DIY Essential Oil Inhalers

I guess I would be considered a life long learner. Although I find a ton of information and new ideas on-line, I do enjoy attending classes, too. I recently attended a beginners class on Essential Oils at my local Cooperative Extension Service. A lot of the information was a confirmation of what I had already learned. But I also learned something new and that was how to make a simple DIY inhaler.

I am all about being cheap frugal when I am trying something new and I don’t want to invest a lot of money. At least until I am sure it’s something I want to pursue.  If you don’t want to go the DIY route, the supplies are not very expensive. They can be found on-line, and hobby and craft stores would probably have them, too.

I decided after that class that I’m ready to include “inhalers” in my Essential Oil supplies. I  know…I could just carry a bottle of oil with me, and then remove the cap to take a whiff. And I did that for a while. But after the vision of breaking that bottle in my purse and then everyone in close proximity being overwhelmed by the smell, I put the bottle back on my shelf.

So when the class instructor shared a tip for a making a cheap frugal free inhaler, all I could think of was “this is brilliant”! And I already had the stuff to do it. Score!

DIY Essential Oil Inhalers

The tip she shared was to use a small plastic pill box. I just happened to have 3 at home that were free with some supplements I had bought years ago. First write the oil or oil blend name on the container with a marker. Insert cotton balls and then drip a few drops of your favorite oil or oil blend (recipes below) on the cotton balls. Close the lid and let it sit for 24 hours or so.

It’s now ready to use when you need it. Just take a deep whiff or two as needed, or leave it open sitting on a table or desk near you for a little while.

If you can’t find the little pill boxes, here are some suggestions to make your own DIY inhalers. In the picture below are a few little things I found around my house. I used Washi Tape to dress some of them up a little. If you use the Washi tape, you might want to cover it with clear tape for added durability.

1. Take an almost empty bottle of your favorite oil and just stuff a few cotton balls in the bottle. If you’re wanting a blend, add the other oil drops first and shake before adding cotton balls. Unroll the cotton ball and twist the end into the bottle. You might have to use a toothpick or something else small to help stuff it in the bottle.
2. Poke some cotton balls into a clean empty medicine bottle and add a few drops of your favorite oils.
3. When you get to the end of a lip balm tube, use a cotton swap to clean out as much of the last little bit as you can. Put a few drops of oil on a cotton ball, roll it tightly and slide into the tube.
4. Add a few cotton balls to a little condiment container like the yellow one shown, add the oil and snap the lid on it. The dollar stores carry packs of 8 or 10 tiny square containers in their kitchen supplies that are perfect for making these personal inhalers. Those little containers are about 2″x 2″x 1″ high.
5. That Tic-Tac container will work great too when it’s empty.

Whatever container you use, after the initial set up and adding the oils, leave the containers sealed for at least 24 hours. Depending on how often the container is opened, the scent could last a few weeks to a few months. Add a few more drops as needed to refresh the scent.

Favorite Inhaler Oil Blends

The 8 essential oils used in the following recipes are some of the most common oils and are readily available. They are also some of the least expensive, which is awesome if you are just getting started with using essential oils. Each of these oils can be used in two or more of the following inhaler recipes.

• Energy – 5 drops Rosemary, 5 drops Peppermint, 5 drops Lemon
• Allergy Relief – 5 drops Lavender, 3 drops Peppermint, 6 drops Lemon
• Headache Relief – 8 drops Frankincense, 2 drops Eucalyptus, 5 drops Peppermint
• Stress – 5 drops Orange, 3 drops Frankincense, 2 drops Cedarwood
• COPD – 4 drops Rosemary, 3 drops Eucalyptus, 3 drops Peppermint, 2 drops Lemon
• Sleep – 3 drops Lavender, 3 drops Cedarwood

You can use these same combinations in a diffuser at home too, just use 1 drop of each oil. There’s no guarantee that oils will keep you from getting sick, but if you do happen to get sick, they might lesson the symptoms and maybe help you breathe easier. Because of the Flu “epidemic” in our area this winter, I have been diffusing 1 drop each of the oils in the COPD recipe listed above, plus 1 drop of Tea Tree Oil.

I’m not an essential oil fanatic, but I sure have received enough benefits from essential oils to be a believer.

Be sure to check out your local Cooperative Extension Service. They generally offer free classes on a wide variety of subjects that are open to the community. I’ve taken cooking and canning classes, craft classes and garden workshops, in addition to several health and wellness classes.

Happy Oiling!

Robin

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