Our daughter-in-law Sarah is always researching natural and inexpensive ways to clean, deoderize, and disinfect around the house, keeping harsh chemicals away from our young grandsons and saving money…not to mention being “green”. She also tries to use as many naturals ingredients in her beauty regimen as possible. Recently she’s been experimenting with essential oils and came up with this essential oil water spray that is quick, easy, and inexpensive to make…..and wait till you hear what all you can use it on!
By Sarah York….(thanks for sharing Sarah!)
Essential oils have many, many amazing uses. Here is a convenient way to utilize the benefits of essential oils, in the form of an essential oil water spray, which is one of my favorite things to have around the house. These are handy to use as room fresheners. They can also help freshen and deoderize your body, hair, sheets, clothes, and trash cans. And they can even be used as insect repellents.
Essential Oil Water Spray –
For every 1 ounce (2 tablespoons) of spray:
- 1 teaspoon witch hazel or rubbing alcohol
- 3 to 12 drops essential oil (3 drops = .05% & 12 drops = .5%)
- 5 teaspoons distilled or spring water
Directions: Simply mix together and put in a *spray bottle.
GENERAL AIR FRESHENERS: A low concentration (.05%) is typically what you want. Be careful with certain essential oils that can affect the dye in fabrics, like citrus oils. A low concentration is safer for surfaces and still fragrant. Some favorite essential oils I use for air freshener are vanilla, grapefruit, lemon, and rosemary.
HAIR OR BODY SPRAY: You can use up to a 2% concentrate but go lighter if you have highly sensitive skin. Some great ones to try are lavender, rose, and ylang ylang. Keep in mind that some essential oils are MILDLY phototoxic, meaning they make skin more sensitive to sun (more so with citrus oils). This is a great article on which essential oils are more and less phototoxic.
CLOTHES/SHEET FRESHENER: Atlas cedarwood and lavender would be good choices for clothes and sheet fresheners. These were common herbs used in the Middle Ages to keep clothes fresh and to deter bugs! Use a low concentration of essential oils, and don’t use citrus oils for this purpose.
TO KILL BACTERIA: 2% is fine, or you can go up to 5% (30 drops of essential oils per ounce) but mind where you are spraying (fabrics or materials)! In aromatherapy, less is best. Most essential oils are antibacterial, but some are antiseptic, and some even anti-viral. Lavender and tea-tree oil are wonderful choices since they are all three.
BODY DEODORANT: Use a 2% concentration, and also use more alcohol. Use up to 50% vodka/witch hazel/alcohol to your distilled/spring water. Lavender, clary sage, citrus, and tea-tree oils are all good choices. (There are also great benefits to taking Fenugreek supplements for body odor).
INSECT REPELLENT: A 2% concentration is good. Spray on your clothes, hair, and skin, being careful to not get in your eyes. Good insect repellents are lavender, lemongrass, atlas cedarwood, patchouli and eucalyptus. (Flower scents can attract bees!)
TO TREAT INSECT BITES: Use a 2% concentration of lavender, blue or roman chamomile, or tea-tree oils.
*Essential oils, over time, can eat away at plastic. It is best to use glass spray bottles, but if you choose to use plastic, just check them from tome to time for any signs of deterioration. Essential oils themselves can break down in the sun so use dark bottles or keep them covered.
**Essential oils should not be used with animals, as they possess extreme hepatotoxicity and dermal toxicity for animals, especially for cats. Even certain therapeutic grade oils can pose potential threats to individuals with epilepsy or pregnant women….check with your doctor if you’re unsure.
For a little more information on essential oils: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Essential_oil
Tammy’s Tip ‘O the Day
I found a ton of essential oils I like at The Vitamin Shoppe www.vitaminshoppe.com between $5 and $8. You can pick up bottles of rubbing alcohol and distilled water for under $1.00.
And as always…when trying something for the first time, whether on your face, clothes, hair, furniture, etc., always test on a small, inconspicuous area first.
I absolutely LOVE this idea! I’m trying to use more natural products in my home, too and I have so many ideas of sprays to make now. Thanks!
It really works great and it’s so inexpensive to make! Thanks….