Best Essential Oils for Headaches

Do you know essential oils can help relieve headaches and migraines? Do you know what essential oils are good for headaches

 

It’s incredible what different essential oils can do for the body. Below are the top five best essential oils for headaches, so you can put away the cold pack and Excedrin and use a drop or two of these!

 

Essential oils will work to relieve headaches via oil diffusers, body creams, shampoos, lip balms, or directly onto your skin. So check out these five sensational options to see which sounds like the right product for you to find some peace and comfort again. 

Table of Contents

WINNER: Plant Therapy Organic Peppermint Essential Oil

The Plant Therapy Organic Peppermint oil is a spectacular essential oil to relieve headaches and migraines. The oil uses only 100% pure ingredients and is tested by a team of aromatherapists for effectiveness. 

This oil can go into an oil diffuser or dab as a topical treatment for severe headaches. The all-natural mint leaves used to make the oil can reduce sore muscles and head pain, so you can feel serene and comfortable again. And every bottle goes through rigorous third-party testing to ensure the product is of the utmost quality. Plant Therapy Organic Peppermint Essential Oil 100% Pure, USDA Certified Organic, Undiluted, Natural Aromatherapy, Therapeutic Grade 30 mL (1 oz)

Complete Review

Peppermint is one of the best essential oils to relieve headache discomfort and pain. Peppermint contains menthol, which relaxes muscles and relieves tension. When looking for essential oils good for headaches, peppermint is usually the best choice because the mint aroma offers a relaxing scent that calms your mind. 

This product is 100% pure and free of GMOs, so you don’t have to worry about inhaling or applying harsh chemicals to your body. Taking pills and other migraine medication can have side effects, but this all-natural oil only offers relief and no unpleasant symptoms. 

You can also dilute this product 1-2% and use it to make lip balms, body scrubs, and lotions. This is an excellent way to have this headache-relieving substance on you all the time. So it can work to prevent headaches as well as relieve ones when they come on. 

The fresh minty scent also increases energy and focus in many people, making it a great product to use every day and not just when battling a migraine. 

Every batch of oils goes through several rounds of organoleptic testing and GC-MS testing, so you know Plant Therapy only sells you the highest quality essential oils for migraine headaches. Peppermint essential oil for headaches can be a lifesaver for people who struggle with these head problems. 

While experts encourage users to dilute the oil before applying it to their skin or in a body cream, Plant Therapy makes super gentle yet potent products that many people put directly on their skin with no issues. 

Many say it works magic when placed on pressure points associated with headaches and migraines, acting quickly to relieve painful or uncomfortable symptoms. The oils are somehow gentle but extremely fast-acting and powerful. These are aromatherapist-approved to treat migraines, so the same level of quality care you might get from a specialist that uses these oils. 

Some users even drop the oil directly onto their scalp, which can relieve headaches and stress. Plus, it can make your scalp and hair healthier! People use it to soothe dandruff or an itchy scalp, meaning this little oil has many magical uses. Plant Therapy Organic Peppermint Essential Oil 100% Pure, USDA Certified Organic, Undiluted, Natural Aromatherapy, Therapeutic Grade 30 mL (1 oz)

While some people avoid essential oils because they have such a heavy, slippery feeling, Plant Therapy makes their peppermint essential oil for headaches light and thin, so you don’t feel gross after using it. It absorbs quickly into the skin but leaves behind a soothing smell of minty goodness. 

And if you’re an avid essential oil user, you may notice that the price of this is super affordable compared to other competitor brands. Plant Therapy believes everyone should be able to access the healing properties of essential oils at a reasonable price. So you don’t have to break the bank to add this top-quality peppermint oil to your collection!

Because peppermint essential oil for headaches is a common remedy for those who suffer from migraines, this affordable and potent oil from Plant Therapy takes the number one spot on the list of best essential oils for headaches. 

The only downside some people mention about this oil is that the scent doesn’t last all day, meaning you may have to reapply the oil or refill your diffuser more often than normal. But the aroma should last at least a few hours before disappearing. 

