Is there any smell that reminds you of the holiday season quite like the scent of peppermint? One whiff whips up memories of candy canes and classic holiday beverages. But did you know that peppermint is actually an incredible plant featuring a host of health benefits? In fact, I like to diffuse it in my home year-round for this very reason. The benefits of diffusing peppermint oil range from better air quality to improved mental focus to increased energy.
So, in the spirit of the holiday season, I’ve listed my favorite peppermint essential oil blends below, along with the top benefits of diffusing peppermint oil that you can expect to experience. Not only will the smell in your home scream “holiday time,” but you’ll get a host of health benefits at the same time!
5 Benefits of Diffusing Peppermint Oil
Here are five of the top benefits of diffusing peppermint oil in your home.
1. Helps improve air quality
In in vitro studies, peppermint oil was found to contain anti-bacterial, anti-viral, and anti-allergenic properties. [1] Based on these findings, along with its pure, crisp scent, I love to diffuse peppermint oil in my home to help boost air quality. With its ability to fight bacterial, viral, and allergenic pathogens, it’s one of the ideal oils to diffuse during the winter. Furthermore, scientists have found that peppermint oil can actually help relieve many bacterial, fungal, and viral infections when inhaled. [2, 3]
2. Boosts mental focus
A groundbreaking study revealed that when 40 volunteers smelled peppermint oil, it improved their alertness, focus, and concentration. [4] And a 2008 study on 144 volunteers showed that, again, simply smelling peppermint oil actually enhanced the accuracy of the volunteers’ memories. [5] So, the next time you have a task ahead of you that requires you to be alert and focused, try diffusing some peppermint oil. You may even want to diffuse some in your kids’ rooms while they’re studying for an upcoming exam!
3. Helps relieve headaches
This is one of my favorite benefits of diffusing peppermint oil: Did you know that using peppermint oil can actually help relieve headaches? One study actually revealed that applying diluted peppermint oil topically was as effective as acetaminophen, a common over-the-counter pain reliever, in relieving headache pain. Additionally, it was substantially more effective in relieving headache pain than a placebo. [6] If you have sensitive skin, try diffusing a few drops of peppermint oil first.
4. Boosts energy and fights fatigue
In addition to boosting mental focus, one of the top benefits of diffusing peppermint oil is that it boosts energy and also combats fatigue. In fact, a 2013 study on male student-athletes revealed that peppermint oil was able to significantly improve their overall exercise performance, including time to exhaustion, work, and power. [7] While the student-athletes supplemented their water intake with peppermint oil, it’s important to note that you have to use extreme caution with ingesting any essential oil. As a result, I recommend diffusing peppermint oil during a workout or anytime you feel fatigued.
5. Aids digestion
If you’re experiencing some digestive difficulties, you may want to consider using some peppermint oil. It’s not only been shown to help relieve nausea and vomiting, but also reduce IBS symptoms by up to 40 percent in just a matter of weeks. [8, 9] Furthermore, a review of 14 clinical trials revealed that peppermint oil actually helped to reduce the length, severity, and frequency of abdominal pain in approximately 2,000 children. [10]
Again, it’s important to note that you have to use extreme caution with ingesting any essential oil—and this is especially true for peppermint oil. Even just 1 drop in water can be overwhelming for some people. As a result, peppermint tea is a viable option if you’re experiencing digestive distress. And, as always, you can diffuse peppermint to help get the benefits of this powerful oil.
3 Holiday Diffuser Blends
Now that you know the top benefits of diffusing peppermint oil, let’s have some fun with three of my top holiday-inspired peppermint diffuser blends.
1. The Candy Cane Lane Blend
4 drops peppermint oil
2 drops wintergreen oil
2 drops cinnamon oil
2. The Home for the Holidays Blend
3-4 drops orange oil
2 drops peppermint oil
1 drop cinnamon oil
1 drop clove oil
3. The Nutcracker Blend
3-4 drops peppermint oil
3 drops orange oil
2 drops cinnamon oil
2 drops nutmeg oil
Key Takeaways
- Peppermint is an incredible plant featuring numerous incredible health benefits—many of which are extracted into peppermint essential oil.
- The top benefits of diffusing peppermint oil include improving air quality, boosting mental focus, relieving headaches, boosting energy while fighting fatigue, and aiding digestion.
- Diffusing peppermint essential oil can be a great and festive way to get the health benefits of the peppermint plant during the holiday season.
- Check out my three holiday-inspired peppermint essential oil blend recipes to run in your diffuser.
