If there are three things we love here at Plant Therapy, it’s essential oils, natural ingredients, and a greener way of life. There are so many amazing DIYs that combine all three. Making your products has many, many amazing benefits. Not only are you using some incredible essential oils, but you’ll also know exactly what’s in your DIY. You won’t have to worry about trying to decipher weird chemical names on ingredient lists. You’ll also cut down on waste from packaging. For example, you can reuse lip balm containers for your homemade balm or for solid perfumes.
We’ve rounded up some of our favorite DIY projects, everything from cleaners to body care products, that help you ditch the chemicals, get creative and live a more natural life.
1. All Purpose Countertop Cleaner DIY
What you’ll need:
- 1 cup peroxide (the regular kind that you find in a brown bottle)
- 1 cup distilled water
- 45 drops of Germ Destroyer Blend
- 1 teaspoon Castile Soap or Sal-Suds
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What you’ll do:
- Add all ingredients to a bottle and shake.
- Spray and wipe off to clean.
- Store in the refrigerator for up to a week.
2. DIY Citrus Window and Glass Cleaner
What you’ll need:
- 1-½ cups white vinegar
- ½ cup distilled water
- 8 drops Lemon, Lime or Orange essential oil
- 16-ounce spray bottle
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What you’ll do:
- Put all ingredients in the bottle.
- Shake well and use.
Store in the fridge and try to use within a couple weeks.
3. Deodorizing Carpet Powder DIY
What you’ll need:
- Container with shaker lid
- 2 cups baking soda
- Deodorizing blend
Add Deodorizing Synergy Essential Oil 10 mL to your cart
What you’ll do:
- Put 1 cup of baking soda into a container.
- Add 10-15 drops of Deodorizing.
- Add another cup of baking soda and 10-15 more drops of Deodorizer.
- Shake well, sprinkle on carpets and allow to sit for 30-60 minutes before vacuuming.
4. Royal Hand Cream DIY
What you’ll need:
- 18 drops Bergamot
- 13 drops Frankincense Frereana
- 8 drops Rose Absolute
- 6 drops Neroli
- 2 oz Evening Primrose Cream
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What you’ll do:
Blend all ingredients and mix well. Apply to your hands.
5. Fountain of Youth Face Serum DIY
What you’ll need:
- 2 tsp. Jojoba Carrier Oil
- 1 tsp. Meadowfoam Carrier Oil
- 2 drops Frankincense Frereana
- 1 drop Carrot Seed
- 1 drop Ylang Ylang Complete
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What you’ll do:
Blend essential oils and carrier oils together thoroughly. Massage onto face after cleansing.
6. Hand Sanitizer DIY
What you’ll need:
- 1/3 cup 190 proof Everclear/ethanol or 99% isopropyl alcohol
- 1/8 cup Aloe Vera Jelly
- 43 drops Defender, Germ Fighter, or Germ Destroyer
*This recipe has been updated to include alcohol for maximum effectiveness.
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What you’ll do:
Measure out Everclear/ethanol and Aloe Vera Jelly into different containers. Mix the essential oils in the ethanol and then slowly add in the Aloe Vera Jelly while mixing with an immersion blender, hand mixer or whisk. Once blended, pour into your sanitizer container and use as needed.
*Note: Although these ingredients are known to be effective at helping prevent and eliminate germs, this DIY is not a substitute for regular, proper handwashing.
7. Lovely Lips Balm DIY
What you’ll need:
- 1 tsp Beeswax Pearls
- 1 tsp Shea Butter
- 1 tsp Solid Coconut Oil
- 3 drops Love Vanilla synergy
- Tubes or circular tin for storage
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What you’ll do:
- Place beeswax, shea butter, and coconut oil in a glass bowl set over a pan of simmering water {double boiler}
- Heat until melted
- Once melted, stir in essential oils
- Pour into tins or tubes
- Allow mixture to cool before capping
8. Rapid Muscle & Joint Relief Salve DIY
What you’ll need:
- 1.5 oz Fractionated Coconut Oil
- 0.5 oz Beeswax Pearls
- 30 drops Rapid Relief
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What you’ll do:
To melt the beeswax, place a canning ring in a shallow pan of water. Place beeswax in a glass bowl on the canning ring and bring water to a boil. Once the beeswax is melted, add coconut oil. Turn off heat and add Rapid Relief. Remove from heat and pour into a 2 oz tin or jar. Salve will solidify as it cools.
9. Foaming Hand Soap DIY
What you’ll need:
- ½ cup Castile Soap
- 1 tsp Fractionated Coconut Oil
- 20-30 drops Germ Fighter
- 1 cup purified water
- 1 foaming pump bottle
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What you’ll do:
Mix all of the ingredients together and pour into the foaming pump bottle. Shake, pump, wash, and enjoy!
