Posts by Rebecca D. Dillon

Name: Pumpkin Cheesecake Brownies Recipe with Pecan Streusel
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 55 min
Total time: 1 h 10 min
Yield: 16 bars
Cuisine: brownies
Ingredients: 1 Box brownie mix, made according to package directions; ½ Cup softened cream cheese; ½ Cup canned pumpkin; 2 tbsp sugar; 1 tbsp brown sugar; 1 egg; ½ tsp pumpkin pie spice; ½ Cup chopped pecans; 2 tbsp brown sugar; 1 tbsp flour; 2 tbsp melted butter; ¼ tsp pumpkin pie spice

About Rebecca D. Dillon

Rebecca D. Dillon is a soapmaker, DIY-er and blogger whose life is controlled daily by a dachshund. You can learn more about Rebecca by checking out her bio. Or discover more great skin care & beauty recipes by subscribing to Soap Deli News blog via email.

Botanical Skin Care Course Review (Plus A Vanilla Whipped Body Butter Recipe)

I may receive compensation from links on this site. See my disclosure policy.

September 18, 2019 By Rebecca D. Dillon 1 Comment

This post is sponsored by The Herbal Academy. All opinions are my own.

Expand your knowledge of herbal skin care and discover the relation between nutrition and your skin with the Botanical Skin Care Course from The Herbal Academy. Keep reading to learn why I recommend this in depth course, plus how to make a vanilla whipped body butter recipe for dry skin.

When we think of back to school, our thoughts instantly go to school buses, packed lunches and hopefully a little bit of peace and quiet. That’s not always the case however. I have several acquaintances, also in their forties, who have gone back to school recently in order to start new careers. While my sister-in-law recently finished her teaching degree and just started teaching pre-k students in low income areas – something she’s always wanted to do.

Unfortunately, not all of us have the luxury or the means to head back to college later in life. That doesn’t mean we don’t want to further our education. In fact, I love learning! It’s one of the reasons I became a blogger. Being a blogger encourages me to research new ingredients on a regular basis and explore new techniques in my field. While the internet offers a wealth of information online through an unguided quest, not everything is readily available with a keystroke. So how do I gather further insight and the knowledge I need to go further my craft? The answer is an easy one. It’s The Herbal Academy.

Botanical Skin Care Course Review

I didn’t realize how much more there was to learn about natural skin care and whole body wellness until I enrolled in The Herbal Academy’s Botanical Skin Care Course. This online course offered so much more than I expected. I can honestly say that I learned way more than I’d expected. As it was thoughtfully and well presented, I found myself wanting to learn even more after I completed the course. The Botanical Skin Care Course not only offered in depth information on the natural ingredients used in skin care, it also taught me the biology behind our skin and how its makeup relates to herbal skin care.

Why I Love (& Recommend) The Botanical Skin Care Course

There are number of things I really loved about this course.

For those new to The Herbal Academy, a video tutorial was available to make the process of navigating the course even easier.
There were notable facts about the history of cosmetics and skin care that were especially intriguing and found throughout the course lessons.
As this course offered in depth information on skin biology and whole body health, I felt this was definitely a college level course.
The information was broken up into different lessons and sections, so it was easy to stop at any time and pick it back up later.
There was no endless reading. The informational sections of each lesson were broken up with instructional videos and recipes, as well as graphics and herbal knowledge.
All of the information provided can be printed or viewed as a PDF. So everything is printable including the lessons, graphics and charts.
The Herbal Academy also provides printable pdf transcripts of video lessons to refer back to later.
The course is much more affordable than taking a college course and can be completed at your own pace.
Once you start the course, you have full access to that course for a full year from the day you begin.
There’s a private facebook group for additional help as well as to share tips and recipes. (I checked it out and signed up. It’s pretty awesome – plus zero drama.)
The course offers a brief overview of terminology on how to share the benefits of herbal skin care products without making medical claims.
If you want to further expand your knowledge on a topic covered in the Botanical Skin Care Course, there are additional resources provided at the end of each lesson.

Some of My Favorite Information from The Course

There’s so much information to soak up through the Botanical Skin Care Course. Therefore, it’s really hard to share a full overview of everything it entails. However, some of my favorite things were learning how to use herbal allies to care for skin – as well as how skin care connects to whole body wellness. (ie. Gut-Brain-Skin Axis.) I also like that this course covers herbs that address acute and chronic skin ailments with special consideration for anti-aging skin care. And there aren’t just skin care recipes to accompany the lessons. There are also herbal remedies AND food recipes that offer nutritional support for skin. You’ll also love their chart on skin-friendly dietary guidelines!

I loved learning about the basic energetic categories of Western herbalism—hot, cold, damp, and dry—to provide a more nuanced view of skin health. It was highly enlightening as were the sections on Ayurveda skin care and skin care in Chinese medicine. One of the more important lessons, however, covered the commercial ingredients we should be avoiding and why they are harmful. I was most surprised to learn that retinol, which is practically a staple in anti-aging skin care products, should be avoided due to its numerous negative side effects.

In contrast, the Botanical Skin Care Course from The Herbal Academy, also educates you on the carrier oils and butters that you SHOULD be using in your natural skin care products. Fatty acid content, comedogenic ratings, properties, shelf life and absorption rate are covered for each ingredient. There’s also a printable chart so you can keep this information handy when referring back to it later. Additionally there is information on salts, waxes and emulsifiers, clays and natural skin safe pigments, humectants, natural preservatives and essential oils.

For those of you just getting started with essential oils, you’ll find the chart for essential oil dilution guidelines especially helpful along with the properties and aroma of common essential oils used in skin care. I also learned the right way to make herbal vinegars, while expanding my knowledge on hydrosols, salves and oil infusions. There are a number of great recipes in the lesson on making botanical body care products. This section also offers video tutorials, troubleshooting information, additional graphics and printable charts as well as information on storing your products.

Botanical Body Care Recipes Within the Course

In fact, you’ll discover video instruction, printable property charts, troubleshooting tips, preservatives needed and recipes for making a number of botanical skin care products. These herbal skin care recipes include:

Natural bath care product recipes.
Recipes for creams, lotions & body butters.
Instructions for crafting herbal gels.
How to make herbal soaps with recipes.
Hair care recipes.
Cosmetic recipes.
Recipes for herbal vinegars.
Information on making herbal hydrosols.
Herbal salves and balm recipes.
How to make oil infusions & recipes.

The sheer volume of information provided throughout this course is priceless. I know that I will personally be referring back to this course throughout the year.

Botanical Skin Care Recipe Book

You also have the option to add on the Botanical Skin Care Recipe Book with this course. It’s filled with 194 favorite tried and true herbal skin care recipes. Inside are recipes for pretty much everything you can imagine – eye shadows, toners, face masks, deodorant, foot scrubs and baths, body butters, facial serums, homemade soaps and more. (You can also purchase this book separately here.) I really love this book and would definitely recommend it as an addition to your collection.

Now that you’ve decided to sign up for the Botanical Skin Care Course, be sure to also check out the recipe for making a daily moisturizer for acne prone skin. You can find this natural skin care recipe both within unit 4 of the course (for support for chronic conditions) as well as inside the Botanical Skin Care Recipe Book.

Vanilla Whipped Body Butter Recipe

The great thing about body butters is that they don’t contain any water-based ingredients. This means there’s less potential for microbial contamination (such as bacteria) which gives body butters a longer shelf life than lotions and creams. Because the ingredients used can be damaged by exposure to air, light or excess heat – causing the oils to go rancid, vitamin E or rosemary extract can be used to help prevent oxidation.

This vanilla whipped body butter recipe is adapted from Plant-Powered Beauty by Amy Galper and Christina Daigneault. The finished whipped body butter is both fluffy and decadent with a fragrance reminiscent of an orange creamsicle.

