DIY Perfume with Essential Oils

When I was pregnant with Fallon I ran out of my favorite perfume. I thought a quick google search would show me where to find the best deal on a new bottle. But that lead to me an article that scared me straight. I had no idea that I was dousing myself daily in a multitude of toxic chemicals. And, this part really gets me, subjecting my unborn baby to all of them as well. Essential oils weren't even on my radar at the time but I felt strongly enough about the research on store bought perfume to ditch mine completely. 

I was always the girl who liked to carry a cloud of scent around me, leave a trail in my wake and imprint on anyone I hugged. So when I started using essential oils I absolutely loved being able to wear scents again without worrying about nasty effects on my body. I've now made several of my own natural, safe perfumes that smell amazing! And the best part is knowing that when my babies snuggle into my neck they are not breathing in harmful chemicals. 

What you need:

4oz glass fine mist spray bottle (like these or this)

3oz vodka

1oz fractionated coconut oil (or other carrier oil)

50-70 drops essential oils

Add the essential oils and carrier oil to the bottle of the spray bottle then top with vodka. Shake to combine then let the oils meld together over the course of a few days and allow the alcohol scent to dissipate. You can leave out the alcohol all together and use witch hazel or just carrier oil in its place. The alcohol just seems to combine the scents much better. I also have a few rollers I've made up to throw in my diaper bag and would be great for traveling. I just use a third of the ingredients. 

Creating your own perfume blends can be a really fun process! Commercial scents are created using base (10-20 drops), middle (20-30 drops) and top notes (10-15 drops) and you can do the same with oils. Use one or several of your favorites from each category to customize a scent that's perfect for you. 

Our Oily Summer

And every summer there she is, lotioning, oiling, oiling, lotioning. The perfect quote for this post from one of my very favorite movies for summertime. Oils are always in season but there are so many great ways to use them through the dog days. I thought I'd share how we are using them through the next few months of sunshine, pool days and summer nights outside. 

Bug Spray

I walk outside for 2 seconds and get a bug bite without repellent. Last summer I whipped up a homemade spray and wow did it keep those creepy crawlers away! Mix 1/4 cup witch hazel + 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar + 1 tbsp vodka + 5 drops each Citronella + Clove + Lemongrass + Peppermint + Eucalyptus + Lavender + Tea Tree + Rosemary in an 8oz amber glass bottle.

Mermaid Hair

Healthy, shiny hair is great all year round but summer is the time to rock those beach waves. 1tsp of sea salt + 1tbsp of coconut oil + 10 drops each Lavendar + Rosemary + Cedarwood in a 4oz amber glass bottle. Mist onto damp hair and scrunch in your hands then let air dry. 

Deck Hangs

Summer evenings listening to the crickets sing and watching the sunset are so much more enjoyable when you aren't fending off bugs. You can bring a diffuser outside but a cool hack is to use a fan! Just drop your oils onto clothespins and clip them to the fan. A few drops each of Citronella + Lemongrass + Peppermint will smell amazing to you, not so much to the bugs!

Carpet Refresher

We actually call it carpet sprinkles! Living with 3 cats and 3 dogs means summertime is shedding season and we are constantly vacuuming. We keep a jar of 2 cups baking soda + 10 drops each Purification, Lavender and Lemon to sprinkle on the carpet before vacuuming. It leaves the room smelling so fresh and clean!

Perfume 

Smell amazing without all the chemicals! Add 5 drops each of Geranium + Jade Lemon + White Angelica to a roller bottle and top with fractionated coconut oil. 

After Sun Spray

Cool down and relax after a long day out in the sun with a soothing mist. Mix 5 drops each Eucalyptus + Lavender + Frank and top with equal parts fractionated coconut oil and rosehip oil in a 4oz amber glass bottle. 

Fresh Blooms

Keep your flowers fresh longer with a few drops of Purification added to the vase.

Itchy Spray 

Bug bites, peeling skin and fresh cut grass can make you scratch yourself raw. Keep from clawing with a spray that holds the itchies at bay. 5 drops each Lavender + Tea Tree + Purification topped with fractionated coconut oil in a 4oz amber glass spray bottle. 

Diffuser Blend

Even with the A/C running and the ceiling fans going it can get a little stuffy inside with the midwest humidity cranked up. We love diffusing 3 drops each of Stress Away + Lime + Copaiba. Smells like vacation!

