Calming Body Lotion Essential Oil Recipe

Made with calming essential oils, this recipe makes a wonderfully aromatic body lotion that is especially nice to soothe stressed nerves. It's a perfect way to help support your self-care regimin.

As beneficial as carrier oils are to the skin, carrier oils do not have the creamy texture of a fine lotion and can be a bit more difficult to apply. Therefore, this recipe features unscented lotion as the topical base instead of a carrier oil. When feeling frazzled, stressed or anxious, sometimes the ease of applying a lotion is best. If you do prefer to use a carrier oil instead of lotion, tips are provided below on how to alter this recipe to make a calming body oil or roll-on.

Ingredients and Packaging

• 1 fl. oz. unscented body lotion (sellers of natural products and aromatherapy products sometimes sell lotion bases)
• 6 drops Lavender Essential Oil
• 2 drops Mandarin Essential Oil (May be substituted with 2 drops Sweet Orange Essential Oil)
• 2 drops Clary Sage Essential Oil (May be substituted with 2 drops Roman Chamomile Essential Oil)
• 2 drops Vetiver Essential Oil (May be substituted with 2 drops Patchouli Essential Oil)
• 1 oz. sterile jar or sterile bottle with lotion pump
• Label

About the Ingredients Chosen for the Calming Body Lotion

Making lotion from scratch is a bit complicated, so this recipe calls for the use of a good quality unscented body lotion.

The essential oils were selected for their calming properties and because these 4 essential oils smell lovely together. Everyone is different, so blends of essential oils don't always illicit the same emotional response for everyone. Use this recipe as a source of inspiration for finding the blend that work best for you.

Directions

The best way to blend the essential oils into the lotion is to pour the lotion into a bowl, add the oils and then mix very well. Once mixed, add the lotion to a sterilized bottle using a clean funnel or to a jar using a clean spoon.

Don't add lavender buds or other herbs to the recipe. Although they may look beautiful at first, they can cause your lotion to go rancid.

Add a label to your lotion that includes the essential oils that you used and that lists the date that you made the lotion.

Be sure to research and heed the safety precautions for each essential oil that you use. Avoid essential oils that are contraindicated for any issues that you have.

Body Oil or Roller-Ball Alternative

If you prefer, you can substitute 1 oz. carrier oil such as jojoba oil for the unscented lotion. If making this as a body oil, avoid packaging it in a jar and instead use a 1 oz. roll-on bottle, a bottle with a serum top or one with a lotion pump that doesn't drip.

Keep Your Calming Lotion Batch Size Small

Most commercially available lotions have a preservative in them to help keep them microbial free. Even though essential oils have antimicrobial properties, adding them to an unscented lotion can potentially shorten the shelf life of your finished product. Therefore, I recommend making this in very small 1 oz. batches and using it up before making more.

Shelf Life

For the reasons mentioned above, I recommend using the lotion up within 3-4 weeks.

To Use

Apply as you would use other hand and body lotions. Apply at times to help calm your mind and nerves. It is especially nice to apply before bedtime to help calm the mind and promote sleep. Discontinue use immediately if you experience any irritation or discomfort.

If you keep your lotion in a jar, it's best to dispense it using a clean spoon. Touching the contents of your lotion container can introduce microbes into the lotion, even if your hands are clean.

General Safety Information

These recipes are offered for educational purposes only. Before using any essential oil, carefully read AromaWeb's Essential Oil Safety Information page. For in-depth information on oil safety issues, read Essential Oil Safety by Robert Tisserand and Rodney Young. Do not take any oils internally and do not apply undiluted essential oils, absolutes, CO2s or other concentrated essences onto the skin without advanced essential oil knowledge or consultation from a qualified aromatherapy practitioner. For general dilution information, read AromaWeb's Guide to Diluting Essential Oils. If you are pregnant, epileptic, have liver damage, have cancer, or have any other medical problem, use oils only under the proper guidance of a qualified aromatherapy practitioner. Use extreme caution when using oils with children and consult a qualified aromatherapy practitioner before using oils with children, the elderly, if you have medical issues or are taking medications.

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