Wednesday, May 9, 2012

How To Make Homemade Body Spray (with essential oils)

I'm not one to wear perfume, but if you knew me as a teenager, then yes, I had a variety of scents (didn't we all)?! I don't know when it happened (perhaps it correlated with my Crohn's diagnosis) but a few years ago I developed a significant sensitivity to chemical smells, perfumy smells, detergents, hair spray, lotions, those plug-in scent things, shampoos and conditions, you name it.  My symptoms are pretty uncomfortable: instant headache, nausea, dizziness, irritability, stomachache ache, lethargy, etc.  I can only spend about 30 seconds in one of my favorite stores (Bed Bath and Beyond) before running for the door, desperate for fresh air.  Perhaps some of you can relate to this?  This all being said, I don't have a problem with essential oils, which is so nice, because I love them.  I don't wear them everyday, but I like having this option and some on-hand for when I want a little scent on me.  Last week I was browsing around in the health and beauty department at my local Coop and found some body spray (made with essential oils), and it caught my eye.  It was a lovely fragrance, lemon, ginger and peppermint.  I looked at the ingredients (3 included: essential oils, filtered water, vegetable glycerine).  What!  That's just too easy!!  I have all these at home, so I made my own body spray- and LOVE it.  I used one of my favorite smells (patchouli) and also made one with orange.  You could go crazy with the combinations, the ideas are endless really.  What a fun Mother's Day gift.  And this would pair nicely with one of my homemade lotions (see HERE for a list of my lotions).   
Enjoy!  
Homemade Body Spray (with essential oils)


Ingredients:

Orange Blossom Body Spray
-1 oz filtered water 
-60 to 90 drops essential oil of orange (less or more to your liking)
-1/2 teaspoon vegetable glycerine 

Bohemian Momma Patchouli Body Spray 
-1 oz filtered water 
-1/8 teaspoon essential oil of Tunisian Patchouli (less or more to your liking)
-1/2 teaspoon vegetable glycerine

Purchase the bottles HERE. 

How To:

1.  Mix ingredients together in small glass spray bottle and shake well.  Always shake before using. 








Shared on: It's a Keeper Thursday, Simple Lives Thursday, 
Posted by at
Labels: ,

57 comments:

  1. I think I might try making these! How long do you think they keep and do you think they should be stored in a cool place? I wonder if I can get glass spray bottles in the UK..mm I will look for those and the ingredients tomorrow..thank you, they look so simple to make!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies

    1. Hi VIcky,

      I store mine at room temperature. I've had one batch now for 2 years, just used the last of it. It held up all this time. Good luck finding the spray bottles.

      Delete

    2. Spray bottles at decent prices can be found at specialtybottle.com. I haven't purchased their spray bottles so I don't know if it's a fine mist.

      Delete
    3. Binford WrightMarch 8, 2014 at 9:28 AM

      Whole Foods in my area sells the blue glass bottles for cheap. Love making my own EO spray :)

      Delete
  • Adrienne @ Whole New MomMay 10, 2012 at 11:25 AM

    I can't stand those artificial fragrances either - never could. I would suspect it corresponds w/ Chron's b/c candida sufferers typically are very sensitive to scents and that deals w/ intestinal health as well.


    I love essential oils and am currently trying to sort out which company's to use and recommend. Very intense studying going on here :-).

    ReplyDelete
    Replies

    1. Mountain rose herbs is a wonderful company you should check into....

      Delete

    2. Majestic Mountian Sage (MMS) not only has pure essential oils but are very helpful with any questions you might have. FD

      Delete

    3. JEdwardsinternational.com is the best place to get all essential oils at wholesale prices.

      Delete
  • Jenilyn -Holistic Fertility CoachMay 10, 2012 at 7:34 PM

    Amber, I too am very sensitive to artificial scents, even as a little kid. I remember having a study partner in graduate school who wore Obsession and I would get a headache within a half an hour. I asked her several times to please not wear it as I got sick, she wore a little less-but it didn't help much. It's hard for others to understand the impact they have on other people's health, it's perfume pollution. Thanks for these wonderful alternatives. Jenilyn

