Come and learn how to make body mist with essential oils. Join us, as we show you how to use essential oils to influence your mind, body, and spirit. Create a single body mist base recipe of water, dispersant, preservative and glycerin then add whatever blend of essential oils you fancy. How about Lavender and Vetiver to help you drift off to dreamland? Or boogie from dusk to dawn with our Party All Night blend to jolt you awake. Body mists made with essential oils are fragrant security blankets to wrap yourself up in. What’s more, you could use fragrance oils too, so I’ll show you great opportunities and tricks of how and when to combine them with essential oils. So, if you want to learn how to make body spray to sell, to give as a holiday gift, or simply to make your own life that little more delicious, we’ve got you covered. So, hop on for the ride to explore how to make body mist with essential oils.
Body Mist or Body Spray?
What Is Body Mist With Essential Oils?
When you first learn how to make Body Mist with essential oils it pays to understand what it is and what its purpose or function is.
- What - Body Mist is a scented water-based product with essential oils for active properties.
- Purpose - Body Mist is applied to give a light veil of scent on the skin. The essential oils are chosen for specific benefits.
The terms Body Mist and Body Spray are used interchangeably in the commercial cosmetics industry. Generally, they tend to have the same ingredients and a similar intensity of fragrance.
But I, personally, feel Body Spray should have deodorizing capabilities, whereas Body Mist probably does not.
I also like the idea that a Body Mist could be lighter than a Body Spray so that, while it still leaves a veil of pretty fragrance, it is less likely to compete with my perfume or Signature Scent. For that reason, I also tend to formulate a Body Mist or Body Spritz to be a little lighter, which means using lighter fragrance solutions.
So in the context of this article, a Body Mist is not classed as a deodorizing product. The recipes will reflect that difference versus the recipes in How to Make Body Spray With Essential Oils and Fragrance Oils.
Can You Use Room Spray as Body Mist?
Talking of Room Spray and Body Mist, there's been a flurry of confusion on social media recently. It seems there is confusion around this question:
‘Can I use Room Spray as a Body Mist on my skin’?
NEVER do this!
Fragrance and essential oils regulations are different for a room spray and they can contain more essential oils or fragrance oils than would be considered skin-safe.
This confusion has not been helped by certain brands and products like Zum Mist which can be used as both a Room Spray and a Body Mist. This is only because the product is formulated to skin safety regulations, rather than to Room Spray regulations.
If in doubt, leave it out!
Can You Spray Essential Oils?
We often get asked ‘Can you spray essential oils?' Well, that really depends on the circumstances in question:
- You should never spray undiluted essential oils on your skin.
- When using essential oils in any kind of spray, they should always be diluted appropriately.
- Many sprays struggle to spray essential oils diluted in carrier oil, consistently and reliably. Buy a specialist oil spray nozzle for this specific purpose.
- Essential oils in a water base should always be in conjunction with a dispersant of some kind, high-proof alcohol, liquid soap, or a commercial dispersant like Polysorbate 20 or 80.
So… Yes, you can spray appropriately diluted essential oils.
Benefits Of Essential Oils
Essential oils influence your mind, body, and spirit. Make the most of the active properties they have to offer. Create blends to lift your mood, soothe your nerves, or help you drift off to sleep. If you want to know how to make Body Mist with essential oils that will rival commercial offerings you buy in the stores, leverage these to their full potential.
Tailored To You
Be influenced by the benefits of essential oils to create products tailored to your individual needs. Make them in scent combinations and scent preferences that appeal to you to create your own bespoke essential oil perfume blend.
Alternatively, simply create scent combinations and perfume recipes from your favorite essential oils, or match them to your mood, match your favorite perfume, or the theme of your day. Here you are working with just a few drops of essential oils which allows you to create small amounts for that special occasion or a spritz in your purse for a hot night out!
Kicking Nasties Into Touch
Most people set out to learn how to make Body Mist with essential oils to make a homemade body mist free from artificial fragrances and harmful chemicals. And I agree, it does seem most commercial Body Mists are full of them!
How does yours measure up in the Skin Deep Database from EWG?
Pure essential oils are a great natural alternative. Combine them with other natural non-toxic ingredients on your skin and you are onto a surefire winner
The Process of How To Make Body Mist With Essential Oils
So, What Do You Mix With Essential Oils To Make A Spray?
