Learn how to dilute essential oils with water for topical use!
Essential oils must be diluted before use. The best and commonest way to dilute essential oils is using carrier oils. Carrier oils are simply pure vegetable oils. They are called carrier oils because they ‘carry’ essential oils onto your body. Essential oils can, however, be ‘carried’ by other substances other than vegetable/carrier oils. Such substances include aloe vera gel, vegetable glycerin, your moisturizer, shampoo, etc.
Now in this post I want to show you how to dilute essential oils with water. It’s common knowledge that oils and water do not mix. Therefore, essential oils and water will never mix, even if you stir them together for hours. But you can still dilute essential oils in water! How? By using an emulsifier!
Emulsifiers for Essential Oils
Emulsifiers are substances that help mix up oil and water together to form a well combined mixture called an emulsion. There are many common natural emulsifiers that can be used to dilute essential oils in water. These include:
- Aloe vera gel (where to get it)
- Apple cider vinegar (where to get it)
- Baking soda (where to get it)
- Corn starch (where to get it)
- Epsom salts (where to get it)
- Liquid castile soap (where to get it)
- Honey (where to get it)
- Rubbing alcohol (where to get it)
- Vegetable glycerin (where to get it)
- Witch hazel (where to get it)
- And more!
How to Dilute Essential Oils with Water
- Simply add a small amount of emulsifier in your storage container.
- Next, add the drops of essential oil.
- Now combine the two ingredients by gently swirling the storage container or mixing them up with a chopstick.
- Finally, pour in your required amount of water, close the container and shake well to form an emulsion. That’s it!
Note: When diluting essential oils with water for purposes not involving application on your body, for example, for green cleaning, it’s not necessary to add an emulsifier. Just shake up the essential oils and water in your spray bottle and spray on surfaces. The emulsifier acts as a proctectant to prevent the essential oil from coming into direct contact with your skin.
Below are some great ways to dilute essential oils with water for your body:
1. DIY Lemon Face Toner
What you Need
- ½ cup distilled water (where to get it)
- 1 tsp witch hazel (where to get it)
- 7 drops lemon essential oil (where to get it)
- 4 oz amber spray bottle (where to get it)
Directions
- Into your spray bottle, add the aloe vera gel or witch hazel.
- Next add your lemon essential oil, drop by drop.
- Swirl the bottle to mix up the two ingredients.
- Fill the bottle with distilled water, close it then shake well to create an emulsion.
- Your toner is ready! Spray on your clean face with your eyes closed. When it dries, apply moisturizer.
2. Homemade Spray Deodorant with Tea Tree Oil
What you Need
- ½ cup distilled water (where to get it)
- ½ cup witch hazel (where to get it)
- 7-14 drops tea tree essential oil (where to get it)
- 8 oz amber spray bottle (where to get it)
Directions
- Mix everything together in the spray bottle and store in a cool dry place.
- Spray onto clean underarms.
3. Refreshing DIY Face Wash for Sensitive Skin
What you Need
- ¼ cup liquid castile soap (where to get it)
- ¼ cup liquid honey (where to get it)
- 2 tbsp distilled water (where to get it)
- 1 tsp argan oil (where to get it)
- ½ tsp apple cider vinegar (where to get it)
- 5 drops lavender essential oil (where to get it)
- 5 drops peppermint essential oil (where to get it)
- Foaming soap dispenser (where to get it)
Directions
- Add the castile soap into the liquid soap dispenser with the help of a funnel.
- Next add the distilled water, close the bottle and shake it to combine the two ingredients.
- Now pour in ¼ cup of liquid honey, followed by the argan oil and apple cider vinegar.
- Carefully add your essential oil drops finally.
- Close the bottle and shake gently to combine everything and your face wash is ready! Shake before every use. Use morning and night.
Other Ways to Use Essential Oils Diluted with Water
5. Homemade Cleansing Shampoo Recipe
7. DIY Perfume Spray without Alcohol
Note: Have you ever thought of using hydrosols? They are by-products of essential oil distillation and are the next best thing to essential oils! Hydrosols look just like water but contain a small amount of essential oils, which makes them smell amazing. So you can call hydrosols aromatic waters. What makes them even more amazing is that they are safer than essential oils and can be used for babies, children, pets, pregnant women and people with sensitivities. Read: 25 Ways to Use Hydrosols
That’s it! I hope you’ve discovered how to dilute essential oils with water! Which other emulsifiers have you used to dilute essential oils with water? Please share below!
