I will consult this blog next time I purchase! For more crafts, beauty DIYs and recipe, follow us onPinterest,Instagram,andFacebook. If making this recipe to sell can you substitute essential oil for fragrance oil? First, mix the emulsifier and essential oils until the oils are dissolved in the emulsifier. Happy making! Thank you for your help!
Here are some ideas: Isopropyl alcohol or rubbing alcohol are not suitable for this essential oil recipe. Shake the bottle to combine both phases. I used this and add a bit color ( natural pigment epoxi for dye soap) the result was so perfect.
The linen spray can definitely be used as a room spray, great question .
Great question, Nina!
. Ultimately, what people choose to do at home is up to them.
Make natural room spray thats what! Was having a confusing time figuring out which preservative to use for my DIY projects. rose, lavender orange blossom etc.) Thank you for this post!
The scent is very engergising and will uplift your mood. In the shift towards all things natural, the term preservative has become a dirty word.
So, in other words, the alcohol has a percentage all of its own. Most professional aromatherapist courses do not teach how to formulate products like water sprays and homemade creams. This is great information and is very helpful. I used 4 oz / 120 ml spray bottles. Please leave a comment, Id love to know your favourite essential oil combinations for room spray! Its worth taking a course to make sure youre getting it right not just to comply with regulations, but also for your own peace of mind. A more natural preservative option that is derived from radish fermented with Leuconostoc kimchii. Hello I have a question. Witch Hazel is a water based product, so a preservative would still be recommended. Ive been watching countless YouTube videos on healthy DIY products and was super confused by whether preservatives are needed and if so, what kind.
They dont last forever, but they wont spoil as quickly as water-based products. (Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Sorbic Acid). Hi Lynn! This is a great blog post to help with DIY projects. Hi Evelyn! Im so glad you like the recipe. I used 1:1 water alcohol. *Offer for new subscribers only.
I am pleased that after reading your article that I was still pleased with the choice I had made to use. or can someone lead me to a place on how to calculate this?
Message and data rates may apply. Great information! 25% is just a good, easy percentage to work with that falls in between 20-30%, does that make sense? Thank you for all of the information. I just want to make a hair spray with water and Get Em Gone, which preservatives would you recommend? I was hoping I could sell my customers something that could last at least 1.5 years. I used sweet orange and lemon essential oils. How can I make my room spray last longer?
Wonderful blends! Shake until the liquids are blended. Republishing posts in their entirety is prohibited. We recommend doing your own research and making a decision you feel is right for you and your family. I bought a bunch of stuff, but havent made anything because I wasnt sure. This is certainly how I was taught, and youll spot this in one of my earliest YouTube videos. It is a rarity to find a company that goes above and beyond for their customers the way that this one does! If youve read this far and still feel perplexed by the whole debate I hear you! No, we dont sell preservatives. I am wondering the amount to add to a recipe. And never spritz near a candle or open flame. You will need to use an emulsifier as well.
But, if you want to SELL your room sprays (or other water-based products) you really cannot afford to bury your head in the sand when it comes to preservatives. Learn more. I too wish there were more natural options.. but I suppose a preservative isnt all that natural in and of itself. Mix the water and preservative in a sperate container. Here are some of the most common projects where youll want to consider adding a preservative: There are, of course, DIYs that wont need a preservative. You are free to try it out and report back your findings, though . Thats it! Or the Ethanol (Perfumer Alcohol) used is synthetic? Many essential oils are toxic to cats and can cause nausea in your furry friend. Learn more. If your spray performs well then theres no need to include another solubilizer. .then saw your video regarding preservatives, then also came across one of your recipes for a toner that called for an emulsifier but not a preservativer.Makes my head hurt..I will stick to non- water- based DIYs. Euxyl PE 9010 is a broad-spectrum, that is great for water-based products that are particularly hard to preserve, such as scrubs that are very low in glycerin, and facial masks that are high in clay. This is why one product is paraben free and another is not. I find this whole preservative bit intimidating. This is a fantastic article that goes into detail about how to use alcohol in aromatic blending. Please dont hesitate to contact our awesome Aromatherapists at [emailprotected] if you need some more information! Everyone has rubbing alcohol around. Hi Silvia! To preserve a water-based spray, use at least 120 proof grain alcohol for 20-30% of the product. Aloe jelly does not act as a preservative. Carrier oils and Aloe Gel do not act as preservatives, so if the ingredients have water, you could refer to this blog to see the recommended % for the preservative that would work best for you. Lisa, that is up to you to determine for your specific needs . Still, would not even dream of creating something as elaborate as a W/O formulation by myself. Also, keep in mind that some essential oils (for example, citrus essential oils) evaporate faster than others. There are a few preservatives that are broad-spectrum, meaning they protect against mold, bacteria, and fungi, and are great for most uses. Have some feedback youd like to share? 