Specs

Volume: 10, 30, or 100 milliliters

Item form: Oil

Scent: Peppermint

Pros 

  • 100% pure oil
  • Soothing peppermint properties
  • Easy to absorb
  • Potent but gentle
  • Excellent for headaches
  • affordable

Cons 

  • Short-lasting aroma

RUNNER UP: Majestic Pure Eucalyptus Essential Oil

If peppermint isn’t your favorite, or you have a bad reaction to the aroma, this eucalyptus essential oil from Majestic Pure is an excellent second choice. People love the delicate scent and 100% pure essential oil. The reason this is one of the most popular essential oils for migraine headaches is due to the large bottle, as you won’t run out anytime soon. 

The steam-distilled eucalyptus is unfiltered and not diluted, so it has a potent smell and effect. The double distillation process ensures you get the purest form of eucalyptus to help soothe headaches as quickly as possible without chemicals and other medications. MAJESTIC PURE Eucalyptus Essential Oil, Therapeutic Grade, Pure and Natural Premium Quality Oil, 4 fl oz

Complete Review

There are few things as comforting and soothing as the scent of eucalyptus. Majestic Pure offers this impeccable eucalyptus essential oil that goes through a chemical-free distillation process to give consumers the purest essence of eucalyptus possible. 

The oil has no toxins or additives, so you know you’re only getting natural eucalyptus, which relieves the discomfort of a headache or migraine. The woody eucalyptus scent is a lovely aroma that will relax your mind and reduce any pain in your body. Some essential oils can have a funky chemical scent, but this smell is beautiful and natural, transporting you to a calming forest. 

Users love the company and their oils because they arrive promptly and are well-packaged. The glass dropper and bottle are high-quality, so the overall experience feels luxurious. Many people report they use it in the morning to relieve headaches or prevent migraines. But it’s also used at night before bed to help people unwind their minds and body to get ready to sleep. 

The oil absorbs into the skin quickly, but it does leave a subtle slippery texture on the skin, which can be annoying to some people. But when mixed into lotions, body scrubs, or lip balms, it has a very gentle feeling that is soft and comfortable. Eucalyptus is also a wonderful ingredient for rejuvenating the skin, so it has multiple benefits other than reducing the discomfort of a headache. 

The oil can go in a diffuser to envelop the room or your home with a soothing smell so you can avoid migraines and other head pain. One of the most popular aspects of this oil from Majestic Pure is that it’s large! The bottle is four ounces, so for the price this is an excellent bargain. 

So you can stock up on eucalyptus oil by buying just one bottle. However, some people complain that the bottle is never full, so they feel like they’re being cheated out of the right amount of oil. So while this is a popular product and still our runner-up for the best essential oils for headaches, not everyone thinks it’s the best option out there. MAJESTIC PURE Eucalyptus Essential Oil, Therapeutic Grade, Pure and Natural Premium Quality Oil, 4 fl oz

If you love this eucalyptus oil from Majestic Pure, you can try their other scents too! They offer practically every essential oil smell you can imagine, including peppermint, lavender, rosemary, and more. But their eucalyptus is one of the best for people who struggle with headaches and migraines. 

Specs

Volume: 120 milliliters

Item form: Oil

Scent: Eucalyptus, plus many more

Pros 

  • Affordable
  • Woody eucalyptus scent
  • Fast results for headaches
  • Great for sleeping
  • Large bottle

Cons 

  • Bottle is not full
  • Slippery feeling on the skin

LAVENDER ALTERNATIVE: Naturopathy Lavender Essential Oil

If you love lavender to help your headaches, this is the best oil for you. This essential oil from Naturopathy is a 100% natural oil with excellent therapeutic effects, especially for those who battle headaches and migraines. While some essential oils can energize you, lavender is ideal for calming you down. 

This is the ideal essential oil for someone that struggles to sleep because of chronic migraines and constant headaches. The product goes through tests performed by independent labs for effectiveness and purity. You can feel confident that you’re getting a top-notch product that you can feel good about using. Naturopathy Lavender Essential Oil, 100% Natural Therapeutic Grade, Premium Quality Lavender Oil, 4 fl. Oz - Perfect for Aromatherapy and Relaxation

Complete Review

One of the most notable aspects of this sensational lavender essential oil is that it’s a mixture of basil, bergamot, eucalyptus, lemon, lemongrass, peppermint, rosemary, and tea tree oils. The lavender oil is the most prominent in this mixture and the only aroma you smell. 

