I wasn’t exactly expecting sage wisdom as my husband and I prepared to plant Elderberry Hill – the sloped grove of elderberry bushes just north of our orchard – but it came anyway. While we were choosing which cuttings to plant and dreaming of homemade elderberry syrup, a farmer friend suggested that I reconsider all the gorgeous, leafy trimmings I’d selected.
Those plants I thought were duds? Turns out they were up to something.
While many of the cuttings focused their energy on big, outward growth, others were quietly developing longer, thicker roots – the kind that can tap deep into the earth for nourishment when things get hard.
If they could talk, I’ll bet they’d agree with the saying that goes:
Nothing in nature blooms all year. Be patient with yourself.”
This fall, you’ll find me choosing to nourish my roots – reading my childhood favorites to my littles under cozy blankets, sipping chai tea (and maybe a pumpkin spice latte or ten) while I work on home projects, and being okay with the fact that not all personal growth is obvious at first.
And yes, I’ll be diffusing these fall essential oil blends and simmering stovetop potpourri like this is the last autumn ever, because after all it is the last one that will be exactly like this. I love how they make every day feel a bit like a cozy, laid-back holiday – even while I’m doing laundry!
They can be placed in a diffuser or mixed in a glass spray bottle to use as a room spray. The diffuser featured in the photo is currently unavailable, but you can get this space saving diffuser with a larger reservoir or this USB powered diffuser that’s great for bedrooms.
I hope these blends remind you of the best of past years, and inspire you find beauty in this one. Also, I’ve included instructions for making these blends into a room spray at the bottom of the post. Much love and happy fall!
Essential Oil Blends For Fall
Safety note: All the recipes below are considered appropriate to diffuse around children that are six months or older. In general, it’s best not to diffuse essential oils around babies that are younger than six months old.
For more information, check out this guide on using essential oils safely with babies and children.
Autumn Wreath
- 6 drops Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) or fir needle essential oil (Abies sibirica) or Douglas fir needle
- 4 drops juniper berry essential oil (Juniperus communis)
- 2 drops clary sage essential oil (Salvia sclarea)
Gingerbread
I’m going to be straight with you. In general I find the scent of ginger essential oil repulsive, but when blended with cinnamon and nutmeg it smells delightfully like freshly baked gingerbread cookies.
Also, because ginger and cinnamon leaf are very strong scents, I’ve kept the total amount of drops in this blend low. However, depending on your diffuser and the size of your room you may want to double it.
- 3 drops ginger essential oil (Zingiber officinalis))
- 1 drop cinnamon leaf essential oil (Cinnamomum verum)
- 1 drop nutmeg essential oil (Myristica Fragrans Houtt.)
French Vanilla Latte
This blend incorporates the rich aroma of coffee beans with notes of sweet vanilla.
- 6 drops coffee essential oil (Coffea arabica L)
- 3 drops vanilla oleoresin
Citrus Forest
Fine, I admit it. I listen to holiday music when I’m stressed (even if it’s July), and I’ve been using this blend and imagining myself snuggled up by a fire with a mountain view since around then. Douglas fir is one of my all-time favorite essential oils, and it pairs so well with citrus.
- 5 drops Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) or fir needle essential oil (Abies sibirica) or Douglas fir needle
- 5 drops sweet orange essential oil (Citrus sinensis) or 3 drops sweet orange essential oil and 2 drops lemon essential oil (Citrus x limon)
Thankful
“Gratitude doesn’t change the scenery. It merely washes clean the glass you look through so you can clearly see the colors.” ~ Richelle E. Goodrich
- 3 drops sweet orange essential oil (Citrus sinensis)
- 2 drops Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) or fir needle essential oil (Abies sibirica) or Douglas fir needle
- 1 drop cinnamon leaf essential oil (Cinnamomum verum)
Crisp Mountain Air
This blend is similar to Autumn Wreath, but with a deeper woodsy scent and a hint of citrus.
- 6 drops Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) or fir needle essential oil (Abies sibirica) or Douglas fir needle1 drop sweet orange essential oil (Citrus sinensis)
- 1 drop vetiver essential oil (Vetiveria zizanoides)
Chai Tea
You know what goes perfect with this blend? This real chai tea that’s infused with adaptogens for immune and stress support.
- 3 drops cardamom essential oil (Elettaria cardamomum)
- 1 drop cinnamon leaf essential oil (Cinnamomum verum)
- 1 drop ginger essential oil (Zingiber officinalis))
- 1 drop vanilla oleoresin
Mulled Cider
Tip: If you love this recipe and your kids are over five, you can create a delightful variation by replacing the ginger with star anise essential oil. It smells amazing.
