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    Home » DIY Projects

    Homemade Citrus Mint Hand Sanitizer Spray

    by Patti Estep · Nov 6, 2016

    Jump to How-to Card

    This recipe for a homemade hand sanitizer spray, made with alcohol, aloe vera juice, and essential oils, is a fun gift to make for everyone on your list.

    diy-hand-sanitizer-spray

    This homemade hand sanitizer spray is simple to create and makes a great gift too. Recently I was talking with my friend about the contertop cleaner I make to use on my granite. I like the way it smells, and it's great for disinfecting the kitchen. I wondered if I could bottle this same recipe, as a hand sanitizer, and give it out as a gift.

    This post contains some affiliate links (that means if you make a purchase after clicking a link, there’s no additional cost to you, but I will earn a very small commission. ) i.e. as an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.  Click here to read my full disclosure policy.

    homemade-hand-sanitizer-spray

    So I did a little research. The counter-top spray has rubbing alcohol as the active ingredient. My research showed that rubbing alcohol, or isopropyl, can be harmful if ingested, and even though I don't expect people to drink it, they may be using it often, and it would be absorbed through the skin.

    I also found that quite a few people are using witch hazel in their recipes. However, I could not find enough information to confirm its effect on bacteria. 

    Finally, I found some using grain alcohol or ethyl alcohol. Dr. Bronner's is a well known respected brand, and their hand sanitizer contains ethyl alcohol. Since this type of alcohol is safe for human consumption, I felt good about it being applied to the skin. 

    Homemade Citrus Mint Hand Sanitizer Spray Materials

    Homemade Hand Sanitizer Spray

    Supplies

    • Ethyl Alcohol (grain alcohol like Everclear) or try 99% isopropyl alcohol
      Aloe Vera Juice
    • Tea Tree Essential Oil
    • Peppermint Essential Oil
    • Lemon Essential Oil
    • Sweet Orange Essential Oil
    • 2 oz. Dark Glass Spray Bottle

    Disclaimer: The information on this site is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. If you have any concerns about using these materials please check with your doctor first.

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    UPDATE:  I am not a scientific or medical professional. For a definitive recipe please consult The World Health Organization's Hand Rub Formula.

    hand-sanitiizer-with-ethyl-alcohol

    I also learned that you should have around 60% of the active ingredient for this to be effective. To balance the harshness of the alcohol smell and to prevent dryness, I added aloe vera juice and some lovely essential oils.

    For this spray I used a combination of lemon, orange, peppermint, and a little tea tree. The citrus and mint mainly for their fragrance, and the tea tree because it has been said to be a great anti-bacterial agent. I used a dark glass spray bottle because the essential oils should last longer when not exposed to the sun, and I like the idea of a spray-on sanitizer. 

    Hand Sanitizer Recipe (2 ounce bottle)

    8 teaspoons of Ethyl Alcohol (substitute isopropyl alcohol at 99%)
    4 teaspoons of Aloe Vera Juice
    4 drops of Tea Tree Essential Oil
    8 drops of Peppermint Essential Oil
    10 drops of Lemon Essential Oil
    1/8 teaspoon of Sweet Orange Essential Oil

    homemade-hand-sanitizer-spray

    Bonus:    If you like this label you can click on the pic below and it will open to a pdf page which can be printed or saved. It's 2 x 2 inches and fits perfectly on the 2 oz. bottles.

    sanitizer-spray-label

    I plan to make at least a dozen of these to hand out during the holidays. Just one of many little gifts I like to make and give this time of year. Of course, this hand sanitizer spray recipe would be great at any time of year, and I think the citrus mint scent is appropriate for both men and women.

    Patti signature
    Dark glass spray bottle with hand sanitizer label, lemon peels and mint.
    Homemade hand sanitizer in a bottle with a holiday label.
    Print
    5 from 1 vote

    DIY Hand Sanitizer

    This recipe for a homemade hand sanitizer spray, made with alcohol, aloe vera juice, and essential oils, is a fun gift to make for everyone on your list.
    Active Time10 minutes mins
    Total Time10 minutes mins
    Course: Homemade Bath and Body
    Yield: 1
    Author: Patti Estep

    Equipment

    • Droppers and/or small funnels

    Materials

    • Ethyl Alcohol grain alcohol like Everclear or try 99% isopropyl alcohol
    • Aloe Vera Juice
    • 4 drops of Tea Tree Essential Oil
    • 8 drops of Peppermint Essential Oil
    • 10 drops of Lemon Essential Oil
    • 1/8 teaspoon of Sweet Orange Essential Oil
    • Dark Glass Spray Bottles

    Instructions

    • Using a dropper or funnel add the ethyl alcohol or isopropyl alcohol to a clean dry bottle with a spray top.
    • Add aloe vera juice.
    • Add 4 drops of Tea Tree Essential Oil
    • Add 8 drops of Peppermint Essential Oil
    • Add 10 drops of Lemon Essential Oil
    • Add 1/8 teaspoon of Sweet Orange Essential Oil
    • Screw on the cap tightly and add a label.

    Notes

    Disclaimer: The information on this site is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. If you have any concerns about using these materials please check with your doctor first.
    Tried this project?Tag @hearthnvine on Instagram
    « Easy Breakfast Egg Muffins with Spinach and Parmesan
    Cranberry Orange Bread - Easy Recipe, Great for Gift Giving »

    About Patti Estep

    Patti is the creator of Hearth and Vine, a home and garden blog filled with projects to inspire your creative side. She loves crafting, gardening, decorating and entertaining at her home in Pennsylvania. When she is not working on a project at home or searching for treasures at nurseries and thrift stores with her girlfriends, you’ll probably find her with family and friends, at a restaurant, or home party enjoying new and different food adventures.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Deb Ralya

      August 18, 2020 at 5:02 pm

      I just tried a version of this recipe with different essential oils & when the liquid settled, it's curdled. Is that normal? I used aloe vera juice from Whole Foods. Used juice instead of gel for spray bottles.

      Reply
      • Patti Estep

        August 19, 2020 at 7:01 am

        Deb, I'm not sure what's going on exactly. I suspect it is the aloe vera juice. I used it to add moisture due to the harshness of the alcohol. I believe organic aloe vera can be cloudy.  Do you still have the aloe vera bottle? What is the expiration date? Pour some out and take a look. Does it smell ok? I believe organic aloe vera can be cloudy. Also, you can substitute water for the aloe but you may need to moisturize more often. Some recipes are including glycerol for moisture, however, I do not have an exact recipe for the amount to use.

        Reply
    2. Diane

      April 06, 2020 at 7:57 pm

      We can't get any of these ingredients where we are.
      Walmart, pharmacy,, $Store, grocery store are all out.
      I tried looking online, but the prices are outrageous.
      Would soap and water mixed in a bottle be enough to help?

      Reply
      • Patti Estep

        April 07, 2020 at 6:50 am

        Diane, I'm sorry that you can't find the ingredients. There are several other recipes for hand sanitizer that you can search for with different ingredients. Of course, soap and water is better than nothing. 

        Reply
    3. Jody Robinson

      March 25, 2020 at 11:08 pm

      Where can I buy those nice little spray bottles?

      Reply
      • Patti Estep

        March 26, 2020 at 6:36 am

        Jody, I bought them from Amazon. There is a link to the exact one in the supply list on the post. 

        Reply
    4. Jill

      March 10, 2020 at 5:56 pm

      We are in tough times right now. Stores are sold out of hand sanitizer, Aloe vera gel, and alcohol. We actually have 61% and 90% alcohol that we can use and I picked up Aloevera liquid thinking it was Aloe vera gel. Reading your post I think I can get away with using the juice and putting it in a spray bottle. Can you reassure me that I’m on the right track. I also have the essential oil’s. Thank you
      Jill

      Reply
      • Patti Estep

        March 11, 2020 at 6:30 am

        Jill, I'm sorry, I cannot in good conscience reassure you. This craft project was created as a fun little Christmas gift. I am not qualified to ensure the effectiveness of it. However, I did see this recipe from the World Health Organization that may be helpful. https://www.who.int/gpsc/5may/Guide_to_Local_Production.pdf

        Reply
    5. Trudi

      November 11, 2019 at 8:01 pm

      What brand of aloe juice do you use?

      Reply
      • Patti Estep

        November 12, 2019 at 6:49 am

        Trudi, I used Lily of the Valley Aloe Vera Juice. There's a link in the post. However, I think any aloe juice would work.

        Reply
    6. Renée

      July 29, 2019 at 12:55 pm

      Would you think that aloe vera gel would work in place of aloe vera juice?

      Reply
      • Patti Estep

        July 29, 2019 at 3:25 pm

        I guess you could try it but I would be worried that it might not mix together with the other ingredients. Let me know how it turns out if you do.

        Reply
    7. Donna

      February 17, 2018 at 7:52 am

      I am having hard time finding the everclear. Could I use vodka???

      Reply
      • Patti Estep

        February 17, 2018 at 8:54 am

        Hi Donna,

        I think you can use vodka although it might have a strong smell. Maybe add a little extra essential oil.

        Reply
    8. frugal hausfrau

      November 22, 2016 at 9:11 pm

      This is great! I just recently used Everclear in my Apple Pie Moonshine and was wondering what on earth I might do with the rest of the bottle!!

      Thanks for sharing with us at Throwback Thursday and Happy Thanksgiving!

      Mollie

      Reply
    9. Cristina at Ava's Alphabet

      November 21, 2016 at 10:54 pm

      Great idea, Patti! And I love the gorgeous printable label. Pinned and Sharing! Thanks for joining us at Family Joy Blog Link-Up Party!

      Reply
    10. Tianna

      November 21, 2016 at 11:09 am

      what a cool recipe! thanks for sharing!

      Reply
    11. Theresa @DearCreatives

      November 20, 2016 at 8:34 pm

      We use hand sanitizer a lot. Nice DIY. Thanks for joining us at the Inspiration Spotlight party. Shared

      Reply
    12. Arie

      November 19, 2016 at 9:28 am

      While I think this is an excellent idea for grown-ups, the thought of having a cute little bottle of 75 proof alcohol in a household with small children is really scary! Even just 8 teaspoons of such a high proof alcohol would be very dangerous if a toddler drank it! Someone commented about sending it to school with their child - oh dear. Everclear would NOT be allowed in any school.

      Reply
      • Patti Estep

        November 19, 2016 at 11:06 am

        Hi Arie,

        Yes, of course, this was never meant for children, and like all possible hazards, should be kept out of their reach.

        Patti

        Reply
    13. Pam

      November 06, 2016 at 8:45 am

      Love this idea! Can't wait to try it!

      Reply
    14. Denise Wright

      November 06, 2016 at 6:05 am

      What a great idea! My son all of a sudden wants hand sanitizer to take to school. I think it's a cool thing to do? I'm so excited I can make it now. It was a pain to keep buying little bottles for him to take to school. Great post!

      Reply
    5 from 1 vote (1 rating without comment)

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