When it comes to relieving everyday stresses and health problems, there are very few things essential oils can’t do. From easing stress and relaxing muscles to fighting illness, these concentrated oils are a great addition to any home. On the ever-growing list of essential oil benefits, you can now add the ability to clear your sinuses. When you’re blocked up and struggling to breathe easily, there are a number of handy oils that can help to clear up your nasal passages.
Below you’ll find 16 essential oils and essential oil blends for clearing your sinuses and getting rid of nasal congestion. Most of these options will clear your sinuses and rid your nose of the bacteria causing your congestion in the first place.
It’s important to note that these products come in a variety of forms, including vapor rubs, roll-ons and pure essential oils. The latter can either be diluted for topical use, used in a steam bath or added to diffusers for a room-wide treatment. Keep reading to learn more about the best essential oils for sinuses and check out some of our favorite products.
What Are the Best Essential Oils for Clearing Sinuses?
We’ve listed our favorite products for clearing your nose and relieving sinus pressure below. However, you’ll notice that a lot of these products contain similar ingredients. That’s because when it comes to clearing your sinuses, there are a few natural oils that are particularly effective.
Many of the best essential oils for sinuses have a soothing or cooling effect, which is especially pleasant if your nasal passages are sore from a cold or allergies. Some of these soothing ingredients include:
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- Tea tree oil
- Eucalyptus
- Lavender
- Pine oil
- Peppermint
- Laurel leaf and ravintsara
However, if you’ve ever cleared your sinuses after adding too much hot sauce to your food, you know that ingredients with a little heat can also clear your nasal passages very effectively. That’s why black pepper is one of the best essential oils for clearing your sinuses. There are also gentler options to consider. This category includes:
- Black pepper oil
- Lemon
- Cardamom
- Cloves
In many cases, the best option is a blend of the ingredients listed above. Many of our favorite go-to home remedies for a stuffy nose are exactly these types of essential oil blends. You’ll find some of our favorite options below.
1. Plant Therapy Respir-Aid Essential Oil
BEST OVERALL
This Plant Therapy Respir-Aid Synergy Blend is made for clearing congestion for an easier and more comfortable breathing experience. The solution comes pre-diluted and ready to use, which means you can apply it out of the bottle to your chest area for instant relief. The blend includes a mix of eucalyptus, peppermint, lavender and pine essential oils and has been diluted in a coconut carrier oil.
2. Pine Essential Oil
BEST FOR JEWELRY DIFFUSERS
Inside this bottle, you’ll find 100% pure therapeutic-grade pine essential oil capable of providing relief from excess mucus build ups in your sinuses. In addition, the high-quality pine oil is great for antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and antiseptic action, which helps fight infections, too. The oil comes in a pure form, which means it needs diluting in a carrier oil for topical use. Or it can be added to diffusers or diffusing jewelry using the included dropper for an aromatherapy treatment.
3. Peppermint Essential Oil
BEST FOR STEAM BATHS
The spicy scent of peppermint is one of the most commonly recommended natural treatments for sinus congestion. The oil’s cooling benefits come from the menthol contained in peppermint. This compound may open airways and clear sinuses by affecting your body’s mucus receptors. Peppermint might also fight bacteria and reduce inflammation. You’ll notice that many sinus-improving blends contain peppermint essential oil, but to get the most out of the treatment, try this pure version of peppermint essential oil in your diffuser or steam bath.
4. Healing Solutions Breathe Blend Essential Oil
BEST FOR TOPICAL APPLICATION
One way to cover your bases when it comes to dealing with sinus problems is to use a blend of essential oils. Inside this Healing Solutions Breathe Blend, you’ll find eucalyptus, cardamom, lemon, laurel leaf, peppermint, pine and tea tree essential oils. That means you get the individual benefits of each of these oils working for you at once. Using the dropper cap, it’s easy to add a few drops of oil to a diffuser for room-wide relief. Alternatively, mix it with your choice of carrier oil for topical application.
5. Tea Tree Essential Oil
MOST VERSATILE
Tea tree essential oil is one of the most useful essential oils on the market, especially if you’re trying to stock your medicine cabinet. That’s because it’s an antibacterial, anti-fungal, antiseptic and antimicrobial substance. It could also be considered an immunostimulant. Because of this tea tree essential oil can be effective at killing any bacteria that might be causing the congestion in your sinuses. It will also help you build up your immune system to fight off future congestion. To get the most from your tea tree essential oil, add it to a steam bath or use it in a personal diffuser.
6. Black Pepper Essential Oil
BEST FOR MASSAGE OILS
You may already be familiar with the fact that spicy foods make your sinuses run. Black pepper essential oil makes good use of this fact. When vaporized, it can be used to break up heavy mucus and to be generally warming to people suffering from illness. In addition, black pepper essential oil is an antispasmodic, so it does a great job of relaxing sore muscles when applied to the skin in a carrier oil. Although black pepper essential oil can be used alone in a hot compress or massage oil, it should be mixed with other oils when diffusing.
