Capture the spirit of autumn with a delicious homemade pumpkin spice essential oil blend! The sweet, spicy aroma exudes warmth and coziness. Included are 10 different pumpkin-scented essential oil recipes and many tips to use the oil for air fresheners and DIY skincare products.

Homemade pumpkin spice essential oil blend

It’s the season for all things pumpkin spice! If you enjoy this iconic scent as much as I do, then you’ll LOVE this DIY pumpkin spice essential oil blend. The scent is reminiscent of freshly baked pumpkin pie (yum!) and creates a welcoming and comfy atmosphere.

I’ve been sharing quite a few different pumpkin-scented essential oil blends over the years. In this post, I want to bring them all together, so you have a go-to resource and can find my recipes all in one place.

You’ll learn my tried-and-true pumpkin spice essential oil recipe and 9 fun variations. We also talk about different ways to use the blend and the skin safety of spice oils – you don’t want to miss this part!

What does pumpkin spice essential oil smell like?

The iconic fall blend has a warm, spicy smell. Pumpkin spice resembles pumpkin pie spice, the flavor used to season pumpkin pie, which traditionally includes cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and clove.

What oils are included in pumpkin spice?

Pumpkin essential oil usually includes a combination of the following oils:

cinnamon bark
cinnamon leaf
copaiba oleoresin
ginger root
nutmeg
clove bud
allspice
cassia
anise
cardamom
vanilla
citrus oils like orange or lemon

From this list, I used the 7 following oils for my pumpkin spice blend:

Top notes: nutmeg, sweet orange
Middle notes: copaiba, cinnamon, clove bud
Base notes: vanilla, ginger root

In perfumery, fragrances are broken down into top, middle, and base notes. Top notes signify the first impression of a scent, middle notes refer to the main body, and the base notes make up the final impression.

The best pumpkin spice essential oil

I’ve been testing and perfecting my pumpkin oil recipe for a few weeks, and now I’m so excited to share it with you! Here is the drop count:

The recipe yields approximately 150 drops (7.5 ml / 0.25 oz), and I filled my blend into a 10 ml amber glass bottle.

Of course, everyone has a unique sense of smell. You can always adjust my oil recipe to your personal liking by increasing or reducing certain oils.

Pumpkin spice diffuser blend

Try this pumpkin spice diffuser blend if you want to test my mixture before making a large batch. It’s the same ratios as above, just with smaller amounts.

6 drops copaiba oleoresin
5 drops cinnamon bark essential oil
3 drops clove bud essential oil
3 drops botanical vanilla extract
2 drops sweet orange essential oil
2 drops nutmeg essential oil
1 drop ginger root extract

How to make pumpkin spice essential oil

. Lift the cap from a 10 ml amber glass essential oil bottle. This recipe makes approximately 7.5 ml, but you can easily reduce or double the amounts.
. Place a small funnel in the opening of the bottle and drop the essential oils into the funnel. You can do this step without a funnel, but it’s so much easier to avoid spills when you use a funnel.
. Attach the dropper cap and screw on the lid tightly.
. Give the bottle a good shake to blend the oils together and optionally apply the printable label.
. Let the blend rest for 1 to 2 days before use. The fragrance needs time to develop and can change a little during this period.

Pumpkin essential oil benefits

Aside from a delicious scent, pumpkin spice essential oil offers aromatherapy benefits, too. Depending on your mood, you may find the smell either stimulating or calming.

Copaiba has a sweet, woody scent that may help to ease tensions and worries.
Cinnamon has antibacterial properties and is an excellent air freshener. I also find the aroma calming and mood-enhancing.
Vanilla is an incredibly comforting and relaxing smell. The indulgent scent soothes anxious feelings and provides a sense of calm in times of unrest.
Ginger root and clove bud have an invigorating effect and are helping to improve concentration and focus.
Nutmeg has a revitalizing aromaand may relieve feelings of mental stress.
Sweet orange is an uplifting oil and can improve the smell of a stale room.

Variations

The following 8 recipes put a fun twist on the classic pumpkin spice aroma. I’ve included mixtures for pumpkin spice latte, pumpkin toffee, pumpkin pie, frosted pumpkin, and more. Enjoy!

Simple pumpkin spice essential oil

This super simple blend uses just 4 oils:

60 drops cinnamon bark
35 drops ginger root extract
25 drops nutmeg
10 drops clove bud

Pumpkin spice latte essential oil

The addition of coffee essential oil creates the aroma of everyone’s favorite fall drink, pumpkin spice latte.

