Essential oils were one of my first witchy traditions, and experimenting with homemade recipes is a way to be creative, spiritual and intimately connected with the gifts of nature. I’ve mixed potions for countertop sprays, massage oil, yoga mat cleaners and sensual perfumes. Here are some easy essential oil recipes to get you started on your journey.
I am also a huge advocate of replacing toxic household cleaners, sprays, perfumes and lotions with natural, chemical-free alternatives.
If you are eating organic and drinking filtered water, why would you still use toxic products? The shocking amount of chemicals in conventional cleaning products contribute to the toxic load in our bodies – and it’s easy to forget how a few sprays here and there build up.
These essential oil recipes are simple and cheap to make once you’ve got the ingredients on hand. They will last you ages and they smell divine. Plus, did you know that essential oils have medicinal properties to relieve pain and tension, reduce anxiety and fight infection?
You’ll be cleaning your house and your body at the same time.
The low-down on essential oils
A quick warning: essential oils can be addictive. Not in the narcotics kind of way, but once you get into them, it is very tempting to buy every oil under the sun and hoard a huge collection. They’re fun.
My suggestion is to start with a small collection of versatile oils and build from there.
To keep you restrained, I’ve made a list of the absolute essentials that you should begin with. These are the basics for the household cleaning products and can also be used in diffusers for aromatherapy, for making perfumes and for topical application.
Essential oil recipes must-haves list for cleaning products
These are some of the cheapest essential oils, too, and you can usually find them in chemists, health food stores and online.
Dark-coloured bottles are important because they protect your essential oil concoctions from sunlight, making them last longer.
The rest of the ingredients for household cleaning products are things you’ll likely already have at home.
Some of the following recipes have additional essential oils that I haven’t included in the above Basics Lists. I would suggest starting with the simpler recipes, which use most of the same oils, and then branch out from there.
All-Purpose Counter Cleaner
Tea tree essential oil is well known for its antibacterial properties. You could also substitute with eucalyptus oil.
This can be used on any surface (since it doesn’t use vinegar or peroxide), and is especially good for glass.
1 cup distilled water
1 tsp liquid castile soap
10 drops lemon essential oil
10 drops tea tree essential oil
Combine in spritzer and shake before use. Lasts 1 year.
Yoga Mat Spray
Keeping your mat feeling and smelling fresh will make your yoga or pilates experience so much more enjoyable. You can experiment with the ingredients for different aromas.
1/4 cup witch hazel
5 drops peppermint essential oil
5 drops tea tree essential oil
5 drops lavender essential oil
Combine in a 500ml sprizter bottle and fill to the top with distilled water. Spray yoga mat after each use and wipe down with cloth. Allow mat to dry completely before storing.
Head Cold Aromatherapy Blend
Diffuse this for instant relief and antibacterial properties whenever you feel a head cold coming on.
Fill your diffuser with filtered water, then follow the instructions of your diffuser for how many total drops of essential oil to use for its size, using the ratio below.
1 part rosemary essential oil
1 part eucalyptus essential oil
1 part peppermint essential oil
Lavender & Eucalyptus Dish Soap
Lavender is one of the safest and most versatile essential oils. Combined with eucalyptus, a powerful cleaning agent, this soap will smell amazing and leave your dishes sparkling.
1 cup unscented liquid castile soap
1 tbsp distilled water
15 – 30 drops lavender essential oil
7 – 14 drops eucalyptus essential oil
5 – 10 drops palmarosa essential oil
Combine in pump top container and shake before use. Lasts 1 year.
Sexy Sandalwood Perfume
This is my favourite essential oil perfume I’ve made and I always get comments on how intoxicating it smells.
It uses a few oils not in the basics list, so invest in these extras if you’re committed to the essential oil game.
A few notes on making essential oil perfumes:
- Alcohol must be at least 100-proof (190-proof is best). You can find it in most supermarkets.
- Water must be distilled (tap water could create bacterial growth and ruin the concoction).
- Use a total of 30-45 drops of essential oil.
- Always add your base notes first, then middle notes, then top notes.
1 tbsp alcohol
1 ½ tsp distilled water
Base: 18 drops sandalwood essential oil
Middle: 6 drops cedarwood essential oil
Top: 8 drops rose or palmarosa essential oil
Combine in spray bottle or clean jar. Shake and store tightly covered in a cool dark place, from 48 hours to 6 weeks, depending on how strong you want it. Decant into a small spritz bottle or roller.
Some essential oil tips
Before you start…
- When buying essential oils, terms to look for on labels: look for ‘steam-distilled.’ For citrus essential oils, look for ‘cold-pressed.’ Also look for ‘small batch’ or ‘hand harvested,’ or organic certifications. Terms like ‘therapeutic grade’ or ‘grade A’ mean nothing!
- Use glass or ceramic bowls for mixing recipes. Essential oils react with metals and corrode plastic.
- Seal bottles tightly and store in a cool, dark place
- Use dark-coloured glass jars for storing concoctions
- If you spill some oil straight on skin, add lots of oil (olive oil, coconut, jojoba, avocado) to the area and wipe it away
Now it is time for you to go experiment!
I have plenty more essential oils recipes up my sleeve – diffusing blends, skincare and personal care, perfume and healing. Let me know what you’d like to see!
Love,
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