10. Solid Perfume DIY
What you’ll need:
- 3 tsp Beeswax Pearls
- 3 tsp Jojoba Carrier Oil
- 7-23 drops of your choice of oil or blend
- Empty lip balm tubes or tins
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What you’ll do:
Melt the beeswax and jojoba in a double boiler. When melted, stir in 7-23 drops of your essential oil or blend and transfer to the empty lip balm tubes or tins. After the mixture has solidified, apply to wrists or along the collar bones for a sweet and calming summertime perfume.
Head to our Facebook group, Safe Essential Oil Recipes (SEOR) for more amazing ways to use essential oils on your journey to natural living!
These are great recipes! Thank you for updating the hand sanitizer recipe to include alcohol!
This is FANtastic! Thank you for having these especially with current situation. I love using more natural items not to mention the fragrance compared to commercial.
Thank you PT for these recipes and everything you do! You are my #1 go to brand for EO’s, and on top of that you all are my #1 company in general. I just love everything that you do, your excellent customer service speaks volumes-I can feel that you love and care for your customers and that means everything to me. Keep up the excellent work!!
I’m looking forward to trying the counter cleaner. Is there a reason it needs to be stored in the refrigerator? And why can it only be stored for a week? Thanks!
Hi Kelly, any time essential oils and water are used in the same recipe, it will need a preservative. Without a preservative, the cleaner will only last about a week. Storing it in the fridge will help maximize this shelf life.
So much info! Thanks… I’ve read a number of pages and seem to have just scratched the surface. These recipes and tips are really great, and it is nice that you sell all of what is needed to mix the recipes.
Super fun recipes! So does the hand soap and other water based mixes not need a preservative? I read the article recently describing the need for preservatives in any water based DIY products.
Thank you PT for posting all these fabulous recipes! I can’t wait to give them a try!
I’ll have to try the lip balm as I’ve found that store-bought chapsticks have started irritating my lips.
I love this list! I am slowly working through the different recipes. Making things at home is one of my favorite ways of using essential oils. I especially love homemade cleaners!
These are great suggestions! I look forward to try most of them.
Love this glass cleaner! I add 150 proof vodka to give it a longer shelf life.
Thank you SO much for sharing these DIYs. I was specifically looking for a hand sanitizer and I’m so excited! If you are ever looking for suggestions, I would love a bug spray/repellent recipe!!
Thank you for the hand sanitizer and foam soap recipes!
Thanks for these recipes! I look forward to making them!
Thank you for the recipes. I’ve been looking for many different ways for natural living, and this is perfect! Thank you!
One of the first things I started to do when I began with EOs was making cleaning products – save a few bucks and make stuff that is chemical free !
I can’t wait to try these diy’s!!
I tried to make #8 the salve but it just seems to hard. What could be added to soften it up a bit?
In that case, I would recommend increasing the amount of Fractionated Coconut Oil and decreasing the amount of Beeswax.
What I love about this site is that there are basic recipes that can always be modified to a persons preferences. For example, the royal hand creme is a little too flowery for my taste, but I can use the basic recipe and substitute other oils, or cut back on the flowery scents.
I can’t say how GRATEFUL I am to have found Plant Therapy. You offer great products and so much information on their use and usefulness. I’m living a healthier happier life thanks to Plant Therapy. Thank you so much.
Awesome recipes. I’m looking forward to trying the carpet powder.
Such good recipes to try. I’m excited to try the carpet deodorizer. The big brand ones are just so strong and artificial smelling. It bothers me and my husbands sinuses. Excited for a natural option that will still freshen our home.
Thank you for all these recipes. I am so excited to try some of them!!!
i am interested on Fountain of Youth Face Serum DIY. Is it rinse off after message than apply usual steps of oil and cream?
You’ll apply the serum after cleansing your face. It is moisturizing, so you can use it by itself or apply a moisturizer after.
Thank you for the information. I cannot wait to try the Citrus Window Cleaner. Keep the post coming our way!
Always timely and excellent information. Thanks
I’m wanting to try the lip balm DIY! I don’t have Love Vanilla though. What other oils would be good for a lip balm?
Peppermint and Spearmint are two of my favorites. Sweet Orange is another popular choice. 🙂
Thank you for all the DIY ideas. I have tried a couple of these…slowly but surely I am changing my cleaning and beauty products to more natural homemade versions. I love it!
Yes I have enjoyed making some of these nice recipes with the oils from plant therapy
Loving these DIY’s. I plan to make the lip balm with my niece, she will love it! I’m going to try to make the rapid relief salve soon, can anyone tell me the consistency of this salve? Is it soft or hard? Thanks!