Ingredients:

¼ cup (2 fl oz) coconut oil
¼ cup shea butter
¼ cup cocoa butter
¼ cup (2 fl oz) jojoba oil infused with vanilla (Vanilla planifolia) bean
35 drops sweet orange (Citrus x sinensis) essential oil and 5 drops ylang ylang (Cananga odorata) essential oil (optional)

Instructions:

Make the vanilla-infused jojoba oil using the instructions in the herb-infused oil tutorial (found in the Botanical Skin Care Course) using ¼ vanilla bean and ¼ cup jojoba oil. Note that ¼ cup is the amount of finished herbal oil to include in the recipe—you may need to start with more oil when making the herb-infused oil, as the herbs will soak up some of the oil (if you forget to do this, just top off with some plain oil as needed for this recipe).

Gently heat coconut oil, shea butter, and cocoa butter in a double boiler over low heat (or a glass or ceramic bowl or canning jar over a small saucepan of simmering water) until melted.

Add the vanilla-infused jojoba oil, stir until mixture is melted and consistent, and turn off the heat.

Let cool for approximately 10 minutes, and once it is still warm, but not hot to the touch, cover and transfer to the refrigerator for approximately 1 hour, or until there is no longer a semi-liquid center.

Using an immersion blender or electric mixer, whip the mixture on high for 5 minutes or until it changes color and looks fluffy. You may need to periodically scrape the mixture from the sides of the bowl.

Add essential oil, if desired, and mix.

Label, and store in a cool, dark place. This vanilla whipped body butter recipe will keep for up to 1 year.

Not quite ready to commit to the Botanical Skin Care Course? Then be sure to pin this post for later! Otherwise, you can sign up for the Botanical Skin Care Course here.

For more botanical skin care recipes like the vanilla whipped body butter recipe from the Botanical Skin Care Course, be sure to follow my boards on pinterest. You can also find and follow me on your favorite social media platforms, including Blog Lovin‘, facebook, twitter and instagram. Or sign up to receive my newsletter to stay in the loop.

Filed Under: Bath & Beauty Recipes, Health & Wellness, Lifestyle Tagged With: bath and beauty, bath and body, body butter, body butter recipe, botanicals, health and wellness, herbal infusion, herbal skin care, herbalism, herbs, homemade soap, natural beauty, natural living, natural remedy, natural skin care, non-toxic, online course, review, salves, skin care recipes, whipped body butter

Homemade Daily Face Wash Recipes for Your Natural Skin Care Routine

I may receive compensation from links on this site. See my disclosure policy.

September 11, 2019 By Rebecca D. Dillon 2 Comments

It’s important to care for your skin. A homemade daily face wash is an easy way to do just that. There are a number of benefits to making your own homemade daily face wash. Not only is it an effective way to cleanse your skin as part of your natural daily beauty regimen, it can also save you money.

Homemade Daily Face Wash Recipes

Benefits of Making A Homemade Daily Face Wash

There are many reasons I love making my own homemade face daily wash. Following are my top contenders for investing in natural homemade skin care.

The ability to customize my daily face wash to my skin type.
I have control over the ingredients I use and I know where they come from.
I’m able to create dupes of luxe skin care brands for less money.
It’s simple to adapt my facial skin care routine to the (new) season.
My skin looks younger and feels healthier using natural ingredients.

Different Types Of Homemade Daily Face Wash

Like our personalities, our skin is individual and unique to us. Therefore there are a variety of facial cleansers available to take advantage of. While cleansing balms may work well for one person, they may not for another. So you may have to try a few homemade daily face wash recipes to find your perfect fit. If you already use a store bought facial cleanser that works well for you, then that type of cleanser is a good starting point when deciding to make your own.

So what are the different types of homemade daily face washes available for your natural skin care routine? Following you’ll discover the main types of facial cleansers. As well as homemade daily face wash recipes for each type, including cleansing balms, oil cleansers, soap cleansers, facial scrubs, cleansing clays, milk cleanser and micellar water.

Homemade Daily Face Wash: Cleansing Balms

Cleansing balms are similar to cold creams that my mom and grandmother used in the way back. These rich and creamy facial cleansers are usually the consistency of a homemade body butter. Because they are thicker and heavier than other facial cleansers, cleansing balms are well suited for those with dry or maturing skin. Not only are cleansing balms effective at removing dirt and makeup, they also moisturize and hydrate thirsty skin. So they are perfect for dry or dull skin. And will impart all skin types with a healthy looking glow.

Depending on the formula used to make cleansing balms, they can be used for oily and acne prone skin as well. Much like oil cleansers, cleansing balms help to balance skin. So instead of overstripping skin of all its natural oils, which can lead to overproduction of oil, it helps your skin achieve the perfect natural balance. In addition, you’ll also find that homemade cleansing balms help clear out clogged pores to reduce the occurrence of acne and blackheads.

If you have oily or acne prone skin, you don’t want to use a cleansing balm made with coconut oil or olive oil as they can clog pores. Instead, look for cleansing balm recipes that are formulated with non-comedogenic oils such as argan oil, hemp seed oil and camellia oil. (You can learn more about non-comedogenic oils for oily or acne prone skin here.) You can also opt for cleansing balms with essential oils or other ingredients, such as activated charcoal, proven to combat acne.

Cleansing Balm Recipes

Some of my favorite homemade daily face wash cleansing balm recipes are:

For more DIY ideas for formulating your own cleansing balms for your daily skin care routine, or to buy pre-made makeup melting cleansing balms, check out these natural Etsy beauty finds. Alternately, you can explore more anti-acne skin care solutions here. Or explore the best natural skin care products for acne prone skin to buy or DIY.

Homemade Daily Facial Cleanser: Oil Cleansers

Unlike cleansing balms, oil cleansers are liquid. Comprised primarily of non-comedogenic carrier oils, oil cleansers can easily be customized for every skin type. This is done by choosing carrier oils that work with your skin’s needs. Essential oils may also be added to address issues such as acne, aging or dry skin.

What’s so remarkable about using oil cleansers as a daily facial cleanser, is that you can get a quality product with as little as a single ingredient! Not only does oil remove makeup, dirt and toxins, it won’t strip your skin like some soap based cleansers can. So skin is balanced and perfectly moisturized in one simple step. As someone with maturing, combination skin prone to hormonal acne, I tend to stick to dry carrier oils. My favorite carrier oils for oil based cleansers are argan oil, rosehip seed oil and jojoba oil. While I have tried oil cleansers with other ingredients included, I always steer clear of carrier oils known to clog pores such as olive oil.

If you’re looking for clear, glowing skin, choose carrier oils that rank low on the non-comedogenic scale. Non-comedogenic oils are carrier oils that won’t clog pores and have a comedogenic rating of 2 or less. You can explore the comedogenic ratings database at Skin Reference to help you make more informed choices about the ingredients to look for in your natural daily facial cleansers. (Also be sure to check out my anti-acne essential oil blend recipe.)

Oil Cleanser Recipes

Learn how to formulate your own custom, homemade daily face wash oil cleanser recipes here:

Also be sure to try out my anti-aging facial serum recipe. Not only does it moisturize skin and diminish the visible signs of aging, it works great at removing heavy eye makeup. You can also shop for custom oil cleansers for your natural beauty regimen here.

Homemade Daily Facial Cleanser: Soap Cleansers

Just like soap removes dirt and grime from your body, facial soaps are also designed to remove dirt, sweat sebum and excess oils from the skin. However, you likely learned early on that not all soaps are created equal. If you’ve ever had your skin feel tight and dry after bathing, then you fully understand that some soaps are harsher than others. And that means they can strip too much oil from your skin leaving it feeling dry, itchy and irritated. Luckily facial soap cleansers are normally formulated to be gentler on skin than body soaps.

