can find the recipes for the products mentioned in this episode on Patreon.
If you’d like to comment, ask a question, or make a suggestion, text me by going to AromaticWisdomPodcast.com/73.
As always, I’m grateful for each of you who listen. Whether you’re a loyal listener or new, I appreciate you!
Until next time,
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