Do You Have an On-the-Go-Oil Kit?
Do you ever find yourself out and about, away from home and wishing you thought to bring some of you essential oils? It’s one thing to have a stash of oils to use when your home, but what about when you’re out running errands, visiting friends, eating at restaurants, going to movies, riding in the subway/airplane/public transportation, mingling with others at work?
The good news is, if you don’t already have your own small travel kit, it’s easy to create one and customize it to exactly what you might need on a regular basis as well as unexpected things you might encounter when you’re outside the home.
Essential oils are GREAT for creating an on-the-go-oil- kit. For one, it just takes a tiny bit of oil to get the job done, no matter what you need it for. Also, each essential oil is good for many different things, so you don’t need to fill a suitcase to be prepared for (nearly) everything. Just a few oils should have you covered.
What oils should you include in your kit? It depends. There’s no right or wrong answer for this. What kinds of issues do you encounter when you are out and about that you would like solutions for (motion sickness, upset tummy, need for calming, breathing support, seasonal discomfort, germ-killing oils, etc.) The list goes on and on.
Think also about the oils you use regularly at home. Are they also oils you might need when you’re away from home? These kinds of questions should help you figure out a good place to start.
My On-The-Go-Oil-Kit (Usually) Contains the Following:
On Guard: This is my go-to for germ busting when I’m out in public places. I use it on my hands, I’ll give myself an ‘oil mustache’ with it so I can breathe it in (and it will clean the air is it’s on its way in), I’ll put a drop on my tongue to support my immune system.
Lemon: I add this one to water, use it to de-sticky my hands if I encounter something unexpected and sticky.
Lavender: This is good oil for calming. It’s a great oil to have around (like on an airplane) to share with a desperate mom trying to calm an upset child. . It also helps with minor bleeding/scrapes/skin irritations and just about anything else. It’s one of the ‘when in doubt use this’ oils.
Melaleuca: This is another germ busting, immunity supporting good oil to have around.
Basil: I personally like this oil to relax my head, neck and shoulder tension. I always take it with me on bike rides.
DigestZen: I love this oil for the digestive support it gives, but I also love it for my stomach that does not like movement. (I can get queasy just watching someone else move. I don’t even have to be the one doing it.)
Peppermint: I use this oil to stay awake on late night (or early morning drives), for a breath freshener, and also for motion sickness.
Balance: This oil is great for balance. Really. Any stressful situation (before I go into a meeting, for instance), or an expected scare (when someone runs a light and zooms right in front of me), etc. Jittery, adrenaline rush kinds of things respond wonderfully with Balance.
Deep Blue: This is a great oil blend for overall aches and pains. I also use it for head/shoulder/neck tension.
I Also Add These if I’m Traveling:
Serenity: I have a hard time sleeping away from home so Serenity is a go-to for me.
Vetiver: On those really tough to sleep nights, I’ll add a drop of Vetiver to the mix.
Here are some other popular use suggestions to consider:
A blend of equal parts lemon/lavender/peppermint for seasonal discomfort (or for when visiting friends that have pets when your body can’t tolerate the dander).
Frankincense, because it’s another of the ‘when in doubt’ oils that is good for most anything.
Breathe, because it supports respiratory health.
Purify, to clean and freshen (like when you spill that latte in your car and it soaks into the carpet).
One of the uplifting oils (any of the citrus oils, motivate, cheer, etc.) or any number of other oils that will give you the support you need when you need it.
The key for picking out the oils to carry with you will depend on the oils you use regularly and why.
Oil Bottles
I generally use small 5/8 dram bottles for my on-the-go kit and fill them up with the oils of my choice. You can get them here (an affiliate link)
Occasionally I use small roller bottles. You can get them here (an affiliate link). I like these roller bottles for the oils I usually roll on (like Balance, for instance).
I also like these nifty little spray nozzles that fit onto a 15 mL bottle of oil. You can get them here. Once the bottle of oil is empty (or nearly), I will fill it up with water add a couple drops of oil (if the bottle was empty) and make my own mini spray bottle. This is a great way to carry On Guard (the spray bottle turns it instantly into a spray on hand sanitizer). I’ve heard other say they love this mini-spray-bottle for the lemon/lavender/peppermint combo they use for seasonal challenges.
What to Put it All in?
Key Chain Carrying Case
A popular solution is a key chain vial carrying case. They hold 8-10 tiny bottles of essential oils. You can clip this onto your key ring or backpack. Or, like me, just throw it into your purse. You can get these through doTERRA if you’re already buying from them. Or you can get them here or here.
Empty Metal Breath Mint Tin
Like an Altoid tin. This is a great size for an on-the-go-oil-kit. When I use this option, I have room for some On Guard throat drops, some band aids, and even some tiny packages of dental floss (when I can get those little round containers from my dentist), or even those compact needle/thread/button kits. I sometimes also include a little bottle of fractionated coconut oil if there’s space (you never know when you might want to dilute something).
Another similar (but just a bit larger) alternative to the breath mint tin is the tiny travel first aid kits sold in stores (in the section where they sell tiny shampoo, toothpaste, shaving cream, etc. for traveling).
Before I assembled my first on-the-go-oil kit, I took some time thinking. I wasn’t sure what I should include and I didn’t want to forget anything. I thought about it for weeks! I was a bit over-cautious without reason. Part of figuring out what you need to carry with you is actually carrying stuff with you and seeing if it’s the right stuff. If it’s not, switch it up a bit. It’s easy to swap things in and out.
I love knowing that I have pretty much everything I need when I’m out and about. And it’s non-toxic, natural, effective and small enough for the whole kit to fit in my hand. (I love these modern-but-really-ancient-solutions that save money, space, and time!) Now if I could just find an oil that would find my car keys for me, I’d be set!
What are you going to put in your on-the-go-oil kit? No matter what you choose, it’s going to be great!