Wow. Great article -I didnt realise there were different types for different jobs!
Thanks in advance <3. Ive been making foaming hand soap for quite a while and while it never seemed to get yucky- who knows what was hiding in the water. 2014-2018 Country Hill Cottage Ltd. All Rights Reserved. Thank you so much for this! Do you still need a preservative if you have other carrier oils in a product along with water and/or aloe Vera? Thank you for this very informative post! Consent is not a condition of the purchase of goods or services. Optiphen Plus is a paraben-free preservative that offers broad-spectrum protection for water and oil-based products. I hope this helps! Can I get a catalog with your products?
Thanks! From my research, most commercially available GSE contains benzethonium chloride or benzalkonium chloride which are only present because of the way it is processed and not very natural. Neither of these are present in truly natural GSE. If you are referring to grapefruit seed extract, yes it can be used a preservative, but its effectiveness is controversial.
I want to expand into DIY projects now but had no idea about the number of preservatives available and their specific limitations. What about aloe vera??? So stay clear of those. I hope this helps and please reach out if you have another question. This is an issue were seeing more and more as people are told they can easily create their own aromatherapy sprays at home, simply by mixing water and essential oils in a bottle. Also, there are lots of water-based recipes, including ones with witch hazel and hydrosols, that do not call for a preservative but probably should if you plan on keeping the product for longer than a few weeks and out of the fridge.
This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. In a video you created on a foaming hand soap on YouTube using germ destroyer it said to use optiphen plus and in the above blog you stated it should not be used in foaming hand soap.
Absolutely, Candace! So glad you have some more confidence to go forward and make some amazing DIYs! You can find small portions of many preservatives at lotioncrafter.com (not sure if thats an approved link here on PT). The amount of each ingredient is on the DIY card below. This is a lot of info! Glycerin is optional, and you can leave it out. So many DIYs I find dont use a preservative and Ive been so hesitant to begin projects. Using homemade room spray is silly simple: Do not spray directly on furniture, wood, fabrics, curtains, carpets, or anything that can be damaged by water or alcohol. Thank you PT for this post. Stephanie, Im afraid I dont understand what you are asking. Hello, Love the content, thanks so much for sharing. The NRDC study found that even products labelled unscented or all-natural did contain these potentially harmful chemicals. Thank you so much for answering my preservative questions! In addition to this refreshing essential oil blend, dissolve 1 tbsp fine sea salt in the water. Yes, you can use alcohol, but it needs to be a high-proof grain alcohol (such as Everclear). Add the water and oil mixtures into your spray bottle. Yes, that should work fine.
Naissance sells the same product under the name Symbiosolv Clear Plus. You can tint the mixture with water-soluble food color or soap dye. Thank you for the post. According to formulation expert Ginger L. Moore, it mustcontain at least 60% ethanol (120 proof) in order to preserve a water-based spray. Thank you for this incredible post! That is wonderful to hear, April! Otherwise, use boiled, cooled tap water. You didnt do anything wrong. I feel like the ingredients in all of these is what Im trying to avoid when making my own soap. They impart a very unpleasant smell and can cause headaches and migraine. Simply give your spray a good shake before each use and youre good to go. Thank you so much for this information! It is very interesting as are the blog comments!
Im wondering why more natural preservatives, like GSE or vitamin E, were not mentioned here. Finally! I have been accumulating a nice collection of single oils and synergies but have really only diffused or used them in inhalers or roller bottles. Amber, as aromatherapists, we are not formally trained in emulsifiers and preservatives so we cannot say for 100% certainty. If you enjoyed this post, pleaseshareit using the social media buttons you see next to the post.
Do you know if there are preservatives that are more organic and dont have ingredients with possible side effects? When I make a water based product, i.e. Cheap vodka wont do. I hope this helps and happy making! And how much per drops of EO added. A great example of this is sugar scrubs! I have had mine mold, so I make my cleaners as needed. First, test the room spray recipe with essential oil amounts as written above. Customers must be logged in to their account in order to apply discount to purchase. What we DO know is that bacteria can start to grow very quickly in a water-based spray as soon as 2 or 3 days!
Great information!
DIYs are a fun, creative way to make use of your essential oil collection. These simple essential oil recipes will teach you exactly what you need to make your non-toxic and natural room spray at home! Thank you for the useful information. It is not a preservative. The DIY air freshener spray is made with the following oils: Have a room spray formula you want to share?
