I never thought I’d be a camping person. I hate sweating and bugs and have a 14985-step skincare routine. But when you’re dating an outdoorsy man, sometimes you have to suck it up and put the face cream aside for a day or two in the name of love. Because he never complains when you make him watch stupid YouTube videos or drag him to the mall so you kind of owe him one.

Thank goodness I tried it, because it turns out I really, really like camping. I like the nature sounds and the stress-free environment and the part where we drink beer around the campfire and have deep conversations. (An ice-cold beer will get me to do almost anything in the summertime, to be honest.)

The past few times we’ve gone camping, I’ve jumped at the chance to use my essential oils. I made an after-sun spray and an annoyance-away spray and I was kind of shocked when they worked even better than the ones I’ve bought at the store in the past. (Especially because store-bought bug spray makes me gag. No wonder they keep the bugs away, I don’t want to smell that either!)

If any of you are planning on camping this summer, I thought I’d round up the oils that have worked for me so far and share them with you today! Obviously you can use any brand you have on hand, but Young Living is the one I use and love <3 I’ll have some info about how to sign up with Young Living at the bottom of the post if you’re interested! Let’s get started!

1. Lavender

Lavender is a great oil to keep on hand at all times. It can be used to support skin’s natural healing process after bug bites or sunburn and can help soothe itchy or painful skin. It’s also very relaxing, which can help you unwind if you get a little anxious in the outdoors

2. Citronella

We all know that citronella candles keep mosquitos away, and citronella oil allows you so many opportunities to DIY. You can make your own citronella candle or wristband with this oil, or combine it with a few other oils in an annoyance-away spray like I did to make sure my camping experience was bite-free!

3. Peppermint

Peppermint is great for so many things! It’s cooling, which feels really great on your skin after a sunburn, and can also help soothe areas that might be sore after a hike. It’s great for head support, too! I even added a few drops of Peppermint to my annoyance-away spray after seeing how it keeps bugs away from the house. (Plus the scent is really strong, so it masked the smell of citronella which I’m not a huge fan of.)

4. Purification

Purification is a Young Living blend that’s great for camping. I watched a video on Facebook where someone had a tick in their arm, and when they put a drop of Purification on it the tick scurried right out! So that’s obviously great to have on hand in the woods. It also contains lemongrass and citronella, both plants that mosquitos tend to avoid, so I used this in my annoyance-away spray to keep myself bite-free. It also has a very bright, clean smell, so it’s great to make a little sachet and keep it with your dirty clothes to keep things fresh!

5. Tea Tree

Tea tree is similar to citronella in that mosquitos tend to dislike it. It also comes from a plant that has amazing antiseptic qualities, so the oil can be used to help support the body’s healing process for things like breakouts. I, for one, always break out whenever I stray from my normal skincare routine, so this oil is a must for me to keep on hand!

So these are my top five essential oils for camping! As I mentioned, I use Young Living for all of my essential oils. But obviously you should do your own research and use whatever brand feels right for you <3

Do you use essential oils when you camp? What are some of your favorites? I’d love to hear all about it!