The glass cleaner is 1000x better than the smelly blue cleaner from the store. And it cuts through build-up on my glass shower door better than anything else!
This post is awesome!! Definitely going to use most if not all of these recipes. I have done the carpet deodorizer and counter top spray. Totally going to make lip balm with my lemon cupcake birthday oil. Yum
Wow!!! I’m interesting in trying so many of these!! Thank you for such wonderful ideas! I’d like to make the fountain of youth face serum, but I’m not a big fan of ylang ylang. Any substitutes you might recommend? Thanks again!!
These are wonderful, thank you!
So many great recipes in one place ! Thank you.It gave me some ideas.
Thank you for sharing these DIYs. Love the face serum one and can’t wait to try some of the other ones.
This is so helpful, thanks!!
Lovely recipes. I am always looking for more natural skincare recipes.
Thank you for the recipes!! I’ve tried a couple of similar recipes for a couple, but some of them are completely new! I’m always up for learning and trying new things with oils!
I love these recipe ideas! The hand sanitizer is so simple, and much better than stuff you buy from the store!
I am interested in the foaming hand soap. I make a similar recipe. Just wondering what the purpose is of the fractionated coconut oil. Thanks.
It would provide extra moisture as some people find that soap can be drying.
Love these ideas! Looks like my oils shopping list just got longer
Thank you for all these great recipes, I am going to try some, like the pain relief salve!
What a great blog!! I can’t wait to try the cleaners! I have already used the foaming soap and hand sanitizer and love them!!!!
Great DIYs. We tried the lip balm recipe, but would prefer to use a greater percentage of oil to wax and butter as we find the equal proportions not moisturizing enough. Gonna try the carpet cleaner soon! Thank you!
I can’t wait to try some of these. I’ve been using the countertop cleaner for awhile and I love it!! Looking forward to trying the lip balm and perfume
Great recipes! Thank you so much for posting them!
I love all of these ideas. I would especially like to try the carped deodorizer. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for posting these wonderful recipes. A great bunch of projects for a rainy day…tomorrow!
These look pretty simple and good
Awesome ideas! I have tried a couple of these and am planning on trying more.
I just bought sal suds. I will be making the counter cleaner
Time to add a few projects to my diy list. Thanks for the recipes.
I already make and use a couple of these recipes but the muscle and joint salve and also the solid perfume recipes I haven’t seen before. I think I may try these . Thank you for the post.
I ran out of window spray this morning and was on the hunt for a diy recipe! Perfect timing!
Thank you for putting all of these great diy’s in one place.
Love trying all versions of diy’s! Thanks for all the awesome information!
Thanks for all the recipes. These are all great Mother Day’s gifts projects.
These are some great ideas! I can’t wait to try some out for Mother’s Day gifts!
Yes I love cleaning with oil makes every thing smell so good.
I love all of Plant Therapy’s DIYs, but I especially love the natural cleaner recipes. I like to mix up the fragrances, but have found the citrus are my absolute favorites!!!
Thank you for all the DIY ideas! Can’t wait to try!
Thank you for sharing these amazing recipes. I’ve tried a few, like the window and counter cleaner but am really looking forward to making the hand sanitizer and foaming hand wash ( I’m going to use Defender as you posted in a blog last week). I love that these are safe and natural products.
Great one stop shop post for an awesome group of oily basics!
Time for a spring cleaning and the carpet refresh powder is on my list to make. I’m also adding diatomaceous earth because it’s supposed to help control fleas. I’m planning on making solid perfume using the March oil of the month, Delight. All these good ideas!
I want to try the hand sanitizer! Thanks for the easy looking recipe. Hopefully it’s not one I can manage to mess up. 😀
This blog has compiled many of the past blogs and videos of the many uses of EOs. This is great!!
Opening up the summer place this weekend, I’m definitely interested in the carpet powder and countertop cleaner. But I really want to try the solid perfume. Just need to find the right mix!
Great ideas. I love cleaning with lemon, orange and tea tree. They all make things smell clean.
I’m getting ready to move and I’m excited to clean my house With these natural cleaners! Thanks!
Great DIYs! I need to get started on some of these!
LOVE all of these ideas and i have about 8 tabs open right now…all plant therapy ideas to try lol.
Love the ideas! Although I don’t love that some of these have such a short shelf life. I don’t have time to be making cleaner every week. Instead of using water could I use grain alcohol instead? Or maybe… 25% grain alcohol and 75% vodka with a lower proof?
Hi Angel, using grain alcohol is an excellent idea. It can both solubilize and preserve your DIYs. To preserve a waterbased product, you would need to use at least a 120 proof grain alcohol for 20-30% of the product.
