| Today, I wanted to make a small room spray that could go in my purse. Especially since I am back to my routine in school. It took me a while to get settled. Sometimes I have to use a public restroom when returning from school on my way home. Somedays they don’t smell all that great. Having a pocket sized spray makes any necessary visits much more tolerable. Pocket sizes sprays are perfect for students or those who are on the road a lot. Let’s go to the kitchen to whip up a room spray or two.
Room sprays are so simple. Deceptively so. We also don’t feature them very often. However, a recent email asking me about making room sprays has inspired me to make and write about room sprays. There is huge benefit to making your own room sprays. They can be any scent you desire! For example, I like to make smaller sizes not only because they travel well but I can also change when I feel like it! To make a room spray, you only need three ingredients. First, you need a fragrance or essential oil. Please remember to adjust to strong scents like peppermint versus milder ones like vanilla. Second, you need water. Don’t worry. You read that right. You need water. Lastly you need Polysorbate. You can use either Polysorbate 80 or Polysorbate 20. Whatever you have on hand will work just fine.
Recipe:
I chose to measure directly into my bottle for simplified mixing and to create less clean up. However you can mix it outside of your final container if you should so desire. I just made enough to fill each bottle. However, if you want to fill several bottles or large bottles, feel free. If the math seems intimidating, just review Tonya’s notes. They help a lot!
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 Finished Room Spray  Weighing Fragrance Oil and Polysorbate 20  Adding water |
So the polysorbate 20 is 100% natural? It says derived from coconut oil?
Heather, the polysorbate is treated so it acts like a detergent. I think calling it natural depends on how you define natural. That is one of the hardest words for me to define. Tina
Okay my boring tea isn’t cutting it this morning, you have me craving Chai…guess I’ll have to venture out and get some.
I don’t like using polysorbate 20, as it makes the spray look white. Customers seem to want it to be clear, does using polysorbate 80 make a clear product? If not, does anything? Thanks!
The Polysorbate does make it cloudy. We will suggest cyclomethicone for a clear spray but I have not tested this in cyclo before. Let me do some checking.
Any more info on using cyclomethicone with this? Or, do you guys sell perfumer’s alcohol?
I will check to see if this works. Jenny is making a test right now. We don’t sell perfumer’s alcohol. It would require a license that we don’t really want from ATF.
Does it have to be Polysorbate, or can we use something else? I just ordered some Optiphen and was wondering if I could use that! I can’t wait to try this!
The Optiphen is a preservative. Polysorbate is an emulsifier. You can put this in alcohol or try it in cyclomethicone.
ok, I’m loving the Chai series….
Wonderful post!
I’m going to have to add the Chia FO to my next order. It sounds amazing!
You will love it. Every chai lover I know thinks the Creamy Chai is fantastic!
Wow….this sounds like the easiest thing to make ever! Can you use tap water or do you recommend distilled water? Also, due to the addition of water without a preservative, how long will this stay fresh? Do you recommend keeping in the fridge? One more question….could you substitute alcohol such as vodka to prolong freshness? Thanks in advance!
I would mix small quantities and use within 2 weeks or so. You can mix into alcohol or add a preservative. Either is fine. Since this is a room spray we haven’t worried too much about a preservative. Our addition of polysorbate and fragrance does not give much desirable food for microbial growth.
Tina
I really like this idea. I can’t wait to try it.
Do you think you could post more info on the process? I have tried sprays soooo many times but whatever I do, I end up with a layer that rises to the top. I shake it, it seems okay, then the next day there’s a layer. Someone suggested using double the percentage of polysorbate than the percentage of oil, and mixing longer before adding the water- I tried it and still had a layer on top. Has this ever happened to you, or do you have more suggestions?
Thank you so much! 🙂
-Cheyenne
Your experiences are certain not rare. Some fragrances need more emulsifier than others. The best way is to mix the polysorbate and the fragrance oil together. When they are completely mixed without separating, then you can add the water. You might try warm water to mix more quickly. Allow to rest and decant from the bottom. There may be a layer of material that has come from the water and the emulsifier is holding on the top, impurities if you will. You should be just fine from here on out.
Tina
Hey there! Tried again today, and so far, so good! 🙂 Used double the amount of Polysorbate than oil and let the mixture sit for about two hours, stirring every now and then. Then I slowly added warm water (I hadn’t ever tried that before, but it totally makes sense!) and stirred well. Got a completely emulsified mix!
Thanks again!
-Cheyenne