Using renormalization group theory we show that oscillons in (1+1) dimensions can be obtained, at the leading nonlinear order, from 𝑄-balls of universal complex field theories. For potentials with a nonzero cubic or quartic term the universal 𝑄-ball theory is well approximated by the integrable complex sine-Gordon model. This allows us to generalize the usual perturbative expansion by Fodor et al. beyond the simplest unmodulated oscillon case. Concretely, we explain the characteristic amplitude modulations of excited oscillons as an effect of formation of a two-Q-ball (two-oscillon) bound state.