- 4 drops sweet orange essential oil (Citrus sinensis)
- 1-2 drops cinnamon leaf essential oil (Cinnamomum verum)
- 1 drop ginger essential oil (Zingiber officinalis))
Turning Leaves
- 3 drops patchouli essential oil (Pogostemon Cablin)
- 2 drops frankincense essential oil (Boswellia carteri)
- 2 drops Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) or fir needle essential oil (Abies sibirica) or Douglas fir needle
- 2 drop sweet orange essential oil (Citrus sinensis)
How To Make A Room Spray With These Blends
First, increase double or triple the recipe as needed so that you have 20-25 total drops. Add those drops to 2 tablespoons of vodka and stir, then pour into an 8 ounce glass spray bottle. Fill the rest with water and shake before using.
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Do you have a favorite diffuser? Thanks. Love your blog and helpful info.
I do! The bluefiret diffuser is the one in the photo, but the milk glass diffuser on Amazon is actually my favorite one that I use most often. I love the style and it does a really good job of diffusing in larger rooms.
The links above are no longer valid. Do you currently have a favorite diffuser you use? Thanks.
I love fall and I love using essential oils and these blends all sound so AMAZING! Thank you for sharing! I can’t wait to try them all!
Heather,
Can you specifically name the brand of Essential Oils you prefer? Thanks!
Hi, I just want to know if I can leave out the alcohol or use a substitute?
You can, but the essential oils will have a shorter shelf life. Also, you’ll need to shake very well before spraying.
I’ve heard that witch hazel may be a good sub for the vodka. It does have its own odor, but it won’t be overpowering if you add it sparingly.
If you use water how long will the room spray be good for ? i was told water might reduce the effectiveness of the spray or make it turn bad
This might be a silly question but I just mixed up some nighttime spray for my kids yesterday and did not add vodka to the bottle, if I add it now will it still help? Thanks!
I’ve been buying my essential oils from Walgreens for $5 each. Do you have an opinion on the difference in quality of oils? I know someone who just spent $50 on the same bottle I got for $5. I would love your opinion on it! 🙂 I don’t know if I’m ready to make that kind of investment yet. Thanks!
Just make sure you are not buying a synthetic fragrance. You don’t want to even breathe that into your lungs or apply it to your skin. A therapeutic grade oil used to support the body functions will be more expensive. Because you are paying for a specific chemical compound range. Citrus oils are usually the most economical. Lemon. Lime, Grapefruit, Wild Orange, etc – they are cleansing and emotionally uplifting. Since the oil is taken from the outside of the fruit the processing is less expensive.
I tried to share on Facebook and it blocked you… very odd…
Also, what essential oils do you recommend?
The letters in purple are links to essential oils.
Thanks so much for these amazing blends! I have a handmade soap business, and I generally like to use essential oils to scent my soaps. I’ll bet some of these blends would make fantastic soap (looking at you, Chai Tea!).
Which co. Can I buy essential oils from that has a good quality oil
Which brand of essential oils do you recommend? Thank you!
Thanks for these recipes! I can’t wait to try them. I feel like fall is more of EO season.
Ive always used Patchouli and Frankincense together but never thought of adding in Douglas Fir and Orange. Guess what ill be trying today?!
Thanks for the blend ideas!
Are all of these blends safe around children and babies? Thank you for answering my question.
I can’t wait to try some of these blends in my diffusers. I have already made some similar blends of my own, but you have some other great ones… I can already smell the holiday goodness :)!
Will vanilla oleoresin clog up the air or attract dust the way a candle would? Or if used with an air purifying oil would it hinder the purification? I just don’t want it to leave a nasty film like my candles used to. Thank you
Thanks for these! neat!! Say goodbye to toxic fall candles & melters!
Hi there, do you have a recipe for a diffuser base to which you add the oils if using reeds, not an electric diffuser
I don’t use reed diffusers very often, but in the past what has worked best for me was to pour the essential oils in some vodka/rubbing alcohol and mix until dispersed, then add water and place reeds in the container.
Organic oils are non-GMO! Excellent recipes
Through just smelling and having a blend with it in it, I have discovered that I can’t stand patchouli!
I planned to just leave it out of the “Turning Leaves” but wondered it you have a suggestion for replacing it?
I know, I know, so many just LOVE it. NOT me! I even had a roll on and didn’t read the ingredients. Got home, rolled some on and …phwew!!! Yuck. THEN I read the ingredients, and voila!!! Patchouli. Gave it away.
Just FYI: LOTS of comments that have not been answered.
My dear Mommypotamus
First l want to thank you for
For dedication of helping people
With your amazing natural and clean
Recipes , all so delicious .
I am a 76 years old and retired
Woman that was able to survive
All these craziness 😊 and thanks
To you l am in better shape , impossible to do it all but l try my best
God bless you and your beautiful family. Sincerely E
Your post with the sayings you included made me cry. You touched my heart. Seasons Greetings to You and yours.