If you have a long road trip coming up, you’ll want to make sure you have your essential oils ready to come to the rescue!
Road trips and essential oils make a perfect match. Got rowdy kids in the backseat? Reach for Calming the Child. Feeling a little sleepy and need a boost? Try Energy Synergy or Peppermint. Want to stop those snack-attacks in their tracks? Munchy Stop Synergy to the rescue! There are so many ways essential oils can make your road trip go a little more smoother.
So if you’ve got your sights set on some summertime road trips, make sure you’re prepared. There are some really quick, easy, and cost-effective ways to diffuse your favorite essential oils while you’re on the road.
Easy Car Essential Oil Diffuser DIY
What you’ll need:
- 1 cotton ball
- 1 clothesline clip
- Glue
- 1-3 drops of the single oil or synergy of your choice
What you’ll do:
Glue the cotton ball onto the clothesline clip. Then add a few drops of the single oil or synergy of your choice and attach the clip to the car’s air vent.
Feeling a little crafty? You can elaborate on the above DIY by using felt, cutting out patterns, or making small satchels! Our Diffuse On The Move diffuser is perfect for the car, too!
Please be aware that if the diffusion becomes too strong (because you are in an enclosed space) to limit the amount or duration of your diffusion!
Where has this blog post been my whole life?! LOVE the cotton ball idea, so easy! I haven’t been able to buy a car diffuser, I will definitely be throwing this together before our next car trip!!
I love this idea! Definitely going to try it!
I wish I had read this before we went on our 18-hour road trip! I think I’ll give it a go next time we go in the car to see if I can keep the kids from annoying me
I am going on a road trip next week and looking forward to using Diffuse on the Move with Energy Synergy to start out day and Relax blend near the evening and in the cabin. .
What a great idea!!! does the smell last a long while?
You talked me into it! Haha! I have been thinking about it for awhile now. The drive to / from school can be so dramatic. I diffuse Calming the Child and Blues Buster nearly every day now in the car and we are all much happier!!! Thank you, PT!
I might try this just for my drive to and from work! Would love to have a calming scent. I bought a portable diffuser that you can plug into a usb, but then I worry with the water and heat during the summer. Much simpler with the clothespin!
Definitely trying the clothes pin! Better than shoving a cotton ball in there.
Thank you for the great idea! This DIY is such a easy way to let the car smells good!!
I just got my diffuse on the Move diffuser a couple of weeks ago and I absolutely love it! It’s my new favorite thing I use it in my car all the time!
I like to use lavender oil with the clothes pin in the car to diffuse. I’ve been putting it on the clothespin itself.
Wow! I never thought about doing this, def going to try this now!
such great ideas for summer travel!!
The clothes pin idea works great! So thankful for that idea. A car we were borrowing smelled terrible, like we could hardly stand to be in it. Lucky EO on a clothespin to the rescue! Thanks!
That’s great you could use this DIY in a stinky emergency! Thank you for sharing!
Love PTs ideas! This will work so well for me because I work on the road a lot! Thanks, PT!
We’re so glad you’re going to be able to use this DIY! It’s just such an easy way to get your car smelling good 🙂
Hi! Thank you for this blog! What oils (like Energy) that are kidsafe and will help keep us awake while driving?
I would try a blend of Tangerine, Sweet Orange, and Citronella! 🙂
I forgot to bring my diffuse on the move on our family road trip.
Could have used something relaxing
This is such a great idea!! Can’t wait to put oils to use in the car! Love it!
Glad you like the ideas, Paula! Thank you for your comment!
I just purchased Diffuse on the Move for an upcoming vacation.
Love this! I used a drop of orange and lemon for a simple, refreshing scent for my car!
That sounds wonderful, Amanda! Thank you for sharing!
I’ve done the clothes trick before! I’m thinking I might need to invest in the diffuse on move for my work commutes!
Our Diffuse on the Move is definitely a must have for commutes!
I am going to try the clothes pin idea! Writing oil names on the clothes pin was a fantastic idea too! I have a restless kiddo and a husband who loves cigars, so odor zappet in his car and calming the child in my car! Perfect!
I love that clothespin idea! But I have a question! We have a 13 hour drive coming up and we’re leaving in the wee hours. What can I use that will keep the driver and navigator alert but also be safe for the 3-year-old in the backseat? Maybe A+ Attention?
Will need to take a few of these ideas with us on our 12 hour drive coming up very soon! Energy especially since we will be driving overnight! LOVE PT!!
I love this idea. so simple.
Sometimes simple is the way to go, yeah?
I’m glad that I read this. I’ve been way overdoing it in the small car space! I’d been adding eight drops to my cotton pad! Thanks for always steering us right in oil safety Plant Terapy!
That’s what we are here for!
I love using the Diffuse on the Move in the car! Citrus Burst makes the car smell so fresh!
I love my Diffuse on the Move!