If you’re a no frills kind of girl, you may find that soap cleansers are not only more convenient, but also more practical. They also tend to cost less than some of the other homemade daily face wash cleansers. Soap based facial cleansers are typically either a solid cold process soap bar or a liquid Castile based soap formulated specifically for your skin type. I prefer to use soap cleansers for my facial skin care routine in the summer when I sweat more and my skin tends to be on the oily side. Plus, who has time for eighty different products when the lake or that hiking trail is calling your name?

If you’re trying to go zero waste, then bar soaps are also a more eco-friendly option than a facial wash that comes in, what is usually, plastic packaging. When I make bar soaps to use as a homemade daily face wash, I skip the packaging entirely. It goes right into my shower and is ready for me when I’m ready for it. While scrubs, and other liquid soap-based facial cleanser, go into a plastic container when I whip them up, I do reuse my packaging to reduce waste. (You can reuse your plastic containers by washing them thoroughly, then running them through the dishwasher. A final spritz of rubbing alcohol before you pour your product will help to ensure nothing nasty is left lurking in your containers when it’s time for fresh product.)

Facial Soap Recipes

Following are a number of soap-based, homemade daily face wash recipes, including soap-based facial scrubs.

For more homemade bar soap recipes for natural skin care, visit Soap Deli News blog here. Or shop for handcrafted artisan facial soaps on Etsy.

Homemade Daily Face Wash: Clay Facial Cleansers

Clay facial cleansers are another option for a homemade daily face wash, especially if you are looking for a soap free facial cleanser. Formulated with clay as a primary ingredient, the primary purpose of these facial cleansers is to remove impurities and toxins from the skin. Depending on the clay used, they can also help remove excess oil and dry out acne breakouts for improved healing times. A simple wash off homemade daily face wash, I like to use clay facial cleansers when my skin leans more toward the oily side or during acne breakouts. And, for acne prone skin, these cleansers also double as a facial mask if desired. You’ll also find that you skin will benefit from the naturally occuring minerals found in the clays used.

There are a number of different types of clay. While bentonite clay is best suited for oily skin that’s prone to evil blackheads and whiteheads, there are clays that are also suited for dry or maturing skin. Here’s the skinny on the most common clays used in homemade daily face wash clay cleansers.

Benefits of Common Clays Used in Clay Facial Cleansers

Benefits of French Green

French green clay, also sometimes called sea clay, is also great for occasional breakouts or combination skin. Not only does it“drink” oils, toxic substances and impurities from skin, its natural toning action also stimulates the skin. This clay is great at clearing occasional skin blemishes. And, when used daily it can tackle those pesky trouble spots.

Benefits of Fuller’s Earth Clay

Fuller’s earth clay is considered a “whitening” clay. Not only is this sedimentary clay coined as a “facial bleach” that acts as a skin lightening agent, it also possesses an extraordinary ability to absorb oil. Best suited for oily skin, this clay is often used as base ingredient in facial clay recipes. A great addition to any clay facial cleanser recipe formulated for oily skin, Fuller’s earth clay works best when combined with a small amount of bentonite clay.

Benefits of Bentonite Clay

Like Fuller’s earth clay, Bentonite clay is sedimentary clay. Composed of weathered and aged volcanic ash, this cosmetic clay rapidly swells as it absorbs water. As it becomes hydrated, the electrical and molecular components of Bentonite clay rapidly changes and produces an electrical charge. (You may have heard that using metal to mix Bentonite clay will “deactivate” it. This is why.) Rich in minerals calcium, magnesium and iron, this clay is also well suited for oily or acne prone skin. Not only can it help remove oil from the skin’s surface, it can also have a calming effect on skin inflammation caused by acne breakouts.

Benefits of Rhassoul or Moroccan Red Clay

Rhassoul clay is a mineral rich, spa quality clay unearthed from ancient deposits in the mountains of Morocco. It blends easily with water for a smooth application and has been used for centuries as a soap, shampoo and skin conditioner. Mineral rich, cleansing and detoxifying, Rhassoul clay is well suited for dry or maturing skin. It can help rebalance dry, flaky or mature skin, while also improving texture and elasticity. However, it can be used for all skin types.

Benefits of Kaolin or White Cosmetic Clay

White cosmetic clay also makes a great addition to any clay based homemade face wash recipe. Like Rhassoul clay, white cosmetic clay can be used for any skin type. This fine, light clay is highly versatile and is found in virtually all powdered and dry cosmetics, as well as most wet cosmetics. It’s a common ingredient in soaps, scrubs, poultices, deodorants, facial powders and face masks. Suitable for even the most sensitive of skin, this clay gently cleanses and exfoliates skin while also helping to stimulate skin circulation.

Cleansing Facial Clay Recipes

Here are a few natural cleansing facial clay recipes you can try to use as a homemade daily face wash.

Activated Charcoal Detox Mask & Clay Cleanser Recipe (with Kaolin Clay)
Exfoliate & Detox Skin Polish & Cleansing Clay Recipe (with Bentonite Clay)
Soap Free DIY Clay Cleansing Bars (for Acne Prone & Maturing Skin)
Kaolin Clay Facial Cleanser Recipe
Coconut & Clay Facial Cleanser Recipe
DIY Tamanu Oil & Clay Facial Cleanser
Soothing Chamomile & Oat Facial Cleanser (with Bentonite Clay)

Homemade Daily Facial Cleanser: Milk Cleansers

If you have sensitive skin, there’s nothing like a gentle milk cleanser to help soothe and calm inflammation. A soap free cleanser, which in some ways is similar to an oil cleanser, milk cleansers are made with naturally emollient ingredients that erase dirt and makeup without stripping your skin. Typically milk cleansers are a combination of carrier oils, such as jojoba and squalene, that also moisturize skin. Yet, unlike a cleansing balm, milk cleansers are a much thinner milk-like consistency. So they are more likely to wash completely off.

Not all milk cleansers contain milk. The term refers more to the consistency of the product. However, the cleansers that do include milk may contain coconut milk or rice milk in lieu of cow or goat milk. Unfortunately, making a DIY milk cleanser that contains milk can be tricky to preserve. Therefore if you choose to create a DIY milk cleanser, I recommend using dry ingredients – such as buttermilk powder or powdered coconut milk – that you mix with a liquid of your choice just prior to use.

Alternately, you can also mix a dry exfoliants such as clay or colloidal oatmeal with milk to use as a homemade daily face wash. The dry ingredients will keep and you never have to worry about your facial cleanser spoiling. Cleansing grains are absolutely perfect for making a simple DIY milk cleanser! Keep reading below to discover some simple DIY milk cleansers that you can safely make at home.

DIY Milk Cleanser Recipes

Homemade Daily Face Wash: Micellar Water Cleansers

Micellar water cleansers are another soap free cleanser designed to cleanse skin without being drying. These gentle, water based cleansers are comprised primarily of tiny balls of oil cleansing molecules known as micelles, which attract dirt and oil to draw out impurities from skin. However, micellar water is more than just another facial cleanser. Not only does micellar water remove makeup and cleanse skin, it also acts as a toner cutting out the number of skin care products you need in your daily beauty routine. And, micellar water cleansers also work with all skin types – whether you skin is dry, oily or acne prone.

Micellar Water Recipes

Some of my favorite micellar water homemade daily face wash recipes are:

I hope you love my roundup of amazing, homemade daily face wash recipes. But if you’re not quite ready to dive into making your own natural skin care and beauty products, I thought I’d share a few of my favorite ready made products. I have a lovely collection of my favorite makeup, beauty and skin care products compiled on Etsy here. (Just be sure to pin these DIY facial cleansers when you’re ready to make DIY a part of your everyday life!)

