Certain essential oils, such as lavender, tea tree, and lemon, may help alleviate mild seasonal allergy symptoms.
If you experience seasonal allergies in late winter or spring, or late summer and fall — or even year-round allergies, you may be curious if essential oils could help you manage your symptoms.
Essential oils are highly concentrated natural extracts from the leaves, flowers, stems, and roots of plants, and they may be used as a complementary treatment for allergy symptoms.
There is some research, and much anecdotal evidence, suggesting that some people may benefit from using essential oils to ease seasonal allergies.
Breathing in and experiencing the scent of essential oils is known as aromatherapy. This practice stimulates your body through your sense of smell. You can either inhale from the bottle, add a few drops to a tissue and inhale, or add a few drops to a diffuser to fill a room with the scent.
Applying the oils to your body allows them to enter your bloodstream. Always dilute essential oils with a carrier oil, such as sweet almond oil or olive oil, before applying them to your skin. You usually mix about 5 drops of the essential oil to 1 ounce of carrier oil.
Never ingest essential oils and keep them out of reach of children and pets.
If you’d like to incorporate essential oils into your life to relieve allergy symptoms, here are a few you might want to try.
Essential oils disclaimer
While research suggests there may be health benefits, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) doesn’t monitor or regulate the purity or quality of essential oils. It’s important to talk with a healthcare professional before using essential oils and to research the quality of a brand’s products. Always do a patch test before trying a new essential oil to avoid allergic reactions. You should only use oils without synthetic fragrance and purchase them from a trusted source.
Be sure to read all labels and look for any added ingredients that may be allergens.
Consult a healthcare professional before use, especially if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or have underlying medical conditions. Do not use essential oils around young children.
Many essential oils can be toxic to pets, especially cats. Check the toxicity of an essential oil before using it around animals.
Lavender is a popular essential oil because of its many benefits. It may help soothe your symptoms during allergy season thanks to its ability to calm and reduce inflammation.
An older 2014 study concluded that lavender essential oil helps prevent allergic inflammation and the enlargement of mucous cells.
A 2024 study found that lavender essential oil from L. angustifolia (aka English lavender) helps to suppress and soothe atopic dermatitis (AD).
Try using lavender in a diffuser for aromatherapy, dilute it in a carrier oil to massage into the skin, or add a few drops to a bath and take a soak.
Lemon is an uplifting, energizing scent, and the essential oil acts as a
If using topically, be careful about exposing your skin to sunlight when using lemon or any citrus oils, as they increase your risk of sunburn (aka photosensitivity).
An older 2016 study used a 0.2% blend of sandalwood, frankincense, and ravensara essential oils in almond oil to treat perennial allergic rhinitis via aromatherapy. Study participants reported improvement with their blocked nasal passages, runny and itchy noses, and sneezing.
This was a small study, but it suggests that this blend of essential oils may help with perceived symptoms, quality-of-life issues related to allergies, and better sleep.
To try a similar blend, add 1 to 2 drops each of sandalwood, frankincense, and ravensara to 50 milliliters (ml) of almond oil in a clean glass bottle, then inhale from the bottle.
Eucalyptus essential oil is known for its anti-inflammatory properties and may help with your congestion. The cooling sensation you experience when you breathe it in may help relieve seasonal allergies.
The antifungal properties of eucalyptus (as well as lavender and clove) may help improve indoor air quality.
A 2025 study also found that Eucalyptus citriodora essential oil has strong potential for a natural alternative to synthetic pesticides for dust mite control. Dust mites are a common year-round cause of allergies.
Try diffusing eucalyptus into the air or breathing it in from the bottle to help open your airways and breathe deeply.
On the horizon
Research
Tea tree oil is
It’s a powerful essential oil that many people keep in their natural remedy first aid kits. However, as with many other essential oils, tea tree can also cause allergic skin reactions in some people. So, only use after a successful patch test.
Tea tree is highly toxic to pets, so do not use or diffuse tea tree around them, and always ensure the room you diffuse in is well ventilated.
There are many reasons to keep a bottle of peppermint essential oil on hand.
The menthol in peppermint essential oil helps open nasal passages, reduces mucus, and can improve breathing. It can also help ease nausea,
Peppermint has long been used to support respiratory health, and a 2022 study found that inhaling peppermint essential oil reduced inflammation caused by allergic rhinitis.
What about for asthma?
A
More research is needed.
Trying aromatherapy can be a fun way to help alleviate your seasonal allergy symptoms, but if you aren’t feeling any results, speak with your doctor about their recommended allergy treatments.
Remember to always do a patch test before trying a new-to-you essential oil, shop for quality essential oils from reputable sources, keep them away from pets, and use them as directed.