    ReplyDelete
    Replies

    1. Glad to know I am not alone in this! It's terrible isn't it. It's very difficult to be around people that smell like that. Good for you for speaking up...sorry to hear it didn't get much better for you. I don't think people realize how STRONG their chemical perfumes are. Bummer for us sensitive folks. :-)

      Delete

  • I've tried making essential oil sprays before, but my little spray bottles get jammed up. Is there a solution for this?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies

    1. Hi Laura,

      Great question. Did you try the vegetable glycerine in there? I think this might be the magic ingredient. I've been experimenting with a bottle. Made it on May 4th (with the orange oil) and it still sprays great. No clogging. Let me know what you've tried in there along with the oil. And do you remember which oil?

      Thanks,
      --Amber

      Delete

  • hi, i would love to make this for after gym. its so simple! i always try to look for natural body sprays because artifical scents give me a huge headache.

    i just have a few questions:
    will the scent last long?
    will it be okay in a plastic bottle?
    is the scent going to go weird if the temp. is warm?

    really helpful post :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies

    1. Hi Kristen,

      Good questions!

      I've had mine for over 2 months and the scent is still going strong. It's my assumption that the scent will last for the life of the spray.

      I'm sure it will be fine in a plastic bottle. Just remember that oil leaches out the toxins found in plastic, and so then you'll be spraying it on your skin, and thus it will be absorbed by your body. If you can fine a stainless steel bottle, I would go with that.

      And no, if the liquid gets warm it will not affect the smell, just perhaps the texture and integrity of the liquid. It may thicken up? Not sure? Then you may have issues with the spray. If this happens, just rinse off the sprayer to loosen.

      Please let me know how it turns out.

      Thanks,
      --Amber

      Delete

  • Amber,

    I am in love with your website! You are such an inspiration. I am so excited about trying this body spray :) Where did you find your blue glass spray bottles?

    Nicole

    ReplyDelete

  • Hello Anonymous,

    Thank you for your message. You made my day, :-)

    I found these cute blue bottles at my local natural health food store. They have an entire section dedicated to DIY lotions, spays, etc.

    Hops this helps.

    Be Well,
    --Amber

    ReplyDelete

  • WHAT size are these bottles? I'd like to try these recipes however I don't want a bottle that is too big. Thanks.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies

    1. Hello Andrea,

      The blue bottles are 1 ounce.

      Hope this helps.

      Thanks,
      -Amber

      And P.S. You can make them as big as you want - especially if you use a lot of spray or want to use it for a room.

      Delete

  • Hello Amber!
    Can i just use distilled water and essential oil (skip the glycerin). What is the purpose of the glycerin? How do you stick your selfmade labels on the bottle? Do you use sticker labels and cut them to fit the bottle? It looked so pretty! But when we wash the bottles, the labels will come off right?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies

    1. You can try to skip the glycerin. Let me know how it turns out? I would venture to say the glycerin is like a carrier for the oil and thus scent. But I guess you can just spray the water and oil on your body and it would be fine. I use mailing labels found at any office supply store. Take the labels off before you wash. They are only made of paper. Hope all this helps.

      Delete

  • Hello!! Love your site and thank you for the vast information found on your site. I have a question or two for you, is this mixture safe for clothes...i make my son a blend of essential oils as a cologne mixed with distilled water and vodka and make it in very small batches for him. Secondly what is the advantage of using glycerin vs alcohol mix, or is this just a personal preference for you?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies

    1. Great questions. I cannot answer the question about it being safe for clothes, sorry. I would just be cautious if using around something delicate...the essential oils are oils and will stain I am sure. I would think that the alcohol and glycerin serve the same exact purpose. I made this body spray after reading the ingredients off a bottle of body spray at my Natural Foods Coop. They were: essential oil, glycerin, and water. So, I decided to just make my own because I did not like the scents they had (too strong as well). Making my own allows me to adjust the level of scent to my preference. That all being said, I have not experimented with other forms of body spray or ingredients, so I have never thought about using alcohol. I happen to really like vegetable glycerin and it's a great moisturizer, so that's why I use it. Let me know how it turns out for you and your son. Thanks.

