Homemade Hand Sanitizer {with essential oils}
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Honestly, I’ve never been a big fan of hand sanitizer. We rarely use it. For starters, it dries out my hands. And I was less than thrilled to learn about the ingredients in most mainstream versions.
But let’s face it, some situations simply call for some sort of hand treatment in the absence of soap and water. Port-a-potties, for example. Playgrounds, nasty gas station bathrooms, diaper changes on the go, and other travel situations.
So, it’s good to have an easy and safe alternative to mainstream hand sanitizers. Plus, this sanitizer doubles as a handy way to support the immune system! While it’s great for sanitizing hands, you can also apply it topically to the soles of the feet, the spine, back of the neck, etc, for daily immune support.
Homemade Hand Sanitizer {with essential oils}
This recipe is so easy, it almost seems silly to call it a recipe…
It’s simply a carrier oil (Fractionated Coconut Oil) + essential oils in a small sprayer.
Ingredients & Materials
- Mini sprayer (or recycled essential oil bottle)
- Fractionated Coconut Oil
- Essential oils
Instructions
- Fill the sprayer most of the way with FCO.
- Add essential oils.
- Be sure to leave enough room at the top for inserting the spray top!
Recommended Essential Oils
- On Guard (blend of Cinnamon, Clove, Rosemary, Eucalyptus & Wild Orange)
- Wild Orange
- Tea Tree
- Rosemary
- Lemon
How many drops?
- For a mini sprayer like the ones pictured here, start with 3-5 drops.
- Aim for 10 drops in a recycled essential oil bottle (15 mL).
More natural immune support:
- FREE PRINTABLE LIST: 20 Ways to Support Your Immune System with Essential Oils
- FREE PRINTABLE LIST: 25 Ways to Keep Kids Healthy with Essential Oils
- 21 Natural Ways to Support Your Immune System
- DIY Immune Support Roller Blend
- Respiratory Support: Steaming Mug of Death with a Twist
- Homemade Shower Vapor Disks with Essential Oils
- Powerful Essential Oils for Respiratory Support
Happy Sanitizing!
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Thanks Kathleen! I’m going to make some this week and try it out! Aroma tools also has these which I think will work since I don’t have enough empty bottles. https://www.aromatools.com/Amber_15_ml_Glass_Vials_w_White_Sprays_p/9164.htm
Yep, those would work, too, Sherry. Have fun, and let me know how it goes. 🙂
Okay…just in case someone wants to make this with the 15ml size. I put 8 drops and that was too strong for my family. I should’ve used about 5 drops to start. But I do like that my hands feel soft.
Thanks, Sherry. It can be hard to estimate the amount of essential oil to use. 🙂 I always try to start with less oil and then adjust accordingly. Hope you find a ratio that works for you…
I teach Kindergarten and want to use a better hand cleaner on them. Would the On Guard recipe burn if they touched their eyes?
Deanna–Sorry for my delayed response! Somehow I missed your comment. I use this sanitizer on my boys and they’ve been fine. I would advise the kids not to stick their fingers directly in their eyes immediately after using the sanitizer, but otherwise they should be fine. 🙂 Hope that helps!
It’s very important to note that essential oils should not be used in plastic. Always use glass. I made some of this in a glass roller bottle to keep in my purse 🙂
Thanks for the recipe
Hello. Was wondering if it is safe to use the plastic ones with the oils? Have heard not to use plastic with oils? Just checking. Thank you.
Jennifer–In general it’s best to use glass containers for essential oils. But many of us do use sturdy plastic containers, like the mini-sprayers mentioned here, in some cases.
Doesn’t this make your hands feel oily? How long does it take to soak in? Could you make this with water as long as you shake it first? Thanks!
Kathleen–I find the FCO absorbs pretty quickly. We use just a very small amount in our hands, and then rub them together. Your hands will be oily right at first, but not for very long. It’s similar to applying lotion to your hands. Very moisturizing! You could make it with water, but I imagine that would tend to dry out the skin instead of softening it. Hope that helps! 🙂
Hello. Is this recipe as effective at killing bacteria and viruses as traditional hand sanitizers? Thanks!
Would it be possible to make a hand sanitizer spray using just fractioned coconut oil and tea tree oil? Thank you!
Emily–I don’t see why not. Tea tree oil is a great disinfectant, too. 🙂
Word of caution: When I was a newbie, I put Lavender EO into one of these small plastic sprayers….no FCO, just EO. After spraying my pillow, I laid it on my nightstand, and the oil dissolved part of the container, and the melted container took the finish off my nightstand, (the spot was small, but the furniture is expensive), SO, I’m thinking if the FCO was added to these first, there would be no interaction with the EO? I’ve certainly found out not to use the plastic with EO by itself.
I was later told that the EO’s are very powerful and go after any impurities, so I’m guessing that was it.
Oh my! That’s a bummer, Annette. In general, it’s best to use glass containers for any EO purposes. But as you know, sometimes that’s just not practical. I’ve never used plastic to store straight up essential oils with no oil or water. The mini sprayers I use for the hand sanitizer are super thick, food grade plastic, and I’ve had no problems at all with them, when used as described in the post above. I’ve probably used them for about two years by now. We also use sturdy plastic spray bottles for our DIY bug spray, and sturdy plastic soap dispensers for foaming hand soap. Other than that, everything else I make with EO’s goes into glass bottles or jars of some sort. 🙂
Have you ever put something like Lavender or Peppermint in for a scent? Or does On-Guard have its own scent?
Andrea–On Guard has its own scent. Reminds me of Christmas–namely Cinnamon & Clove. 🙂
Is FCO different from regular CO? This looks very interesting but I thought CO oil would always return to its solid state.
Fractionated Coconut Oil starts out as regular coconut oil, but has been “fractionated” to remove the solid part. This allows FCO to remain in a liquid state at all times, which makes it ideal as a carrier for essential oils.
Is there a good substitute for the fco? Both my kids are very allergic to coconut.
Heather–Any vegetable oil will work, but keep in mind that some of them stain. Maybe jojoba? It absorbs quickly. Or just use water and make it a hand spray.
for the ShareOils mister mini sprays would you use 4 or 5 drops of On Guard??
These days I’m using about 3-4 drops EO. Just depends on your preference! Start with fewer drops and see how you like it. You can always add more later…
would you add lemon or wild orange to enhance the smell?
Sure, you could definitely add your favorite citrus oil. Or just use the citrus oil instead of On Guard.
Thanks for sharing but wouldn’t you need alcohol, too?
How many drops if only using on guard? Also wanting to reuse my on guard hand sanitizer bottle; would that be ok too
It depends on the size of your container. I recommend starting with 3 drops. You can always add more later! I haven’t tried recycling the OG hand mist bottles (this recipe was created before the premade hand spray was available). My only concern is that the FCO would clog the sprayer, but the premade TerraShield spray has FCO, so maybe it would be fine. Let us know if you try it!