Can you use essential oil substitutes? Yes — almost every popular oil has at least one swap with a similar scent or a similar effect. The quickest way to find it: match the aroma family first (citrus for citrus, floral for floral), then the job you needed the oil for, such as sleep, focus or skin care. This guide gives you a swap chart for 34 oils, then a closer look at the 20 you are most likely to run out of.
Not sure which oils are worth keeping on hand in the first place? Start with our guide to the oils worth stocking for sleep and relaxation.
In this guide, Scentreat shares 34 substitutes and practical tips to use them well.
In this article
Why You Might Need Substitutes
Even the most prepared aromatherapy enthusiasts sometimes run out of a favourite oil. Knowing how to swap safely means your relaxation, emotional balance, and wellness routines stay intact.
Essential oil substitutes are alternative oils with similar scent profiles, therapeutic benefits, or chemical properties. For example, if lavender is unavailable, Roman chamomile or geranium offer a comparably floral, calming fragrance. If peppermint is out, spearmint provides a similar cooling and invigorating effect.
Understanding what the original oil was doing in your blend — the aroma, the benefit, or both — is what lets you pick a replacement that works, and a quality diffuser will still deliver a consistent, enjoyable experience with it.
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How to Choose a Substitute in 3 Steps
Choosing the right substitute means balancing aroma preference with therapeutic goal. Three steps cover it.
Step 1: Decide what you need the oil for
Are you trying to match the original scent, or replicate an effect like calm, focus or better sleep? Knowing this narrows your options fast. Think about how you will use it, too: for diffusing, choose a substitute with a similar evaporation rate so the scent stays balanced through the session. (If your blend seems weak in the diffuser, read why your diffuser might smell weak — the issue is often oil selection, not the diffuser itself.)
Step 2: Find the closest oil
Essential oils fall into aroma families — citrus, floral, herbal, woody. If a recipe calls for sweet orange, other citrus oils like lemon, mandarin, or grapefruit give a similar uplifting note. For floral blends, chamomile, rose, or geranium are solid alternatives. Where possible, choose oils with similar key constituents: lavender and clary sage both contain linalool, which is often credited with their shared calming character. Treat shared chemistry as a useful clue rather than a guarantee — two oils built around the same headline constituent can still land quite differently — and judge the finished blend yourself.
Step 3: Start small and check the safety notes
Start with a few drops to see how the substitute performs in your blend. Small batches show you whether the new oil sits well with the others and gives the effect you want, without wasting product. Two swaps in this guide need a second look before you use them: clary sage stands in for lavender, ylang ylang, cedarwood and jasmine, and rosemary stands in for peppermint, eucalyptus and bergamot — but both are on the avoid list in early pregnancy, and rosemary is also best avoided for young children. If you are pregnant or diffusing around small children, check your substitute against the safety notes in the FAQ below before you use it.
(Reference: National Association for Holistic Aromatherapy — Safety Guidelines)
Quick Swap Chart: 34 Oils, A to Z
Find the oil you are out of in the left column. The 20 most common oils are linked, and open a fuller breakdown by scent and by benefit further down the page. Every swap is matched the same way: aroma family first, then the constituent doing the work.
| If you are out of | Closest match | Second choice | Best for / why it works |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basil | Rosemary | Peppermint | Herbaceous and clarifying; all three are reached for the same way, to sharpen focus. |
| Bergamot | Grapefruit | Sweet Orange | Best for: anxiety relief, mood boost, focus. |
| Cedarwood | Sandalwood | Vetiver | Best for: sleep, grounding, calming. Dry woody base notes that anchor a blend. |
| Clary Sage | Lavender | Geranium | Best for: stress relief, sleep, PMS comfort rituals. Avoid in early pregnancy. |
| Clove | Cinnamon Leaf | Allspice | Eugenol-rich and warm. All three are hot oils — 1 drop per 100 ml, no more. |
| Cypress | Juniper Berry | Pine or Silver Fir | Crisp coniferous, α-pinene forward. Juniper is the closest on both scent and use. |
| Eucalyptus | Rosemary | Peppermint | Best for: respiratory support, a refreshing diffuser blend, muscle rubs. |
