Lavender is a fantastic scent for the home because it’s calming and relaxing. If you can’t get enough, this Lavender Linen Spray is a simple way to spread the scent throughout your home.
With only three ingredients, this is a very quick recipe. The base is 99% isopropyl alcohol to help it evaporate quickly. Lavender Essential Water adds more lavender scent. The star of this recipe is the new Lavender Fine Essential Oil, which gives the spray its relaxing scent.
This spray is not emulsified, so the Lavender Fine Essential Oil will separate out from the essential water and alcohol. Give the bottle a good shake before each use to distribute the spray. You can add Polysorbate 20 if you’d like to emulsify the oil and water. See how in the Springtime Room Spray Tutorial.
This spray can be used on linens, towels, and fabric furniture. In our tests we did not experience any staining, but if you’re worried about using this spray on expensive furniture or clothing, you may want to test it in a small area or skip it. It’s not worth ruining your couch or silk shirt.
What You Need:
Four 2 oz. Brushed Aluminum Bottles
4 oz. Lavender Essential Water
5 oz. 99% Isopropyl Alcohol
2 mL (about 40 drops) Lavender Fine Essential Oil
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ONE: In a small container, mix together the Lavender Essential Water and 99% isopropyl alcohol.
TWO: Add the Lavender Fine Essential Oil to the container. Use a spoon to mix in the essential oil.
THREE: Carefully pour the mixture into the bottles. Stir the mixture after each pour to keep the essential oil dispersed evenly. Place the cap on the bottle. To use, give the bottle a good shake and spray onto linens. Enjoy!
- Four 2 oz. Brushed Aluminum Bottles
- 4 oz. Lavender Essential Water
- 5 oz. 99% Isopropyl Alcohol
- 2 mL (about 40 drops) Lavender Fine Essential Oil
- In a small container, mix together the Lavender Essential Water and 99% isopropyl alcohol.
- Add the Lavender Fine Essential Oil to the container. Use a spoon to mix in the essential oil.
- Carefully pour the mixture into the bottles. Stir the mixture after each pour to keep the essential oil dispersed evenly. Place the cap on the bottle. To use, give the bottle a good shake and spray onto linens. Enjoy!
Hi. What’s the difference between polysorbate 20 and polysorbate 80? How do i determine which one to use in other formulas. Also, is it ok to use grain alcohol instead of isopropyl alcohol? Thanks for your help.
Polysorbate 20 helps emulsify lighter fragrance and essential oils, while polysorbate 80 helps emulsify heavier oils like carrier oils (and fragrances as well). In general, we’ve found polysorbate 80 works best for most of our recipes: https://www.brambleberry.com/Polysorbate-80-P4438.aspx
Also, we haven’t worked a lot with grain alcohol so I’m not sure. You may want to make a small test batch to be sure.
I have read that vodka at 15-20% can be used as a preservative with distilled water, is this true?
So could a recipe to start be;
1:1 Essential Oil to polysorbate
15-20% Vodka
Remainder Distilled water
I’m not entirely sure. You may try a small test batch to see. I would recommend a preservative and isopropyl alcohol instead. We’ve tested them so we know they’re effective, and you only need 1% preservative to protect against mold and bacteria.
Learn more about preservatives here: http://www.soapqueen.com/bath-and-body-tutorials/lotion/talk-it-out-tuesday-preservatives/
I would like to make something similar with a different FO and distilled water rather than essential water. I know I’ll need a preservative but I don’t have optiphen ND just regular Optiphen. Is it okay to use in this recipe?
Could you sub witch hazel or something else a little gentler for the alcohol in this recipe? I’d like to make this as an alcohol-free body spray.
You can use witch hazel in this recipe if you like. It does have a distinct scent, so you may try a small test batch to see what you think. You can also leave the alcohol out and just use the lavender essential water, or mix it with another water like cucumber for a comforting spa scent: https://www.brambleberry.com/Search.aspx?k=essential+water
Witch hazel: https://www.brambleberry.com/Witch-Hazel-P4212.aspx
May I subtitute Optiphen with Stabyl or Garmaben II? And what will it’s shell life?
Are you planning to use regular distilled water? If so, you can use Germaben II at .3-1%. The shelf life will be about 6 months or so. It stores best in a cool, dry place: http://www.soapqueen.com/bath-and-body-tutorials/tips-and-tricks/how-to-store-handmade-bath-products/
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
hii
i make something similar to this as a fragrance mist but for both body and clothes.
instead of e/o, i use f/o.
i do include isopropyl alcohol (i buy the one which is 70% and it states on the bottle that it is safe for everyday use on skin) for example 210 g rose water, i normally just use 10 g of isopropyl alcohol
(i have been testing this out on my body for several months now and had no issues, gave a few friends and family to test for me aswel and the same for them, no issues at all)
is it necessary to use isopropyl alcohol or can i just leave it out?? whats the purpose of it??
normally i put it in a colored bottle and i shake before use. but now i want to pour this in a clear bottle but dont want to see the oil separating from the liquid, can i use polysorbate?
if so, which one is better and whats the difference between the 20 and the 80.
do i need to add a preservative? is phenonip acceptable?
but i read somewhere that polysorbate deactivates the phenonip
whats my alternatives? please
The alcohol helps the recipe evaporate quickly on the skin. If you like, you can leave it out. You may want to test it on the skin to see if you like the way it works without the alcohol.