40 drops coffee*
30 drops vanilla oleoresin
20 drops nutmeg
20 drops ginger
16 drops clove
10 drops cinnamon leaf

* Coffee essential oil is relatively thick and doesn’t drop like other essential oils. I removed the cap and used a dropper to get it out.

Pumpkin pie essential oil

My pumpkin pie essential oil blend contains more vanilla and a touch of cardamom essential oil to create the smell of a freshly baked pie crust.

40 drops vanilla oleoresin
30 drops copaiba oleoresin
16 drops nutmeg
14 drops ginger
12 drops clove
10 drops cinnamon leaf
10 drops cardamom

Chocolate pumpkin essential oil

Pumpkin spice and chocolate go surprisingly well together. Cacao absolute provides a delectable chocolate aroma.

40 drops copaiba
30 drops cacao absolute
20 drops cassia
12 drops nutmeg
8 drops clove bud

Pumpkin spice toffee essential oil

Tonka bean absolute and benzoin resin oil lend this blend a delicious caramel note. Think pumpkin toffee!

35 drops cinnamon bark
25 drops tonka bean absolute
18 drops copaiba
12 drops clove bud
7 drops benzoin resin
7 drops vanilla

Citrus pumpkin essential oil

If overly sweet smells aren’t your thing, give this refreshing citrus pumpkin oil a try.

45 drops cassia
25 drops lemon
18 drops blood orange
12 drops ginger
7 drops clove bud
5 drops cardamom

Floral pumpkin spice essential oil

Spices and florals? Yes, please! This sophisticated blend combines warming spices with lush flower essential oils.

35 drops copaiba
25 drops ylang ylang
15 drops geranium
10 drops ginger root
7 drops clove bud
7 drops cinnamon bark

Frosted pumpkin essential oil

Eucalyptus and cedarwood introduce a refreshing note with frosty undertones.

35 drops cassia
20 drops nutmeg
15 drops eucalyptus
10 drops cedarwood
7 drops ginger root

Spice essential oils in skin care

Whenever I share bath and body recipes featuring spice essential oils, I receive questions about their skin safety. Here’s what you need to know:

Most spice oils are highly sensitizing and can cause severe skin irritation, redness, and itching.
Spice oils must always be properly diluted in a carrier oil, and you should keep the concentration below 1%.
Cinnamon bark and cassia aren’t skin-safe. They are so irritating that you should omit them from skin care entirely. Cinnamon leaf is safe at small concentrations.

Gentle pumpkin spice essential oil for sensitive skin

My sister Cyna came up with a gentle blend that is suitable for skin care. You can add this blend at a 1% to 2% dilution rate to your skincare formulations. You’ll need:

50 drops copaiba oleoresin
35 drops botanical vanilla extract
15 drops cinnamon leaf essential oil (omit for sensitive skin)
10 drops tangerine essential oil

This blend is only safe for body care but not face products. Even though it’s mild, the mix may still irritate the delicate facial skin.

I also recommend performing a patch test for oils you have never used before to see how your skin reacts.

How to use pumpkin spice essential oil

Pumpkin spice oil is incredibly versatile and can bring a warming autumn scent to home fragrances and skincare applications. I have gathered a few ideas for you to try. Take a look!

Home scents

Diffuser: Add 5 to 7 drops to your diffuser and enjoy the comforting scent throughout your home.
Candle: My pumpkin spice candle is the most popular candle-making tutorial here on CHC.
Wax melts: Pumpkin spice-scented wax melts smell incredible and are so much fun to make.
Room spray: Pumpkin spice room spray brings cozy vibes to every room.
Wax sachet: A spiced wax sachet is a lovely way to fragrance small spaces and scent clothes.
Potpourri: A pumpkin potpourri is an excellent air freshener and beautiful home decor.
Car air freshener: Cut a piece of thick felt into the shape of a pumpkin. Apply essential oils and use them as a pumpkin spice car air freshener.

Beauty and skincare

Soap: My pumpkin spice soap is made with nourishing pumpkin seed oil, goat’s milk, and vitamin E to cleanse gently.
Bath bombs: Learn 3 fun bath bomb recipes – pumpkin spice, pumpkin spice latte, and pumpkin pie!
Bath salts: This pumpkin spice bath soak recipe is excellent for sore muscles, detox, relaxation, and stress relief.
Sugar scrub: This easy body scrub recipe smells like autumn and will leave your skin smooth and glowing.
Body butter: This whipped body butter recipe is perfect for your fall skincare routine and made with skin-loving shea butter, pumpkin seed oil, and lanolin.
Body lotion: Cyna’s pumpkin body lotion will keep your skin soft and supple all autumn long.
Bubble scoops make bath time fun! They are made with milk powder for extra skin nourishment.
Body wash: Our pumpkin body wash is made with real pumpkin and smells almost good enough to eat.
Lip balm: Pumpkin spice lip balm has a plumping effect and is an excellent moisturizer.

Storage instructions

How to package pumpkin scented essential oil

Fill the blend in an amber-glass dropper bottle to block out sunlight. The sun’s ultra-violet light affects the composition of essential oils and can degrade their quality. You can also opt for another dark-colored glass like green, blue, or violet.

How to store pumpkin spiced essential oil

To preserve the quality of the oils and avoid oxidation, store your oil mix in a dark, cool place out of direct sunlight and ways from any heat sources.

Keep the bottle tightly capped, so the oils aren’t exposed to oxygen. Otherwise, some of the aromatic compounds may evaporate, and the scent will lose its potency.

What is the shelf life of the pumpkin spice blend?

The essential oil recipe will be good for 3 years if you prepare the blend with fresh essential oils. Sweet orange is the oil with the shortest shelf life of the bunch. Spice oils last between 5 (e.g., clove bud) to 10 years (e.g., ginger root).

Pumpkin Spice Essential Oil Blend Recipe

Yield: 7.5 ml / 0.25 oz

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Total Time: 5 minutes

Difficulty: easy

Materials

Tools

Instructions

Open bottle. Lift the cap from a 10 ml amber glass essential oil bottle. This recipe makes approximately 7.5 ml, but you can easily reduce or double the amounts.
Add essential oils. Place a small funnel in the opening of the bottle and drop the essential oils into the funnel. You can do this step without a funnel, but it’s so much easier to avoid spills when you use a funnel.
Close bottle. Attach the dropper cap and screw on the lid tightly.
Blend. Give the bottle a good shake to blend the oils together and optionally apply the printable label.
Rest. Let the blend rest for 1 to 2 days before use. The fragrance needs time to develop and can change a little during this period.

FAQ

Is there a pumpkin spice essential oil?

No, there is no pumpkin spice essential oil. Pumpkin spice is a blend of different spice oils that resemble the smell of pumpkin pie spice.

Pumpkin essential oil doesn’t exist either. You will only find pumpkin seed oil, a thick, dark green oil derived from the hulled pumpkin seeds and has a nutty scent.

What does pumpkin smell like?

We already talked about what pumpkin spice smells like. But what about pumpkin all by itself? Raw pumpkin has a mild vegetable odor with buttery undertones when you first cut into it. This odor is rather faint and doesn’t linger around. Canned pumpkin offers a malty note.

Where does the pumpkin spice craze originate?

Starbuck’s pumpkin spice latte is often credited for starting the pumpkin spice trend. Today, you’ll find pumpkin spice-themed bath and body products, home fragrance items, and of course, any food and treat you can imagine.

Is pumpkin spice oil natural?

Yes, my EO recipe is natural. Essential oils are highly concentrated aromatic extracts manufactured by distilling plant components like bark, seeds, leaves, blossoms, or fruits. Pumpkin spice fragrance oil, on the other hand, is usually synthetically created.

Of course, your blend will be only as good as the ingredients you choose. For the best quality, buy pure, undiluted essential oils from a reputable essential oil company.

Is the oil safe for pregnancy or breastfeeding?

You can safely use the spice blend during your pregnancy to diffuse and fragrance your home. However, avoid the blend for skin care because some oils may have a labor-inducing effect.

Is pumpkin spice EO safe for pets?

No, the blend can be hazardous for pets. Cinnamon and clove are toxic for cats and dogs – please be mindful of how you employ these oils around your house.

You can safely diffuse the oils around pets. Just ensure that your pets can’t directly touch, sniff, or lick the oils. When I’m running my diffuser, I like to leave a door open, so my cats have the option to walk out if they don’t like the smell.

Is the blend safe to ingest?

Absolutely not! The oil isn’t safe for consumption and can’t be used as a substitute for pumpkin pie spice. Though it might seem tempting to season food with this blend, essential oils must never be ingested as they can cause an adverse reaction.

What is the best pumpkin spice oil to buy?

When you’d rather not make your own, try the Pumpkin Spice Essential Oil Blend from Plant Therapy. Their product includes cardamom essential oil and has an intense aroma.

You can purchase the oil individually or as part of their Feels Like Fall bundle. This set features 6 autumn-inspired fragrances that will make your home smell like fall.