Happy Hour

Margaritas and guac are brought to a whole new level with fresh limes and a few drops of Lime oil. Seriously, you'll never go back!

The Bed Time Routine

Even just a few months ago I never would have believed I'd be writing this post. Although Fallon has been an A+ nighttime sleeper basically since birth, getting her to sleep at night was not always so easy. In fact, many nights it took so long I was ready for bed myself by the end of it all. But consistency was key and FINALLY all our efforts to maintain a routine paid off. I can honestly say that at least 95% of the time we take the same steps before bed time within the same general timeframe and Fallon goes right to sleep without so much as a fuss. She wakes us up at the crack of dawn but I can still count on one hand the number of times Chris or I have had to go to her room after she's gone to bed in the last year. We may be failing in all other parenting aspects but at least we've got this going for us! So many people have asked for our nightly routine specifics and honestly I haven't shared because it's nothing fancy and maybe even a little boring. But there must be some kind of magic to it for us so we go.....

6PM - Bath Time

As soon as Fallon was old enough to get sink baths we started doing them every single night around the same time. I can't say for sure that it helped to serve as a base for understanding a nighttime routine but it certainly didn't hurt. We now just do baths every other night unless it's necessary and sometimes baths happen in the morning for a variety of reasons. But mostly we stick to bath time after dinner.

6:30PM - Calm Down

Lotion, jammies and oils immediately follow bath time or we start the routine now if it's not a bath night. We've been using essential oils consistently for over 6 months with Fallon and I think they've made huge improvements. She has a rollerball of Lavender + Cedarwood for the bottoms of her feet and one with Peace & Calming to go behind her ears for all the winding down for bed time vibes. 

7:00PM - Relax

By this time Fallon has to either sit with me or Chris to read books or watch a movie/TV show. No more playing, just quiet chill time. Sometimes she does protest or even scream if she was doing something she thought was really fun. But generally we do not waiver and she will comply fairly easily. 

7:30PM - Bed Time

A drop of Lavender or Gentle Baby on her lovey or stuffed buddy of choice and upstairs we go. We make it a point to tell her it's time to go Night Night and I'm still shocked when she shakes her head yes as she rubs her tired little eyes. Occasionally she will even get up and walk to the steps. In her room we turn on her diffuser, which has already been filled with water and a sleepy time blend. My go to for her is Lavender + Gentle Baby but we will add Frankinsence if it's been a really rough day or switch to RC + Lemon if she has the sniffles or some congestion. We rock for a minute or 2 in the rocker even though it's completely unnecessary at this point, just a nice way to end the night with her. Then in her crib she goes, we cover her up + give her a kiss and quietly leave the room. I cannot tell you how many times I've come downstairs, looked at the monitor and she's already asleep! 

These are steps we've fallen into with trial and error and learning how our child responds. Essential oils obviously now play a large part in our nightly routine and I am happy to share more if there is interest. But if that's not your thing they can certainly be left out! We are still novice parents over here but when you discover something that seems to work well continuously, it's nice to share.

Sweet Dreams!

Fall Diffuser Blends

It's probably no surprise to you by now that fall scents are my absolute favorite. All of the crisp air, falling leaves, baking spices and cozy home smells just put me in a good mood. I used to buy candles by the dozen and burn them like they were going out of style. But since I've been using oils I've been slowly burning down my old soy candles and experimenting with diffuser combos instead. I ordered every fall scent I could think of last month and it has been so much fun to discover all the new ways to make my home smell like the season. I love learning which scents other people are diffusing and am always looking for more ideas. So I thought I would share the ones we have been loving lately. Maybe they are already your favorite combos too or maybe you'll get some new inspiration!

Northern Light Black Spruce + Tangerine + Cinnamon Bark

Bergamot + Lemon + Cardamon

Cedarwood + Orange + Cinnamon Bark

Patchouli + Thieves + Nutmeg + Ginger

Stress Away + Bergamot + Cinnamon Bark

Thieves + Cinnamon Bark + Orange

Orange + Bergamot + Ginger

Clove + Nutmeg + Cinnamon Bark

Purification + Thieves + Orange 

Patchouli + Stress Away + Ginger

10 Ways We Use Essential Oils

Let me start by saying I used to be the person thinking oils are a total scam. I would not even entertain the idea of learning about them for quite a long time. And then I had a baby. A perfect, willful, impatient, wild, nap boycotting baby. I was desperate and during an exhausted late night research quest I caved and bought a starter kit. Here we are 6 months later and I kind of want to slap my formerly skeptic self. 

