So, when you run out of your favorite essential oil it can feel devastating! However, there’s no need to interrupt your busy schedule and rush out to the store just yet.
Many essential oils have almost-identical copies, be it in scent, properties, or health benefits they provide.
These other oils can work as amazing substitutes for all your favorites, so you never again need to worry about running out, cost, or potential irritation / allergic reactions to any essential oil.
We have put together a list of essential oils, their uses, and substitutions, so read on to find out more and find the perfect copy of your top essential oil!
A Note On Substituting Essential Oils
Every essential oil is unique. They are all composed of properties and compounds specific to them and are additionally influenced by climate, native soil, and botanical family.
Therefore, while some essential oils will be similar to others, and therefore an appropriate substitute, nothing will be an exact replica of your favorite oil.
Essential oils can be split into separate categories, and the substitute for them will depend on that category. The categories discussed in this article are:
Skincare
Immune system and Wellbeing
Scent
Cleaning solutions
Substituting Essential Oils For Skincare
These essential oils may not make a good match when it comes to scent, but are perfect for when it comes to substituting skincare.
Geranium Oil And Frankincense Oil
Frankincense oil is used in skincare to make your skin look more youthful. A great substitute for frankincense oil that will also achieve this look is geranium oil.
Geranium Oil And Rose Oil
Rose oil is excellent at making your skin look more radiant. However, rose oil can be a luxury for many, and so geranium oil is an excellent substitute for achieving that radiant look!
This is because geranium oil and rose oil both contain geraniol and citronellol, just at varying levels of strength.
Lavender / Sandalwood Oil And Tea Tree Oil
Tea tree oil has become an essential oil staple for many skincare routines all across the world! It is known for its antibacterial properties which help to prevent future breakouts and soothe existing pimples.
If you don’t have any tea tree oil at hand, then lavender oil is excellent at helping to heal acne scars, while sandalwood is great at treating existing acne.
In Short:
All out? – Try swapping these scents!
Frankincense oil for Geranium oil
Rose oil for Geranium oil
Tea Tree Oil for Lavender / Sandalwood oil
Substituting Essential Oils For Scent
Using a diffuser to introduce pleasant aromas into your home is the most popular way to use essential oils. And luckily, if you are out of your favorites there are many notable substitutes!
Bergamot Oil And Grapefruit Oil
If you’re all out of bergamot, why not try grapefruit! They both have a sweet, citrusy scent!
Tangerine Oil And Orange Oil
Do we even need to explain this one? Tangerines and oranges are the same species, just different varieties! Therefore, their scent will be almost identical. In fact, most citrus fruits will produce a parallel aroma.
Idaho Blue Spruce Oil And Idaho Balsam Fir Oil
If you’re all out of your favorite tree oil, like Idaho Blue Spruce oil, then you can easily substitute it for Idaho Balsam Fir oil!
Jasmine Oil And Ylang Ylang Oil
Jasmine oil and Ylang Ylang oil are both floral-scented and produce a similar scent. Therefore, if you are all out of, or are otherwise unable to use one, then you can easily make the switch to the other one.
Eucalyptus Oil And Tea Tree Oil
If you are all out of the popular eucalyptus oil then you can swap it for tea tree oil! Both produce a menthol-like, fresh scent.
Cinnamon Bark Oil And Black Pepper Oil
Cinnamon bark provides a signature spicy and warm scent that black pepper oil replicates wonderfully. Alternatively, you could use nutmeg or clove bud oil.
Peppermint Oil And Spearmint Oil
Peppermint is an extremely popular essential oil, and another oil that offers a similar minty scent is spearmint oil! Alternatively, you could use wintergreen oil.
In Short:
These are the essential oils with an almost interchangeable scent
Bergamot and grapefruit
Tangerine and orange
Idaho Blue Spruce and Idaho Balsam Fir
Jasmine and Ylang Ylang
Eucalyptus and Tea Tree
Cinnamon bark and black pepper
Peppermint and Spearmint
Substituting Essential Oils For Your Wellbeing
When it comes to substituting essential oils for your wellbeing, it is important to consider the composition of the oils. When looking for a substitute, you should look for an oil that has the appropriate therapeutic action.
Here are a few examples!
Essential Oils That Offer Respiratory Support
For respiratory support, tea tree has proven to be a popular essential oil. This is because it contains eucalyptol.
Since both Eucalyptus Globulus and Eucalyptus Radiata contain similar amounts of eucalyptol, then they are considered to be appropriate substitutes.
Essential Oils That Offer Immune System Support
Basil is a popular essential oil for immune system support because it has natural and powerful antibacterial properties. If you find yourself out of basil, then you can use lavender, lemon, or tea tree instead.
Sage oil is also known to offer immune system support because of its antibacterial, antimicrobial, and antifungal properties. Therefore, it can keep pesky germs away and boost your immune system!
If you’re all out of sage, try using lemon, frankincense, or oregano!
Essential Oils That Offer A Body Detox
Black pepper oil can help your body detox because of its stimulating effects. It can help your body maintain glucose levels and blood pressure.
This helps to reduce inflammation. However, you can try using lemon, frankincense or myrtle instead.
Essential Oils That Offer Stress Relief
Lavender oil is popular for soothing and calming you when you need to relax. If you don’t have any lavender oil then you can try using basil, fennel, or chamomile oil.
Respiratory support: tea tree, Eucalyptus Globulus, and Eucalyptus Radiata
Immune boost: sage, frankincense, lemon, and oregano, OR, basil, lavender, lemon, and tea tree
Body detox: black pepper, lemon, frankincense, myrtle
Stress relief: lavender, basil, fennel, chamomile
Substituting Essential Oils For Cleaning Solutions
Oils with a similar composition will be great at achieving the same end goals when it comes to cleaning. Here are some examples!
Lemon Oil
Lemon oil contains limonene, which has anti-viral properties. Other essential oils that contain limonene include lime and orange.
This means they are all great options for degreasing and sanitizing, and are interchangeable with one another.
Tea Tree Oil
Tea tree oil is the perfect household cleaner because it is antiseptic, antiviral, antifungal, antimicrobial, and antibacterial.
It is a good idea to have tea tree stocked at all times. However, when this isn’t an option, you can use cinnamon bark, lemon, citronella, or eucalyptus instead.
Interchangeable essential oils great for cleaning include:
Lemon, lime, and orange
Tea tree, citronella, eucalyptus, lemon, and cinnamon bark
Final Thoughts
Sometimes, our favorite essential oils are not readily available to us. While this can be inconvenient, it is good to know that there are appropriate alternatives for the majority of situations where we require essential oils, including skincare, filling our homes with pleasant scents, health and wellbeing, and cleaning.
And this is by no means an exhaustive list! There are many essential oils out there in the world, so we know that for whichever is your favorite, there is the perfect substitute for you to find!
Hi, my name is Hannah Shiftle, and I started using essential oils 15 years ago. At first, I was dubious of them, much like a lot of people. However, as I began to use them on a daily basis, I quickly discovered how much of a difference they had on both my physical and mental health.
Through Oil Health Benefits, I will be sharing my knowledge and passion for essential oils with you, providing readers with all the information they need to know. From the best oils to use for illnesses, to understanding what makes essential oils pure, I have covered all these topics.
