Table of Contents
Updated November 2026
Mixed together, lavender and peppermint oil balance each other well. Peppermint brings a cool, bright, clearing feeling, and lavender softens its sharp edge so the blend feels refreshing instead of harsh. They're two oils I'm never without at home, and both are affordable essential oils. Below is what each oil brings and 11 ways I use the pair, from the diffuser to a cooling foot soak. Peppermint is for ages 6 and up. For more about lavender, see my full lavender essential oil guide. Jump to the 11 ways.
What Each Oil Brings
| Lavender | Peppermint | |
|---|---|---|
| Botanical name | Lavandula angustifolia | Mentha × piperita |
| Scent and note | Soft, floral, herbal; middle note | Cool, minty, bright; top note |
| Loved for | Winding down, bedtime routines, and skin care | An afternoon lift, stuffy days, and tired feet |
| Ages | 2+ (a starter oil) | 6+ |
| Pregnancy | On my first-16-weeks list (diffuser or inhaler) | After 16 weeks |
Lavender
Lavender is mostly linalool and linalyl acetate, the compounds behind its soft, calming floral scent. In lavender and peppermint oil blends, it rounds off peppermint's sharpness and adds a relaxed, settled feel. Learn about the different lavender essential oil types.
Peppermint
Peppermint's main compound is menthol, which switches on the cold-sensing nerves in your skin and nose. That's why it feels cool on tired feet and why a breath of it feels so clearing. In a small 1988 study, breathing in menthol made airflow through the nose feel noticeably easier, even though measured airflow didn't change. Peppermint is strong, so it's for ages 6 and up. Read more about diffusing peppermint oil.
A Few Safety Basics
• Keep essential oils away from babies under 2, including diffusing in a room they're in. Peppermint is for ages 6 and up, by any route.
• Always dilute oils before they touch skin, and patch test a new blend on your inner forearm for 24 to 48 hours. Keep peppermint away from eyes, and never use it on a child's face.
• Check the age on each recipe. Kids 6 to 11 stay at 0.5 to 1% on skin, and their inhalers use half the drops.
• Strong scents like peppermint can bother some people with asthma. Start with one breath, and stop if you start coughing or wheezing.
• If you're pregnant, check with your doctor or midwife first. For the first 16 weeks I use only six oils, and only in a diffuser or inhaler: lavender, sweet orange, lemon, ginger, cedarwood (Virginian), and frankincense. After that, skin blends stay at 0.5 to 1%, and inhalers use half the drops. Some moms skip peppermint while nursing.
• Diffuse for 30 to 60 minutes with a door open so pets can leave the room, and never put oils on pets. Cats are especially sensitive to citrus oils like lemon.
• Never swallow essential oils. If someone does, call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222.
11 Ways to Use Lavender and Peppermint Oil
Here's how I use lavender and peppermint oil around the house, from the diffuser to the dinner table.
1. Fresh Air Diffuser Blend
Diffuser · Ages 6+ · 8 drops per 100 to 200 ml
I use equal parts of lavender and peppermint oil, usually 4 drops of each in my ultrasonic essential oil diffuser, to freshen and brighten the house.
- 4 drops lavender (Lavandula angustifolia)
- 4 drops peppermint (Mentha × piperita)
2. Cool Aloe After-Sun
Gel · Ages 12+ · 1%
I keep my aloe vera gel (affiliate link) in the refrigerator so it's cool when I put it on. For sunburned skin, I leave the peppermint out, since menthol can sting burned skin, and add just a little lavender once the heat has passed. Read more in lavender oil for sunburn.
- 1 drop lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) in 1 tsp aloe vera gel
Directions: Stir together and smooth a thin layer over cooled skin.
Note: Only once the burn has fully cooled, only on unbroken skin, and never on blisters. Kids under 12 use plain aloe.
3. Insect Bite Roller
Roller · Ages 12+ · 3%
I love roller bottles for bug bites. They're easy to grab and roll on when a bite starts to itch, and the peppermint brings a cool feeling to the spot.
- 3 drops lavender (Lavandula angustifolia)
- 3 drops peppermint (Mentha × piperita)
- Jojoba oil to fill a 10 ml roller
Directions: Roll on and around the bite.
Note: Only on unbroken skin, so skip bites that have been scratched open.
4. Refreshing Foot Soak
Foot soak · Ages 12+ · 4 drops
Cool peppermint and soft lavender make tired feet feel fresh again. I like to follow up with moisturizer and comfy socks.