But these other ingredients hit different pressure points in your body to relieve headache symptoms and other discomforts like muscle tension or mental stress. 

The combination of these ingredients is a powerful mixture that can help fight insomnia, anxiety, muscle pain, and headaches. And vigorous testing is done, but third-party labs ensure that every batch and bottle is pure and effective. 

Unlike the two other oils mentioned above, this alternative is a super thick oil that some people don’t enjoy. It tends to sit on top of the skin and does not absorb quickly, but this doesn’t affect its ability to relieve headaches and migraines. 

But if you want to rub it on your temples or wrists for fast-acting relief, the slippery, thick texture may bother you and won’t go away until you wipe it off. 

On the other hand, many people appreciate this thick, moisturizing texture and enjoy mixing it into their lotions and creams because it gives these products a richer texture and scent. And because the oil is so thick, one or two drops are plenty, and the bottle will last you a long time. 

The lavender scent is full-bodied, so it radiates into the room when you open the bottle or add a few drops to a diffuser. While some essential oils tend to have a subtle scent, this one is potent and recognizable. So lavender lovers can rejoice! People even use it as a natural perfume.

Naturopathy makes quality essential oils that are strong and thick. Not everyone wants a super pungent oil or one that is hard to rub into your skin, but others find this to be the ideal product for them. And lavender is the best scent for people who want to calm their nerves while dealing with the pain of a headache. 

Specs

Volume: 120 milliliters

Item form: Oil

Scent: Lavender, Orange, or Eucalyptus 

Pros 

  • Large bottle
  • Helps with relaxation and stress
  • Fast-acting effects
  • Incredibly strong floral smell
  • Affordable 

Cons 

  • Thick texture

ROSEMARY ALTERNATIVE: Artizen Rosemary Essential Oil

Rosemary is a refreshing and cozy smell that can make a house feel like a home and even combat headaches and migraines. Many people wonder what essential oil to use for headaches, and rosemary is one of the best options. Artizen makes one of the most beloved rosemary essential oils that are 100% pure and fantastic for headaches or migraines. 

The Artizen Rosemary Essential Oil is the ideal alternative for someone who wants an essential oil for their migraines but doesn’t have an insanely potent smell. So this subtle rosemary essential oil that’s free of additives and toxins is the perfect choice for someone who doesn’t want an overwhelming aromatherapy product. Artizen 30ml Oils - Rosemary Essential Oil - 1 Fluid Ounce

Complete Review

Many people get headaches when they walk into a candle store or get hit with a strong smell. So super potent essential oils with powerful smells can be overwhelming for these folks, especially when dealing with a headache already. So this delicate essential oil with a light rosemary scent is the perfect alternative. 

If the act of smelling a strong essential oil seems to make your migraine flare up, even when you know it could help, there are other options out there for you, like this rosemary oil. It has a gentle scent that won’t assault your senses, so you can relieve your headache without making it worse first. 

Artizen is a phenomenal essential oil company that tells it like it is and offers its consumers only the best products for their needs. They dilute this oil with a carrier oil, meaning it can go straight from the bottle onto your skin and has a light scent that you can smell but it won’t be overwhelming. 

The UV-resistant glass bottles are cute and easy to use, and they come with four ounces of diluted oil, so one bottle should last you at least a few months if not a whole year! And this rosemary oil has benefits beyond just relieving headaches. 

It can also improve skin quality, making your skin softer and also stronger. Some users even report the product can help hair grow on the scalp or areas where they struggle to grow hair. 

The oil is advertised as being diluted. So it is a very watery, light oil. This can upset consumers who are accustomed to super strong essential oils. But if you want a thinner oil that will absorb quickly and only give a subtle scent, this rosemary oil is a wonderful option. 

If rosemary isn’t your favorite smell, Artizen makes several different scents. You can opt for a subtle smell of peppermint, eucalyptus, oregano, tangerine, and many more!

