Make Your Own Aroma Spray: A Step-By-Step Guide

Aromatherapy is a great way to relax and unwind, and you can make your own aroma spray at home with just a few simple ingredients. All you need is a glass spray bottle, some distilled water, essential oils, and witch hazel or alcohol. You can also add dried flowers or herbs for an extra special touch. Mix and match your favourite essential oils to create a signature scent, or try combinations like wild orange and tea tree, lavender and rose, or green tea and cucumber.

Choosing your essential oils

The essential oils you choose will depend on the purpose of your aroma spray. Essential oils are naturally derived from plants and can be used to create a calming, energising, or soothing atmosphere. They can also be used to enhance focus and productivity, or simply to create a pleasant fragrance.

Calming blends

To create a calming blend, consider using lavender, frankincense, clary sage, mandarin, cedarwood, or sandalwood. These oils can help to reduce stress and create a relaxing environment. For example, a blend of lavender, frankincense, clary sage, and mandarin is perfect for de-stressing and calming the mind, while a blend of bergamot, sandalwood, sweet orange, and cedarwood can create a woodsy aroma.

Energising blends

If you're looking for an energy boost, try using rosemary, spearmint, grapefruit, lemongrass, sweet orange, or peppermint. These oils can help to uplift your mood and provide a refreshing pick-me-up. For instance, a blend of rosemary, spearmint, grapefruit, and lemongrass can be a perfect pick-me-up before a workout, while a blend of sweet orange and peppermint can be energising and refreshing.

Soothing blends

To create a soothing and relaxing atmosphere, try using vanilla, chamomile, or vetiver. These oils can help to promote rest and improve your mood. For example, a blend of lavender, chamomile, and vetiver can make a soothing pillow spray, while a blend of vanilla and lavender can increase melatonin levels and improve sleep.

Focus and productivity blends

To enhance focus and productivity, try using rosemary, peppermint, or basil. These oils can help to improve concentration and clarity. For instance, a blend of peppermint and rosemary can be great for staying focused and on task, while a blend of rosemary, juniper, and basil can be energising and uplifting.

Antibacterial and deodorising blends

To create a natural antibacterial and deodorising spray, consider using cinnamon, clove, tea tree, lemongrass, eucalyptus, or orange. These oils have antiseptic and antibacterial properties, and can help to freshen the air and eliminate odours. For example, a blend of cinnamon, clove, and tea tree can be used to freshen a closet or bathroom, while a blend of lemongrass, eucalyptus, orange, and peppermint can be a great bathroom spray.

When choosing your essential oils, it's important to select high-quality, pure essential oils from reputable brands. Also, make sure to use dark glass spray bottles to help your sprays stay fresh for longer.

Using alcohol or witch hazel as a preservative

When making an aroma spray, it is important to consider the preservative you will use to prevent microbial contamination and growth. While some recipes for aroma sprays may use water with essential oils, or additional water components such as witch hazel or vinegar, these recipes lack proper solubilization and dilution and can become a breeding ground for microbes.

Alcohol is often recommended in aroma spray formulations to act as a preservative and properly dissolve essential oils for safe use. Ethanol, or grain alcohol, is a simple chemical compound that is "cidial" in nature, meaning it acts to kill many living microorganisms. It can be used to eliminate microbial contamination and prevent microbial growth. It is also a solvent capable of dissolving oils, making it suitable to use as a solubilizer when dissolving small amounts of volatile essential oils.

When using ethanol in your aroma spray, it is important to note that the alcohol content needs to be at least 60% to effectively inhibit microbial growth. For solubilization purposes, the alcohol used should contain 95-100% ethanol. Everclear or a comparable brand of grain alcohol that is 190 proof (95% ethanol) is recommended. The amount of ethanol alcohol added to your product, as well as the alcohol concentration, are important factors to consider.

In addition to its preservative properties, alcohol can also help to mix and dilute the essential oils in your aroma spray. This ensures that the whole batch smells good and that the essential oil is properly dispersed in the air when sprayed.

Witch hazel is another ingredient that is sometimes used in aroma sprays. Witch hazel is an astringent often used in homemade beauty treatments and can help to mix essential oils with water. If you have witch hazel on hand, it can be used in place of alcohol in your aroma spray. However, it is important to note that witch hazel is water-based and will not provide the same preservative properties as alcohol.

Blending the oils with water

Firstly, it's important to use distilled or filtered water to prevent any contamination or spoilage of your spray due to impurities found in tap water. If distilled or filtered water is not available, you can boil tap water, let it cool, and then use it as an alternative.

Now, let's get into the step-by-step process:

• Prepare your ingredients and a glass pourable container. You will need 2 tablespoons of witch hazel (or alcohol) and 2 tablespoons of distilled/filtered water for an 8-ounce (or 2-ounce) spray bottle. Adjust the measurements accordingly if you're making a larger batch.
• Pour the witch hazel (or alcohol) into your glass container. If you're using witch hazel, make sure it's alcohol-free to avoid a strong scent.
• Add your desired essential oils to the container. The standard ratio is about 10-20 drops of essential oil per ounce of liquid in your spray bottle. So, for a 2-ounce bottle, add 20 drops of essential oil. You can increase or decrease the amount of oil depending on how strong you want the scent to be.
• Mix the witch hazel (or alcohol) and essential oils together. Let the mixture sit for a few minutes to allow the oils to blend properly.
• Now, add the distilled/filtered water to your mixture. Pour it slowly and carefully to avoid creating too many bubbles.
• Stir or whisk the mixture gently to combine the water and oil mixture. You can also use a small funnel for easier pouring if you have one available.
• Once the water and oil mixture are combined, carefully pour it into your spray bottle. Leave a little space at the top of the bottle, as you don't want to fill it completely.
• Screw on the spray nozzle or lid securely.
• Shake the bottle vigorously for a few seconds to ensure that the oils and water are fully incorporated.
• Your aroma spray is now ready for use! Remember to shake the bottle well before each use to ensure the essential oils are evenly distributed.

Feel free to experiment with different essential oil combinations to create unique and personalised scents. Always store your aroma spray in a cool, dry place, and use it within a reasonable time frame to ensure its freshness and effectiveness.

How much essential oil to use

The amount of essential oil you use in your aroma spray depends on the size of your spray bottle. A good rule of thumb is to use about 10 drops of essential oil for every fluid ounce in your spray bottle. So, for a 2-ounce spray bottle, use 20 drops of essential oil.

For a 2-ounce spray bottle, one recipe suggests using 20 to 30 drops of essential oil, while another recommends 10 to 20 drops.

If you are making a blend of essential oils, you can adjust the ratio of oils to create your desired scent.

Storing and using your spray

First, ensure that your spray bottle has a tight-fitting lid to prevent any leaks. If you are using a glass spray bottle, store your spray in a cool, dark place, such as a cupboard, to prevent the sunlight from affecting the essential oils. If you are using a plastic spray bottle, ensure that it is stored in an upright position and out of direct sunlight.

Before using your spray for the first time, give the bottle a gentle shake to ensure that the ingredients are well combined. You should do this each time before you use the spray to help remix the oils. Then, simply spray your desired area! These sprays are perfect for linens, yoga mats, and freshening up any room.

Your aroma spray should last for several months, depending on the essential oils used. Citrus-based sprays tend to last around four months, while other sprays can last up to six months. If you notice the scent fading, you can always add a few extra drops of essential oil to your spray.

Enjoy your homemade aroma spray!

Frequently asked questions