Pure alcohol has a shelf life of 2 to 3 years, so that might align better with your goals. Until recently, this was commonly thought to be acceptable. I am so thankful for this blog post and the Live the other day to talk about preservatives. Ive recently started using Germall+ in my soaps. Its a minefield, isnt it? Country Hill Cottage is a lifestyle blog, where you find easy ideas for living well. foaming hand soap, I have no idea what the pH is so I would not know what to use. Lavender EO for example lasts for 2-3 years whereas lemon oil expires within 9 months to 1 year. Reading this makes me realize how much more research and studying I need to do when using preservatives! Thats because companies are allowed to hide all sort of ingredients under the umbrella term fragrance.. It also prolongs the staying power of the essential oil sprays by helping scent particles cling to the objects in your home. So much to learn. If you can still smell the alcohol, try to use another brand of vodka if possible. It would be nice to simply have a spray bottle on hand. I had been making Pinterest recipes that never mentioned a preservative. It would be something to do further research on if interested. The Plant Therapy website uses cookies for a variety of reasons. I have been considering making DIY linen spray as gifts for Christmas. Homemade Room Spray Recipes with Essential Oils, Yield: 1/2 cup / 120 ml / 4 oz room spray. Happy making! That would be about 3.2 ounces of alcohol.
Our knowledge is evolving all the time, and this is why its important that we never stop learning.
Then you can do an online search for the preservative and see what local stores may carry it. Can you please advice what preservative I can use for my bug repellent. lol, Kendra, we are sorry for the confusion.
You're welcome to link to Country Hill Cottage or use a single image with a brief description to link back to any post. Im sorry you had an issue. Thank you so much for commenting, Katie. Great information! I added bicarbonate soda and it occasionally blocks the spray.
I would ask the supplier to be certain. How much preservative would you need for a 16 oz bottle of hand soap? Jen, if you check the resources, there is a link for how to test the PH of a soap https://www.modernsoapmaking.com/how-to-ph-test-handmade-soap/ 2. If the basic formula is 25% pure alcohol, I dont see how the 120 proof alcohol would be 25% pure alcohol of the overall formula. And lastly, alcohol helps the scent molecules to disperse in the air. I am wondering why Potassium Sorbet and Sodium Benzoate are not recommended in your list? We definitely saw a need to help clear up some misconceptions about preservatives and offer additional insight.
Here are some ideas: Isopropyl alcohol or rubbing alcohol are not suitable for this essential oil recipe. Shake the bottle to combine both phases. I used this and add a bit color ( natural pigment epoxi for dye soap) the result was so perfect.
The linen spray can definitely be used as a room spray, great question .
Great question, Nina!
. Ultimately, what people choose to do at home is up to them.
Make natural room spray thats what! Was having a confusing time figuring out which preservative to use for my DIY projects. rose, lavender orange blossom etc.) Thank you for this post!
The scent is very engergising and will uplift your mood. In the shift towards all things natural, the term preservative has become a dirty word.
So, in other words, the alcohol has a percentage all of its own. Most professional aromatherapist courses do not teach how to formulate products like water sprays and homemade creams. This is great information and is very helpful. I used 4 oz / 120 ml spray bottles. Please leave a comment, Id love to know your favourite essential oil combinations for room spray! Its worth taking a course to make sure youre getting it right not just to comply with regulations, but also for your own peace of mind. A more natural preservative option that is derived from radish fermented with Leuconostoc kimchii. Hello I have a question. Witch Hazel is a water based product, so a preservative would still be recommended. Ive been watching countless YouTube videos on healthy DIY products and was super confused by whether preservatives are needed and if so, what kind.
They dont last forever, but they wont spoil as quickly as water-based products. (Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Sorbic Acid). Hi Lynn! This is a great blog post to help with DIY projects. Hi Evelyn! Im so glad you like the recipe. I used 1:1 water alcohol. *Offer for new subscribers only.
I am pleased that after reading your article that I was still pleased with the choice I had made to use. or can someone lead me to a place on how to calculate this?
Message and data rates may apply. Great information! 25% is just a good, easy percentage to work with that falls in between 20-30%, does that make sense? Thank you for all of the information. I just want to make a hair spray with water and Get Em Gone, which preservatives would you recommend? I was hoping I could sell my customers something that could last at least 1.5 years. I used sweet orange and lemon essential oils. How can I make my room spray last longer?