Specs

Volume: 120 milliliters

Item form: Oil

Scent: Rosemary, plus many more

Pros 

  • Absorbs quickly
  • Subtle rosemary scent
  • Excellent for headaches 
  • Helps support skin health

Cons 

  • Thin oil

CHAMOMILE ALTERNATIVE: Pure Roman Chamomile Essential Oil

For a delicate, floral scent that can get rid of or prevent your headaches and migraines, this chamomile essential oil from Pure Roman is perfect. This oil is endorsed by aromatherapists for its powerful effects but a gentle scent that won’t overwhelm you. 

People love Pure Roman chamomile oil because it has a calming effect and a soft feeling that absorbs into the skin quickly. While it’s great for headaches and migraines, it has many other benefits for your body, such as improved skin, hair, and nail quality. It’s one of the best essential oils for headaches to mix into creams, baths, and other products to incorporate into your daily routine. Gya Labs Roman Chamomile Essential Oil for Diffuser (10ml) - 100% Therapeutic Grade Essential Oils - Undiluted Chamomile Oil for Skin & Hair

Complete Review

What’s more relaxing than the smell of chamomile? This delicate, woody flower has an alluring smell that helps to relax the mind and the body. Many people drink chamomile tea to relieve a migraine, so using this chamomile essential oil is an even more powerful remedy. 

Pure Roman is also a very trusted brand, so you can feel confident about buying their high-quality essential oil products. Every batch goes through multiple rounds of GC/MS testing by multiple third-party laboratories to ensure purity and quality in every bottle. 

The large bottle means you get plenty of product in just one order, so you don’t have to constantly buy a new bottle to keep your headaches and migraines away. Chamomile can also help relieve stress and fight insomnia, so people who have trouble sleeping whether due to headaches or other issues can find a peaceful night’s sleep using this essential oil. 

The chamomile oil is gentle enough that you can apply it directly to your skin but is potent enough that it can relieve your headache and migraine symptoms in less than 30 minutes. And this oil is not at all diluted, so you get a strong scent in every drop!

People especially love using this oil to mix into body butter and creams because it blends perfectly into other products. This chamomile essential oil is one of the most versatile oils on the market, so you can do just about anything with it!

This product hits the mid-point between insanely smelly and too subtle to pick up on. If you want a great essential oil where you can smell the ingredient but don’t want it to be too enveloping, you’ll love this oil.

And if chamomile isn’t your thing, they have many other scents like vanilla, turmeric, orange, lavender, and many more!

Specs

Volume: 100 milliliters

Item form: Oil

Scent: Chamomile, plus many more

Pros 

  • Beautiful floral scent
  • Great for headaches
  • Great for relaxation and sleeping
  • Large bottle
  • Affordable 
  • Many flavor options

Cons 

  • Not the strongest smell

Essential Oils for Headaches FAQ

For more information on treating headaches and migraines with essential oils, refer to the frequently asked questions answered below. 

Where do I put peppermint oil for a headache?

You can put peppermint oil in an oil diffuser, on your skin, in your hair, or mix it into another product like a body lotion or shampoo! If you mix it with something or put it into a diffuser, the effects may take longer. But applying it directly to your skin will have a faster and stronger effect on you. 

Can you apply peppermint oil directly to skin?

Some manufacturers recommend not doing this, but most peppermint essential oils are gentle and natural enough that you can apply them directly to your skin to speed up the effects. It’s best to mix it with something the first time you use peppermint oil in case you have a negative reaction to it on your skin. 

Is tea tree oil good for headaches?

Many people use tea tree oil to help with headaches, but it’s not the best essential oil for this purpose. Tea tree is great for boosting immunity and relieving inflammation, so they can help with headaches but not as much as peppermint or other essential oils for migraine headaches. 

Can you put lavender oil on your temples?

Yes, you can put essential oils right on your temples to help with headaches, but best to dilute them with water or a carrier oil first. If you’ve used lavender before, with no problems or reactions, you can apply a drop right to your temples. 

Conclusion

Now you know what essential oil to use for headaches, don’t suffer through daily headaches anymore, or drug yourself with strong medications. Just a few drops of the right essential oil can make a significant difference. 

 

Whether you want something potent or a more subtle product, one of the oils on this list will be the perfect headache remedy! Start with a scent you know you love and enjoy the many benefits of essential oils

Resources

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