      Delete

  • I found a bottle of glycerin and I am not sure if it is the vegetable kind or not...is there different kinds? Thank you and I cant wait to try it out! Oh an can you buy it at walmart?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies

    1. Hello Megan,

      Please see my link above to the glycerin I use. I am not sure about what brand you purchased. And not to sound like too much of a snob on my end, but I don't shop at Walmart. Sorry I can't help you out with any products there. I found all my supplies at my Natural Foods Coop, but I am sure you can find similar things at Rite Aid or any drug store would carry glycerin. Good luck and I hope it works out for you. I am having fun with different scents and they are well received as gifts.

      Delete

  • I was searching for a recipe to make essential oil body spray to use in a yoga class for my students and came across this recipe. I find the addition of glycerine interesting and, like someone else, was wondering exactly why it's included. I was wondering: does it help the oils distribute evenly through the water? It also moisturizes the skin, so maybe that could be the reason? Has anyone found how is better with the glycerin than without?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies

    1. Hi There,

      Good question. First, I want to be honest and tell you I don't know exactly why glycerin is used, but I believe it is perhaps used as a carrier of the oil. It might distribute it more evenly when sprayed, with the added bonus of moisturizing.

      I don't think there is any harm in using just water, but you could do an experiment and make one with just water and the other with glycerin and water.

      As mentioned in the post, I simply used what I found in the store on a bottle of body spray that was WAY too expensive to purchase, it was pennies to make and so I followed the ingredients list from the store product. I have not made any spray with just the essential oil and water.

      I don't think leaving it out would make that big of a difference, that being said, I have not tried it so I cannot say for sure. I am still using my spray that I made in November. It still work great and smells the same. When I run out maybe I will just refill with water and essential oil and see how that works for the long-term.

      Thanks and have a great day.

      Delete

  • Hello Ladies,

    I was searching for a way to make natural body sprays and came across your website. This is fantastic, thank you for the recipe!! I wanted to offer an answer to your most common question as a thank you. Glycerin is used in body sprays as a preservative and a moisturizer. If you leave out the glycerin, the fragrance will only last a few days in the water.

    Have a great day!
    Heather

    ReplyDelete
    Replies

    1. Hi Heather,

      Thank you, thank you!!! :-)

      Delete

    2. I made a body spray out of distilled water, essential oils, and a couple of tablespoons of vodka about 3 weeks ago and the scent is still going strong. Maybe the vodka preserves the scent?

      Delete

    3. Awesome!

      Delete

  • I am so glad I found this recipe. I received Zum Mist as a gift for Christmas and I LOVE it. It is labeled as a body mist/aromatherapy room spray. It has lasted a long time, and I love that it doesn't start smelling like alcohol after awhile (like most other sprays do over time). Like you, I looked at the ingredients and thought, "Surely I can make this!" I didn't know what amounts of each thing to use, so I'm happy for your info! Thanks so much. I can't wait to try it!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies

    1. Thanks Sarah. You'll have to tell me how it works out for you. This recipe/post is one of my most popular (I get a ton of hits on it) but I always wonder if anyone has tried making it and how it worked for them.

      Have a great rest of your week and have a fabulous weekend.

      Be Well,
      --Amber

      Delete

  • Thanks for sharing these great recipes! I am so excited to try them!!

    Just so you know, from your description you probably have Multiple Chemical Sensitivity. My husband & I have had it for almost 3 years now following a mold exposure in our previous apartment. It can be very debilitating! I'm so sorry you've experienced this. The best helps for us are chemical avoidance, detox, vitamins/supplements, antifungal diet, and also a medicine called cholystyramine - Google it along with mold. I'm not an md, but wanted to share what has helped us. Chemical sensitivities are so challenging! People don't understand that we can smell their laundry products on their clothes (and get very sick from them). Hopefully companies will source more natural products for their scents in the future. :)

    Thanks for sharing the recipe! I wish you all the best!

    PS. Sherry Rogers has some good books on detox, MCS, and candida diet and supplements. They may prove helpful to you and/or others here who are struggling with chemical sensitivities.

