If you’ve ever stood in your barn—or even at home—looking at essential oils and thought, “Okay… but which one do I actually use?”—you’re not alone.
If you’ve been wondering how to choose an essential oil without feeling overwhelmed, you’re in the right place.
Whether you’re brand new to oils or you’ve had them sitting in a drawer for a while, one of the biggest hurdles is simply knowing what to reach for in the moment.
There are a lot of ways to choose an oil, but one of the easiest—especially when you’re getting started—is to look at the type of plant it comes from.
The plant gives you clues about what the oil does. This makes choosing an essential oil so much easier, especially when you’re just getting started.
Once you start thinking this way, choosing an oil becomes much more intuitive. You’re not memorizing—you’re recognizing patterns.
Let’s walk through what that looks like in real life.
Floral Essential Oils: Calm, Soothe, and Reset
These are the oils I reach for when things feel a little “on edge”—whether that’s me, my horse, or even my dog after a long or stimulating day.
Good examples here are lavender, Roman chamomile, and ylang ylang.
Lavender is one of the easiest places to start. It’s versatile, gentle, and great for calming both horse and rider. Roman chamomile is another favorite when you want something soothing without being overpowering.
And as a horse mom, here’s the bonus—florals double as natural perfume. If you’re heading out after the barn, they’re the quickest way to not smell like it.
If lavender is one you already have, I share exactly how I use it with my horses in my daily routine here.
Herbaceous Essential Oils: Support and Reset
Herbaceous oils feel more active. These are your “support” oils—the ones you reach for when something isn’t quite right or you want to stay ahead of it.
Think peppermint, oregano, and thyme.
Peppermint is one I reach for most often—it has that fresh, cooling feel that works well for both me and my animals when we need a reset.
And if we’re talking real-life barn use—oils like oregano and thyme are incredibly helpful when hooves are dealing with gunk or excess moisture.
Woodsy Essential Oils: Ground, Focus, and Steady
These are the oils I reach for when things feel scattered—whether that’s a distracted horse or a restless dog.
Think cedarwood, spruce, and hinoki.
These oils feel grounding. They help bring everything back to center—for both of you.
I reach for these when things feel mentally busy, tense, or just a little off before getting on.
Citrus Essential Oils: Fresh, Bright, and Uplifting
Citrus oils are your go-to for an instant shift.
Think lemon, orange, and bergamot.
They’re bright, clean, and energizing—and they work fast.
I use citrus oils constantly for refreshing spaces, whether that’s the barn, the house, or anywhere my animals spend time.
I share simple, everyday ways I use lemon to freshen and reset my space here.
Spicy Essential Oils: Warm, Flavor, and Motivate
Spicy oils are warming and energizing—think cinnamon, clove, and fennel.
One of my favorite ways to use them is in homemade horse treats—especially when I need to hide a pill.
I make low-sugar treats with a small hole in the middle, and add cinnamon, clove, or fennel which gives them a flavor my horses love.
It turns something that could be a struggle into something easy.
I show exactly how I make my low-sugar horse treats step-by-step here.
Resin Essential Oils: Deep Support and Reset
Resin oils are slower, deeper, and incredibly supportive.
Think frankincense, copaiba, and myrrh.
Resin oils are what I reach for when I’m thinking about deeper, overall wellness and support—for both me and my animals.
These are the oils I tend to use when I want to support the body more broadly or create a reset moment.
Copaiba is one I use all the time because it’s gentle, versatile, and easy to incorporate into daily routines.
I break down how I use copaiba for simple, everyday support here.
Bringing It All Together
Instead of asking:
“What essential oil should I use?”
Ask:
What do I need right now?
- Calm → Floral
- Support → Herbaceous
- Grounding → Woodsy
- Energy → Citrus
- Warmth → Spicy
- Wellness → Resins
This isn’t the only way to choose oils—but it’s one of the easiest ways to start feeling confident using them.
Want This as a Quick Reference?
If you want something you can keep in your tack room, barn, or even your car, I put together a simple printable cheat sheet that breaks all of this down in one place.
👉 Grab your essential oil cheat sheet here!
Once you start thinking in scent families, everything gets easier.
You stop overthinking.
You stop second guessing.
And you finally start using your oils in a way that actually fits your everyday life.
Learning how to choose essential oils doesn’t have to be complicated—this simple approach is a great place to start.
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