For more daily face wash recipes and homemade skin care recipe, follow my boards on pinterest. You can also find and follow me on your favorite social media platforms, including Blog Lovin‘, facebook, twitter and instagram. Or sign up to receive my newsletter to stay in the loop.

Filed Under: Bath & Beauty Recipes, Lifestyle Tagged With: bath and beauty, bath and body, beauty balm, beauty recipes, clay cleansers, clay cleansing bar, cleansing balm, cleansing cream, cleansing oil, face care, face wash, facial care, facial cleanser, facial cleanser recipe, facial recipe, facial scrub, homemade soap, micellar water, milk cleansers, natural beauty, natural skin care, oil cleansers, soap cleansers, soap recipes

Fall Essential Oil Blends for Soaps (Plus A Fall Soap Recipe with Cocoa Butter)

I may receive compensation from links on this site. See my disclosure policy.

August 27, 2019 By Rebecca D. Dillon 4 Comments

Looking for fall essential oil blends for soaps? Try one of several great essential oil blend recipes in your fall inspired soaps this autumn. Plus learn how to make my easy fall soap recipe. Decorated with cute leaf embeds, this cold process fall soap recipe with cocoa butter is the perfect choice for daily cleansing as temps cool down and the stifling humidity of summer dissipates.

Plus discover fall skin care recipes for pumpkin spice bath bombs, DIY sugar scrubs, vanilla chai latte lotion bars and rebatched apple pie spice soap!

Crafting Fall Soaps with Essential Oils

Fall is more than just pumpkin spice. So if you’re looking for creative ways to scent your fall soaps, then you’ve come to the right place.

Essential Oil Safety Tips

There are a number of fall essential oil blends for soaps that you can use in your homemade soap recipes for a natural fragrance. However, it’s important to keep in mind that some essential oils, while they may smell amazing, aren’t always skin friendly.

Cinnamon bark essential oil, for example, is not skin safe. It causes skin irritation and therefore should not be used homemade soaps or skin care recipes. On the other hand, cinnamon leaf essential oil, while also an irritant can be used as a small percentage of your recipes when properly diluted – sans those sensitive parts and mucous membranes. However, I know that I am allergic to cinnamon essential oil. Even in small concentrations as part of a fragrance oil, it makes my skin red, irritated and itchy when used in soaps. So it’s important to perform a patch test on skin prior to using oils that are known irritants.

It may be that you choose to avoid using cinnamon leaf essential oil in order to avoid possible skin sensitivities when making soaps for your family. Therefore I’ve chosen to include several fall essential oil blends for soaps that omit cinnamon essential oil entirely.

There’s so much to learn about essential oils. Not only are some essential oils, such as cinnamon, known skin irritants, many are also not safe to use when pregnant. While other essential oils should not be used on children, are or if you have certain medical conditions. Certain essential oils, including most citrus oils, can also be phototoxic. Therefore care should be taken to cover skin and use sun protection when spending time outdoors. Pets can also be affected by essential oils being diffused in your home. So follow up with your vet on which essential oils are not pet safe to avoid causing harm to your pets. You also should never leave your pets in a closed room with an essential oil diffuser.

Where to Learn More

If you aren’t sure whether an essential oil is a skin irritant or not – unfortunately many of the scents for fall have the potential to be – you can check out the essential oil profile for each of the essential oils in these fall essential oil blends for soaps at Mountain Rose Herbs to learn more. You can also discover more tips for safely using essential oils here as well as an essential oil dilution chart here.

I’m so excited to use my own custom fall essential oil blends for soaps in upcoming recipes. Any one of these essential oil blends is the perfect match for my fall soap recipe with cocoa butter. So pick your favorite to customize the perfect homemade soaps for your family this fall! Or, if buying multiple essential oils is outside of your reach financially at this time, try out my fall soap recipe with your favorite seasonal, fall fragrance oil instead.

Fall Essential Oil Blends for Soaps

Ready to bask in your favorite fall scents as part of your morning bath routine? Following are a number of my favorite fall essential oil blends for soaps. They can be used in both cold process soap recipes as well as melt and pour soap recipes and hot process soap.

As these fall essential oil blends for soaps contain essential oils that can irritate skin if not properly diluted, I don’t recommend using more than .5% (or a half percent) in your soap formulations for those containing a high percentage of spice essential oils such as cinnamon and clove. However you can increase the amount up to 2% maximum for fall essential oil blends that either omit those essential oils or that are used in lower concentrations in a scent blend. Essential oils such as patchouli, lavender and frankincense have higher usage rates as they are generally skin safe and not irritating.

Additionally, if you’re looking to get more bang for your buck scent wise, you may find you can use a smaller percentage of fall essential oil blends in melt and pour soap recipes as well as hot process soaps. Alternately, you can also pop your soaps in the fridge, if you are making cold process soap, to prevent gel phase. (You can learn more about the gel phase in soap making at Lovin’ Soap here.)

Autumnal Bouquet Essential Oil Blend

Chai Tea Latte Essential Oil Blend

Pumpkin Spice Fall Essential Oil Blend

Fresh Baked Gingerbread Essential Oil Blend

Earth & Spice Fall Essential Oil Blend

Patchouli Lovers Fall Essential Oil Blend

Mulled Cider Fall Essential Oil Blend

Frankincense Fall Essential Oil Blend

Fall Colors Essential Oil Blend

Fall Garden Wreath Essential Oil Blend

Simple 2-Ingredient Fall Essential Oil Blends

Not quite ready for the more complex fall essential oil blends? Try one of these simple two-part essential oil blends in your homemade soaps or even your essential oil diffuser at a one-to-one ratio. For soap making, I recommend using the Lavender 40-42 essential oil as it is standardized oil used in the perfume and fragrance industry. Primarily used for soap and candle making, it’s important to note that lavender 40-42 is not intended for therapeutic use.

Equal parts lavender & rosemary essential oil
Equal parts lavender & orange essential oil
5 parts bergamot & 3 parts vanilla absolute
Equal parts lavender & fir needle essential oil
Equal parts bergamot mint & fir essential oil

Formulating a Fall Soap Recipe

As the seasons change from summer to fall, the air outside becomes drier and cooler. Our skin feels the environmental effects from this change and as a result it can also feel dry or itchy. Therefore you may find you need to switch up a number of your skin care products to account for this. I always find that I need to make a simple soap swap to negate the effects of the changing seasons. My easy fall soap recipe is perfectly suited for this time of year. It’s formulated so it won’t strip skin of the beneficial oils your skin needs to look and feel healthy as we make the transition from hot summer weather into the fall season.

My fall soap recipe is easy to make. It includes just four soap making fats – castor oil, coconut oil, cocoa butter and pomace olive oil. Perfect for both body and facial skin care, this homemade soap recipe contains a whopping 25% cocoa butter to condition skin in addition to 45% olive oil. While this fall soap does contain a high percentage of olive oil, you’ll find that the higher percentage of cocoa butter not only conditions skin, it also helps the bar harden faster. Thereby reducing the long cure that often comes with Castile and Bastille soap recipes.

Adding Fall Essential Oil Blends to Your Soaps

To scent your soaps, you can make up a master batch of your chosen fall essential oil blends for soaps above. Then add your essential oil blend to your soap batter at a light trace. Alternately you can also substitute the fall essential oil blend with a fragrance oil of your choice. Typically fragrance oils have a usage rate of around 5% for homemade soaps. However, some fragrance oils have a lower usage rate so be sure to refer to manufacturer guidelines when determining the amount of fragrance you need for your fall soap recipes.

You should also be aware that some essential oils, such as black pepper, may increase trace. Typically, if I know an essential oil will hasten trace times, I add it to the oils prior to mixing the soap making oils with the lye. However, should your soap seize on you, don’t give it. As it heats up it will go into gel phase and your fall soap batter will start to look translucent. At this points you’ll be able to remix the soap batter as you would if you were making hot process soap. Once the soap looks a bit like mashed potatoes, it’s ready to go into the mold.

Essential Oil Fall Soap Recipe

Ingredients for Fall Soap Embeds:

.8 oz. castor oil (10%)
1.6 oz. coconut oil (20%)
2.6 oz. cocoa butter (25%)
3.6 oz. pomace olive oil (45%)

2.85 fl. oz. distilled water (36% of oil weight)
1.05 oz. sodium hydroxide/lye (8% superfat)

.05 oz. fall essential oil blend, of choice (about .5%)
1/2 teaspoon apple green moss mica, or desired color
1/2 teaspoon copper sparkle mica, or desired color

Ingredients for Fall Soap Loaf:

2.4 oz. castor oil (10%)
4.8 oz. coconut oil (20%)
6 oz. cocoa butter (25%)
10.8 oz. pomace olive oil (45%)

7.9 fl. oz. distilled water (33% of oil weight)
3.25 oz. sodium hydroxide/lye (6% superfat)

.15 oz. fall essential oil blend, of choice (about .5%)
1 Tablespoon turmeric powder, or desired mica color
additional mica to swirl, if desired in color of choice

Fall Essential Oil Soap Making Notes:

If you’d like to incorporate soap embeds into your fall soap loaf, you will need to make these ahead of time. As the silicone leaf soap mold I chose had lots of smaller nooks and crannies, I did not apply a water discount to the recipe for embeds. However, this did mean I had to freeze my soap embeds the next day for about 3-4 hours to get them to come out of the mold cleanly.

I used this leaf soap mold for the embeds and this silicone loaf mold for the soap loaf. However, you can adjust this fall soap recipe to suit any size mold of your choosing. I also used a pumpkin shaped mold (and cut off the jack-o-lantern faces) to see what pumpkins inside the loaf would look like for two of my fall soap bars.

The embed soap recipe also has a higher superfat. Therefore it is soft enough that you can work with it like playdough to create custom shapes for soap embeds as desired. There is more than enough leftover soap to play with. Alternately, you can always use the same fall soap loaf recipe for both the embeds and the loaf.

To make both the fall leaf soap embeds, as well as the fall soap loaf scented with your favorite of the fall essential oil blends, you need to follow basic cold process soap making directions. Simply make the soap embeds first, per the cold process soap making instructions below. Then, once the embeds have hardened, you are ready to make the soap loaf. You can find more detailed cold process soap making directions here to further guide you on your soap making journey.

You need to follow all safety precautions when making cold process soap from scratch. This includes using heat safe containers and non-aluminum containers and utensils. Protective clothing and eyewear is also highly recommended.

Fall Soap Making Instructions:

Now let’s make a loaf of homemade falls soaps with your favorite fall essential oils blends for soaps!

Begin by measuring out the water called for in the soap recipe. Pour into a heat safe container. Then use a digital scale to weigh out the lye into a separate container. Carefully pour the lye into the water in a well ventilated area. Then mix well until all the lye has dissolved and set aside. (This step can emit fumes. Therefore I recommend using an exhaust fan. Alternately, you can mix the lye into the water outdoors.)

Next, weigh out all the soap making oils and butters. This includes the cocoa butter, coconut oil, castor oil and pomace olive olive. Combine the carrier oils and cocoa butter in a heat safe container. Then melt the ingredients on the stove, in a crockpot or at reduced power in a microwave. Once melted, remove the melted oils and cocoa butter from the heat source and set aside.

While the lye-water and soapmaking oils cool, weigh out the the fall essential oil blend you’ve chosen for your soaps into a glass measuring cup. (You should prepare a master batch of your favorite fall essential oil blends for soaps prior to starting the soap making process.)

Then measure out the mica powder or other cold process soap colorant of your choice into a small dish or container separate from the essential oil blend.

Once both the lye-water and soap making oils reach about 85°F-90°F, you’re ready to continue making my fall soap recipe.

For the soap embeds.

Mix the lye water and soap making oils together, using an immersion blender, until the soap batter reaches a light trace. Then pour half of the soap batter into another heat safe container. Add the green mica powder to one container and the copper mica to the other. Then mix separately and pour into your mold(s.)

For the soap loaf.

Start by adding the soap colorant (and the essential oil blend if desired) to the melted soap making oils and cocoa butter. Mix briefly with an immersion blender to distribute the additives throughout the oil mixture.

Follow with the lye-water. Then mix until you achieve a light trace.

Add the fall essential oil blend to the soap batter if you did not add it in previous step. Then continue mixing the soap batter until you reach a medium to heavy trace. (I overmixed my soap batter to be sure I did not get a false trace as my fall soap recipe calls for a high percentage of cocoa butter.)

Pour a small layer of soap into the bottom of the loaf mold, then add any embeds you’d like to appear inside your fall soap loaf. Then pour the rest of the soap batter into the loaf mold. Use a fork or other utensil to add designs to the top of the soap loaf as desired. Then place the remaining soap embeds onto the top of the soap loaf. Set aside.

You should be able to unmold your soaps after 24 to 48 hours. Once unmolded, cut the loaf into slices as desired. Then allow your fall soap bars to cure in a cool, dry location for four to six weeks. After which, you can wrap and label your soaps for personal use or to give as seasonal fall soap gifts.

If you’d like to sell the homemade soaps you create from my fall soap recipe, you need to follow good manufacturing practices (GMP) when making your homemade soaps. The book, Good Manufacturing Practices for Soap and Cosmetic Handcrafters by Marie Gale, is a valuable resource if you’re just getting started making your own homemade soaps, skin care products and cosmetics.

In addition to GMP, you also need to follow FDA guidelines for labeling your homemade soaps. If you’re unsure about the rules and regulations regarding labeling cosmetics, the book, Soap and Cosmetic Labeling: How to Follow the Rules and Regs Explained in Plain English by Marie Gale, spells out everything you need to know to legally label your products in the United States.

Love my fall soap recipe and collection of fall essential oil blends for soaps? Then be sure to pin this post to your Pinterest boards for later!

Creative Ways to Package Fall Soaps

Need ideas for creative ways to package your fall soaps you scented with your favorite fall essential oil blends for soaps? Check out this collection of soap packaging ideas to discover ways to use scrapbook papers, bakers twine, ribbon and other elements to elevate your fall soaps to the next level. There are also soap packaging ideas for using boxes and bags as well as tips for packaging round soaps. You can also find more inspiration for your soap packaging on Etsy here.

More Soap Recipes for Your Fall Essential Oil Blends

You can swap out the fragrance oils in other fall soap recipes with your favorite fall essential oil blends for soaps to customize your creations with natural fragrances. Here are some of my other fall soap recipes you may enjoy. Just be sure to reduce the amount of the fall essential oil blends your use in these soaps to between .5%-2% depending on the recommended usage rate for those essential oils.

Not quite ready to try my fall soap recipe with your favorite fall essential oil blends? Then be sure to shop for handmade artisan soaps on Etsy here. I also have a huge collection of pumpkin spice bath and body favorites that you may enjoy. This collection includes not just seasonal fall soaps in pumpkin spice, but bath bombs, bubble bars, body butters, dry shampoo and more!

New Fall Skin Care Recipes to Try

Once you’ve made homemade soaps for fall, be sure to check out some of these other fantastic fall skin care recipes for all over body care. You’ll find that your favorite fall essential oil blends will work great in these cool weather inspired homemade skin care recipes.

DIY Sugar Scrub Cubes (3 Recipes for Fall)

Learn how to make three fall-inspired DIY sugar scrub cubes: fall bouquet, cinnamon churro and caffè mocha. These easy to make sugar scrub cubes exfoliate, moisturize and cleanse your skin all in one simple step. They’re made with melt and pour soap, shea butter and coconut oil for gentle cleansing. Plus, they’re scented with fall essential oil blends and dried flowers so they’re both non-toxic and all-natural. Get the recipes here.

Apple Pie Spice Oatmeal Doughnut Soaps

Turn hotel soaps into adorable DIY apple pie spice oatmeal doughnut soaps for autumn with this easy soap making tutorial. These rebatched soaps are easy to make with bars of soap, ground oatmeal, and an apple pie spice fall essential oil blend. Learn how to make yours here.

Vanilla Chai Latte DIY Lotion Bars

Turn your favorite fall drink into easy DIY lotion bars with this fall skin care recipe! These chai latte massage bars are made with all-natural moisturizing ingredients. The recipe includes traditional chai ingredients (and a hint of vanilla) to spice up your new go-to fall lotion bar. Get the recipe now.

DIY Pumpkin Spice Bath Bombs (3 Fall Bath Bomb Recipes)

Celebrate autumn with three fall bath bomb recipes! Pumpkin spice, pumpkin spice latte and pumpkin pie bath bombs create cozy fall vibes while you relax in the tub. These easy homemade bath bombs are also made with fall essential oil blends and contain natural, moisturizing ingredients that hydrate your skin while you enjoy the aromatherapy benefits of the essential oils. Learn to make them now.

For more homemade soap recipes and essential oil ideas be sure to follow my boards on pinterest. You can also find me on your favorite social media platforms! Follow me on Blog Lovin‘, facebook, twitter and instagram. Or sign up to receive my newsletter to stay in the loop.

Filed Under: Homemade Gift Ideas, Soapmaking Tagged With: bath and body, cocoa butter, cold process soap, cold process soap recipe, cold process soapmaking, crafts, diy, essential oil blend, essential oil recipes, essential oils, fall, fall crafts, gift idea, natural skin care, pumpkin spice, soap recipe, soap tutorial, soapmaking

Pumpkin Cheesecake Brownies Recipe: A Seasonal Fall Favorite Dessert

I may receive compensation from links on this site. See my disclosure policy.

August 20, 2019 By Rebecca D. Dillon 6 Comments

Sugar is evil, but… Dammit. Brownies. There’s no harm, no foul indulging in a treat from time to time. And brownies are my jam. With the fall harvest in sight and pumpkins popping up everywhere, it’s hard to resist whipping up these pumpkin cheesecake brownies!

Pumpkin Cheesecake Brownies: The Perfect Fall Dessert

I’ll admit that I really don’t eat desserts very often. I cut out most sugar from my diet some time back. After learning that sugar causes inflammation, the last thing I wanted to do was make my body hate me more than it already does. While the fibromyalgia is mostly under control these days, there’s this mid-life hell called perimenopause. As it slowly causes an evolution that requires an equivalent of 1980s mom jeans, I’ve really tried to avoid empty calories. Meaning desserts. Two giant servings of macaroni and cheese. 500 calorie coffees from Starbucks. An entire pint of Ben & Jerry’s.

Unfortunately my backside is insisting on repositioning itself on the other side of my body. Prominently in the middle where it’s impossible to hide. The only plus is that, as my chin has started slink down from my cheeks, some of it seems to have given my chest a bit of extra abundance. I won’t even go into the bloating. Still, I’m not a complete masochist. There are days when self care absolutely requires something to satisfy my sweet tooth. Brownies are my go to. While I prefer them with icing so they look more like a birthday cake than a pan of brownies, swirling in cheesecake is actually crazy delish and doesn’t make my teeth ache thinking about it.

These pumpkin cheesecake brownies are easier to make than you might imagine. Start with a box of your favorite brownie mix (I opt for chewy and extra fudgy) and throw in some canned pumpkin, cream cheese and everyone’s fall favorite – pumpkin spice! Then top it all off with some pecan streusel and you’ve got yourself a dessert worthy of the season!

Pumpkin Cheesecake Brownies Recipe

Ingredients:

1 Box brownie mix, made according to package directions

For the Pumpkin Cheesecake Layer:

½ Cup softened cream cheese
½ Cup canned pumpkin
2 tbsp sugar
1 tbsp brown sugar
1 egg
½ tsp pumpkin pie spice

For the Pecan Streusel Topping:

½ Cup chopped pecans
2 tbsp brown sugar
1 tbsp flour
2 tbsp melted butter
¼ tsp pumpkin pie spice

Directions for Making Pumpkin Cheesecake Brownies:

You’ll need either a 7×9 pan or an 8×8 baking pan to make these pumpkin cheesecake brownies. Start by lining your pan with parchment paper. Alternately, you can also spray the pan with a non stick spray. Begin by preheating the oven as directed on the box of brownie mix.

Now prepare the brownie mix according to the package directions. Then pour the batter into your prepared pan, reserving ½ cup of the brownie batter for later. Set both aside.

Next, mix together the ingredients for the cheesecake layer (cream cheese, pumpkin, sugars, egg and pumpkin pie spice) in a small bowl.

Now pour the cheesecake batter over the brownie batter in the pan. Then smooth out the batter.

Drop the reserved ½ cup of brownie batter by the spoonful over the cheesecake layer, then gently swirl the two layers with a spoon or spatula. Be sure not to over mix. You simply want to create swirls.

Next, make the streusel topping by combining the pecans, brown sugar, flour, melted butter and pumpkin pie spice in a small bowl. Then sprinkle streusel mix on top of the brownies.

Bake the pumpkin cheesecake brownies in a preheated oven for approximately 55 minutes. You’ll know their ready to come out of the oven once the edges of your brownies are set and are just beginning to brown. It’s okay if the pumpkin cheesecake brownies are still a bit soft in the middle. The brownies will firm up as they cool.

Once cooled, cut the brownies into bars and serve. Store any leftovers in an airtight container.

Yield: 16 bars

Pumpkin Cheesecake Brownies Recipe with Pecan Streusel

A seasonal fall favorite pumpkin spice dessert recipe. Start with a box of your favorite brownie mix, then add some canned pumpkin, cream cheese and everyone's fall favorite - pumpkin spice to the mix for an amazing fall dessert that’s perfect for families and fall get togethers!

Prep Time 15 minutes

Cook Time 55 minutes

Total Time 1 hour 10 minutes

Ingredients

1 Box brownie mix, made according to package directions
½ Cup softened cream cheese
½ Cup canned pumpkin
2 tbsp sugar
1 tbsp brown sugar
1 egg
½ tsp pumpkin pie spice
½ Cup chopped pecans
2 tbsp brown sugar
1 tbsp flour
2 tbsp melted butter
¼ tsp pumpkin pie spice

Instructions

Preheat oven to temperature indicated on the box of brownie mix.
Line a 7x9 pan with parchment paper, or spray with non stick spray.
Prepare brownie mix according to package directions and pour into prepared pan, reserving ½ cup for later.
In a small bowl, mix together the ingredients for the cheesecake layer (cream cheese, pumpkin, sugars, egg and pumpkin pie spice.) Pour over brownie and smooth out. Drop the reserved ½ cup of brownie batter by the spoonful over the cheesecake layer, then gently swirl the two layers with a spoon or spatula.
Next, make the streusel topping by combining the pecans, brown sugar, flour, melted butter, and pumpkin pie spice in a small bowl.
Sprinkle streusel mix on top of the brownies.
Bake for approximately 55 min until brownies are set and edges are just beginning to brown. Allow to cool then cut into bars.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 92 Total Fat: 7g Saturated Fat: 3g Trans Fat: 0g Unsaturated Fat: 4g Cholesterol: 23mg Sodium: 45mg Carbohydrates: 7g Net Carbohydrates: 0g Fiber: 1g Sugar: 4g Sugar Alcohols: 0g Protein: 1g

Pumpkin cheesecake recipes. A seasonal fall favorite pumpkin spice dessert recipe for pumpkin cheesecake brownies recipe with pecan streusel! Start with a box of your favorite brownie mix, then add some canned pumpkin, cream cheese and everyone's fall favorite - pumpkin spice to the mix for an amazing fall dessert that’s perfect for families and fall get togethers! A fall dessert worthy of the season!

Love my pumpkin cheesecake brownies recipe? Be sure to pin it to your dessert recipe Pinterest board!

Can’t get enough pumpkin spice this fall? Then absolutely try my healthy pumpkin spice latte recipe! It’s dairy and gluten free and only 76 calories per serving. Or try my delicious, natural brown sugar drop cookies for another easy dessert idea.

For more fall recipe ideas, you can follow Soap Deli News blog on pinterest, facebook, twitter and instagram. Or sign up to receive my newsletter to stay in the loop.

Filed Under: Food Recipes, Lifestyle, Party Ideas Tagged With: brownies, cheesecake, dessert, fall, food recipe, pumpkin, pumpkin spice

Aromatherapy for Sleep: 3 Ways to Make An Insomnia Sleep Spray Recipe

I may receive compensation from links on this site. See my disclosure policy.

August 13, 2019 By Rebecca D. Dillon 10 Comments

Sometimes, falling asleep, much less getting a good night’s sleep can be a challenge. Without proper rest, however, we suffer not just physically but emotionally as well. Luckily there are ways to help combat sleeplessness and enable you to get a good night’s rest. By utilizing aromatherapy for sleep, you can promote a restful night’s sleep. Not only can my easy DIY aromatherapy sleep spray assist in helping you fall asleep faster, it may also help you sleep more soundly.

Trouble Sleeping?

Sleeping and night and getting a good night’s sleep are two entirely different things. As someone with fibromyalgia, my body definitely knows the difference. It also responds accordingly. Therefore, it’s important to me to get a restful sleep so I can function the next day. Sometimes, however, that can be a huge challenge. Not only do I wake to pee every two hours – a combination of age and fibro overstimulating those muscles – I’m also constantly dealing with a barge of emotional stress.

The current events as of late haven’t been pleasant. And trying to filter out that chaos with social media being what it is, has been a challenge. More recently, I found myself deeply affected by the mass shootings in Dayton and El Paso. The senselessness of the killings breaks my heart. It also leaves me a little terrified. I’m still freaked out knowing my son had just left UNC Charlotte campus the day that school shooting took place. I can’t imagine the struggle to move past that trauma as a survivor. And as someone who was previously diagnosed with agoraphobia, I have to consciously push myself to move past that fear and be present in the world, while also not allowing myself to be overwhelmed by the emotional toll we all feel from such tragedies.

Natural Aromatherapy Sleep Sprays

Luckily there are ways to make sure we get a restful sleep so we are better equipped to deal with chronic illnesses and day to day stressors. Whether you use essential oils in a diffuser, as an aromatherapy roll on or as a pillow spray, aromatherapy is a natural way to promote a good night’s sleep. And it can safely be used in conjunction with natural supplements or sleep aids if needed.

My essential oil aromatherapy sleep spray recipe is a natural way to promote rest and relaxation in order to help you fall asleep. Made with a blend of three essential oils – lavender, ylang ylang & vetiver – this DIY insomnia sleep spray is easy to make and simple to use. Simply mist the spray onto your pillow or bed linens prior to going to bed.

Following you’ll learn how to make you own natural sleep spray recipe using essential oils with three different ways to make it depending on whether or not you choose to use a preservative.

DIY Sleep Spray Formulation

Ingredients Used to Make a Sleep Spray

My insomnia sleep spray contains several key ingredients. These include rose water, an aromatherapeutic essential oil blend and polysorbate 20. The rose water, which can be substituted with distilled water if desired, adds its natural scent to the recipe. While the polysorbate 20 is an emulsifier used to bind oil and water together. It’s derived from the lauric acid found in coconut oil.

Sleep Spray Preservative Options

There are also two preservative options. One being Optiphen ND and the other ethanol or 100 proof vodka. Optiphen ND is a paraben- and formaldehyde-free preservative design for water-based recipes. It protects against mold and bacteria growth when incorporated homemade recipes for facial toners, room sprays and perfumes. You’ll find Optiphen ND works best in products with a pH of 6 and lower.

If you choose not to use a preservative you won’t be able to include any water in your sleep spray. However, I don’t recommend this option for a linen or pillow spray as it can stain linens and takes longer to dry. You can use this sleep spray recipe as a body spray though by reducing the amount of essential oils called for in my insomnia sleep spray recipe. You can find more information on making a body spray below.

Tips & Tricks for Essential Oil Measurements

Should you desire to scale any of my insomnia sleep spray recipes, there are some tips that make measuring out the essential oils easier. You can find these tips along with an essential oil conversion chart at Mountain Rose Herbs here.

Insomnia Sleep Spray Recipe #1

Ingredients:

1.8 oz. rose water
2 oz. 91% (or higher) isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol
.2 oz. polysorbate 20
.05 oz. Optiphen ND
48 drops vetiver essential oil
32 drops lavender essential oil
32 drops ylang ylang essential oil

Recipe Notes:

This insomnia pillow mist spray uses isopropyl alcohol, more commonly known as rubbing alcohol, to help the water evaporate more quickly. This will also help prevent your pillow sleep spray from staining linens. While it does have a strong alcohol smell when first sprayed, this scent of the rubbing alcohol fades quickly as it evaporates in the air. So you are left with only the fragrance of the insomnia essential oil blend. As rubbing alcohol is not a preservative, but a disinfectant, you should use a preservative to prevent mold and bacteria growth. Optiphen ND is recommended at a usage rate of 1% for this application.

Should you choose to use this recipe and omit the preservative, your formula will last up to one month when kept store in the refrigerator.

Instructions:

Using a digital scale weigh out the polysorbate 20 in a 250 mL glass beaker. Then use a dropper to add each of the essential oils to the polysorbate 20. Mix to combine.

Now weigh out the rose water and the rubbing alcohol. Pour the liquids into the polysorbate and essential oil blend. Mix well.

Finally, weigh out the Optiphen ND and stil into the sleep spray. Mix thoroughly. Then pour your sleep spray into a single, sterilized 4 oz. spray bottle or two 2 oz. containers with a fingertip mister.

Shake your insomnia sleep spray before each use, then mist onto pillows and bed linens before going to sleep.

Insomnia Sleep Spray Recipe #2

Ingredients:

2 oz. rose water
1.8 oz. 100 proof vodka
.2 oz. vegetable glycerin (or polysorbate 20, as desired)
48 drops vetiver essential oil
32 drops lavender essential oil
32 drops ylang ylang essential oil

Recipe Notes:

This aromatherapy sleep spray recipe uses alcohol as a natural preservative. Like rubbing alcohol it helps the water evaporate more quickly. Unlike rubbing alcohol however,which can be drying to skin, vodka is not drying when used as part of a moisturizing base. It also acts as an emulsifier. This makes this recipe suitable as a body spray as well. To make a skin safe body spray, make the recipe as is, but reduce the amount of essential oils called for in the recipe by half.

As many of us don’t have access to ethanol, which is 200 proof, I formulated this insomnia sleep spray recipe using 100 proof vodka. If you have access to ethanol, you can substitute ethanol for the vodka. When doing so, increase the amount of rosewater in the recipe to 2.95 oz. and reduce the ethanol to .85 oz. (or 20% of the total recipe weight.) You can learn more about using alcohol as a preservative here.

Adding Magnesium Oil to Your Sleep Spray Recipe

If desired you can also add magnesium oil to your sleep spray when utilizing it as a body spray. To do this, you can either substitute the rosewater with ready made magnesium oil or make your own magnesium oil by adding magnesium flakes to the rosewater. If adding magnesium flakes to the rosewater, simply dissolve one Tablespoon magnesium flakes in the rosewater by mixing well. Then, with either option, reduce the essential oils to 24 drops vetiver essential oil and 16 drops each of lavender and ylang ylang. (Also be sure to try my magnesium body butter recipe to reduce the symptoms of restless leg syndrome and promote restful sleep.)

Instructions:

Using a digital scale weigh out the polysorbate 20 in a 250 mL glass beaker. Then use a dropper to add each of the essential oils to the polysorbate 20. Mix to combine.

Now weigh out the rose water and the vodka. Pour the liquids into the polysorbate and essential oil blend. Mix well.

Then pour your sleep spray into a single, sterilized 4 oz. spray bottle or two 2 oz. containers with a fingertip mister.

Shake your insomnia sleep spray before each use, then mist onto pillows and bed linens before going to sleep.

Insomnia Sleep Spray Recipe #3:

Ingredients:

2 oz. jojoba oil, or other dry carrier oil
2 oz. cyclomethicone
24 drops vetiver essential oil
16 drops lavender essential oil
16 drops ylang ylang essential oil

Recipes Notes:

This recipe is designed to be used as an aromatherapeutic body spray. It is not recommended for use as a linen or pillow spray as it’s primarily oil based. As it doesn’t not contain water, there is no need to use a preservative for this body spray recipe.

Instructions:

You can use liquid measurements for this recipe. Simply measure out the jojoba oil and cyclomethicone and combine in a 250 mL glass beaker.

Then use a dropper to add each of the essential oils to body spray mixture. Mix well to combine.

Finally, pour your aromatherapeutic body spray into a single, sterilized 4 oz. spray bottle or two 2 oz. containers with a fingertip mister.

To use, simply shake your body spray before each use, then mist onto skin as desired, avoiding your face. (For a facial spray, the amount of essential oil called for in this recipe should be reduced by half.)

Once you’ve made your insomnia sleep sprays, you can easily decorate your bottles using scrapbook paper. (I like catching paper stacks when they’re on sale for $10!) Simply cut a sheet of decorative paper to fit your container. Then tape it to your spray bottle to secure it in place. (I used a strip of tape for each side of the paper.) Easy peasy!

Where to Buy Ready Made Sleep Sprays

If you’d like to try an aromatherapy sleep spray for your pillows and bed linens, but aren’t ready to make your own, there are a number of ready made options that you can purchase. This Sleepy Head Pillow Mist from Made By Coopers Apothecary is made with a calming blend of lavender essential oil and a soothing blend of chamomile and frankincense to help you de-stress and unwind. You can buy it here.

Or try one of these other natural essential oil sleep remedies to explore aromatherapy for sleep.

Alternately, you can purchase other natural remedies here. Or explore home remedies you can make yourself right here on Soap Deli News or via my Home Remedies Pinterest board.

You can also follow me across your favorite social media platforms for regular DIY ideas for soap, bath and beauty recipes you can craft at home. Follow me now via facebook, twitter and instagram. Or sign up to receive my newsletter to stay in the loop.

This article is not intended to provide diagnosis, treatment or medical advice and is provided for informational purposes only. Information on products mentioned are based on my own personal experience and have not been evaluated by the FDA. Please consult a physician prior to making any changes that may impact your health.

Filed Under: Bath & Beauty Recipes, Health & Wellness, Lifestyle Tagged With: aromatherapy, essential oil blend, essential oil recipes, essential oils, health and wellness, healthy living, home remedies, home remedy, lavender, natural, natural alternative, natural remedy, self care, sleep, vetiver essential oil, ylang ylang

Posts by Rebecca D. Dillon

Botanical Skin Care Course Review (Plus A Vanilla Whipped Body Butter Recipe)

Botanical Skin Care Course Review

Why I Love (& Recommend) The Botanical Skin Care Course

Some of My Favorite Information from The Course

Botanical Body Care Recipes Within the Course

Botanical Skin Care Recipe Book

Vanilla Whipped Body Butter Recipe

Ingredients:

Instructions:

Homemade Daily Face Wash Recipes for Your Natural Skin Care Routine

Homemade Daily Face Wash Recipes

Benefits of Making A Homemade Daily Face Wash

Different Types Of Homemade Daily Face Wash

Homemade Daily Face Wash: Cleansing Balms

Cleansing Balm Recipes

Homemade Daily Facial Cleanser: Oil Cleansers

Oil Cleanser Recipes

Homemade Daily Facial Cleanser: Soap Cleansers

Facial Soap Recipes

Homemade Daily Face Wash: Clay Facial Cleansers

Benefits of Common Clays Used in Clay Facial Cleansers

Benefits of French Green

Benefits of Fuller’s Earth Clay

Benefits of Bentonite Clay

Benefits of Rhassoul or Moroccan Red Clay

Benefits of Kaolin or White Cosmetic Clay

Cleansing Facial Clay Recipes

Homemade Daily Facial Cleanser: Milk Cleansers

DIY Milk Cleanser Recipes

Homemade Daily Face Wash: Micellar Water Cleansers

Micellar Water Recipes

Fall Essential Oil Blends for Soaps (Plus A Fall Soap Recipe with Cocoa Butter)

Crafting Fall Soaps with Essential Oils

Essential Oil Safety Tips

Where to Learn More

Fall Essential Oil Blends for Soaps

Autumnal Bouquet Essential Oil Blend

Chai Tea Latte Essential Oil Blend

Pumpkin Spice Fall Essential Oil Blend

Fresh Baked Gingerbread Essential Oil Blend

Earth & Spice Fall Essential Oil Blend

Patchouli Lovers Fall Essential Oil Blend

Mulled Cider Fall Essential Oil Blend

Frankincense Fall Essential Oil Blend

Fall Colors Essential Oil Blend

Fall Garden Wreath Essential Oil Blend

Simple 2-Ingredient Fall Essential Oil Blends

Formulating a Fall Soap Recipe

Adding Fall Essential Oil Blends to Your Soaps

Essential Oil Fall Soap Recipe

Ingredients for Fall Soap Embeds:

Ingredients for Fall Soap Loaf:

Fall Essential Oil Soap Making Notes:

Fall Soap Making Instructions:

For the soap embeds.

For the soap loaf.

Creative Ways to Package Fall Soaps

More Soap Recipes for Your Fall Essential Oil Blends

New Fall Skin Care Recipes to Try

DIY Sugar Scrub Cubes (3 Recipes for Fall)

Apple Pie Spice Oatmeal Doughnut Soaps

Vanilla Chai Latte DIY Lotion Bars

DIY Pumpkin Spice Bath Bombs (3 Fall Bath Bomb Recipes)

Pumpkin Cheesecake Brownies Recipe: A Seasonal Fall Favorite Dessert

Pumpkin Cheesecake Brownies: The Perfect Fall Dessert

Pumpkin Cheesecake Brownies Recipe

Ingredients:

For the Pumpkin Cheesecake Layer:

For the Pecan Streusel Topping:

Directions for Making Pumpkin Cheesecake Brownies:

Ingredients

Instructions

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

Serving Size:

Aromatherapy for Sleep: 3 Ways to Make An Insomnia Sleep Spray Recipe

Trouble Sleeping?

Natural Aromatherapy Sleep Sprays

DIY Sleep Spray Formulation