It’s important to keep ourselves and our families safe. This includes from germs. Washing our hands with soap and water is the best solution to stay healthy and stop the spread of bacteria, however when we don’t have a sink around hand sanitizers will do the trick!
Homemade hand sanitizers are fun, customizable and a great solution when we don’t have access to store-bought hand sanitizers or we simply want a more natural alternative. There are a handful of essential oils that may assist as antiviral and antibacterial that give any DIY hand sanitizer that extra boost! Not to mention the aromatherapy and therapeutic benefits.
Top essential oils to consider when making homemade hand sanitizer:
- Tea Tree
- Lavender
- Geranium
- Lemon
- Sweet or Bitter Orange
- Eucalyptus
- Rosemary
- Cinnamon
- Clove
- Thyme
- Peppermint
When making hand sanitizers there are a couple of options to think about.
- Witch Hazel: Witch Hazel nourishes the skin and can be as a substitute for alcohol if you want an alcohol-free recipe. It is also great to for sensitive skin.
- Alcohol (190 Proof): This is a common ingredient in most hand sanitizers. It has strong anti-microbial properties and maintains the integrity of the recipe. Alcohol can be very drying to the hands so adding extra moisturizers to your recipe can help balance the effects. Use sparingly.
To make hand sanitizer you simply mix all of your ingredients together in an amber glass bottle. Amber glass bottles will help keep your mixture safe from spoiling.
Below are a variety of 5 different DIY hand sanitizer recipes to help get you started.
Citrus Hand Sanitizer, Alcohol-Free, Gentle
- 2oz Amber Glass Spray Bottle
- 5 drops of Vitamin E oil
- 3 tablespoons of Witch Hazel
- 10 drops of Lemon essential oil
- 10 drops of Orange essential oil
- 15 drops of Tea Tree essential oil
- Fill the rest of the bottle with Distilled Water
Forest Fresh Hand Sanitizer
- 2oz Amber Glass Spray Bottle
- ½ teaspoon of Aloe Vera Oil
- 4 tablespoons of 190 proof vodka
- 15 drops of Tea Tree essential oil
- 15 drops of Cypress essential oil
- 6 drops of Thyme essential oil
Mint Spritzer Hand Sanitizer
- 1 oz misting spray bottle
- 7 tablespoons of distilled water
- 1 tablespoon of Witch Hazel
- 10 drops of Lavender essential oil
- 7 drops of Peppermint essential oil
Floral Hand Sanitizer
- 2oz Amber Glass Bottle
- 1 oz of Aloe Vera Gel
- 2 oz of Witch Hazel / 190 Proof Alcohol
- 1 teaspoon of Vitamin E
- 17 drops of Lavender essential oil
- 10 drops of Geranium essential oil
- 10 drops of Tea Tree essential oil
Nourishing Hand Sanitizer
- 2oz Amber Glass Bottle
- ½ teaspoon of Fractionated Coconut Oil
- 2-3 drops of Vitamin E oil
- ½ teaspoon of Glycerin
- 2 teaspoons of Aloe Vera Gel
- 5 drops each of Eucalyptus, Clove, Orange, Lemon, Cinnamon, and Rosemary essential oils
- Fill the rest of the bottle with 190 proof Alcohol
*Again, washing our hands with soap and water is the recommended solution to fighting viruses and spreading bacteria. Information about these recipes has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Please consult a doctor or specialist for specific concerns. Please use your discretion, based on your own research, when making homemade products.
