Essential Oils: 7 Smart DIYs for the Home - Remodelista
Recently we’ve featured a miniseries on smart, simple ways to use essential oils in the home, courtesy of Dawn De La Fuente, owner of Northern California–based herbal apothecary S/he Studio. Hair and Beard Tonic with sage and rosemary from S/he. For an all-purpose—and pleasantly aromatic—household disinfectant, add essential oils to a mixture of water, castile soap, and hydrogen peroxide. It can also be used to disinfect kitchen sponges: Simply spray both sides of the sponge with the mixture and let it sit. 1. All-Purpose Cleaner and Disinfectant How to make an all-purpose cleaner and disinfectant: 1.5 oz water1 teaspoon castile soap1 tablespoon hydrogen peroxide10 drops Peppermint Essential Oil5 drops Eucalyptus Essential Oil5 drops Lemon Essential Oil. Gentil Body Oil from S/he. Inspired by the French countryside, warm breezes, and lavender: a fresh-smelling spray for bed and bath linens. There’s nothing like the smell of linens hung to dry in the sun, or, better yet, a summer bedroom with the windows flung open. How to make a linen freshening spray: 2 oz distilled water7 drops Lavender Essential Oil5 drops Cedarwood Essential Oil3 drops Vetiver Essential Oil. Add to a small glass spray bottle and shake well. Herbal Skin Balm from S/he. Forget Deet: “Essential oils like clove, citronella, and patchouli are often used as ingredients in bug repellents because their scent is potent to the olfactory senses of many insects,” De La Fuente says. 3. All-Natural Insect Repellent How to make all-natural insect repellant: 4 oz distilled water4 oz witch hazel20 drops of Clove Essential Oil10 drops of Rosemary Essential Oil15 drops of Lavender Essential Oil. (To deter bugs and mice, try placing cotton balls dipped in Peppermint Essential Oil around the house.) S/he’s Botanical Face Serum. When used cleverly, just a few drops of essential oil combat unpleasant household odors. How to make a household deodorizer: 20 drops Rosemary Essential Oil8 drops Grapefruit Essential Oil4 drops Peppermint Essential Oil. Forest Brine Soap with vetiver, cedarwood and eucalyptus. 5. Air-Freshening Alternative Forget Febreeze: Consider more subtle, calming air freshener with marjoram, ylang-ylang, and sweet orange. How to make an all-natural air freshener: 20 drops Sweet Orange Essential Oil10 drops Marjoram Essential Oil5 drops Ylang-Ylang Essential Oil. Add a few drops in this 4:2:1 ratio to a diffuser. Herbal Skin Balm from S/he. “Whether you practice at home or in a studio, it’s a great idea to clean your mat after every session to prevent bacteria from spreading on the surface of the mat,” says of De La Fuente. 1 oz distilled water12 drops Lavender Essential Oil8 drops Tea Tree Oil. 1 oz distilled water10 drops Lavender Essential Oil10 drops Frankincense Essential Oil. How to make a yoga mat cleaner: The Agave Washcloth from S/he. “Frequent dusting or wiping with a damp cloth should be accompanied by polishing every two to three months,” De La Fuente advises; the olive oil nourishes, vinegar cleans, and the oiliness of the essential oils will “bring dull wood back to life.” It also happens to be aromatic. How to make a nourishing wood polish: 1/4 cup olive oil1/4 cup vinegar10 drops Sweet Orange Essential Oil. Spray on a cloth (not directly on wood) and wipe down furniture and other hardwoods as needed.