25% grain/75% vodka would be sufficient for your needs for the DIY cleaner. To learn more about using alcohol in aromatic blending for solubilization and preservation, you might want to check out this article on the Tisserand Institute: https://tisserandinstitute.org/effective-use-alcohol-aromatic-blending/
I hope this helps!
I have been making my own all purpose surface cleaner & floor cleaner with Germ Fighter for months now and its amazing! My house feels so fresh & clean!
Thank you for the amazing recipes! Just in time for spring cleaning. You guys rock!
I’m most excited to try out the DIY hand sanitizer. The normal sanitizer really dries out my skin and other essential oil specific sanitizers are SOO expensive. Thanks!
Love cleaning DIY
As I have most of the ingredients for these recipes, I am so excited to try these! They look pretty easy to make and are all so useful!
Thank you!!
Just made the hand cream and the foaming soap, they smell wonderful! Thanks for the recipes!
I love all these great recipes!! Need to get out the squirt bottles.
I love being able to use my essential oils in different ways. Thanks for these useful tips.
My littles are super excited to make lip balms and foaming hand soap. My 7 year has to pick a new oil to make lip balms every day. lol
With two dogs and four boys, I definitely need to make the carpet deodorizer and hand sanitizer. Thank you for the recipes!
With two dogs and four boys, I definitely need to make the carpet deodorizer and the hand sanitizer. Thank you for the recipes!
Just in time for Spring Cleaning here! I made the counter top cleaner and the window cleaner. They worked just fine and smell so fresh. Thank you for the ideas!
Thank You for the awesome recipes, looking forward to making a few of them for cleaning
Thank you for sharing. I’ve seen a few of these referenced a few times on SEOR and I want to make them all! Is there a difference between distilled and purified water? Do I need a preservative for the handwash recipe?
Hi Sarah. Distilled water and purified water differ in the processes they go through, but either would be a good option for this recipe. Also, the shelf life of this hand soap is about a week if it’s kept in a cool place. You can check out this post on preservatives to help you find the right one, if you want to add some to this recipe.
Ordered everything to try the DIY Hand sanitizer since the regular stuff is so rough on my skin! I’m super excited to try it out!! Thanks for the post Plant Therapy!
Ive been doing some of them and definitely be trying a few of them which interests me!
Keep those recipes coming! And thanks for working on getting the preservative added to the hand soap recipe.
Thanks for putting these all in one spot! Gonna bookmark this page so I don’t lose it. Can’t wait to try these out, especially the hand sanitizer with aloe jelly.
I made the Royal Handcream. That stuff is AMAZING and smells great! I will definitely be making more of it! I can’t wait to try some of the other projects on here!
FanTasTiC! Thank you Plant Therapy. I’m looking forward to trying all of these.
Really interested in making the solid balm. I’ve seen locket necklaces (not the diffuser ones) with solid balm in them and they sound like a neat idea to do with this recipe!
Great post! I have added some of these before and oghaeds I’m anxious to try! Now I have them all in 1 convenient article! I’m so grateful to PT for sharing these great ideas for more natural living!
I’m glad to have these all in one place. Thank you! With two kids I will have to mix up the hand sanitizer! And maybe the royal hand cream for me!
Thank you so much for these recipes! Now the problem is trying to decide which to make first!
The struggle is real!
I’m off tomorrow, guess what I’ll be doing! Haha, love the blog posts!
So many good ideas, awesome!
Can’t wait to try the hand sanitizer idea!
These all sound great, but I’m most looking forward to making my own carpet powder!
Some of these I already do, some of these I’m excited to try! Thanks!
Thank you so much for this article!!! I am slowly trying to live a greener, purer life.
Oh I would love to try these all-natural and safe cleaning products!
I’ve tried three of these already, the solid perfume, sanitizer and the soap. All three worked fabulously. I’m fact, I’m going to make another batch if perfume as soon as I get there perfect mix of Jasmine and other oils. Mmmmmmm, smells so scrumptious. For the hand soap I used rosemary, two drops of lemon and spearmint. I also did one with lavender and lemon, but only 2-3 drops of lemon, because I was concerned that it might be drying. My hands are super sensitive, so I was conservative with the citrus.
Wow!!! That’s awesome!! I definitely will try some of those ideas!!! Thanks.
Thank you for these! I have made a few already but plan on making some if the others
Thanks for the great recipes. I’ll definitely be giving some of these a try.
Thank you for sharing all these recipes! Can’t wait to try some.
Thank you for the recipes!
Thanks for the recipes. I’m going to try the hand sanitizer with the kid safe germ destroyer!