| Frankincense | Myrrh | Sandalwood | Best for: meditation, soothing massage, calming. Myrrh is the traditional pairing. |
| Geranium | Rose | Palmarosa | Best for: skin balance, calming. Palmarosa gives most of the character at a fraction of the price. |
| Ginger | Cardamom | Black Pepper | Warm and spicy without the sweetness cinnamon brings. |
| Grapefruit | Sweet Orange | Bergamot or Lime | Bright citrus top notes, cold-pressed and fading at a similar rate. |
| Jasmine | Ylang Ylang | Rose | Best for: mood boost, romantic blends, relaxation. Ylang ylang matches the intensity. |
| Lavender | Roman Chamomile | Geranium | Best for: sleep, calming, skin support. |
| Lemon | Lime | Grapefruit | Best for: energy, cleaning blends, mood boost. |
| Lemongrass | May Chang (Litsea cubeba) | Lemon | Citral-dominant and sharply lemony. May Chang is the closest and is gentler on skin. |
| Lime | Lemon | Grapefruit | Best for: energy, digestive massage, a fresh diffuser blend. |
| Myrrh | Frankincense | Patchouli | Best for: grounding, meditation, skin support. |
| Myrtle | Eucalyptus Radiata | Ravintsara | Gentle cineole oils — the mild end of the respiratory family. |
| Neroli | Petitgrain | Sweet Orange with a drop of Jasmine | Petitgrain is pressed from the leaves of the same tree whose blossom gives neroli. Nothing is closer. |
| Palmarosa | Geranium | Rose | All three lead on geraniol, which is what carries that soft rosy note. |
| Patchouli | Vetiver | Sandalwood | Best for: grounding, relaxation, meditation. |
| Peppermint | Spearmint | Eucalyptus | Best for: headache relief, cooling massage, an energy boost. |
| Pine | Silver Fir | Cypress or Juniper | Coniferous and fresh; fir is the softer of the two. |
| Roman Chamomile | Lavender | Clary Sage | Best for: sleep, sensitive skin, calming. |
| Rose | Geranium | Palmarosa | Rose is the expensive one. Both substitutes share its geraniol and citronellol core. |
| Rosemary | Basil | Peppermint | Best for: focus, mental clarity, hair care. Keep away from children under two and avoid in early pregnancy. |
| Sandalwood | Cedarwood | Frankincense | Best for: sleep, meditation, dry skin care. Cedarwood is the affordable stand-in. |
| Sweet Orange | Tangerine | Mandarin | Best for: mood lift, stress relief, kid-friendly blends. |
| Tea Tree | Thyme | Eucalyptus | Best for: skin cleansing, freshening the air, foot care. |
| Thyme | Oregano | Rosemary | Phenol-rich and strongly cleansing. Thyme and oregano are hot oils — 1 drop per 100 ml. |
| Vetiver | Patchouli | Cedarwood | Best for: sleep, stress relief, grounding. Deep, earthy base notes that slow a blend down. |
| White Fir | Siberian Fir | Spruce or Pine | Interchangeable conifers; the differences between them are subtle. |
| Wintergreen | Peppermint | Sweet Birch | Wintergreen and birch are almost pure methyl salicylate — avoid both in pregnancy, around children, and alongside blood thinners. Peppermint gives the cooling effect without the salicylate. |
| Ylang Ylang | Jasmine | Geranium | Best for: stress relief, romantic blends. One drop is usually enough. |
Before you swap, three cautions that override the chart:
- Hot oils. Clove, cinnamon, oregano and thyme: 1 drop per 100 ml of water however you are using them, and short sessions rather than all evening.
- Wintergreen and sweet birch. Both are essentially methyl salicylate — leave them out entirely if you are pregnant, if children are in the house, or if anyone is on blood thinners.
- Citrus on skin. Cold-pressed citrus oils (bergamot, lemon, lime, sweet orange, grapefruit) can leave treated skin far more likely to burn in sunlight, and a patch test will not reveal this. Keep them off skin that will meet direct sun or a tanning bed, or use a steam-distilled or bergapten-free (FCF) version instead. Diffusing citrus carries no such risk.
Substitutes are matched by scent family and typical use, not by chemistry. Patch test any new oil before skin contact.
The 20 Most Common Oils: Swaps by Scent and by Benefit
Choose a replacement based on similar aroma or similar uses such as sleep, calming, energy, skin care, respiratory support, and massage blends. Two categories below need a caveat: the “Hormonal Support” and “PMS Support” swaps describe how these oils are traditionally used in relaxation rituals, not a measured effect on your body. Essential oils have not been shown to balance oestrogen, regulate progesterone or change any other hormone level, and the research that exists is small and early. If you are managing PMS, an irregular cycle, fertility or any hormonal condition, treat these oils as a comfort ritual alongside — never instead of — a conversation with your doctor.
