Make Your Own Aromatherapy Spritzer: A Simple Guide

aromatherapyherbal preparation
Written By Angela

Spritzers are so easy to make user friendly and bring a bit of plant magic into life.

After all spraying beautiful plant fragrances into the air is a simple, accessible, and lovely way to enjoy herbs.

Learn how to make your own spritzers below!

Basic instructions for making your own spritzer

Supplies

Instructions

First add your essential oils. It is very important to put a safe amount of essentials oils into the bottle. Here is a good guideline* for recommended dilutions:

  • 1% dilution: 5 to 6 drops of essential oil per ounce of water (this is the safest dilution for the very young and elderly)

  • 2% dilution: 10 to 12 drops of essential oil per ounce of water

So basically if you have a 4 ounce bottle for your spritzer you would use 20 to 24 drops of essential oil to make a 1% dilution or 40 to 48 drops for a 2% dilution. However I often find that using less than the above essential oil amounts works just fine. Using less also saves resources and money.

*Information on proper dilutions taken from the oh so excellent Mindy Green & Kathy Keville's Aromatherapy, A Complete Guide to the Healing Art.

Next add Soluble or Polysorbate 80. Create a 1:1 ratio of soluble or polysorbate 80 to the amount of essential oils used. This means that if you used 5 drops of essential oil, you will use 5 drops of soluble or polysorbate 80.

These are emulsifers and are used to help the essential oils blend into the water base of the spritzer. This allows for the essentials to be properly diluted and dispersed.

Finally the bottle almost to the top with water but leave enough room for the sprayer tube to insert into the bottle. You may have to trim the tube a little bit to make it the right length.

Then just give it a good shake. Add a ribbon and a label to make it pretty.

That is it!  So simple.

An Essential Oil Guide

These are some commonly used essential oils for bathing and body care.  There are so very many to choose from!  This quick little guide* will give you some ideas for which oils to choose.  If you want to branch out into other essential oils or learn more, I highly recommend getting a good book on aromatherapy to aid you in your study.  

  • Lavender  can help to relax & invigorate at the same time. It is also used to as a cleansing herb/oil and to ease skin inflammation. When I make a spritzer for someone whose preferences I don't know, I almost always use lavender essential oil. Most people love lavender!

  • Lemon & Orange benefits oily skin and lightens the mood with a happy, uplifting scent.  

  • Rosemary helps to aid memory and is used to refresh and ease fatigue. I love it in the morning with a few drops of lavender.  

  • Spearmint also eases fatigue while also helping to lift sadness and provide calm. This is a great essential oil to use with children.  

  • Rose Geranium is considered to be a skin tonic that also helps to balance and relax the nervous system.  

  • Ylang Ylang is one of my favorites! It benefits all types of skin, promotes calmness to the nervous system and is used as an aphrodisiac.

  • Sandalwood is also used to benefit all skin types while being grounding and relaxing.  

  • Cedarwood helps ease oily skin and is emotionally relaxing and centering.  

  • Frankincense is amazing! It helps ease and soothe dry mature skin. It is also used deepen the breath upon inhalation thereby assisting in meditation.  

  • Bergamot can be wonderful for easing anxiety and stress while benefiting oily skin.

  • Jasmine helps dry, sensitive skin and soothes the emotions creating a sense of hopefulness.

  • Neroli is another oil that is great for helping to soothe anxiety especially if it is accompanied by depression. It is also used to help to tone and promote healing of the skin.  

  • Rose is considered wonderful for all skin types. Just like the herb, it helps to soothe the heart and to emotional comfort.

*The information above on essential oils taken from the Mindy Green & Kathy Keville's Aromatherapy, A Complete Guide to the Healing Art and Julia Lawless’s The Encyclopaedia of Essential Oils: The Complete Guide to the Use of Aromatics in Aromatherapy, Herbalism, Health & Well-Being.

Cautions: Essential oils are very powerful. They need to be diluted before use and used in the proper concentrations. Please treat them with respect. Cold-pressed bergamot, lemon and orange are phototoxic so do not use on skin directly before sun exposure.
Avoid cedarwood and rosemary during pregnancy.

References

Keville, Kathi, and Mindy Green. Aromatherapy: A Complete Guide to the Healing Art. Crossing Press, 2009.

Lawless, Julia. The Encyclopaedia of Essential Oils: The Complete Guide to the Use of Aromatics in Aromatherapy, Herbalism, Health & Well-Being. Barnes & Noble Books, 1995.

Previously posted on Mama Rosemary

Angela
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