- 2 drops lavender (Lavandula angustifolia)
- 2 drops peppermint (Mentha × piperita)
- 1 tsp unscented castile soap
- 1/4 cup Epsom salt
- 8 to 10 cups warm water in a foot basin
Directions: Stir the essential oils into the castile soap. Pour the soap mix into the warm water, then add the Epsom salt and swish to dissolve. Soak your feet for about 15 minutes.
Note: Don't premix the castile soap and Epsom salt, since they react. Use warm, not hot, water.
5. Cool Head Roller
Roller · Ages 12+ · 2%
The roller version of my Cool Head Inhaler, for when your head feels tight and tense. I usually add frankincense to my lavender and peppermint.
- 2 drops lavender (Lavandula angustifolia)
- 1 drop peppermint (Mentha × piperita)
- 1 drop frankincense (Boswellia carterii)
- Jojoba oil (affiliate link) to fill a 10 ml roller
Directions: Roll onto the back of your neck and shoulders, then breathe in the scent from your hands.
Note: Temples count as face, so for temples make a 1% roller instead (1 drop lavender and 1 drop peppermint), and keep it away from your eyes.
6. After-Dinner Belly Rub
Roller · Ages 6+ · 1 to 3%
This is the pair I go to after a big meal, when I've overeaten or my stomach just feels unsettled. I roll it onto my belly and rub in slow circles. Peppermint brings a cool, fresh feeling, lavender is soft and calming, and the slow massage itself helps me relax and settle in after dinner.
- 3 drops lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) for ages 12 and up, or 1 drop for ages 6 to 11
- 3 drops peppermint (Mentha × piperita) for ages 12 and up, or 1 drop for ages 6 to 11
- Jojoba oil to fill a 10 ml roller
Directions: Roll onto your belly and rub in slow, gentle clockwise circles.
Note: Essential oils won't fix digestive trouble. See your doctor for stomach pain that's severe, keeps coming back, or comes with fever or vomiting. If you're pregnant, skip this one on your belly. Label a kids' roller with the child's name and the dilution.
7. Neck and Shoulder Rub
Lotion · Ages 6+ · 1%
A quick lotion rub for neck and shoulders that feel tight after a long day. The peppermint feels cool, and the massage leaves your shoulders feeling looser.
- 2 drops lavender (Lavandula angustifolia)
- 1 drop peppermint (Mentha × piperita)
- 1 Tbsp unscented lotion
Directions: Stir the oils into the lotion and massage into your neck and shoulders.
8. Diffuser Necklace Blend
Jewelry · Ages 12+ · 1 drop
Diffuser necklaces are an easy way to enjoy a bright, cheerful scent on the go. Since terracotta pendants only take 1 drop of oil, I make the blend in a sample vial first.
- Equal drops of lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) and peppermint (Mentha × piperita) in a small labeled vial
Directions: Swirl the vial to mix, then put 1 drop on the pendant. Let it soak in before the necklace touches your skin.
9. Lavender Peppermint Shower Drops
Shower · Ages 6+ · 2 drops
A cool, wake-up shower for a sluggish morning, or a relaxing one after a long day.
- 1 drop lavender (Lavandula angustifolia)
- 1 drop peppermint (Mentha × piperita)
Directions: Put the drops on a clean washcloth and set it on a ledge, out of the water stream. The warm steam carries the scent around you.
Note: Never put the drops on the shower floor, which gets slippery.
10. Mint Breeze Inhaler
Inhaler · Ages 6+ · 12 drops (kids 6 to 11: half)
A cool, fresh inhaler for stuffy days. Peppermint's menthol makes each breath feel clearer, and lavender keeps it soft. New to inhalers? Here's how to make an essential oil inhaler.
- 6 drops lavender (Lavandula angustifolia)
- 6 drops peppermint (Mentha × piperita)
- 1 blank aromatherapy inhaler
11. Spring Breeze Inhaler
Inhaler · Ages 6+ · 15 drops (kids 6 to 11: half)
Add lemon to lavender and peppermint oil and you have the trio I turn to when the seasons change and my allergies start acting up. It won't replace allergy medicine, but peppermint brings a cool, clearing feeling and lemon adds a clean, bright lift. See my lavender, lemon, and peppermint blends for more.
- 5 drops lavender (Lavandula angustifolia)
- 5 drops peppermint (Mentha × piperita)
- 5 drops lemon (Citrus limon)
- 1 blank aromatherapy inhaler
More Lavender and Peppermint Posts
- Lavender, Lemon, and Peppermint Essential Oil Blend
- Peppermint Diffuser Blends
- 20 Essential Oil Inhaler Blend Recipes
- Lavender Roll On
- Lavender Diffuser Blends and Essential Oil Guide
Shop my aromatherapy supply kits and grab one of my free essential oil guides.
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