DIY Room/Body Spray

I have always loved how the scent of rosemary fills the house when I’m cooking with it and vanilla has always been my favorite home fragrance.  In the fall and winter I enjoy the aroma of cinnamon and in spring and summer I like a citrusy orange or lemon scent.  Then I started thinking about it.  These are all food scents.  So I decided to experiment a little and see if I could come up with my own scent combinations using the actual foods, spices and herbs from the grocery store.  I also wanted to try using food grade ingredients and skin safe products because the would be safe enough to double as a body spray as well as a room spray.   If you are allergic to any of these ingredients when eaten, then you may want to avoid using them on your skin as well.  Here are a few that I’ve created that you might like to try.  Each recipe makes enough to fill a 3oz spray bottle.

Rosemary and Vanilla Spice Room/Body Spray

Add 3 sprigs of fresh rosemary (or 3 tbsp of dried), 2 tbsp of whole cloves, and 2 cinnamon sticks broken into pieces to 1 cup of water and bring to a boil in a small pot.

Remove from heat and stir.

Stir in a 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract – add more or less based on how strong you want the scent to be.

Allow the rosemary mixture to steep in the water for about an hour.  After an hour, the mixture should be a golden brown color and sufficiently cooled.

Strain out the rosemary, cloves, and cinnamon using a strainer, a clean nylon stocking or cheese cloth and transfer liquid mixture to a glass measuring cup with a spout or a non-porous (metal, ceramic, glass) bowl.

Add ¼ teaspoon of 70% or 91% Isopropyl Alcohol and stir.

Use a funnel to transfer the mixture to a spray/mist bottle.

Add one or two drops of your favorite (essential) oil if desired.

Cloves

Dried Rosemary

Mixture after boiling

Orange Vanilla

Zest orange peel from one small orange and put zests into 1 ½ cups of water and bring to a boil in a small pot on medium heat.

Reduce heat to low and stir in 1 tablespoon of vanilla extract.  Cover and simmer for 10 minutes. Then remove from heat and allow to cool for about an hour.

Remove the orange zests using a strainer or a clean nylon stocking and transfer liquid to a glass measuring cup with a spout or a non-porous (metal, ceramic, glass) bowl and let it cool.

Add ¼ teaspoon of 70% or 91% Isopropyl Alcohol and stir.

Use a funnel to transfer the mixture to a spray bottle.

Creates a mellow citrus scent that’s perfect for summer evenings and early fall moods.

Lemon Rosemary

Zest one lemon peel and put zests and 3 tablespoons dried rosemary into 1 ½ cups of water and bring to a boil in a small pot on medium heat.

Reduce heat to low and stir in 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract.  Cover and simmer for 10 minutes. Then remove from heat and allow to cool for about an hour.

Remove the lemon zests and rosemary using a strainer or a clean nylon stocking and transfer liquid to a glass measuring cup with a spout or a non-porous (metal, ceramic, glass) bowl and let it cool.

Add ¼ teaspoon of 70% or 91% Isopropyl Alcohol and stir.

Use a funnel to transfer the mixture to a spray bottle.

Creates a lively citrus scent that awakens the senses and keeps you and your home smelling fresh and clean.  Great for summer mornings and refreshing the air throughout the day.

Citrus Spice - My favorite!

Zest one small orange peel and one small lemon peel.

Put zests and peels along with 3 broken cinnamon sticks and 2 tablespoons of dried rosemary into 2 cups of water and bring to a boil in a medium-sized pot on medium heat.

Reduce heat to medium-low and stir in 1 tablespoon of vanilla extract.  Cover and simmer for 10 minutes. Then remove from heat and allow to cool for about an hour.

Remove the zests, peels and spices using a strainer or a clean nylon stocking and transfer liquid to a glass measuring cup with a spout or a non-porous (metal, ceramic, glass) bowl and let it cool.

Add ¼ teaspoon of 70% or 91% Isopropyl Alcohol and stir.

Use a funnel to transfer the mixture to a spray bottle.

I love this scent when I’m in my deep autumn feels.  Its energizing yet calming all at the same time.

Posted in DIY/Repurposing.

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