6 Must-Have Essential Oils For Camping

It's camping season, and if you are ready to pack up your gear and head into the great outdoors, there's one thing you can't forget to pack: your essential oils! Essential oils come straight from nature, which makes them perfect companions for when you're outdoors and surrounded by all that nature has to offer. 

So, before you take a walk on the wild side and head into the forest, be sure to grab these 6 must-have essential oils and add them to your pack! 

Bug Away 

If there's one thing you can count on while camping, it's bugs. When you step into their territory, you can expect to find a few little insects crawling around the campsite. Oh, and let's not forget the inevitable mosquito bites. 

If you want to help keep bugs away from your campsite and reduce the number of mosquito bites you get, try using Bug Away! This essential oil blend combines nature's most powerful bug-repelling oils to give you the protection you need. Here's how you can use it: 

• Make your own natural bug spray with this recipe. 
• Spray Bug Away around your tent, including the doors and windows, to keep bugs out of your living quarters. 
• Use your natural bug spray on your arms and legs to help prevent mosquito and other bug bites. 

Lavender

As always, Lavender has made it on the list. This oil is so well-rounded in its benefits that you can use it for almost anything! From soothing cuts, scrapes, and bug bites to ensuring that you get a good night's rest, Lavender oil is a definite must-have for any camping trip. Just pack a bottle of pre-diluted Lavender or our roll-on, and you're all set! 

Here are some of our favorite ways to use Lavender while camping: 

• Apply to bruises or cuts that you get while exploring the great outdoors to help reduce discomfort and support your body's natural healing process. 
• Apply to bug bites to soothe the itch and support quick recovery. 
• Rub on overly sun-exposed skin to soothe discomfort and redness. 
• Apply to the bottom of your feet before bed to help ensure a good night's rest while under the stars. 

Lemon 

For some people, one of the best parts about camping is the food. It's hard to resist a hot meal cooked over the fire or on the griddle. But, of course, with every meal comes dirty dishes, and when you don't have the convenience of a dishwasher, it can be difficult to remove smoke stains or charred leftovers. 

Here's how you can use Lemon oil to help remove greasy residue and keep your pots and pans clean: 

• Add 10-12 drops of Lemon to your bottle of biodegradable dish soap before using. Shake the soap bottle to mix in the oil. Use dish soap as normal. 

Peppermint 

Even though camping involves hanging around the campsite and toasting some marshmallows over the fire, odds are you will spend some of your time exploring the great outdoors. Whether you enjoy hiking to mountain summits, canoeing or rafting in the river, or any other kind of outdoor activity, there's a chance you might return to camp with some aches and pain — all worth it, of course! 

Peppermint's menthol-like aroma and cooling effect are great for many things, including soothing sore muscles. Peppermint is also a great oil to help you stay cool while you're out under the afternoon sun. Here are some of our favorite ways to use Peppermint oil while camping: 

• Feeling overheated from the sun? Add a few drops of Peppermint along your shoulders and back, and apply a damp rag on top to help you cool off. 
• Dilute Peppermint and apply to sore muscles to ease achiness and help you feel rejuvenated for the next day's adventure. 
• Add 5 drops to a spray bottle of water, and spray around the campsite and tend to help keep bugs away. 
• Dilute and apply to overly sun-exposed skin to help ease discomfort and the burning sensation. 

Tea Tree

Tea Tree is a classic essential oils that should be in every collection. It offers a wide variety of benefits, many of which you can use while camping! With powerful antibacterial properties, Tea Tree can help you avoid some of the annoyances that can arrive during a camping trip. These are just a few of the ways we like to use Tea Tree oil while camping: 

• Add a drop or two to a cotton ball, and place the cotton ball in your ear to help get rid of swimmer's ear after swimming in the river or lake. 
• When you get home from your camping trip, add a couple drops of Tea Tree to your laundry detergent to help clean and disinfect muddied, stinky clothes. 
• Add 5 drops of Tea Tree to a spray bottle of water, and spray the mixture in your shoes at the end of the day to help deodorize shoes and keep bugs away. 

Purify

You can't go camping without having a campfire, but campfires also have a downside: smoke. Campfire smoke can get in your clothes and invade your tent, leaving you with a smokey smell wherever you go. Purify is a powerful essential oil blend designed to eliminate odors, including that of smoke. If you don't want the smell of campfire following you around during your entire camping trip, be sure to pack Purify! Plus, this blend is also great for soothing bug bites if you don't have any other oils on hand. 

Here's how we like to use Purify while outdoors: 

• Add 5 drops to a spray bottle of water, and spray down your clothes and linens to help get rid of the smokey smell. 
• Dilute and apply to bug bites to help soothe itching and swelling. 

Camping is a great way to get outside, get some fresh air, and enjoy nature. By taking your essential oils along with you, you can avoid common camping mishaps and make the most of your outdoor adventures!