Wonderful blends! Shake until the liquids are blended. Republishing posts in their entirety is prohibited. We recommend doing your own research and making a decision you feel is right for you and your family. I bought a bunch of stuff, but havent made anything because I wasnt sure. This is certainly how I was taught, and youll spot this in one of my earliest YouTube videos. It is a rarity to find a company that goes above and beyond for their customers the way that this one does! If youve read this far and still feel perplexed by the whole debate I hear you! No, we dont sell preservatives. I am wondering the amount to add to a recipe. And never spritz near a candle or open flame. You will need to use an emulsifier as well.
But, if you want to SELL your room sprays (or other water-based products) you really cannot afford to bury your head in the sand when it comes to preservatives. Learn more. I too wish there were more natural options.. but I suppose a preservative isnt all that natural in and of itself. Mix the water and preservative in a sperate container. Here are some of the most common projects where youll want to consider adding a preservative: There are, of course, DIYs that wont need a preservative. You are free to try it out and report back your findings, though . Thats it! Or the Ethanol (Perfumer Alcohol) used is synthetic? Many essential oils are toxic to cats and can cause nausea in your furry friend. Learn more. If your spray performs well then theres no need to include another solubilizer. .then saw your video regarding preservatives, then also came across one of your recipes for a toner that called for an emulsifier but not a preservativer.Makes my head hurt..I will stick to non- water- based DIYs. Euxyl PE 9010 is a broad-spectrum, that is great for water-based products that are particularly hard to preserve, such as scrubs that are very low in glycerin, and facial masks that are high in clay. This is why one product is paraben free and another is not. I find this whole preservative bit intimidating. This is a fantastic article that goes into detail about how to use alcohol in aromatic blending. Please dont hesitate to contact our awesome Aromatherapists at [emailprotected] if you need some more information! Everyone has rubbing alcohol around. Hi Silvia! To preserve a water-based spray, use at least 120 proof grain alcohol for 20-30% of the product. Aloe jelly does not act as a preservative. Carrier oils and Aloe Gel do not act as preservatives, so if the ingredients have water, you could refer to this blog to see the recommended % for the preservative that would work best for you. Lisa, that is up to you to determine for your specific needs . Still, would not even dream of creating something as elaborate as a W/O formulation by myself. Also, keep in mind that some essential oils (for example, citrus essential oils) evaporate faster than others. There are a few preservatives that are broad-spectrum, meaning they protect against mold, bacteria, and fungi, and are great for most uses. Have some feedback youd like to share? Wow. Great article -I didnt realise there were different types for different jobs! Thanks in advance <3. Ive been making foaming hand soap for quite a while and while it never seemed to get yucky- who knows what was hiding in the water. 2014-2018 Country Hill Cottage Ltd. All Rights Reserved. Thank you so much for this! Do you still need a preservative if you have other carrier oils in a product along with water and/or aloe Vera? Thank you for this very informative post! Consent is not a condition of the purchase of goods or services. Optiphen Plus is a paraben-free preservative that offers broad-spectrum protection for water and oil-based products. I hope this helps! Can I get a catalog with your products?
Thanks! From my research, most commercially available GSE contains benzethonium chloride or benzalkonium chloride which are only present because of the way it is processed and not very natural. Neither of these are present in truly natural GSE. If you are referring to grapefruit seed extract, yes it can be used a preservative, but its effectiveness is controversial.
I want to expand into DIY projects now but had no idea about the number of preservatives available and their specific limitations. What about aloe vera??? So stay clear of those. I hope this helps and please reach out if you have another question. This is an issue were seeing more and more as people are told they can easily create their own aromatherapy sprays at home, simply by mixing water and essential oils in a bottle. Also, there are lots of water-based recipes, including ones with witch hazel and hydrosols, that do not call for a preservative but probably should if you plan on keeping the product for longer than a few weeks and out of the fridge.
This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. In a video you created on a foaming hand soap on YouTube using germ destroyer it said to use optiphen plus and in the above blog you stated it should not be used in foaming hand soap.
Absolutely, Candace! So glad you have some more confidence to go forward and make some amazing DIYs! You can find small portions of many preservatives at lotioncrafter.com (not sure if thats an approved link here on PT). The amount of each ingredient is on the DIY card below. This is a lot of info! Glycerin is optional, and you can leave it out. So many DIYs I find dont use a preservative and Ive been so hesitant to begin projects. Using homemade room spray is silly simple: Do not spray directly on furniture, wood, fabrics, curtains, carpets, or anything that can be damaged by water or alcohol. Thank you PT for this post. Stephanie, Im afraid I dont understand what you are asking. Hello, Love the content, thanks so much for sharing. The NRDC study found that even products labelled unscented or all-natural did contain these potentially harmful chemicals. Thank you so much for answering my preservative questions! In addition to this refreshing essential oil blend, dissolve 1 tbsp fine sea salt in the water. Yes, you can use alcohol, but it needs to be a high-proof grain alcohol (such as Everclear). Add the water and oil mixtures into your spray bottle. Yes, that should work fine.
