Easy DIY Essential Oil Spritzer and Roll-On Recipes

Written by Marisa Lampert, e3 DIY expert

Essential oil spritzers and roll-ons use pre-diluted essential oils. It’s easy to create your own personalized aromatherapy recipes for either a spritzer or roll-on. They’re both quick and easy ways to use essential oils wherever and whenever you want. They offer no-touch application, travel well, and can be kept next to your bed or computer, in the bathroom, kitchen or car, tucked into your office desk drawer, purse or backpack.

Is it better to make an essential oil spritzer or roll-on?

A good place to start, when you don’t know which to make, is to ask yourself some key questions:

1. What am I using it for? If you want something to use as a room freshener, a roll-on is not going to be the best tool, just like a spray wouldn’t be as effective for spot treatment as a roll-on would.

2. Is an aromatic or topical application best for aromatherapy benefits? For mood-adjusting, respiratory and mental support, a passive inhalation is often the best option. A spritzer would be an ideal way to introduce essential oils to the air where you can breathe them in. For a spot application like a bruise or acne, or when you want to focus essential oils in a specific area like the head for a headache, topical application will help the most. A roll-on is quick and easy to apply when you need it.

3. If it’s a perfume, do you prefer spraying something on or dabbing the scent in specific areas? Personal preference is key. You will use the product more often if you enjoy the application, too.

Essential Oil Spritzers

Spritzers are essential oils diluted in water in a bottle with an atomizer cap. The atomizer cap will create a fine mist of water and essential oil that can be used as both body and room mists. We recommend using tinted glass bottles to protect the essential oils from light, and also to protect the bottle from the essential oils (plastic can break down after prolonged contact with some essential oils). Aluminum bottles can be used also. Plastic PET bottles can be used, but may need to be replaced after prolonged use.

A reminder: any atomizer will need to be replaced periodically. Because they’re not water soluble, essential oils will build up in the spritzer cap and eventually clog the opening. Again, the time frame will depend on the type, and the amount of oil you’re using.

You can use a spritzer on your body and clothing as a perfume spray or as an aromatherapy application on the go. A great example: spritz e3 Breathe Easy on the chest area of your clothing for an easy way to breathe in the benefits of Eucalyptus and Peppermint when you’re congested or experiencing respiratory irritation.

When using a spritzer on your skin, you can add 1 tsp Fractionated Coconut Oil to make the effects last longer: the coconut oil will bond to the essential oil molecules and prevent them from evaporating as quickly. We have found most carrier oils will not work with an atomizer cap, but Fractionated Coconut Oil is lighter and won’t get stuck in the tube. Avoid using spritzers with carrier oils on clothing, as the oils may stain the fabric.

You can also use spritzers as room fresheners and cleaning sprays. Spritz the mixture as high into the air as possible, allowing the mixture more time to fall through the air and freshen your surroundings. Many of our clients like to make spritzers with e3 Antiseptic blend to use as surface cleaners to disinfect countertops, phones, doorknobs, and more; e3 Purify makes a fantastic air freshener.

How to make an essential oil spritzer in 3 easy steps:

1. Start with a glass bottle with an atomizer cap. Fill the bottle with distilled water until about an inch to the top.

2. Add your essential oil or blend slowly – about 1 ml (20 drops) at a time. If you want to make use blend, pre-blend your essential oils in a larger bottle and add 1 ml (20 drops) of this mixture at a time.

3. Shake the mixture, spritz the air in front of you, and walk forward with your eyes closed while inhaling deeply. If you can’t smell your blend, or if it isn’t strong enough for you, add another 1 ml (20 drops) and spray again. If the spray is strong enough for you, add more water to fill the bottle to the top (allow a little room for the cap to go back in), and screw the atomizer cap on tightly.

Tip – Make sure to shake well before each application. Essential oils are hydrophobic (they will float and separate in water), so it’s important to break up the oil as much as possible in the water before spraying.