    Glad I found you on Pinterest! :)

    -ma

    ReplyDelete
    Replies

    1. What an amazing, informative comment! Thank you so much! This is why blogging has been so helpful to my health. I receive such valuable information from far and wide and I love it. I will look into everything you mentioned. My chemical sensitivity is out of control and I am telling you, I feel like I have the nose of a Bloodhound. I can smell EVERYTHING!!! Things my husband can't smell at first. Anyway, thanks so much for stopping by.

      Be Well,
      --Amber

      Delete

  • I love this product. It leaves my skin feeling so soft and if you use a corresponding scent in their body scrub, you will smell good all day long.

    Dry Skin Care

    ReplyDelete

  • Do you filter the water with a normal Brita type filter or is it distilled water?
    Thanks so much !

    ReplyDelete
    Replies

    1. You can use any filtered water. I purchase excellent water at my local Coop and use it for drinking and cleaning veggies/fruit. We have well water here, so lots of calcium and minerals. It would compromise the quality of the spray.

      Delete

  • Hi, I just found this and I was doing a similar sort of thing with essential oils as an insect repellent and tried witch hazel (which you might not want for a perfume due to the scent) and aloe vera (to help keep the mix in suspension). Don't know if it will stay in suspension long term (just mixed it tonight), but it should help it stay mixed longer. I was looking this up for doing a body spray, not realizing that I had much of answer at hand. Great post and web site.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies

    1. Many thanks! We also make homemade bug spray. So awesome. :-)

      Delete

  • Do you know of anyone that sells essential oils without Phenoxethanol, or, any derivatives of that preservative. I am severely allergic to anything with that in it. I like your recipes. They sound great. If I can now find essential oils without that ingredient, I will try them. I may actually get to wear something nice.

    Thank you very much.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies

    1. The several oils at my Coop are preservative free. You might want to check out my friend, Laura's blog. She sells high quality essential oils that I am sure are free of any preservatives.

      Here is her site and link to the oils: aurasglutenfreepantry.com/my-gluten-free-pantry

      Delete

  • Will this ruin my clothes?like is it oily when you spray it? Id like to try this but dont want to wreck my clothes

    ReplyDelete
    Replies

    1. Hello. I suggest you spray it directly on your skin and rub it in. It is not oily, primarily just watery. There is very little oil from the essential oils and vegetable glycerin. That being said, like all spray and anything else you are putting on your body, be mindful of sensitive fabrics. I hope this helps.

      Delete

  • Thank You so much. I have the same problems with smells only mine is worse. I either can't smell anything if it is a weak smell but when it is a strong smell I get the same symptoms as you, only I break out depending on how strong the perfume smell will be etc... l will be sick for days . I cant go in any of the stores with perfumes or candles. If I am shopping and someone walks by me with s strong smell I have to walk out. I have very sensitive skin too. allergic to a lots of products.
    They haven't diagnosed me with crohn's yet, the doctors are still trying to figure that part out.
    Do you have a hair shampoo recipe ?
    I tried your deodorant the coconut is strong for me but once its on I can't smell it. Its great. The body spray is great too. I can do a few drops of lavender and grapefruit.
    I am so Happy I found this blog.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies

    1. I'm sorry to hear about your sensitivity and the severity of your symptoms. I can totally relate! I'm sorry but I don't have a shampoo recipe. For what it's worth, I use Griffin Remedy (and love their products): http://griffinremedy.com/shop/shampoo/shampoo/.

      You poor thing! Even the coconut oil is strong for you. I agree that once on, it becomes odorless. Glad you are enjoying the body spray. My favorite right now is lavender rose. Smells so nice.

      Thank you for the nice comment. You made my night.

      Be Well,
      --Amber

      Delete
  • Vannesha BradleyMarch 3, 2014 at 12:51 PM

    Do you have to use a glass bottle? Can you use plastic?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies

    1. Hi Vannesha,

      Of course you can use plastic. I just always recommend glass if you can find it. Do what works best for you. Thanks.

      Delete
    • Add comment
    Load more...

    Newer Post Older Post Home
    Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)

    LinkWithin

    Total Pageviews