Reader Question - Linen Sprays

Do you have a recipe for room/linen sprays? ~ Deirdre

Dear Deidre,

Thank you for contacting us regarding Room and Linen Sprays.  There are several ways that you can make these kinds of products. In this email I've listed my two favorite methods.

The first, and simplest way to make a spray like this is to use Floral Waters. Floral Waters are synthetically fragranced, water dispersible scents. They come in a wide variety of pleasant aromas. These can be used at full strength in a sprayer bottle or they can be cut with up to 50% distilled water. If you cut these Floral Waters with extra water you should add .1% Liquid Germall Plus as a preservative.

You can also create fragrant sprays by dispersing Fragrance Oils, Candle Fragrance Oils, or certain Essential Oils in water. In order to do this you'll need to mix your Oil with an equal amount of Polysorbate 20.  1/4 ounce of Fragrance Oil or Candle Fragrance Oil combined with 1/4 Ounce Polysorbate 20 is enough to scent between 4 oz. and 8 oz. of Distilled Water. Simply add the oil and Polysorbate to the water and shake well. These work best packaged in sprayer top bottles. As with Floral Waters, you should add .1% Liquid Germall Plus as a preservative.

While certain Essential Oils can be used in these Sprays many, Essential Oils can rapidly degrade plastic sprayers and bottles, even when diluted in water. While Citrus and Spice Oils are the most notorious plastic degraders, all Essential Oils should be used with caution.  Create small test batches before creating a large amount and see whether or not your sprayers hold up to your formula.

Do you have any simple recipe for linen sprays to share with Deidre?  If so, please tell us about them in the comments below.

Comments

[Amy Warden]

Cyclomethicone makes a great base for a spray. Use about 4% fragrance.

[Cookie]

I have two questions. 1. Would the fragance or essential oil separate from the water? If so, what would prevent that from happening. 2. I am looking for a body mist recipe. Could I use this recipe for a body mist or body spray? If not, do you have a recipe for a body mist or body spray?

[Karla]

I've used lavender EO in my linen spray with no degradation of plastic implements.

[Kassie]

The polysorbate 20 is an emulsifier, so it should keep the essential or fragrance oil solubilized in the water. You can use the same recipe to make body sprays/mists using essential oils, or skin-safe fragrance oils, at appropriate percentages.

[rachel]

i believe the cyclomethicone is a silicone and is used as a dry spray perfume, so you could use that for a body mist, but not as a hydrating one...more fragrance.

[Emmy Gabriel]

Thanks for the insight, Rachel!