When it comes to people learning how to make Body Mist with essential oils, this is where people tend to stumble. Knowing what to mix with the essential oils to make an effective Body Mist recipe.
Let’s start you on your journey on how to make Body Mist with essential oils by addressing the most common mistakes and confusions.
Two Simple Mistakes
There are a couple of simple mistakes that people tend to run into when they learn how to make Body Mist with essential oils.
Mistake 1: Vodka!
The most important thing you need to remember in this process is that oils and water do not mix. Simple physics, right? So, to make it happen you need an agent called a dispersant, which helps dissolve the essential oils into the water. People will often use Vodka but vodka is not usually it is not strong enough to fully disperse the oils.
Mistake 2: Algae!
Mold grows in water, and you are necessarily using a water base to make a body mist. Algae will grow in your base unless you use a preservative, and then you have a rather unpleasant green mess.
Incidentally, these are the same mistakes people run into when making diy Room Sprays too. (Water base, you see?)
The very basic ingredients are pretty simple:
- Distilled water gives you a base and volume.
- Dispersants like Polysorbate 20 or 80 help the oils integrate into the water.
- Preservatives like Liquid Germall Plus, stop it from going off and prevent algae growth in the water.
- Essential oils offer scent-active properties and chemical constituents.
How To Make Body Mist With Essential Oils
Are you ready to learn how to make body mist with essential oils? Let’s go!
I don’t mean to burst your bubble but…… there isn’t much to it.
Water
Use distilled water or spring water for your essential oil body mist. Only use tap water if you really have to!
Active Properties
Fill your Body Mist with essential oils full of active properties and harness the chemical constituents of essential oils. Making your own natural body mist with essential oils can provide you with a whole range of exciting options.
With a tailormade essential oil blend, your homemade body mist can uplift your mood, soothe and relax you, or help you drift off into a blissful sleep. Their natural scents are appealing and enhance the whole effect.
Dispersant
For our homemade body spray, we’ve already discovered that we need a dispersant to help our oils integrate into the water. This is so that we don’t have great globs of undiluted essential oils floating on the surface of our water and ending up on our skin undiluted. That is a serious safety issue.
A dispersant makes your spray safer because it dilutes and disperses the essential oils into the water. Polysorbate 20 or 80 is easy to use and purchase. Be guided by your manufacturer's instructions.
Preservative
We know we need a preservative to stop algae growth in the water and to give our Body Mist with essential oils a longer shelf life. Preservatives are readily available, but something like Liquid Germall Plus is easy to source and use. If you want to make an organic body spray, you can easily find organic preservatives to match. Again, be guided by the manufacturer's instructions.
Moisturizing Properties
You can use humectants like Glycerin to grab moisture from the air and plop it beautifully into your skin cells for you. It will leave your skin feeling moisturized and hydrated.
Stop Sweat In Its Tracks
If you want to give your Bost Mist with essential oils deodorizing capabilities I suggest you read How to Make Body Spray With Essential Oils and Fragrance Oils as it will cover all you need to know about using Witch Hazel and Magnesium. They are both astringent and will constrict your pores, stopping sweat in its tracks.
Alcohol
Technically if you are using a dispersant and a preservative, you have little need for using alcohol in your diy aromatherapy spray. However, alcohol plays a vital role in how essential oils evaporate on the skin and how the ‘throw’ of the scent evolves. It helps scent last longer on the skin and you help the infusion of the scent into the air around you. If you want a DIY essential oil body spray without alcohol, by all means leave it out.
Optional Additional Ingredients You Might Like To Try
- High Proof Alcohol will help the oil evaporate better from the skin and improve the longevity of the scent. It will also act as a dispersant if it a high enough proof.
- Perfumer’s Alcohol contains both alcohol, dispersant, and preservative and offers better scent evaporation on the skin.
- Glycerin is a humectant that attracts water from the air and plops it into your skin cells, moisturizing and hydrating your skin.
- Witch Hazel is an astringent and constricts your pores, useful to stop you from sweating.
- Magnesium constricts your pores too and combats bacteria and BO.
For a more in-depth look at these ingredients, skip to How to Make Body Spray With Essential Oils and Fragrance Oils.
Best Essential Oils For Body Mists
Your design journey in how to make Body Mist with essential oils should start with the same question, ‘What do I want my Body Mist to do’?
