It’s time for a spring refresh, and with only a few materials, you can put this DIY Essential Oil Diffuser together for a natural aromatherapy boost to your space. Plus, the fresh scent of bergamot will put you in the mood for tea time with cake!

You might remember when my friend Lindsey and I crafted a DIY Essential Oil Diffuser out of necessity. We were traveling extensively and found ourselves in the throes of a weird Airbnb funk, but we got crafty! Now that I’m home, I’ve been playing with more apothecary recipes and slowly building my arsenal of ingredients. What we put on our bodies and in our homes is just as important as what we eat, so I see these recipes as a natural extension of the intention I put into my cooking and baking. 

You’ve probably seen these types of diffusers for sale in beautiful home stores with hefty price tags, but as your collection of essential oils and carrier oils (which are great for skincare too!) expand, these types of DIY’s become all the easier and cheaper than store-bought counterparts. This Essential Oil Diffuser is as simple as pouring liquid into glass bottles. 

The bamboo diffuser reeds pull the essential oil scent from a light carrier oil to release a light aroma over time. Unlike commercial room sprays, which simply try to cover up bad smells, essential oils have beneficial purifying and aromatherapy qualities.

DIY Essential Oil Diffuser: How To

To make your own Essential Oil Diffuser, simply pick a glass container, add a base oil like almond oil, jojoba or safflower (or try a vodka combination), then mix in the essential oil combination of your liking. For an oil base, start with a ratio of 30% essential oil to 70% base oil, and add more essential oil as needed. Add bamboo reeds or shortened skewers, and let them rest for a few hours to absorb the oils, then flip them to scent side up. Simply repeat this process when the scent fades.

One of my favorite combination is a Eucalyptus and Peppermint blend in the bathroom for a really cleansing vibe. For my bedroom, I used uplifting Bergamot and Orange, to give a bright and refreshing scent. As an added bonus, it reminds me of tea time with a mug of Earl Grey tea and a lemon cake, which you definitely deserve after a DIY session.

Cheers,

 

Have you thought about weaning yourself off traditional haircare products? Try this DIY Natural Haircare trio as a healthy alternative. 

When I made a major shift in my diet toward clean eating, my skin took on a new glow, and I felt more energized, but one aspect that never changed, much to my chagrin, was my oily hair. Even though I switched to all organic, all natural products, I still needed to wash my hair almost daily. It turns out, my excessive washing, even with all natural products, was probably doing more harm than good. Have you heard of the “no ‘poo” (ie: no shampoo) movement in natural haircare?

Follicles release a natural oil called “sebum,” which keeps hair healthy and conditioned, but shampoos and conditioners, especially the harsher chemical ones, strip away sebum. The “No ‘Poo” theory isn’t a complete ban on hair washing, but rather, it’s a call to wash hair with gentler alternatives. In addition to sipping green drinks for an internal detox, I’ve been meaning to dive into a haircare “detox.” This is how I’m weaning myself off traditional products in favor of a more natural, DIY natural haircare routine:

DIY Exfoliant
DIY Conditioning Spray
DIY Dry Shampoo

I started with a DIY Exfoliant to wipe the slate clean so to speak. Dirt, oil and product build-up can clog your hair follicles much like they can clog the pores on your skin. This sea salt scrub helps to detox the scalp, reduce dandruff and bring life back to oily hair. Plus, much like a trip to the ocean, after using this salt scrub, my hair has incredible waves and texture.

DIY Natura Haircare Recipe: Sea Salt Hair Scrub

Recipe adapted from Hello Glow.

The sea salt helps to scrub away impurities while the lemon juice and apple cider vinegar help restore the pH of your hair. I recommend the Elevate Haircare essential oil blend from Aura Cacia, since it’s already an economical and energizing blend of scents geared toward haircare. Remember to be very gentle as you exfoliate so as not to break follicles. Use this treatment once a week if your scalp is especially flaky but no more than twice a week.

Ingredients

1/4 cup Himalayan pink salt, finely ground
zest and juice from one lemon
1 Tablespoon raw apple cider vinegar
1 Tablespoon coconut oil, melted
1 teaspoon raw honey
15 drops essential oil of your choosing

Directions

Combine everything in a small bowl and stir. Transfer to an airtight container.

To use, wet your hair and gently scrub a tablespoon-sized amount into your scalp using your fingertips (it won’t be foamy like shampoo). Let it sit for 5-10 minutes before rinsing with warm water.

DIY Natural Haircare Recipe: Conditioning Hair Spritz

Recipe adapted from Hello Glow.

Apple cider vinegar balances hair’s pH levels, is antibacterial and naturally conditions, and this combination helps to reduce the potent smell for a more manageable and natural DIY haircare routine. 

Ingredients

3 cups filtered water
2 Tablespoons dried lavender
1-2 Tablespoons dried chamomile or rosemary (if you don’t want to lighten your hair)
3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar

Directions

Bring water to a boil and remove from heat. Add herbs and let them steep for at least 30 minutes. The longer the herbs sit, the stronger your rinse will be. Strain the herbs and pour into a bottle with a lid. Add the apple cider vinegar and shake to combine, then funnel into a squirt bottle (I like to keep the squirt bottle in the shower so it stays warm). To use, squirt onto your hair, and massage into hair. Let it sit for three  minutes, and finish with a quick rinse, or you can skip rinsing and leave it in.

“Find a natural dry shampoo” was on my to-do list for a while, so finally, I dove into an internet rabbit hole only to find pretty dismal results. Even the most expensive “natural” dry shampoos left me wanting more. Since many of the products come in a convenient aerosol form, they often contain very questionable ingredients, which makes using them contradictory.

In trying to avoid the harmful side effects of shampoos and hair products, I have to use harmful products? It didn’t make sense, so I finally resolved myself to a DIY natural haircare solution, and I was really pleased with the results. My hair had more volume and texture, and the effect lasted the whole day.

DIY Natural Haircare: Dry Shampoo

Bentonite clay in this recipe is the same clay that makes a reviving face mask, so it’s a useful ingredient to have in your arsenal. Again, I recommend the Elevate Haircare essential oil blend for these shampoos, but you could also use lavender, rosemary or your favorite scent. Just avoid citrus oils if you’ll be exposed to intense sun. Use this dry shampoo as needed when your hair is greasy.

For Dark Hair:

2 Tablespoons arrowroot flour/starch
1 Tablespoon bentonite clay
2 teaspoons raw cacao powder
7-10 drops essential oil

For Light Hair:

2 Tablespoons arrowroot flour starch
1 Tablespoon bentonite clay
7 drops essential oil

Directions

In a small bowl, use a wooden spoon (avoid metal with bentonite clay) to whisk or stir the ingredients together until combined. Store the powder at room temperature for up to 6 months, or according to the expiration dates on the product packages.

Working in sections, use a makeup brush to apply a light amount of the dry shampoo to your roots (the ends of hair should be fine as is). Let the powder begin to absorb the oils for a few minutes, then briefly massage the powder into your roots. Brush out the excess and you’re all set!

That’s it! Let me know how you maintain your natural haircare routine. 

Cheers,