How to Cope with Wildfire Season: 5 Ways to Be Prepared.

By Caryn Gehlmann, Clinical Aromatherapist

There’s a special place in my heart for Applegate River Lavender Farm, formerly named Lavender Fields Forever when we owned it. So when Marcy called earlier this summer and told me they were under evacuation notice because of a wildfire, I was concerned. (Thankfully, the fire never reached them. But it was scary!)

Not only is wildfire smoke a health hazard. The threat of wildfire is incredibly stressful,  because our lives, homes and businesses have been threatened in the past or may be currently in danger’s way.  We need to know how to cope with wildfire season.

It seems like wildfires and smoke-filled skies are becoming a common summertime occurrence in many parts of the U.S. and abroad. So, that brings up the question for this month’s Q & A With Caryn: Can aromatherapy help us cope with wildfire season?

5 Tips on How to Cope with Wildfire Season

If you live in a fire-prone region, having a simple plan can make all the difference. Strategies, paired with calming, grounding essential oils, can help you stay centered, soothed, and safe when smoke fills the sky or evacuation is on your mind.

1. Start with the Basics: Clean Air and Clear Heads

• The EPA has a lot of good advice for managing your indoor air quality.
• Another good resource for practical strategies is The National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN)

Caryn’s Tip: Diffuse a light amount of Lavender, Cedarwood, Roman Chamomile or e3’s Breathe Easy Blend in your clean-air space. These oils are not only safe for indoor air, they help settle a tense nervous system and promote deeper breathing, something smoke exposure tends to disrupt.

2. Support Your Respiratory System Naturally

• Even with precautions, smoke can irritate lungs, sinuses, and eyes.
• Stay indoors as much as possible, especially during poor air quality days.
• Use a cool-mist diffuser with respiratory-supporting oils like Eucalyptus Radiata, Peppermint, and Lavender. These can help open airways and reduce feelings of congestion, without irritating already-sensitive systems.

Caryn’s Tip: A simple DIY respiratory balm (with Shea butter, Coconut oil, and a few drops of Eucalyptus Radiata + Lavender) rubbed on the chest can feel soothing and grounding.

3. A Calming Ritual to Signal Safety to Your Nervous System

Wildfires don’t just affect our physical environment. They stir up fear, helplessness, and grief, especially for those who’ve been impacted before. I invite you to try this ritual…

• Inhale a grounding essential oil like Frankincense, Vetiver, or Cedarwood from the palms of your hands.
• Practice a slow breathing pattern: Inhale for 4, hold for 4, exhale for 6.
• Let the aroma be a cue for your body to release tension and come back to the present moment.
• Even just two minutes of this practice a few times a day can lower cortisol levels and help you feel more capable, no matter what’s happening outside.

4. Stay Connected and Prepared

Review your evacuation plan ahead of time. Know where your emergency kit or go-bag is. If you have pets, prep carriers and supplies.

Caryn’s Tip: Keep a “Calm Kit” near your go-bag: include a roller bottle with a calming blend (try 6 drops Lavender, 4 drops Tangerine, and 2 drops Frankincense in  fractionated coconut oil. Other options are e3’s pre-mixed Stress Relief Roll-on or Be Calm Roll-on )and a few personal items that make you feel safe. This might sound small, but in a moment of panic, those familiar scents and textures can help ground you quickly.

5. Make Space for Grief and Healing

It’s normal to feel a kind of grief when we lose our homes, forests or even our summer joy. Allow the grief to be there. Support it gently using aromatherapy:

Bergamot can uplift when sadness feels heavy.

Geranium offers emotional balance and heart-centered comfort.

Ho Wood provides a gentle cocoon of calm for trauma recovery.

Try a drop of your chosen oil on a cotton round, placed in your pocket or near your pillow at night. Let the scent help you sleep, cry, or soften into rest.

You’re Not Alone

Aromatherapy won’t fix the external circumstances, but it can help you find a pocket of peace, a moment of relief, and a way to keep moving forward with care. And sometimes, that’s more than enough. And if you’d like some blending tips, be sure to download our free workbook, The Art & Science of Blending Essential Oils.