Are you just thinking of making your own DIY perfume spritz or are you looking for an easy DIY essential oil spray to influence your mood? The answer informs your design process and essential oil choices.
A Simple DIY Body Mist Made With Essential Oils For Anxiety
When it comes to soothing anxiety we can use essential oils like Mandarin, Sweet Orange, Lavender, and Roman Chamomile. Depending on the essential oils used, we can also stimulate or relax, to suit your circumstances. Giving a presentation? Sweet Orange, Bergamot, and Clary Sage will keep you laser-focused and Mandarin and Lavender will help you wind down after a long day and leave your anxieties behind.
Want To Make A Homemade Body Mist To Improve Sleep?
There are plenty of essential oils to choose from for sleep. If you can’t stand Lavender, swap it out for Roman Chamomile, and soothe twitchy muscles and legs with Marjoram. Use the sedative qualities of Vetiver and the relaxing properties of Patchouli.
You’ll soon be knocking out the zzz’s with these soothing and relaxing essential oils.
Fancy Making Your Own Body Mist To Uplift Mood?
Grapefruit with its burst of zest and zing is hard not to love. Pair it with other bright and airy citrus notes like Sweet Orange and your mood will soon take a turn for the better. Add sharp green notes of Peppermint, Eucalyptus, and Lemon Tea Tree for an extra uplift and a boost of energy.
If you need something uplifting but a little on the soothing side, plump for Rose, Geranium, or Frankincense. They help elevate your mood gently.
Floral Scented Spray Made With Essential Oils
If you focus on the scented aspects of essential oils rather than the therapeutic benefits, you may just want to create a luscious perfume. Try essential oils like Lavender, Rose, Rose Geranium, Geranium, Jasmine and Neroli. Anchor the scent with some base notes like Amyris, Cedarwood, and Vanilla Oleoresin.
How To Make Body Mist With Essential Oils - The Recipes
How to Make Body Spray With Essential Oils and Fragrance Oils gives you a variety of Body Spray bases and different blends. Therefore, I am going to concentrate on one really good base for this recipe and give you a choice of essential oil blends that you can add to it. I will give you a fragrance oil recipe too, as a bonus.
Working Safely
For these recipes, all the safety is worked out for you. However, the first step in learning how to make Body Mist with essential oils is how to do it safely. Body Mist comes under IFRA Category 2, and more often than not, fragrance oils have a very low safety dilution rate in this category.
Make sure if you are developing your own recipes that you check every essential oil and fragrance oil you intend to use. Check the Safety Synopsis and the IFRA Statement (found under the DOCUMENTS tab on the individual essential oil webpage.
You can also use the Deodorant Spray option on the VINEVIDA Calculator to work out all you need for your own recipes and formulations.
Body Mist Base Recipe
I’m going to show you how to make Body Mist with essential oils with an extremely versatile but simple base that will keep things simple.
You Will Need:
- Measuring jug
- Stainless steel spoon
- Funnel
- 100ml Spray Bottle
- Oil and waterproof label
Ingredients:
- Up to 80 ml of Distilled Water plus extra to top up any difference (Aqua)
- Up to 10 ml of Polysorbate 20 or 80 (Double check manufacturer’s usage recommendations)
- 10 ml of Glycerin (Glycerol)
- 1% Preservative - follow manufacturer’s usage recommendations
Method:
- Carefully measure out your essential oils (and/or fragrance oils) stated in the individual blends below.
- Generally, you need an equal amount of Polysorbate 20 or 80 to essential/fragrance oils. However, do check the individual manufacturer's recommendations, as they vary.
- Mix the oils and Polysorbate together.
- Add the Glycerine and mix it all together.
- Then add your Distilled Water to make it up to 100 ml.
- Using a funnel, decant it into a spray bottle.
- Clearly label, listing all ingredients for safety purposes.
Uplifting & Enlivening Body Mist Blend
Uplift yourself and give yourself a boost if you’re flagging a bit with this bright and zesty Body Mist blend.
- 20 drops of Lemon Essential Oil (Citrus limon L (Burm.) F. )
- 20 drops of Clary Sage Essential Oil (Salvia sclarea)
- 20 drops of Sweet Basil Essential Oil (Ocimum basilicum)
Safety:
- Do not use it in the first 16 weeks of pregnancy
Calming & Soothing Body Mist Blend
Feeling fractious and irritated? This is great for calming things down and soothing your nerves. It’s the perfect blend for those with more sensitive skin too.