My family recently drove an 8 hour trip at night. I diffused a lavender /peppermint mix . The kids slept and I did not. Double win
So glad your blend worked well for you guys! Just keep in mind the safety concerns of using peppermint with kiddos. 🙂
I never would have thought to use the cotton ball trick! I don’t have a diffuser for the car, so this would be nice to try in a pinch. We travel long distance frequently, so I can’t wait to give it a try!
It’s super simple and easy to do in a pinch. Let us know what you think!
I love the clothespin idea ! We used it this week and worked absolutely perfectly ! Might get a little crafty next time with the felt cut outs. We diffused germ destroyer this weekend becuase we were battling something but worked amazingly .
It’s fun to create cool designs with the felt, and it’s an easy way to get kiddos involved, too!
We are leaving for a vacation next week and driving 9 hours overnight. I will definitely be using my oils to help keep us awake and focused as well as to help my son with his car sickness! Thank you for the great tips!
Enjoy your trip!
I use the clothes pin with a cottonball in my car, my favorite blends are Sweet Orange Peppermint and Rosemary. And Spruce, Patchouli, lemon and orange.
We have a small plug in we use in our cars. I like this idea too…makes it easier to change oils. Plus I like being refreshed between stops. You never know what kind of virus might be clinging to you at a rest stop.
Give a try and let us know what you think!
I love the clothespin idea and all these great tips and ideas! Thanks all!!
I just purchased a car diffuser and love using my essential oils in the car! It runs out of water fairly fast so this is a nice alternative. Thanks!
Enjoy it and let us know what you think!
We are about to go on a long car trip to Gatlinburg. Definitely need to do this. I was going to ask where to get a car diffuser but the cottonball idea is great!!!!
We sell the Diffuse On the Move, too! It’s great for the car. 🙂
I just got a Diffuse on the Move for the car. We will see if our little ones are any calmer on our upcoming vacation or just during errands with some Calming the Child diffusing. The clothespin is a great idea, too.
Hopefully you love it!
I love diffusing oils in the car! I had never thought of the clothespin idea – how cool! I will definitely try it. I also make an essential oil fabric refresher spray and spray a fine mist on the upholstery sometimes to freshen up the car.
That sounds like a great idea, Kathy! Thank you for sharing your tips with us!
The clothespin idea is genius! Next time my husband and I take a roadtrip I am definitely doing this!
I always carry a Bergamot inhaler in my car – driving to new places stresses me and Bergamot really helps to keep me calm!
Bergamot is amazing!
This is really helpful and I can’t wait to use my USB diffuser that I just got on my next road trip!
Glad you enjoyed it!
I use Energy on road trips. I love Plant Therapy’s USB diffuser. I commute 2 hours a day and it really helps
Thank you for sharing, Denise! We are so glad you love our diffuser for your commute!
Love the close-pin idea for long car trips. Cant wait to try it out with the family this coming week on our summer road trip!
Hopefully it’s helpful for you!
I had a car diffuser a while ago but lost it. I am so happy to see this simple but brilliant idea with the clothes pin and cotton ball. I would love for my car to smell like peppermint or grapefruit!! Thank you!
Hopefully you enjoy it!
What a great idea to help keep the driver alert for road trips, and also to keep kids calm in the back! I haven’t diffused in the car yet but will remember too when we next have a road trip!
Haven’t thought of using clothespin to diffuse. Great idea! I will definitely try this
I love diffusing Calming the Child while driving. It smells great!
I was under the impression that Peppermint, Munchy Stop Synergy and Energy Synergy were not Kid Safe. Please clarify.
I only found essential oils a little over a year ago. About 2 years ago my husband drove a big truck over the road and I went with him. I WISH I had known about oils then. He still drives but it’s local now. Let me tell you though, that’s the best smelling truck I’ve ever seen! Lol
I have a 10 hour round trip coming up with 4 kids. Calming the Child is ordered and on the way right now. Can’t wait to try it out! I really love all these blog posts. Not that I need another reason to buy oils! 😉
Calming the Child is amazing! I’m sure you’ll love it!
I can’t wait to share this with my kids and grandkids!
I only found essential oils a little over a year ago. About 2 years ago my husband drove a big truck over the road and I went with him. I WISH I had known about oils then. He still drives but it’s local now. Let me tell you though, that’s the best smelling truck I’ve ever seen! Lol
(I’m sorry, I thought I’d clicked comment instead of reply.)
I love this and am going to make it pronto! I think orange will be our main oil. Any suggestions on an oil or blend to help for car sickness?
Spearmint works well for us! It would pair nicely with orange. 🙂
Love this idea. I ordered a car diffuser before and it disappeared. I am sure into my son’s toys. So I love this idea. You can write the name of the oil on the backside of the closepin.
Sounds perfect! Hopefully you enjoy it!
That Clothespin is a great idea! My family has a 5hr trip coming up. Calming the Child will be great for when those kiddos get a little antsy. Thanks for the great ideas PT!
I like that one too. It makes it quick and easy to change out oils…plus no water involved.