Six Essential Oils That Smell Like Summertime Joy

Some scents at my beloved pastel yellow perfume organ seem to capture summer sunlight. I twist the cap, breathe in, and suddenly I'm somewhere else - a warm afternoon in the garden, the first breeze after a summer rain, the feeling of bare feet in the grass hearing the laughter of my young daughter. 

As a natural perfumer, I spend countless hours working with aromatic plants. While every essential oil has its own personality, there are a handful that I find myself returning to every summer because they consistently evoke brightness, joy, clarity, and presence.

These are a few of my favorite summertime companions.

Angelica

Angelica has a fascinating aroma that can be difficult to describe honestly! It's grassy and green, yet grounded with earthy depth. Although it's considered a base note in perfumery, it carries an unexpected brightness that makes compositions feel alive.

Whenever I smell angelica, I think of fresh air after rainfall and wide open landscapes. It's subtle, but really uplifting.

Lemongrass

If summer had an alarm clock, it might smell like lemongrass! 

Its crisp citrus aroma has an invigorating quality that feels instantly awakening. During my years practicing bodywork, I often diffused or applied lemongrass at the end of sessions to gently help clients transition from deep relaxation back into their day.

It's one of my favorite oils whenever I need a little extra lift.

Ylang Ylang

Ylang ylang is pure tropical abundance!

Creamy, lush, and floral, it instantly transports me somewhere warm and verdant. There's a richness to the flower that's balanced by a softness that feels incredibly comforting. Whenever I work with ylang ylang, I find myself slowing down, breathing deeper, and imagining myself floating in a bath of them somewhere deep in the rainforest. P.S. Ylang Ylang is in my treasured Wellspring Scent!

Gingergrass

Often overshadowed by ginger itself, gingergrass deserves far more attention I think, as she is such a beauty all on her own.

It carries some of ginger's familiar warmth but with grassy, woody nuances that make it feel softer and a little more expansive. It brings brightness without becoming overly citrusy and adds wonderful complexity to natural perfume blends.

I think it's one of those oils that surprises people the first time they experience it.

Palo Santo

Few aromas feel as instantly recognizable as palo santo.

The essential oil captures much of the same warm, resinous character as the wood itself. For me, the scent has become deeply intertwined with ritual - creating space to begin again, clear my mind, and settle into the present moment.

Whether or not I'm formally practicing a ritual, simply inhaling its aroma often marks a transition between the busyness of the day and a more intentional pace.

Clary Sage

Clary sage has been one of my favorite essential oils for years.

Bright, herbaceous, and beautifully green, it's an aroma that somehow manages to feel both energizing and deeply comforting at the same time. Clary sage is used in my beloved New Moon Cypress Body Oil. 

One personal memory forever ties me to this plant: toward the end of my pregnancy, I regularly took clary sage baths. Soon afterward, I went into labor. While this is only my own experience, clary sage has a long history of traditional use surrounding childbirth, which is why it's generally recommended to avoid using it during pregnancy unless guided by a qualified healthcare professional! 

Even beyond that story, it remains one of the oils that consistently brings me a sense of happiness. Feeling grateful for Clary Sage 🤍

Why Scent Can Shift Our Mood

Our sense of smell is intimately connected with memory and emotion. A single inhale can remind us of childhood summers, beloved places, or people we've loved which is one of the many reasons why I am absolutely obsessed (and have been for years) with the natural perfumery world. Aromatic plants have an incredible ability to create atmosphere - not by changing who we are, but by helping us reconnect with how we want to feel.

For me, natural perfumery has never been only about creating beautiful fragrances. It's about cultivating moments of presence and allowing plants to accompany us through the changing seasons of our lives. 

Summer asks us to soften and soak up her rays, taking notice of the scent of herbs in the garden and flowers warming in the afternoon sun. Sometimes too, I find I need a little extra support in the summer to rejuvenate my energy and lift my essence, as the summer heat can sometimes pull the energy downward. Perhaps that's why these six essential oils continue to find their way back into my hands every year! 

I'd love to know - which scent instantly feels like summer to you?

xx Kathleen 🤍