1. Lavender
Scent substitutes
- Roman Chamomile
- Geranium
- Clary Sage
Benefit substitutes
2. Peppermint
Scent substitutes
- Spearmint
- Eucalyptus
- Rosemary
Benefit substitutes
- Headache Relief: Eucalyptus, Lavender
- Cooling Massage: Spearmint, Rosemary
- Energy Boost: Lemon, Lime
3. Eucalyptus
Scent substitutes
- Rosemary
- Peppermint
- Pine
Benefit substitutes
- Respiratory Support: Pine, Ravintsara
- Refreshing Diffuser: Peppermint, Lemon
- Muscle Rub: Rosemary, Peppermint
4. Tea Tree
Scent substitutes
- Thyme
- Eucalyptus
- Lavender
Benefit substitutes
- Skin Cleansing: Lavender, Thyme
- Freshening the Air: Eucalyptus, Lemon
- Foot Care: Peppermint, Lavender
5. Lemon
Scent substitutes
- Lime
- Grapefruit
- Lemongrass
Benefit substitutes
- Energy: Lime, Orange
- Cleaning Blends: Grapefruit, Tea Tree
- Mood Boost: Bergamot, Tangerine
6. Sweet Orange
Scent substitutes
- Tangerine
- Mandarin
- Bergamot
Benefit substitutes
- Mood Lift: Tangerine, Lemon
- Stress Relief: Bergamot, Lavender
- Kids Friendly Blends: Mandarin, Lavender
7. Bergamot
Scent substitutes
- Grapefruit
- Orange
- Lemon
Benefit substitutes
- Anxiety Relief: Lavender, Frankincense
- Mood Boost: Grapefruit, Orange
- Focus: Rosemary, Lemon
8. Ylang Ylang
Scent substitutes
- Jasmine
- Geranium
- Clary Sage
Benefit substitutes
- Stress Relief: Lavender, Geranium
- Romantic Blends: Jasmine, Rose
- Hormonal Support: Clary Sage, Geranium
9. Geranium
Scent substitutes
- Rose
- Lavender
- Palmarosa
Benefit substitutes
- Skin Balance: Frankincense, Rose
- Hormonal Support: Clary Sage, Ylang Ylang
- Calming: Lavender, Bergamot
10. Frankincense
Scent substitutes
- Myrrh
- Sandalwood
- Cedarwood
Benefit substitutes
- Meditation: Sandalwood, Myrrh
- Soothing Massage: Lavender, Geranium
- Calming: Cedarwood, Vetiver
11. Myrrh
Scent substitutes
- Frankincense
- Patchouli
- Sandalwood
Benefit substitutes
- Grounding: Vetiver, Patchouli
- Meditation: Frankincense, Sandalwood
- Skin Support: Lavender, Frankincense
12. Sandalwood
Scent substitutes
- Cedarwood
- Frankincense
- Amyris
Benefit substitutes
- Sleep: Cedarwood, Vetiver
- Meditation: Frankincense, Myrrh
- Dry Skin Care: Rose, Geranium
13. Cedarwood
Scent substitutes
- Cypress
- Sandalwood
- Vetiver
Benefit substitutes
- Sleep: Lavender, Vetiver
- Grounding: Frankincense, Patchouli
- Calming: Bergamot, Clary Sage
14. Rosemary
Scent substitutes
- Basil
- Peppermint
- Eucalyptus
Benefit substitutes
- Focus: Lemon, Basil
- Mental Clarity: Peppermint, Eucalyptus
- Hair Care: Cedarwood, Lavender
15. Clary Sage
Scent substitutes
- Lavender
- Geranium
- Ylang Ylang
Benefit substitutes
- PMS Support: Geranium, Lavender
- Stress Relief: Bergamot, Cedarwood
- Sleep: Roman Chamomile, Lavender
16. Patchouli
Scent substitutes
- Vetiver
- Myrrh
- Sandalwood
Benefit substitutes
- Grounding: Cedarwood, Vetiver
- Relaxation: Lavender, Frankincense
- Meditation: Myrrh, Sandalwood
17. Vetiver
Scent substitutes
- Patchouli
- Cedarwood
- Sandalwood
Benefit substitutes
- Sleep: Lavender, Cedarwood
- Stress Relief: Frankincense, Patchouli
- Grounding: Myrrh, Cedarwood
18. Jasmine
Scent substitutes
- Ylang Ylang
- Geranium
- Rose
Benefit substitutes
- Mood Boost: Orange, Bergamot
- Romantic Blends: Rose, Ylang Ylang
- Relaxation: Lavender, Clary Sage
19. Lime
Scent substitutes
- Lemon
- Grapefruit
- Bergamot
Benefit substitutes
- Energy: Lemon, Orange
- Digestive Massage: Ginger, Lemon
- Fresh Diffuser: Grapefruit, Peppermint
20. Roman Chamomile
Scent substitutes
- Lavender
- Clary Sage
- Neroli
Benefit substitutes
- Sleep: Lavender, Vetiver
- Sensitive Skin: Lavender, Frankincense
- Calming: Cedarwood, Bergamot
Create a Better Aromatherapy Setup at Home
Choosing the right substitute helps keep your aromatherapy routine consistent — but diffuser quality also shapes how the scent feels in your space. A gentle, reliable wood essential oil diffuser helps substitute blends spread more evenly, whether you are building a calming bedroom routine, a refreshing workspace scent, or a quiet self-care moment.