- 20 drops of Roman Chamomile Essential Oil (Anthemis nobilis L.)
- 20 drops of Geranium Egyptian Essential Oil (Pelargonium Graveolens)
- 20 drops of Lavender Essential Oil (Lavandula angustifolia)
Safety:
- Do not use it in the first 16 weeks of pregnancy
Sleep-Inducing Body Mist Blend
Need an air of relaxation and help to switch your mind off to get a decent night's sleep? Let Lavender soothe and relax you, Marjoram will calm your nerves, while the sedative actions of Vetiver get to work.
- 40 drops of Lavender Essential Oil (Lavandula angustifolia)
- 10 drops of Marjoram Essential Oil (Origanum majorana)
- 10 drops of Vetiver Essential Oil (Vetiveria zizanoides)
Safety:
- Do not use it in the first 16 weeks of pregnancy
Party All Night Body Mist Blend
Need to be on top form and give it everything you have? This super boost of a Body Mist will have you dancing from dusk to dawn.
- 30 drops of Sweet Orange Essential Oil (Citrus sinensis L)
- 20 drops of Eucalyptus Essential Oil (Eucalyptus globulus)
- 10 drops of Rosemary Essential Oil (Rosmarinus officinalis)
Safety:
- Do not use it in the first 16 weeks of pregnancy
Rosemary specific:
- Rosemary contains constituents proven to be pro-convulsive for some people, be cautious with this essential oil if you have epilepsy.
- The stimulant nature of Rosemary may also stimulate your blood pressure, so those with Hypertension - High Blood Pressure need to use it with caution, if at all.
- It contains constituents that can be neurotoxic and can affect psychosis or delusory issues like schizophrenia; use with extreme caution if you experience or are diagnosed with any of these.
Safety & Security Body Mist Blend
We all get fed up sometimes and my favorite thing to do is to indulge in luscious scents and perfumes. Use this essential oil blend to cosset and comfort you and act like a security blanket of fragrance.
- 30 drops of Rose Geranium Essential Oil (Pelargonium Roseum X Asperum)
- 10 drops of Roman Chamomile Essential Oil (Anthemis nobilis L.)
- 10 drops of Patchouli Essential Oil (Pogostemon cablin)
- 10 drops of Vanilla Oleoresin (Vanilla planifolia)
Safety:
- Do not use it in the first 16 weeks of pregnancy
Can I Use Fragrance Oils In My Body Mist Recipe?
Yes, of course, you can use VINEVIDA Soaps & Candles fragrance oils, they are specifically formulated for these purposes and offer you reliable results and intense fragrances. Just remember though, that they do not have the active properties that essential oils do. They just smell amazing!
Some of you may be wondering how to make Body Mist with fragrance oils, the formulation method is just the same as essential oils. Just always make sure you have the right proportion of dispersant, by following the manufacturer's individual instructions.
I’ll give you a recipe below to get you started, but in the meantime, these are some of my favorite fragrance oils for making a Body Mist with fragrance oils.
Body Mist Fragrance Oil Favorites
- NO. 33 - Fresh Cut Roses Floral, fresh, feminine and timeless
- NO. 79 - Vanilla Luxe Fragrance Oil Uber luxuriousness
- NO. 1112 - Inspired by: Eucalyptus Spearmint by Bath & Body Works Fresh and bright
- NO. 1200 - Inspired by: Ambre by Diptyque Sophisticated and ultimately versatile *
- NO. 1301 - Inspired by: Bergamote 22 by Le Labo Elegantly invigorating
- NO. 1401 - Inspired by: Black Tulip by Nest Mysterious and luscious
- NO. 2210 - Inspired by: Brazilian Bum Bum by Sol De Janeiro Full of Joie de Vivre
Choose fragrance oils based on your scent preference, we stock so many different scents, you’ve got so much to choose from. You can always use them in conjunction with your essential oil perfume blends too.
When you learn how to make Body Mist with essential oils, fragrance oils can also come to the party!
NO. 1200 - Inspired by: Ambre by Diptyque is the subject of our Oil Of the Month Article and you can enjoy 10% off through September. It is my favorite because of its innate versatility and how readily it blends with other fragrance oils and essential oils.
