I first knew things were getting out of hand when I started seeing hand sanitizer on key chains. And yet, despite what I know about the stuff–the unnatural fragrances, how dried out my hands feel after using it, and the fact that triclosan-based sanitizers contribute to antibiotic resistance–I’m always tempted to pick up a few bottles anyway. They’re just so convenient and, what’s the old adage, better safe than sorry?
While it would be best to give it up entirely, back-to-school season is one heck of a time to go cold turkey. So instead of the traditional stuff, why not give this homemade hand sanitizer a try? It kills germs naturally and you’ll save money making your own.
How To Make Hand Sanitizer with Essential Oils
Traditional hand sanitizer is loaded with things like sodium lauryl sulfate, parabens and synthetic fragrance, which can wreak havoc on everything from skin to hormones. But as if that weren’t scary enough, it’s actually the antibacterial agent, triclosan, you need to worry about.
Triclosan is so potent that it can kill up to 99.9% of germs. But that .1% of germs that’s left can then breed and pass its antibiotic resistance to offspring, quickly morphing into what’s called a “superbug.” This is why triclosan has been banned in hand soaps and body washes. Even hand sanitizer made with rubbing alcohol instead of triclosan can be harsh on sensitive skin, aggravating eczema and seasonal dryness.
But natural hand sanitizer is a different beast entirely. Instead of triclosan, it uses naturally antimicrobial essential oils to kill germs. Witch hazel takes the place of rubbing alcohol and acts as a second line of defense against germs. And aloe vera gel nourishes skin and prevents chapping and cracking (it also gives your hand sanitizer that gel-like consistency we’re all used to).
You can also add various essential oils to give it a fresh scent. Lemon, lavender, sweet orange and grapefruit are a few of my favorites. Not only do they help give you that clean hands feeling, but they also nourish skin and boost your mood at the same time.
The nice thing about this recipe is that you can make it as strong or as gentle as you’d like. Reduce the amount of witch hazel and tea tree oil for small children. Or add more for when you need to pull out the big guns. It’s completely up to you.
And if you miss the convenience of the old hand sanitizers, why not empty one or two of those keychain bottles and fill it with your own homemade sanitizer? You’ll always have some at the ready and you won’t have to worry about the chemicals. It’s seriously the best of both worlds.
Ingredients
- 5 drops lemon essential oil
- 5 drops lavender essential oil
- 20 drops tea tree essential oil
- 1 tablespoon witch hazel
- 1/4 cup pure aloe vera gel
Add all the ingredients to a small bowl and stir to combine. Transfer hand sanitizer to small, clean pump bottle and store it in your purse for up to a year.
This was so thick I couldn’t even transfer it into a bottle. Any suggestions?
Try more witch hazel
Put it in a bottle with a pump or use aloe vera liquid instead of gel.
I’m wondering how many drops to put in a 4ml spray bottle.
I use vodka and water as per another recipe.
And I use 2 mixes and some singles
Adding up to 12 different oils, that I have researched to be immune boosting, environmental, bacteria fighters.
Tangerine. Eucalyptus globules
Clove ,cassia ,Rosemary,tea tree,
Niaoli, lemon,lemongrass,lime,arborvitae,
Vetiver….
Can i use witch hazel tea?
And which concentration to use?
This looks awesome… could I use Frankincense essential oil in the recipe and if so how many drops and what would it replace. Thank you.
Way to quote me verbatim without credit! I appreciate you sharing my thoughts, though.
you are sharing the great formula with us thank you so much for delivering amazing tips…
what can I use other than witch hazel? we don’t have it here.
Can I use one of these? Which one would be good?
Rosemary Essential Oil
Cornmint Essential Oil
Thai Basil Essential Oil
Cypress Essential Oil
Cedarwood Essential Oil
Turmeric Essential Oil
Personally I would use Tea Tree EO, the others don’t hold the correct properties to be anti-bacterial or anti-fungal. Turmeric can stain, so be careful with it.
Wouldnt lemon oil pose an issue of photosensitivity when applied to the hands and then you find yourself outside fairly soon.. that would essentially lead to burns or blistering.
Lemon oil is not phototoxic at this dilution.
However, I am curious what preservative you’re adding to recommend a one year shelf life?
There is no water involved. I don’t see the need of a preservative…
Both Aloe Vera and Witch Hazel are water based.
Thank you for the recipe! I have an Aloe plant at home and have been wanting to make use of it – could I use fresh Aloe?
Commercial aloe has preservatives to prevent mold from forming, so if you used fresh, you’d want to add a preservative to it, like 190 proof Everclear or its equivalent.
The Witch Hazel and Aloe in this recipe only have enough preservatives for their use, and that balance will be affected with the other ingredients in this recipe, so I would recommend adding a preservative to this recipe, or keeping it refrigerated and using it within couple of weeks. It will likely not last a year, as stated, without adding a preservative of some kind.
Midwest Bottles
Hi, thanks for the recipe! Just wondering where you buy the pump bottle?
Midwest Bottles