But this post isn't about making a believer out of anyone or explaining how and why essential oils work. I have a lot to learn, and that's half the fun of incorporating oils into your life, but I have gained so much knowledge since I've started using them. I know jumping in can be overwhelming and we are all busy people. So whether you already use and love oils, just want to see what all the hype is about or take the full plunge, here are 10 ways we love using oils in our home. 

1. Diffusing - I LOVE my home to smell good. I am always amazed at what a scent can do for my mood or the memories it can conjure up. So instead of burning candles that can unfortunately emit toxic chemicals, we have fun trying new oil blends. A favorite is grapefruit + peppermint + lemon.

2. Room Spray - The ones you buy at the store aren't always the safest choice, and with 6 animals + a baby, I'd rather not chance it. We love lavender + gardenia for that moment the sheets are fresh and the bed is made and purification + orange for the bathroom.

3. Carpet Refresher - We actually call these carpet sprinkles and use them before vacuuming as well as to keep our litter boxes from stinking up the house. All you need is baking soda and your favorite oil or blend. Mix, sprinkle and let sit for 5-10 minutes, vacuum and enjoy the most refreshed smelling carpets. Lately I've been using 10 drops each of lime, orange or tangerine and stress away to make my floor smell like a tropical garden.

4. Facial Moisturizer - I have normal to dry sensitive skin and so many moisturizers do not work for me. I found one I loved and then my skin changed it's mind when I got pregnant. I did find another one but it's pricey and I was running low so I decided to try oils instead. It sounds crazy considering moisturizers typically tout their oil free ingredients. But essential oils actually have amazing skin benefits and don't leave your face feeling greasy. Jojoba oil is a close match to human sebum and oils like lavender, geranium, frankensince, lemon and tea tree can be so great for your complexion and healthy skin. 

5. Flavored Water - I love my coffee but I try to drink lots of water throughout the day. I always have a cup or a tumbler with me and while I don't have any problem with plain water, it's nice to throw in a little flavor sometimes. A drop of orange, lime, lemon or grapefruit gives my drink a nice little taste boost. 

6. Cleaning - I swear I am always cleaning. Or maybe it's that I'm always trying to clean. But a baby, dogs, cats or a husband seem to follow behind me making messes. That's just life as we know it though. I've been loving Thieves cleaner for pretty much all the spaces I clean regularly. I add a bit of lemon to take up the scent a notch and it also helps removes stains!

7. Allergies - Oh my goodness the allergies in the Ohio Valley are terrible from St. Patty's Day through Labor Day and sometimes well before and after in a bad year. I typically get hit pretty hard in early Spring so this year it's been wonderful to have oils come to the rescue. peppermint + lemon + lavender not only smells awesome but it really does help relieve those pesky symptoms. 

8. Keep Calm - As a busy SAHM I far too often find myself stressed to the max and overwhelmed. I love staying home with Fallon but oh man some days are just so HARD. I have a rollerball I keep filled with coconut oil, peace & calming and lavender. It takes the edge off and helps me remember to take a deep breath and also is great to roll on Fallon when she's having a moment. Or three. Stress away is also great to apply neat to wrists for calming feelings. 

9. Laundry - I had no idea how not so great dryer sheets are. And we used to go through them very quickly. I bought a set of wooly balls instead to scent with a few drops of oils and toss in the dryer. They are the perfect safe alternative, help your clothes dry faster and smell AMAZING. My current favorite is lemongrass + lavender for a clean, fresh meadow scent. 

10. Sleepy Vibes - This is the reason I started using oils in the first place. We now use them every evening to get nice and relaxed for a good night sleep. It depends on the day but we do a mix of cedarwood + lavender in the diffuser and/or sprayed on the sheets, pillows and pjs. Lavender on Fallon's lovey and peace & calming, gentle baby or lavender + cedarwood on the bottoms of feet or behind the ears are so soothing! 

What are you favorite ways to use oils?