Make Pure Aromatherapy Mists At Home
Aromatherapy is extremely exciting, but people often find themselves asking, “How do I USE these oils?” Anyone who’s gone crazy over an essential oil understands that once you find an oil you love, you want to smell it constantly. Such is the power of scent! Smelling beautiful oils from their tiny blue bottles is how most of us end up buying essential oils, but we don’t want to stop there. A unique way to use your oils is to create aromatherapy sprays or misters. This application allows you to work with the healing properties of essential oils without necessitating carrier oils or diffusers. Best of all, they are fun and easy to create.
How many times have you encountered a commercial room spray that made your head ache? Often, the fragrances used in these products are synthetic and leave us feeling bowled over rather than refreshed. Therapeutic-grade essential oils are all plant-derived, and if we find oils we like, our experience of a room spray changes significantly. Instead of simply acting as a mask for unpleasant odors, an aromatherapy spray changes the atmosphere of a room, providing us with instant physical and psychological benefits.
Essential oil sprays contain a mixture of oils, water and, sometimes, witch hazel. To create your own, all you need are your own oils, purified water and spray bottles. Since aromatic oils don’t do well with too much light exposure, try to find amber or cobalt blue bottles to protect your blends. When topping off with water, find the purest water possible to avoid the risk of compromising your blend with chemicals, such as chlorine. Also, if you want to store your blends for more than two months, it’s a good idea to mix in a bit of witch hazel. This extract from the plant Hamamelis virginiana provides natural preservation of your aromatic oils. Next, the best part - your oils!
The great number of essential oils available today means you can easily make a different spray for car, office and home. While most of us only think of scent when deciding on aromatherapy oils, it’s always ideal to get the best quality oil you can find. High-quality oils are potent healers, and you will need to use very little oil to achieve great results. Your senses know the difference between so-so oils and oils that offer the full spectrum of healing benefits. Since scent creates an instantaneous mind/body response, go with your instincts when it comes to choosing oils and don’t skimp! Your senses will thank you in the long run.
Any essential oil can be turned into a spray, but some are even better than others. The citrus oils, like mandarin, grapefruit, lemon, lime and tangerine, make great misters. Citrus oils give your environment an instant facelift, turning a tired room into a bright sanctuary. These pleasing oils can be mixed with sharp-smelling oils like eucalyptus, rosemary verbenone, myrtle or peppermint for a balanced blend. Just remember, citrus oils can cause skin reactions if they are exposed to sun, so keep these blends indoors.
The family of aromatic oils that includes cedar, sandalwood, juniper, spruce, balsam fir and black spruce are also well-loved oils as room sprays. These pines and woods are grounding, while at the same time, they make our spirits feel buoyant and calm. They can be particularly nourishing in wintertime, when we are not as capable of being outside. These oils, different from floral or fruity aromas, lend a space a gentle scent reminiscent of incense or oil resins.
Next, blending. First, fill your bottle most of the way with water. If witch hazel is needed, blend it in a 4 to 1 ratio. For one ounce of liquid, put in 4 to 16 drops of oil. Since the water and oil won’t naturally blend, you must shake the mixture whenever you use it. All essential oils can be made into misters, yet some oils are more viscous that others (like vetiver) and need to be shaken well prior to spraying.
When blending your own scents, start with a few drops and increase in number to make sure you enjoy the mix. Just remember that strong oils, like peppermint, black pepper or cinnamon, are intense once atomized. Only use a few drops of oil, and you should run no risk of irritating your nose, eyes or throat. Also, it’s usually a good idea to avoid essential oils that have been mixed with carrier oils. These mixtures may clog your spray bottle, as carrier oils do not evaporate the way essential oils do.
Blending aromatherapy room sprays is an easy, enjoyable way to introduce children to the benefits of plant medicine as well. There are, however, a few guidelines to remember when creating sprays for children. For example, always go for less oil in a spray intended for children than you would for an adult. Soft oils like sandalwood, lavender, rose and Roman chamomile are nice for children, as are rosalina, lemon tea tree and vanilla. In fact, vanilla is one of the most calming oils in aromatherapy. If a peaceful night’s sleep is what your child needs (or what you need, for that matter!) 2 drops of Roman chamomile and 2 drops of lavender in one ounce of carrier water will help. Just spray this in the child’s room. Only remember, essential oils should NEVER be misted in a child’s face.
Don’t forget that these sprays can also be adapted for use as natural perfume or deodorant. Simply choose oils that are non-irritating to the skin and mix in the same way you would a room spray. A few beautiful oils to consider: jasmine, rose, sandalwood, vetiver or neroli all make wonderful personal sprays. Just avoid spraying near the eyes or face. Also, any oil you’re using for healing purposes can be diluted in a water/witch hazel mixture and applied as needed throughout the day. If you want your scents on the go, pocket- and purse-size misters are a great way to freshen up, calm down or revive in the middle of the day.
Discovering which oils work for you is a delightful journey. The next step is learning how to mix and match your favorites and developing a few methods of application that work in different contexts. Nature is a bouquet of aromas, so there is no limit to the variety of aromatherapy treats you can create. Misters are an ideal way to extend your oils, as they use very little oil and pack an incredible aromatic punch. They are quick to create and can be used in virtually all environments to change the feel of a space. Once you start to incorporate aromatherapy in your daily life, the urge to find new and exciting ways to experience your favorite oils becomes second nature. Start with misters and have fun!