Naissance sells the same product under the name Symbiosolv Clear Plus. You can tint the mixture with water-soluble food color or soap dye. Thank you for the post. According to formulation expert Ginger L. Moore, it mustcontain at least 60% ethanol (120 proof) in order to preserve a water-based spray. Thank you for this incredible post! That is wonderful to hear, April! Otherwise, use boiled, cooled tap water. You didnt do anything wrong. I feel like the ingredients in all of these is what Im trying to avoid when making my own soap. They impart a very unpleasant smell and can cause headaches and migraine. Simply give your spray a good shake before each use and youre good to go. Thank you so much for this information! It is very interesting as are the blog comments!
Im wondering why more natural preservatives, like GSE or vitamin E, were not mentioned here. Finally! I have been accumulating a nice collection of single oils and synergies but have really only diffused or used them in inhalers or roller bottles. Amber, as aromatherapists, we are not formally trained in emulsifiers and preservatives so we cannot say for 100% certainty. If you enjoyed this post, pleaseshareit using the social media buttons you see next to the post.
Do you know if there are preservatives that are more organic and dont have ingredients with possible side effects? When I make a water based product, i.e. Cheap vodka wont do. I hope this helps and happy making! And how much per drops of EO added. A great example of this is sugar scrubs! I have had mine mold, so I make my cleaners as needed. First, test the room spray recipe with essential oil amounts as written above. Customers must be logged in to their account in order to apply discount to purchase. What we DO know is that bacteria can start to grow very quickly in a water-based spray as soon as 2 or 3 days!
Great information!
DIYs are a fun, creative way to make use of your essential oil collection. These simple essential oil recipes will teach you exactly what you need to make your non-toxic and natural room spray at home! Thank you for the useful information. It is not a preservative. The DIY air freshener spray is made with the following oils: Have a room spray formula you want to share?
Pure alcohol has a shelf life of 2 to 3 years, so that might align better with your goals. Until recently, this was commonly thought to be acceptable. I am so thankful for this blog post and the Live the other day to talk about preservatives. Ive recently started using Germall+ in my soaps. Its a minefield, isnt it? Country Hill Cottage is a lifestyle blog, where you find easy ideas for living well. foaming hand soap, I have no idea what the pH is so I would not know what to use. Lavender EO for example lasts for 2-3 years whereas lemon oil expires within 9 months to 1 year. Reading this makes me realize how much more research and studying I need to do when using preservatives! Thats because companies are allowed to hide all sort of ingredients under the umbrella term fragrance.. It also prolongs the staying power of the essential oil sprays by helping scent particles cling to the objects in your home. So much to learn. If you can still smell the alcohol, try to use another brand of vodka if possible. It would be nice to simply have a spray bottle on hand. I had been making Pinterest recipes that never mentioned a preservative. It would be something to do further research on if interested. The Plant Therapy website uses cookies for a variety of reasons. I have been considering making DIY linen spray as gifts for Christmas. Homemade Room Spray Recipes with Essential Oils, Yield: 1/2 cup / 120 ml / 4 oz room spray. Happy making! That would be about 3.2 ounces of alcohol.
Our knowledge is evolving all the time, and this is why its important that we never stop learning.
Then you can do an online search for the preservative and see what local stores may carry it. Can you please advice what preservative I can use for my bug repellent. lol, Kendra, we are sorry for the confusion.
You're welcome to link to Country Hill Cottage or use a single image with a brief description to link back to any post. Im sorry you had an issue. Thank you so much for commenting, Katie. Great information! I added bicarbonate soda and it occasionally blocks the spray.
I would ask the supplier to be certain. How much preservative would you need for a 16 oz bottle of hand soap? Jen, if you check the resources, there is a link for how to test the PH of a soap https://www.modernsoapmaking.com/how-to-ph-test-handmade-soap/ 2. If the basic formula is 25% pure alcohol, I dont see how the 120 proof alcohol would be 25% pure alcohol of the overall formula. And lastly, alcohol helps the scent molecules to disperse in the air. I am wondering why Potassium Sorbet and Sodium Benzoate are not recommended in your list? We definitely saw a need to help clear up some misconceptions about preservatives and offer additional insight.