Essential Oil Roll-ons

Roll-ons are essential oils diluted in a carrier oil. While carrier oils can clog atomizers, they easily glide thru the roller-ball applicator of a roll-on. To use, tip the bottle and roll the blend directly on your skin.

Perfume blends are great in a roll-on applicator – you can blend up your own signature scents, or make fun, personalized gifts for your friends. To use as a perfume oil, apply on neck, chest, and pulse points, such as inner wrists, behind knees and back of ankles.

You can also use your roll-on for inhalation. Take off the cap, roll the ball a little bit with your finger, hold the roller ball end close under your nose, but not touching, and take a deep breath. Pause while you count to 5, then slowly exhale. Repeat as often as needed. Or, dab the roll-on in the palm of your hand, or on your wrist, and hold under your nose while breathing deeply.

Roll-ons can also be used for aromatherapy spot application, and make a great addition to first aid kits. Tea Tree and Lavender essential oils can both be used neat (undiluted) for bites, cuts, and rashes. To use as a spot application, simply roll on the affected area.

How to make essential oil roll-ons in 3 easy steps:

1. Start with a glass bottle with a roller-ball top. For single essential oils, follow the dilution ratios recommended by each essential oil.
2. Choose a carrier oil to dilute. Fractionated Coconut Oil is a good choice because it is lightweight, has no aroma, and a long shelf-life. If you’re making a perfume, Fractionated Coconut, Sweet Almond, or Jojoba oils would be carriers to consider. For skin irritation issues, Calendula or Tamanu are both helpful for scrapes, bruises, and bug bites; while Sweet Almond or Rosehips are helpful for acne or rashes.
3. Dilute at least 10% (see reference chart) when using a blend. For more dilution recommendations, click here.

Whether you prefer a roll-on or spritzer, making your own can be a fun, empowering and exciting way to introduce more essential oils into your personalized aromatherapy routine. For those busier times when you can’t make your own, Essential 3 offers pre-made spritzers and roll-ons in most all of the e3 Synergy blend varieties.

Some of my favorite DIY essential oil spritzer recipes:

All-purpose sanitizer spray

4 oz spritzer bottle with atomizer cap.
3.75 oz water
2 ml e3 Antiseptic Blend
Combine water and essential oils in bottle. Shake well and spray on paper towel, then wipe to sanitize.

Good morning spritzer

4 oz spritzer bottle with atomizer cap
3.75 oz water
2 ml essential oil/s or blend:

Single essential oils we recommend: Bergamot, Black Spruce, Clary Sage, Geranium, Grapefruit, Jasmine, Lavender, Lemon, Lemongrass, Orange, Petitgrain, Pine, Basil, Lime, Neroli, Rose, Rosemary, Ylang Ylang, Spearmint, Eucalyptus Globulus, Nutmeg, Juniper Berry, Cinnamon.

For a blend: e3 Concentrate, Pick Me Up, Meditate, Mood Rescue, Revitalize, or Serenity synergy blends.

Some of my favorite DIY essential oil roll-on recipes:

First Aid roll-on

10 ml Roll-on bottle with roller-ball cap.
9 ml Calendula Oil
15 drops Lavender essential oil
5 drops Tea Tree essential oil

Store in first aid kits and roll on bug bites, scrapes, cuts, bruises and bumps.

Synergy blend perfume roll-on

10 ml Roll-on bottle with roller-ball cap
9 ml Fractionated Coconut Oil
1 ml (20 drops) essential oil blend

Synergy blends we recommend: e3 Courageous, Meditate, Mood Rescue, Peace, Relax, Revitalize, Adventurous, Serenity, Transition.

Give these essential oil spritzer recipes a try and let us know what you think of them. Do you have another DIY recipe you’d like to share with us? Pop over to our e3 Facebook page and share it with us. And don’t forget to sign-up for our newsletter and receive a 20% discount coupon. Make sure to the check the box if you also want to receive DIY Recipes in your inbox once a month.