I mentioned a few weeks ago that I would be posting a little recipe that we like to use at bedtime for my kiddos. Those of you with little ones know that bedtime can really be exhausting on some nights. With our children I am ushering them upstairs, teeth brushing, picking up bedrooms, organizing backpacks/homework, picking out outfits for the following day, reading stories and God Bless America!- hopefully they will finally go to bed and I can start on the 8 million other things I need to do before I can go to bed 🙂
In our house bedtime is even more complicated because both of my girls like to have Mom or Dad sit in their bedrooms and wait until they actually fall asleep. My husband flat out refuses to do this but I find the kids are up longer and then we have the “Mom can I get some water.” “Mom I have to potty.” “Mommy I had a bad dream!” endlessness and so I cave and sit with them until they finally fall asleep. Every.night. So anything at all that can move this process along faster and help them to get the rest that they need for their growing little bodies I am all for!
I started using Lavender at night when we first bought an Essential Oils kit – I was reading about how it can be relaxing.
I do have a few suggestions for other fragrances to try but overall Lavender is a very safe bet for most people . I was applying the lavender oil directly on my children at bedtime but then I started using this spray which is actually a little easier and faster.
You can use this for the kiddos or for your own bedroom and hopefully it works for you! My girls love this spray as it makes them feel special and fancy.  If you have really little ones you can tell them it is a monster spray to keep away any bad dreams 🙂
The directions couldn’t be easier! Â Here is what you need:
- Glass or High Quality Plastic Spray Bottle (find them here on Amazon or mine was $3 at Whole Foods)- a dark colored bottle is best to filter out any light.
- Distilled water (tap water can get murky over time and clog your spritzer)
- Lavender Essential Oils (I use Young Living– it is best to use a high quality therapeutic grade oil- lavender is a great investment oil because it works for tons and tons of things)
- Witch Hazel or Vodka (you can omit this step but the witch hazel/vodka is disinfecting and makes the spray much more effective)
So to mix this just requires two simple steps.
- Add 2 teaspoons of witch hazel or vodka to a small bowl and stir in 10 drops of lavender essential oil.
- Next pour 2oz of distilled water into your spray bottle and pour in the essential oil mixture.
Shake well and you are done! Â You want to give it a shake before each use to evenly distribute the oils.
Since I originally made this for my kids the lavender fragrance is very mild and I can just spritz this right on their pillows before bedtime.
If you are making this for yourself, you might add 20 drops of lavender to get a stronger fragrance. Â Initially the Witch Hazel smell is strong but that will go away after just a bit so let it settle for awhile before you decide to add more lavender drops.
And you are done! Â I truly believe that fragrance plays such a key part in our daily routines and habits.
If lavender is not your thing, you can play with other fragrances too! Â A lot of people like Cedarwood at night or Young Living offers a Peace & Calming fragrance that is very popular for bedtime. Â Â Just be careful with any dark colored oils as there is a tiny chance of staining.
I add a few drops of Valor essential oil to the Lavender because it is a great one for fostering emotional well being. Â You might also consider Chamomile, Jasmine, Orange etc… see what fragrances work the best for you. Â I actually use a mixture of Spearmint and Eucalyptus for my own pillows at night.
PS: Â You can spritz this in your closet too or in your gym bag or anywhere that needs a little refreshing.
And here are a few other recipes you might like:
Homemade Citrus and Mint Lip Balm
I would use this with caution in young boys. Lavender has caused hormone disruption and breast enlargement in young boys when used excessively in some studies. I’m sure one time would not be a big deal, but I wouldn’t use it much with boys. I tend to err on the side of caution though:).
Super smart to be cautious! I know the study you are talking about Jennifer. It was from 2007 and there was a study with 3 brothers- two of which had some issues with hormones. The cause was supposedly linked to lavender lotion, soap and shampoo that they were using. One brother didn’t have any issues. It was only 3 children and as far I know they haven’t substantiated that claim nor did the original researchers ever show what products were being used and in what quantities etc… Also there was no explanation for the 3rd child that had no adverse reaction. That is the only case I am aware of and it was dismissed as incredible by most sources. It was topical application too, which this recipe is not applied topically. Also it was perfumed products not pure therapeutic grade essential oils. So while I am completely for being an informed advocate for your child, I don’t personally believe boys that inhale the scent of lavender will have hormonal issues. I am not a Doctor though and I absolutely agree if you have any doubts at all it never hurts to address them with your Pediatrician. 🙂 Funny because we go to lavender festivals every year in Sonoma and the smell of real, fresh lavender is so strong. You’d think we would be hearing all about boys with hormone issues that live in France or California where lavender fields are in abundance. I am not aware of any other studies or children with health issues beyond the two boys from eight years ago.
Charlene, you should try the Super Nanny bedtime technique!
I am allergic to witch hazel and don’t keep alcohol in the house. Would vinegar be an appropriate substitution? Will the lavender oil cover the vinegar smell?
Hi Lindsay, You could try Isopropyl Alcohol or rubbing alcohol instead. What you are looking for in the alcohol is a preservative. I have never heard of using vinegar so I am not sure how that would work. I do use vinegar in cleaning recipes but not for fragrance alone.
If you don’t want to use the Isopropyl Alcohol/rubbing alcohol, Witch Hazel, or Vodka, I would stick with distilled water and the oils and just make a small amount. I use distilled water and peppermint in a spray bottle all summer long for a cooling mist and I spritz it on after workouts at the gym. I haven’t had any issues but the scent does fade fairly quickly. Give that a shot using the lavender instead and maybe that will work for you. 🙂
Re: Vodka- we don’t drink much except for the occasional glass of wine or summer margarita but you can get those little minis of inexpensive vodka at the grocery store. Just a thought if you don’t want a full bottle.
When I was sick in a mental hospital we had a session on things that are good to help you relax and sleep better! Lavender was one of them! It really worked and it smelled sooo nice ! Some things you read are true,but many are not true, but this really works! Believe me lavender is great because I have tried it!
I love lavender too Lena 🙂
What brand of witch hazel is best?
Hi Melissa- I just used generic brands. You can use whatever you find at your local store. I don’t think you need an expensive product.