7. Pure Essential Oil Works Sinus Blend
BEST VALUE
If you’re looking for an essential oil blend to clear your sinuses, it doesn’t get more obvious than this one from Pure Essential Oil Works. The Sinus Blend promises to work wonders for you right on the label. The blend contains 100% pure rosemary, eucalyptus, peppermint, lavender, tea tree, red thyme and ravensara essential oils. Place a few drops of this oil in your diffuser for the best results.
8. SVASTHYA Body & Mind Eucalyptus Vapor Rub
BEST VAPOR RUB
If you used to love the soothing properties of Vick’s Vapor Rub but want a more natural alternative, then this Eucalyptus Vapor Rub is the perfect product for you. This blend contains just five simple ingredients: extra virgin olive oil, beeswax, eucalyptus, rosemary and lavender. Together, this soothing vapor rub will gently ease your stuffy nose, cough and sore throat, leaving you feeling refreshed and relaxed.
9. Ravintsara Essential Oil
MOST UNDERRATED
Although not often included in essential oil variety packs or even widely spoken about, ravintsara essential oil is a bit of a wonder child. Made from a tree that’s native to Madagascar, ravintsara essential oil is a powerful antiseptic and antibacterial substance (it’s a member of the laurel family). It could also be considered a decongestant and anti-inflammatory, meaning it’s one of the best essential oils to clear your sinuses. To use this essential oil most effectively, diffuse it or add it to a bowl of hot water and inhale the steam.
10. Lemon Essential Oil
BEST SPRAY
You’ve likely used lemon scented cleaners around the house, but did you know that lemon essential oil can help clean your body, too? This essential oil has antiviral and antibacterial properties and is known to support both the respiratory and lymphatic systems. It breaks down heavy mucus, allowing users to breathe easier. This essential oil is a great option for topical application (when diluted in a carrier oil) or for use in a spray bottle when mixed with water.
11. Clove Essential Oil
BEST FOR DIFFUSERS
When treating sinusitis, there are few more powerful essential oils than clove. It has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, and the spicy smell is pleasant in a healing way. Plus, when used in a diffuser, clove essential oil also works to kill the bacteria in the air around your home, leaving you in a healthier environment. This NOW Foods Clove Oil is 100% pure and free from synthetic additives.
12. Eucalyptus Essential Oil
BEST FOR SINUS HEADACHES
If you haven’t already noticed, many of the chest rubs you’ve been using for congestion have eucalyptus oil listed as an ingredient. That’s because eucalyptus contains cineole, a compound found to be an effective treatment for sinusitis. In addition to congestion, this essential oil might also help with headaches and runny noses. Add it to your diffuser or put a few drops in a steam bath for at-home congestion relief.
13. Rosemary Essential Oil
BEST ROSEMARY OIL
Although using rosemary oil may make you feel like you’re in a fine dining restaurant, this essential oil is actually highly effective for sinus relief. The antiseptic and antibacterial oil has been shown to increase antioxidant levels in the body. Higher antioxidant levels can help the body fight off sinus infections and stimulate the respiratory system. Rosemary essential oil can be diffused or used in a steam bath, and it’s most effective when added to any rubs you may spread across your chest in times of congestion.
14. Living Pure Essential Oils Respire Blend
BEST SCENT
The spicy scents of this essential oil blend will help you feel better in no time. The blend combines clary sage, rosemary, cedarwood, eucalyptus, lavender and peppermint for a natural remedy for sinus problems, allergies, asthma and congestion. It’s also worth noting that this Living Pure product has 500 five-star reviews on Amazon from happy customers.
15. Lavender Essential Oil
BEST FOR NIGHTTIME USE
As one of the most popular essential oils, lavender oil can also be effective in fighting sinus congestion. While the oil lulls the body into a state of relaxation, it also uses its antibacterial properties to clear germs causing congestion in the respiratory system. Lavender essential oil is also anti-inflammatory, so it may relieve any pressure associated with sinusitis. For best results, use lavender essential oil in a diffuser just before you go to bed. If you’re trying to drift off to a peaceful sleep after a long day suffering from a cold or allergies, then this is the best essential oil for clearing your sinuses before bedtime.
16. Edens Garden Breathe Easier Synergy Blend
BEST SPLURGE
Edens Garden sells 100% pure therapeutic grade essential oils. As a premium brand, they’ve created several blends loved by regular essential oil users. So it’s no surprise that this brand has created one of the absolute best essential oils for relieving sinuses. This particular blend is called Breathe Easier and combines lemon, peppermint, eucalyptus and Moroccan rosemary for a warming and cooling effect that calms the senses. Using it in a diffuser will also work to clear your airways and help you breathe easier when sinus pressure strikes.