The SCENTREAT ceramic & rubber wood ultrasonic diffusers are designed for bedrooms, workspaces, and daily relaxation. To explore more scent options, the Essential Oil Collection offers calming, refreshing, and mood-supporting 100% pure oils that can be used solo or blended as substitutes when your favourite oil is unavailable.
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DIY Blending Tips When You're Out
Even when your favourite oil is unavailable, you can still enjoy aromatherapy and calming scents with a few creative strategies.
1. Mix Closely Related Oils
If a direct 1:1 substitute isn't available, combine two oils from the same aroma family. Blending lavender and chamomile can replicate a soothing, floral scent, while orange and grapefruit produce a refreshing citrus aroma. This technique creates a well-rounded fragrance while retaining some therapeutic benefits.
2. Use Carrier Oils for Roll-Ons
Mix essential oils with gentle carrier oils such as jojoba, almond, or coconut oil to create a skin-friendly roll-on. Dilution is what makes it skin-friendly: on adult skin, keep the essential oil to roughly 1–3% of the finished blend, and stay at the low end for the face, for sensitive or broken skin, and for anyone elderly or unwell. This approach lets you enjoy the aroma topically without using large amounts of concentrated oil — especially useful for on-the-go relaxation or bedtime routines. For more on pairing options, see our guide to best carrier oils for sensitive skin. NCCIH cautions that essential oils are highly concentrated and can irritate skin or airways — so a substitute you have never used before still needs diluting and patch testing, familiar scent or not.
3. Experiment with Pantry Ingredients
Temporary fragrances can also be achieved with natural items from your kitchen. Vanilla extract, citrus peels, or fresh herbs like mint and rosemary can be simmered in a small pot of water or left to steep in an open bowl to create a pleasant aroma until your preferred oils are available. Keep them out of an ultrasonic diffuser, though — it is built to mist water and essential oil, and food residue such as pulp, sugar or alcohol will foul the mist plate.
By applying these DIY blending tips, you can maintain emotional balance, stress relief, and relaxation even when essential oils are not immediately at hand.
Final Thoughts
If you're looking to build more relaxing routines naturally, explore the Sleep & Relaxation collection or discover calming essential oils designed to support quieter evening routines.
With a little creativity and the knowledge to swap thoughtfully, you'll never be stuck without a fragrant solution. Keep exploring aromatic alternatives — your home will always smell just right.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use substitutes in the same quantities as the original oil? ＋
Are any essential oils unsafe for children or pregnant women? ＋
Children: Avoid eucalyptus, peppermint, and menthol-heavy oils for children under 2 years old. Birch and wintergreen should be avoided for children under 6 years old due to their high methyl salicylate content. Rosemary is also best avoided for young children. For a full list of safe options, see our guide on safe essential oils for pets and kids.
Pregnancy: Avoid oils such as clary sage, fennel, cinnamon, and rosemary in early pregnancy.
Always consult a healthcare provider before using essential oils for these groups. If you are using oils around babies or infants, see our post on oils to ease infant gas and bloating for age-appropriate guidance.
Are essential oil substitutes safe around pets? ＋
What are the therapeutic benefits of these essential oils? ＋
Lavender: Calming, sleep-supporting, skin-soothing.
Peppermint: Energizing, supports digestion, clears respiratory pathways.
Frankincense: Grounding, skin-supporting, meditative.
Tea Tree: Purifying, skin-cleansing.
Knowing these benefits helps you select the most effective substitute for your goal.
How do I choose the best substitute for a missing essential oil? ＋
- Aroma profile: Match top, middle, or base notes of the missing oil.
- Therapeutic properties: Look for oils with similar benefits.
- Safety: Ensure the substitute is appropriate for age, pregnancy status, or the presence of pets.
