DIY Body Spray with essential oils is super easy to customize with your favorite scents.
Back in college, my roommate and I would slather ourselves with Victoria’s Secret body lotion and body sprays every day. You must have been able to smell us coming a mile away. Now I cringe thinking about what I was putting on my body.
These days, I am much more interested in keeping harmful and toxic ingredients off of my skin. Almost all of my lotions, shampoos, and body products are fragrance-free.
I have to admit, sometimes, I miss the girly scents. I used to buy shower soap based totally on how it smelled.
Plus, there are times when I can use a little body refreshening spray. Am I right? You know the times I’m talking about. I squeeze a workout in while Luke’s at preschool, but time for a shower is going to have to come later. DIY Body Spray time.
Making your own body sprays with essential oils is easy. You might even have all of the ingredients you need on hand. Let’s take a look at what you need.
DIY Body Spray Ingredients
- Distilled or filtered water–tap water can work also, but certain minerals may alter the desired outcome.
- Vodka or witch hazel–I use vodka because I usually have some on hand. It acts as a preservative and helps keep the oil from settling at the bottom of the bottle.
- Your favorite essential oil scents
- Vegetable Glycerin–this is optional, but will help the scents last longer
- Small spray bottle, preferably glass like these
I have two DIY Body Spray recipes for you to try. While I have a lot of essential oils, I found it difficult to find a combination that I liked for a body spray. While I love lavender as a linen spray, for example, I don’t really want to smell like lavender. So you really can use these as a guide and come up with what you love. Scents are very personal.
DIY Citrus Energy Body Spray
This is a light and refreshing scent. I called it Citrus Energy because the scents are uplifting and seem to wake me up.
1 ounce distilled or filtered water
0.5 ounce vodka or witch hazel
0.5 ounces vegetable glycerin (optional)
10 drops grapefruit essential oil
4 drops lime essential oil
4 drops lemon essential oil
Mix all ingredients in a small glass bottle and shake well. Shake before each use.
DIY Orange Vanilla Body Spray
This one is an absolutely delicious scent! If you love sweet scents, you’ll love this one.
Orange Vanilla Natural Body Spray
1 ounce distilled or filtered water
0.5 ounce vodka or witch hazel
0.5 ounces vegetable glycerin (optional)
1/8 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
10 drops wild orange essential oil
Mix all ingredients in a small glass bottle and shake well. Shake before each use.
There’s nothing better than smelling great and knowing you’re using natural, non-toxic ingredients on your skin. Please let me know if you try one of these natural body sprays!
Want to make your HOUSE smell amazing? You’ve got to try this Christmas Simmer Pot!
If you use vodka, does the smell come through?
Vodka is odorless, so no smell comes through.
Hello! I was wondering what I could use instead of glycerin. Would Jojoba Oil or Grapeseed oil be nice instead?
can i use ethanol instead of the water
Is this safe to use on kids?
I just made this. It’s hot weather and I have no air conditioning, so having a way to freshen up when you’re sweating all the time is nice!
Glad to hear that!
Could you link glass bottles please
Your last ones are not available. What size are they?
Here you are! https://amzn.to/3DGBLyk I use 4 ounce bottles.
Hello can I use rosewater in place of water?
How long do you think the smell actually last?
Thank you for this, what do you use to print your bottle labels ?
I use a Brother label maker!
Can you use rubbing alcohol instead of vodka or witch hazel?
I have read elsewhere that you can use rubbing alcohol:) thats what i use.
Thank you so much for this! I used a bottle for the aromatherapy massage I performed today. Client wanted rosemary and we both loved it. My other did not show and now I have a bottle to use for myself. Now to decide the scents. Cheers!
You’re welcome! Thanks for the feedback. 🙂
Can I skip the water and Vodka or Witch Hazel? If so how long will shelf life be? Also how will you suggest storing it?
No, you need to water as a carrier and the vodka or witch hazel act as a preservative.
I have a two Questions.
1. Do you need to use vanilla extract? I am not a huge vanilla fan and would prefer to skip it.
2. If you shake the mixture before spraying it will it distribute the essential oils properly? I read some comments about it not mixing well because its oil and its being mixed with water.
Definitely skip the vanilla scented one if you don’t like vanilla. I haven’t noticed needing to shake these.
Thank you for sharing this recipe! I tried it last night with witch hazel, jasmine and a few drops of orange- a few sprays go a long way! The fragrance is strong and long lasting. I think the glycerin helps it last. I can’t wait to try other combinations!
Thanks for the feedback Jess!
Oh goodness!! It was awful. I went to look up some glycerin to buy to help with my body sprays and discovered the horrible truth about palm oil. All i wanted was to make a nice smelling body spray. Dont use glycerin. Its in everything but us natural oil ladies should not use it for our body sprays. Or anything else natural, if we are being serious. Im not a health nut by any means but that just made me sad:(
If you plan on using any citrus oil in your spray, you will need to use glass as citrus EO’s eat into plastic.
You will also need to use steam distilled if using citrus oils, since many are phototoxic.