Can you mix essential oils with water for a spray?

Answered by Jason Smith

You can mix essential oils with water to create a spray. This is a popular and effective way to use essential oils for aromatherapy purposes, as it allows you to easily distribute the scent throughout a room or space.

To make an essential oil spray, you will need a glass spray bottle, essential oils of your choice, water, and an emulsifier. The emulsifier helps to disperse the essential oils evenly throughout the water, preventing them from separating. Some common emulsifiers include witch hazel, vodka, or rubbing alcohol.

Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to make your own essential oil spray:

1. Choose your essential oils: Select the essential oils you want to use in your spray. You can use a single oil or create a blend by combining different oils to achieve your desired scent. Some popular choices include lavender, peppermint, eucalyptus, lemon, and tea tree.

2. Prepare your glass spray bottle: Make sure your glass spray bottle is clean and dry before using it. Using a glass bottle is important because essential oils can degrade plastic over time.

3. Add essential oils: Start by adding a total of 10-15 drops of essential oils to your spray bottle. The exact number of drops will depend on the size of your bottle and your personal preference. You can adjust the number of drops to make the scent stronger or milder.

4. Add your emulsifier: Next, add your emulsifier to the bottle. Witch hazel is a popular choice, as it is gentle on the skin and has a subtle scent. You can also use vodka or rubbing alcohol, which help to preserve the spray and prevent microbial growth. Add about 1-2 teaspoons of your chosen emulsifier to the bottle.

5. Fill with water: Fill the rest of the spray bottle with water, leaving a small space at the top to allow for shaking. Distilled or filtered water is recommended to prevent any impurities from affecting the quality of your spray.

6. Shake well: Secure the cap on the spray bottle and shake it vigorously to mix the essential oils, emulsifier, and water together. This will help to ensure that the ingredients are well combined and evenly dispersed.

7. Test and adjust: Before using your spray, it’s a good idea to do a patch test on a small area of your skin to check for any sensitivities or allergies. If you find the scent to be too strong or too weak, you can adjust the amount of essential oils or water accordingly.

Now, you’re ready to enjoy your homemade essential oil spray! Simply spray it around your home, in your car, on linens, or on your body (avoiding sensitive areas) to enjoy the aromatic benefits of the essential oils.

Remember, essential oils are highly concentrated, so it’s important to use them responsibly and with caution. If you have any underlying health conditions or are pregnant or breastfeeding, it’s always a good idea to consult with a healthcare professional before using essential oils.

To summarize, mixing essential oils with water to create a spray is a simple and effective way to enjoy the aromatic benefits of these oils. By following the steps outlined above, you can create your own customized essential oil spray to enhance the ambiance of your surroundings and create a pleasant scent experience.