It’s been a while since I have traveled by plane, but this year I am planning two short trips that involve air travel. With that in mind, I thought it was a good time to review my essential aromatherapy items that are both versatile and meet the 3-1-1 rule for carry-on baggage (to avoid checking luggage). Here are what I consider to be the aromatherapy essentials for a flight!

3-1-1 Rule for Carry-on Aromatherapy Items

For clarification, the 3-1-1 rule for carry-on baggage for air travel is defined as:

• one quart-sized, clear bag

• 3.4 oz or less containers (as many as you can fit into the quart-sized bag)

• one bag per person.¹

If you can’t meet these requirements, you will be asked to check your liquids. So, make sure that everything fits before you leave home!

Aromatherapy Hand Santitizer for Air Travel

Planes can be a dirty place – something you probably know if you have experienced a long haul flight! However, even short flights can benefit from the use of aromatherapy hand sanitizer if you want to avoid using the commercial soap supplied in the bathrooms, or if you simply want to wipe down the seat. A simple aromatherapy hand sanitizer can be made from:

• witch hazel hydrosol

• aloe vera gel

• vodka

• essential oils with strong anti-bacterial properties; examples include lavender, tea tree, lemon, clove, eucalyptus, and rosemary essential oils.

Aromatherapy Roll-on for Air Travel

I love the versatility of an aromatherapy roll-on! Blended with the right essential oils, an aromatherapy roll-on can be used to ease nausea, anxiety, stress, and to freshen up after a long flight. It may also be used to relieve a headache and deal with many minor bites, cuts, and scrapes.

A simple aromatherapy roll-on can be made from:

• a base oil such as jojoba

• a combination of appropriate essential oils.*

*Students taking the Sedona Aromatherapie Certification in Professional Aromatherapy course are taught to create one blend for several health issues; this is particularly useful for a situation such as this one.

Aromatherapy Spritzer for Air Travel

An aromatherapy spritzer can also serve many purposes, both during a flight, and when you reach your destination. However, if you intend to spray yourself on the plane, make sure that those seated around you don’t have any objections (or health issues) that may prevent you from doing so.

Use an aromatherapy spritzer to freshen up, to fragrance the air around you (and sanitize, if appropriate), and for minor cuts, scrapes, and burns.

Make a simple aromatherapy spritzer by combining:

• distilled water

• a small amount of alcohol such as vodka or grape alcohol

• suitable essential oils; some of my favorite essential oils include lemon, sweet orange, lime, lavender, ylang ylang, geranium, and vetiver.

You can also substitute with a favorite hydrosol such as neroli, rose, or geranium.

Aromatherapy Balm for Air Travel

A balm, or salve, can have a number of uses. For air travel, you might find an aromatherapy balm useful to moisturize dry lips and skin, use it for anxiety and stress relief, or to relieve a headache. Again, if you combine certain essential oils in one blend, you can have a multi-purpose item. A simple balm, or salve, can be made from:

• beeswax

• jojoba oil

• suitable essential oils; examples include geranium, palmarosa, petitgrain, rose, neroli, lavender, peppermint, and sweet orange.

Aromatherapy Lotion for Air Travel

If you like a water-based product, over a balm or oil-based product, you might prefer to take a basic lotion with you. An aromatherapy lotion can be used to moisturize, relieve minor problems, and be used for stress and anxiety. Simply combine a basic white lotion base with your chosen essential oils. Examples include:

• for nausea: peppermint, ginger, or grapefruit essential oil

• for anxiety: neroli, vetiver, or sweet orange essential oil

• for stress: rose, geranium, or lime essential oil

• for headaches: lavender or peppermint essential oil

• for bites: tea tree or geranium essential oil

• to moisturize: rose, patchouli, or neroli essential oil.

Learn More About Aromatherapy

Further information on using aromatherapy for travel (including a basic cream and lotion recipe) can be found in my book Authentic Aromatherapy. You can also make many of the products mentioned in this article with a Sedona Aromatherapie Make-Your-Own Products Kit.

For a more in-depth experience in learning how to use essential oils, consider one of the Sedona Aromatherapie home study aromatherapy courses.

References

1. TSA website, Liquids Rule, accessed April 11, 2016

• Author is a UK-certified aromatherapist, published author in aromatherapy, an approved education provider for the National Association for Holistic Aromatherapy (NAHA), an aromatherapy business owner, and Chief Editor for the NAHA Aromatherapy Journal.