Polysorbate 20 is used to emulsify lighter fragrance and essential oils, while 80 is usually used for heavier carrier oils. You can use either emulsifier in this recipe. I would recommend starting at a 1:1 ratio with the fragrance, then adding more from there until everything stays together.
Polysorbate 20: https://www.brambleberry.com/Polysorbate-20-P3212.aspx
Polysorbate 80: https://www.brambleberry.com/Polysorbate-80-P4438.aspx
As for the preservative, if you’re just using rose water and it already has a preservative (like ours does), you don’t need to add an additional one. If the recipe is using distilled water, we recommend Optiphen ND at 1%.
Learn more about preservatives here: http://www.soapqueen.com/bath-and-body-tutorials/lotion/talk-it-out-tuesday-preservatives/
Optiphen ND: https://www.brambleberry.com/Optiphen-ND-P5714.aspx
Rose water: https://www.brambleberry.com/Rose-Water-P3840.aspx
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Hello BB,
I just purchased the samples of the new lavender oils and LOVE the Lavender Absolute, its such a rich and sweeter version of your typical LO. Question, I am so glad to see this post, I have been wanting to make an aromatherapy spray that you could mist on your body as well as in the air. I have gone to local stores and looked on the bottles to see the ingredients and for one company that makes such sprays, the ingredients list water and lavender oil only. How’s that possible, wouldn’t it grow mold? I opened the bottle and there are bubbles which I am sure is the EO that has separated so no emulsifier was used. Because water grows mold, I don’t want to use a recipe with just water and an EO. I would like something that is more natural if at at all possible. Some sites and books list adding witch hazel along with water to you EO mix. wanted to be more natural and not use preservatives. Is this possible? Also could you PLEASE give a suggested recipe? I can only find conflicting information. This lavender absolute is to lovely not to used. Thank you so much for your answer. Also, how long would it last? – Off topic but if you could please help.
I am going to make liquid castile soap from the recipe that AM posted in 2010. What is the shelf life of liquid soap after you have bottled it?
I’m not entirely sure about the other companies, but we would recommend a preservative with water. You can use Optiphen ND at .5-1%: https://www.brambleberry.com/Optiphen-ND-P5714.aspx
If you’re using an essential water like in this recipe, it won’t need a preservative because it already has one. This recipe uses all skin-safe ingredients, so you can use it as a body spray if you like.
Another option is to use a lightweight oil as a base. That way all you need is oil and fragrance, no emulsifier or preservative. This recipe made with fractionated coconut oil works well: https://www.soapqueen.com/bath-and-body-tutorials/body-oil-perfume-spray-tutorial/
For Castile soap, it will last as long as the olive oil you use. So, if you use our olive oil, it has a shelf life of about a year so that’s how long the soap will last. It stores best in a cool, dry place.
Learn more about shelf lives here: https://www.soapqueen.com/bath-and-body-tutorials/tips-and-tricks/shelf-life-bath-products-ingredients-rancidity-vs-mold/
And how to store your products here: http://www.soapqueen.com/bath-and-body-tutorials/tips-and-tricks/how-to-store-handmade-bath-products/
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Always so grateful for your guidance and expertise. Until the next time 🙂
Also, I would like to know if polysorbate 80 can be used instead of polysorbate 20?
Polysorbate 20 is used to emulsify lighter fragrance and essential oils, while 80 is usually used for heavier carrier oils. You can use the 80 in this recipe, it should work just fine. We recommend a 1-6% usage rate to start, and you can add more from there if you need to.
Polysorbate 80: https://www.brambleberry.com/polysorbate-80-p4438.aspx
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
If Lavender Essential Water is not used for this recipe and distilled water is used only can we add 3ml or 4ml of EO to compensate for the loss? Thank you.
You can use distilled water in place of the essential water. Because it’s not preserved, you will need to add one to prevent mold and bacteria. Optiphen ND at .5% is a good option: https://www.brambleberry.com/Optiphen-ND-P5714.aspx
Read more about preservatives here: http://www.soapqueen.com/bath-and-body-tutorials/lotion/talk-it-out-tuesday-preservatives/
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry