How to Make 6 DIY Cooling Body Spray Recipes (Hydrosols)

Summer is hot.

Really hot.

Add a big dollop of Ohio humidity and it feels ridiculously stupid hot.

All I can think of when the heat index makes the air temperature feel like it is 105 degrees outside (like yesterday. Ugh!) is how nice it would be if I could accessorize my outfit of the day with a wearable air conditioner.

Which  I can, sort of, if I make and use a quick, easy, and cheap body cooling spray that feels like an air conditioner in a bottle! Or if you are not the DIY type, you can buy a refreshing cooling spray here (I am including affiliate links in this post for your convenience.)

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Six Quick and Easy Essential Oil Cooling Spray Recipes

The basic ingredients in most cooling spray recipes are peppermint essential oil, and witch hazel contain naturally according menthol. Eucalyptus essential oil also contains its own version of this plant property. When the water in the cooling hydrosol spay evaporates on your skin it leaves behind the small amount of the menthol and eucalyptus from the hydrosol and tricks the cold receptors in your skin into believing they sense cold and makes you feel cooler on a hot day.

This is also why you should never apply an undiluted essential oil directly on to your skin. Essential oils contain such high concentrations of menthol and eucalyptus (and other naturally occurring properties) that it can burn you. That burning sensation is not a sign of the quality or purity of essential oil, it is a sign that you didn’t dilute a concentrated essential oil before applying to your skin and it is causing a negative reaction.

All of the amounts in these cooling sprays are approximate because the amount of the ingredients you use can vary depending upon the size of spray bottle you use and your preference. I suggest going in the direction of less is more with the ingredients until you create the perfect balance that feels nice to you.

Hot Flash Cooling Spray Recipe

The basil essential oil in this cooling hydrosol recipe was originally intended to help with the fatigue some women experience with hot flashes.

While I don’t have that issue, I sometimes make this recipe because basil essential oil is also used in folk medicine as an insect repellent and home remedy for itchy bug bites. But mostly it is because I like the smell of combining all of the ingredients.

2 ounce spray bottle like this one

2 drops of peppermint essential oil - Use whatever brand you like. I buy mine from Amazon here 


3 drops of  basil essential oil - use whatever brand you like. I buy mine from Amazon here.

2 ounces of water

Peppermint Essential Oil Cooling Spray Recipe

2 ounce spray bottle like this one

5 -10 drops of peppermint essential oil - Use whatever brand you like. I buy mine from Amazon here 

2 ounces of water

Eucalyptus Essential Oil Cooling Spray Recipe

2 ounce spray bottle like this one

5 - 10 drops of eucalyptus essential oil- use whatever brand you like. I buy mine from Amazon here

2 ounces of water

Peppermint Eucalyptus Spray Recipe

2 ounce spray bottle like this one

2- 5 drops of peppermint essential oil - Use whatever brand you like. I buy mine from Amazon here 

2- 5 drops of eucalyptus essential oil- use whatever brand you like. I buy mine from Amazon here
2 ounces of water

Antiseptic Cooling Spray Recipe with an Unscented Option

You can find witch hazel for sale in health and beauty departments because many people swear by it as an antiseptic skin toner for acne prone skin although witch hazel has many other traditional uses as well.

If you don’t like the smell of peppermint or eucalyptus essential oil, you can make this cooling spray unscented by combining just the witch hazel and water ingredients in amounts to your liking.

2 ounce spray bottle like this one

2- 5 drops of peppermint essential oil OR  eucalyptus essential oil

1 part witch hazel (you can get it here) to 3 parts water

Caution: If you suffer from rosacea, the International Rosacea Foundations says that witch hazel could make matters worse. I have rosacea and for this reason I personally use one of the other DIY cooling spray recipes in this post.

Moisturizing Cooling Spray Recipe

I like to use aloe vera juice instead of gel because it is easier to thoroughly mix it into the other liquid ingredients. Aloe vera feels wonderful if you need to soothe a sunburn!

2 ounce spray bottle like this one

5- 10 drops of peppermint essential oil OR  eucalyptus essential oil

1 part aloe vera juice - learn more about it here

2 ounces of water

How to use a DIY essential oil cooling spray

Combine the ingredients in a spray bottle. Shake the spray bottle and spritz on the back of your neck, wrists, or anywhere else you want to feel cool with the cooling hydrosol spray.

Be careful not spray the mixture into your eyes (ow!) and use all precautions you normally use when spraying an essential oil mixture around very young children and pets.

This spray is not intended to stop you from sweating on a hot day, just to make you feel a little more comfortable on a hot day. If you stop sweating, that may be a sign of a heat related medical issue and you should seek medical attention.

If you'd rather buy than DIY check out the following options - and more! below!


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