Essential oils can be enjoyed in many more ways than simply adding them to a diffuser. They can also be incorporated into small, practical rituals throughout everyday life.
By combining alcohol with your favorite essential oils, you can easily make an aromatic spray at home for cleaning frequently touched surfaces such as tables, door handles, and kitchen surfaces. Alcohol provides the primary disinfecting action, while essential oils add a natural, refreshing aroma that can make everyday cleaning a little more enjoyable.
With just a few simple ingredients that are readily available from pharmacies, drugstores, or online, you can make your own in only a few minutes.
Ingredients & Things to prepare for approximately 100 ml aroma spray
Ethanol / Ethyl alcohol
For this recipe, choose an ethanol product that allows the final alcohol concentration to remain around 70%. A higher alcohol concentration does not necessarily mean better disinfection. The presence of water helps alcohol denature microbial proteins effectively, which is why alcohol solutions around 70% are commonly used for disinfection.
Depending on where you live, the terminology and products available may vary. Look for products labeled Ethanol, Ethyl Alcohol, or Alcohol, and always check the concentration and ingredients on the label.
Common options include:
- 70–80% ethanol / ethyl alcohol: This is already within a commonly used concentration range for disinfection and can generally be used without further dilution.
- 95–99.5% ethanol / high-proof or anhydrous ethanol: This needs to be diluted with distilled water before use.
- 70% rubbing alcohol / isopropyl alcohol: This is widely available in countries such as the United States and Canada and can also be used for surface disinfection. However, isopropyl alcohol has a noticeably stronger medicinal smell, so ethanol is preferable when you want to enjoy the natural aroma of essential oils.
***Important: Do not use methanol or products of unknown composition. If using denatured alcohol, check the label carefully, as denaturing agents vary by country and some products may have a strong odor or may not be suitable for this type of household use.
Distilled water
Distilled water is used to adjust the alcohol concentration. We recommend using distilled rather than tap water to minimize impurities.
Simple dilution guide:
- 70% ethanol: Use as is; no additional water is necessary.
- Around 80% ethanol: It can generally be used as is, or diluted slightly depending on the original concentration. Avoid over-diluting it.
- 95% ethanol: Use approximately 74 ml ethanol, then add the essential oil and enough distilled water to bring the total volume to 100 ml.
- 99–99.5% ethanol: Use approximately 70 ml ethanol, then add the essential oil and enough distilled water to bring the total volume to 100 ml.
Essential oils: approximately 20 drops
In this recipe, alcohol provides the primary disinfecting action. Adding essential oils not only brings a fresh, natural aroma into the space, but also introduces aromatic plant constituents known for their antimicrobial properties. Choose one essential oil according to the aroma you enjoy, or combine two or three to create your own blend.
- Citrus essential oils: King orange, kaffir lime, lime, fragrant lemon, pomelo essential oils are bright and refreshing, and work particularly well in kitchens and dining areas. Citrus peels are naturally rich in limonene, a compound with an affinity for oils and grease, making citrus aromas a natural fit for everyday cleaning.
- Lemongrass essential oil: Rich in citral, lemongrass has a crisp, green and distinctly clean aroma. It also blends beautifully with citrus oils.
- Citronella essential oil: Fresh, green and herbaceous with a relatively strong character. Try using a smaller amount of citronella essential oil together with citrus oils for a fresh and balanced blend.
- Eucalyptus & mint essential oil: Cool, green and refreshing aromas that bring an airy sense of freshness to a room.
Spray bottle
Use a dark glass spray bottle or a container specifically designed to be compatible with alcohol and essential oils. Some essential-oil constituents, particularly those found in citrus oils, as well as high concentrations of alcohol, may affect certain types of plastic.
How to make
Clean your equipment: Wash the spray bottle and measuring cup thoroughly and allow them to dry completely.
Mix the essential oil with the alcohol: Measure the appropriate amount of alcohol into a measuring cup. Add approximately 20 drops of essential oil and mix well. Adding the essential oil to the alcohol first helps it disperse more evenly.
Add distilled water: Add distilled water as required to bring the total volume to 100 ml, then mix thoroughly. Depending on the essential oils used, the mixture may become slightly cloudy.
Bottle and label: Transfer the mixture into your spray bottle and label it with the contents and the date it was made.
How to use
Remove visible dust or dirt from the surface before use. Spray enough to wet the surface, leave it for a short while, then wipe with a clean cloth. Gently shake the bottle before each use.
If used on cutting boards or other surfaces that come into direct contact with food, rinse thoroughly with clean water afterward.
Precautions
- As this is a freshly made DIY spray, avoid storing it for long periods and use it as soon as possible. Over time, the aroma and composition of the essential oils may change, while evaporation of the alcohol may also alter its concentration.
- This spray contains a high concentration of alcohol and is flammable. Keep away from open flames, heat, sparks, and other sources of ignition.
- Avoid using it on marble, natural stone, varnished or waxed wood, lacquerware, screens, or other delicate surfaces, as it may cause discoloration, clouding, or damage to surface coatings. When in doubt, test on a small, inconspicuous area first.
- Keep the bottle tightly closed and store away from direct sunlight and excessive heat.
- Keep out of reach of children and pets. areme generally does not recommend the use of essential oils around pets. Cats in particular may have difficulty metabolizing certain essential-oil constituents, so extra care should be taken when using essential oils in a home with cats.
Making your own aromatic cleaning spray is actually much simpler than it may seem. With readily available ingredients such as alcohol and distilled water, together with an essential oil you enjoy, it is something you can easily make at home.
Of course, there are plenty of ready-made products available to buy. But making some of the things we use in everyday life ourselves, with ingredients kept as simple as possible, can be both economical and an enjoyable way to bring natural materials into our daily routines. With just a few easy steps, you’ll have a gentle, effective spray for cleaning tables, kitchen counters, cutting boards, or door handles, all with a light, refreshing scent from nature.