How To Make Body Mist With Fragrance Oil
You can easily make Body Mist with fragrance oil with the same ‘Body Mist Base Recipe’ as above. Again, the same rule of thumb is that you need an equal quantity of Polysorbate to fragrance oil, but always check the individual manufacturers' guidance first.
Skin Safety
For skin safety, you always need to check the maximum safety dilution rates of your fragrance oils in IFRA Category 2. They are likely to be quite low, so it may pay to bolster them with other fragrance oils and/or essential oils. Let’s look at a few examples, so you can see what I mean.
| Fragrance Oil | Maximum Safety Dilution Rates | Tash’s Recommendations |
|---|---|---|
| NO. 33 - Fresh Cut Roses | 3.43% | 3-5% for a light Body Mist is more than enough for most fragrance oils. |
| NO. 2210 - Inspired by: Brazilian Bum Bum by Sol De Janeiro | 2.6% | This is just on the cusp of the ideal. Feel free to add another dash of fragrance oil or some essential oils. |
| NO. 1301 - Inspired by: Bergamote 22 by Le Labo | 1.01% | -I tried this at 1% and I felt it was enough on its own but again, maybe add some other oils in to support it. |
| NO. 79 - Vanilla Luxe fragrance oil | 0.53% | This is a very low dilution rate, but it is a strong enough fragrance to make up for it. However, I would bolster this with other oils too. |
Recipe - How To Make Body Mist With Fragrance Oil
Take the base ingredients and combine them with up to 3% fragrance/essential oil using the method outlined above.
Ingredients:
- Up to 80 ml of Distilled Water plus extra to top up any difference (Aqua)
- Up to 10 ml of Polysorbate 20 or 80 (Double check manufacturer’s usage recommendations)
- 10 ml of Glycerin (Glycerol)
- 1% Preservative - follow manufacturer’s usage recommendations
- Up to 5% fragrance oil depending on your IFRA maximum safety dilution rates.
How to Use Body Mist With Essential Oils & Fragrance Oils
So… you have learned how to make Body Mist with essential oils, but how do you use it?
A Body Mist is meant to be a light spritz, a thin veil of wonderful fragrance on your skin. You can easily design them to support your Signature Scent and layer them with your favorite perfume.
- First, do a 24-48 hour skin test
- Shake your bottle
- Make sure the spray nozzle is pointing away from your face.
- Do not spray the Body Mist on your eyes or face.
- Spray lightly over your body avoiding intimate areas.
- If irritation occurs, discontinue use.
- If you get any in your eyes, rinse immediately with clean, tepid water. If irritation persists seek medical advice taking the clearly labeled container with you.
How To Make Body Spray To Sell
Plenty of you want to know what you mix with essential oils to make a spray, but also how to make a Body Spray to sell.
Here in the UK, we have to hold a Cosmetic Safety Certificate for every recipe, from which we are never allowed to deviate. We also have to be fully insured to sell cosmetic products and often the insurers will ask for suitable professional certifications and qualifications.
The USA is a little less rigid in its regulation, so here are your main points:
- Follow IFRA safety to ensure skin safety.
- Keep logs of every step you make and record them in batch records etc.
- Know your local guidance on cosmetics - FDA -Small Businesses & Homemade Cosmetics: Fact Sheet.
- Use a commercial preservative, so it won’t go off and extends your shelf life.
- Use a commercial dispersant, so customers don’t get undiluted essential oils on their skin.
- Follow cosmetic labeling practices to ensure safety.
- Be insured, to protect yourself and your customers.
The Final Word
Now you know how to make Body Mist with essential oils, what’s stopping you?
It’s a simple process, even if some of the ingredients are a little unusual to you.
Harness those wonderful actions that essential oils offer and tailor your Body Mist to suit your mood. Use them to uplift, soothe, comfort, and relax you.
You can keep your Body Mist as pure and natural by choosing high-quality, organic ingredients, even your preservative can have organic accreditation these days!
Try using fragrance oil and essential oils in combination with one another for a sensation like no other. Why not try making body mist with essential oils to support your Signature Scent and create scent layering effects through your beauty routine? Find out more in Create Your Own Signature Scent: Guide to Fragrance Notes & Oils.
When you learn how to make body mist with essential oils, there will be no looking back! You will be hooked.
