Do you have bottles of fragrance oil that are nearly empty, but you just can’t bring yourself to throw them away? Maybe the bottle contains just a few milliliters, or even just a few drops of oil. Even an “empty” bottle still has a little bit of fragrance oil on the inside. To use up every last bit of oil, I like to pour dry ingredients directly into the bottles to create scented bath salts, scrubs or bath bombs.
Salts and bath fizzies have a low fragrance oil usage rate because you usually don’t wash off after taking a bath. For 16 ounces of salts, you can use 0.2-0.3 ounces of fragrance oil for a light to medium scent. To check how much of your fragrance oil should be used, check out the Bramble Berry Fragrance Calculator. For this trick, I don’t measure exactly how much fragrance oil is leftover in the bottle. Just by eyeballing it, I know when there are only a few milliliters left in the bottle. If you think the amount might be over .48 ounces (which is the largest recommended usage rate for most fragrance oils in 16 ounces of salts), then I would recommend measuring out the fragrance oil to be safe.
You can use essential oils as well. The usage rates for the essential oils will be slightly different, so make sure to use the Fragrance Calculator to find out the maximum usage rate for the one you choose.
If you feel the amount of fragrance oil is small enough, add your salts directly into the bottle. I like to use a funnel for this process to avoid spills. You can measure your salts prior to pouring, or place the bottle on a tared scale and weigh the salts as you pour. Once full, place the cap back on the fragrance oil bottle and start shaking! The salts will absorb the last bits of fragrance oil in the bottle.
Pour the salt directly into the bottle to absorb the last few drops of oil.
If you’d like, you can even add a little bit of a fixed oil into the salts to add extra moisturizing properties. I added a small amount of the Beard Oil Base in the bottle, but you could use any fixed oils you prefer. You could even add extracts or colorants into your bottle. Just make sure to shake up all the ingredients in the bottle thoroughly. Once you’re done mixing, pour the salts into the containers of your choice.
You could keep the salts in your fragrance oil bottle, but I have heard of bottled bath salts building up enough pressure to cause the glass container to break (or explode). To be on the safe side, I poured the mixture into plastic bail jars to store. If some of the salts stick to the inside of your bottle, “clean out” the bottle with the running water as you fill up your tub. That way you get every last bit.
The salts absorb the last little bit of fragrance oil in the bottle, including the oil on the walls of the bottle.
You can also use this trick to create bath fizzies. Measure 1 part citric acid to 2 parts baking soda in a large bowl and break up any clumps. Funnel this mixture into the “empty” fragrance oil bottle and shake, shake, shake! Then dump the mixture back into your large bowl and add colorant, witch hazel or other preferred additives. To get the green color below, I added just a pinch of the Kelly Green Mica.
You can also use the last few drops to make a batch of bath fizzies!
You could also use this method to create scented bath oil, or even scent your soapmaking oils prior to emulsification. After all, every last drop of fragrance oil is precious. =) Do you have any tricks for using up the last few drops of fragrance oil in your bottles?
I used to do massage, so I’m used to using just 6 drops of essential oil at a time to fragrance a bottle of Jojoba oil (or any carrier oil, like grape seed, etc). Then I use it in place of lotion. (I’m sure the same could be said of fragrance oil, not just essential oil)
Massage, anyone? ;-P
Absolutely, oils are so moisturizing and they feel great on the skin.
Jojoba oil: https://www.brambleberry.com/Jojoba-Oil-Golden-P3219.aspx
Grapeseed oil: https://www.brambleberry.com/Grapeseed-Oil-P6029.aspx
Im not sure how good of an idea this is as it is just something i decided to do spurr of the moment when i didnt want to throw out the few drops left of my fav fo from BB and i added some oil and polysorbate 20 directly to the bottle a use it in my baths. Smells amazing and i smell amazing afterwards.lol
That’s a great idea! Polysorbate 20 helps the oil mix into the bath water nicely. We like to use it with bath oils. 🙂
We used Polysorbate in this Herb Infused Bath Oil with great results: https://www.soapqueen.com/bath-and-body-tutorials/herb-infused-bath-oil/
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Hi! If I have a bottle with just a few drops I push in a cotton ball and put the bottle in a dresser drawer to make clothes smell great. Last for quite a long time.
That’s a great idea Maureen! A nice scent every time you open your drawers. 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
I usually fill with water, shake up, and then use it in my mopping water.
I also will add the water to a spray bottle and use it as a bathroom spray or mist the shower curtain with it. In the summer it’s nice because the open window blows through the shower curtain and spreads the aroma!
Those are some great ideas Sarah! Thanks so much for sharing. 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
I would use some of my oil for CP and swish it out a few times to get to the last bit of FO/EO.
That’s a great idea too! 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
What great ideas! I use baking soda with a few drops of FO or EO to use as a carpet odor neutralizer… But I never thought of using up old bottles doing this! What a money-saver! I love it!
So glad you love the post Andi! I love the idea of using the leftovers for a carpet odor neutralizer too. I’ll have to give that a try. 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Throw away an amber Boston round? Blasphemy. I fill empty EO and FO bottles with water for baths, but your salt and soda idea is simply brilliant.
Thank you!
You’re welcome Leela! We feel the same way – we love reusing the bottles and every last drop of fragrance oil! I like to use the clean empty bottles for decoration. Right now I have a few fake flowers in one as a table centerpiece. 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Wrap those empty bottles in twine or cotton yarn for a decorative touch. Smaller bottles can hold refills from large bulk bottles too, which are easier to handle and pour from.
That sounds like an adorable idea! I may need to try it 🙂
-Amanda with Bramble Berry
When I have bottles that are super low but still have enough in it that I don’t want to throw it out, sometimes there is enough for a bar or two of melt and pour or some embeds, or sometimes I’ll take a shot glass or two of vodka and add the oil to it for a quick and bracing after shave. I like to store these bottles upside down too and then so some shaking to get it all out – centrifugal force works wonders. it drains the walls and I get the maximum amount from the bottle.
That’s awesome! We’re fans of using every last little bit of our fragrance and essential oils. 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
That’s a great idea to pour the salts into the bottle! Hello!!!!! Why didn’t I think of that. Thanks!
You’re welcome Tawra! 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry