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Hand sanitizer has become a regular and normal part of life. So why not make it? Here’s how to make your own hand sanitizer with essential oils.

Hand sanitizer is everywhere. It’s at the entrance to most shops and it’s in schools. I keep it in my purse and in my car. While it does not replace actual handwashing, it has become something many use to tide us over until we can wash our hands properly.

Why Make Your own Hand Sanitizer?

I find hand sanitizer very drying on my hands, especially with repeated use. Also, for a while, it was hard to find hand sanitizer in the stores.

As I have slowly started to expand my bubble, I visited with a friend who had made her own hand sanitizer using essential oils. It was light, smelled nice and did not dry out my hands. Immediately, I knew I had to make my own. Lucky for me, she shared her recipe with me.

Making your own hand sanitizer allows you to control what goes into it and is relatively inexpensive to make.

Supplies Needed to Make Your own Hand Sanitizer

There are some very specific items that you will need to make your own hand sanitizer. Many of these items can be found at your local drug store, health food store or online.

You only need 4 items and then something to put it in to make this hand sanitizer.

• Rubbing Alcohol with at least 60% alcohol. Alcohol kills germs, but it also dries out your hands. Alcohol is often the base in most sanitizers.
• Vitamin E Oil. This moisturizes and nourishes your skin.
• Essential Oils. Essential oils can help repair and soothe dry skin. They also provide some antibacterial properties which enhance the hand sanitizer. Depending on the essential oil you use, it can also add a nice scent to the hand sanitizer – this is handy if you want to make sure it’s being used: you can smell it!
• Witch Hazel. This is known to be antibacterial and antiviral. It also contains a small amount of alcohol (14%). This is often used to treat skin irritations.
• Fine Mist Spray Bottle. I like small, 1 oz/30ml sized bottles as they are small and fit in my purse easily. The ones I bought off of Amazon also came with handy little funnels making it easier to fill.

What Essential Oils Should I Use?

Now I’m not a huge essential oils person. I do have a few. I like how they are natural and smell good. I’m definitely a fan of using natural items in products like hand sanitizer.

Picking essential oils to use in your hand sanitizer is purely a matter of personal preference. Essential oils are quite readily available now. Just be sure that they are pure essential oils.

There are several essential oils that will compliment your hand sanitizer. Here are some popular choices.

• tea tree
• wild orange
• lavender
• eucalyptus
• peppermint
• clove
• rosemary
• cinnamon

My personal favourite is an essential oil blend from doTerra called On Guard. It contains many of the above-mentioned oils – wild orange, clove, cinnamon, eucalyptus and rosemary. It has a pleasing smell that is kind of woody. This is a great, all-around essential oil blend for not only. hand sanitizers, but cleaning products and hand soap as well.

How to Make Your own Hand Sanitizer with Essential Oils

I use 1 oz fine mist sprays and so this recipe makes 4 bottles.

• Put everything except the witch hazel into a bowl. I use a plastic take out container and discard it afterwards.
• Swish it around to mix.
• Add the witch hazel and swish around again.
• Pour into your fine mist spray bottles.

This could not be any easier. You just need a couple of sprays of this mixture and you’re good until you can properly wash your hands.

My hands don’t feel tight and dry after using this hand sanitizer. It also smells nice!

These would make great little stocking stuffer gifts as well!

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