Homemade Aromatherapy Spray

Have you ever dabbled in essential oils and aromatherapy? You don’t need to be an expert to make your own great smelling homemade aromatherapy spray and essentials that will help you not only create a calming atmosphere at home, depending on what scents you choose, you can destress or help yourself fall asleep.

They can made thoughtful homemade gifts too. When a family member or friend is going through a tough time, it’s often hard to know what you can do to help. In her book Hope, Make, Heal, Mara Pagán Donenfeld shares craft projects that can help ease hardship and tragedy, such as fresh scents that will infuse a sense of peace. This homemade room spray will refresh a room and dispel odor. Gift Maya’s Rest-Easy Spray or have a friend over to develop a custom scent together.

You can take small travel-sized bottles like this anywhere you go. For larger sizes that will last longer, be sure to choose a darker glass bottle which will help preserve the scents of your essential oils.

Basic Homemade Aromatherapy Spray

30 drops essential oil
3 ounces rubbing alcohol or vodka
1 ½ cups distilled water
Maya’s Rest-Easy Spray
10 drops lavender essential oil
5 drops chamomile essential oil
5 drops rose geranium essential oil
1–2 drops valerian flower essence
Distilled water

Add the essential oils and flower essence to a spray bottle, then fill the rest of the bottle with distilled water. Shake and spray.

Beautifully displayed reed diffuser with light and bright colors and a coral colored rose. — Experiment with your aromatherapy base by replacing the rubbing alcohol or vodka with pure vanilla extract. Photo by Henry DuKuyper.

Try a Reed Diffuser

For a steady scent you don’t have to spray, make your own aromatherapy reed diffuser. In a glass jar or bottle, combine ¼ cup safflower or sweet almond oil with 1 teaspoon rubbing alcohol and 10–15 drops essential oil. Add some reed sticks or bamboo skewers and your scent will seep up into the room.

Fresh flowers and essential oil rollers with custom labels. — You can also turn your aromatherapy recipes into roller ball perfumes. These make great gifts too. Photo by Brittany Neale on Unsplash

Did you know?

Aromatherapy is the age-old practice of using plants (or rather their aromatic plant oils, including essential oils) to alter one’s mood or mental or physical wellbeing. The ancient Chinese, Egyptians and Greeks used essential oils in their medicines and even in cosmetics to promote healing, ward off infections and set a spiritual mood.

Don’t Forget the Label!

Be sure your recipients know what scent they’re receiving. Adhere labels to your spray bottles or glass jars and list the scents you’ve used, or give your custom scent a name such as “Dinner Party at 8,” “Mulled Wine on the Stove” or “A Garden Breeze.”

Custom bottle label for home or cleaning spray. — Take your gift-giving up a notch by personalizing your packaging. There are companies on Etsy who specialize in custom made labels and decals. Courtesy of Etsy

Seasonal Scents to Try

Winter Use scents that will remind your recipient of cozy evenings and snow-filled woods. Try essential oils such as orange, peppermint, rosemary, fir tree and cedar wood.

Spring Try flowery scents for spring. Lavender, geranium, chamomile, bergamot and rose water work well. You also can purchase flower essences from craft and specialty grocery stores.

Summer The hot months are the time for sun and citrus fruits. Try several combinations using orange, lemon, lime, grapefruit and coconut.

Autumn Shorter days and colder weather mean scarves and warm drinks. Make a spray with warm spice oils such as clove, cardamom, ginger, cinnamon and eucalyptus.