Using essential oils is a fantastic and effective method of supporting your family's health, and one of the most simple, cost-effective means is by making your own natural aroma-mists. The making of aromatherapy sprays and mists is great opportunity to nurture your family: Essential oils are well-known for their positive health benefits, and many scientific studies have demonstrated their effects. Simple aromatic usage has been shown to reduce stress, improve sleep and even sharpen mental acuity. Making essential oil sprays is something that you can do alone or with your older children as a project that is both fun to do, and can open a whole new world of natural health and wellness for your loved ones.

Making your own aroma-mists is a great summertime activity to do on your own, or with friends and family. Allowing each person that will use the mists to choose their own scents maximizes the therapeutic benefits of their creations. Generally, the aromas that most appeal to an individual produce the most profound result, be it uplifting, calming or otherwise. If one doesn't like the scent, one is not likely to use the mist, or may be put off, rather than supported by its aromatic actions. Also, getting others involved will bring them a new awareness of natural health and healing in a fun way that doesn't appear like they're taking medicine. As a parent, this can be especially appealing as it may even draw your children into a lifestyle of natural health from an early age.

To get started, you'll only need a few simple items: One or more spray bottles - dark blue or amber glass bottles with pump tops are best, as the dark glass is the best container for natural oils and blends. The smaller one and two ounce sizes are also easy for little hands to use. A measuring pipette is useful, or a plastic eye-dropper. While the small glass bottles are relatively durable, small glass eye droppers are not as much - they will do, however, if you deem them safe for everyone involved in making the blends. Next, for the spray base, you can use simply distilled or spring water. If you think you'll be making several bottles at once that might be stored for more than a two months, find some natural Witch Hazel extract to add to your blends as well.

Then there's the essential oils - there are over a hundred to choose from, though you can start with just one or two of the more common ones and still make wonderful, effective formulas. It is important, however, to find the highest quality oils you can. You'll find that even with the much-used Lavender essential oil, the aromas will vary considerably from one to the next. They may cost a little more, but are generally worth it, especially as you'll only need a few drops of each oil to get started. The nicer the oil you start with, the nicer the resulting aroma-mist you'll create. And the nicer mists will get used more often, with bigger smiles on everyone's faces from the brilliant aromas from finely-crafted oils.

If you'll be making blends with or for children, you'll also want to consider safety. We'll note here of any safety concerns with these recipes, but if you venture to make your own, check in to the safety of the particular oils you'll be using. Flower oils like Lavender, Roman Chamomile, Sandalwood and Rose are safe and non-irritating. Citrus oils, with their uplifting aromas are safe in the quantities described, though they should not be applied to the skin frequently or in significant amounts. Evergreen oils like Pine, Spruce and Juniper similarly may cause skin irritation if overly sprayed on the skin. Finally, very pungent oils like Peppermint, Clove and especially Cinnamon may cause irritation if inhaled in even moderate quantities, and it is these oils you'll want to keep from having little children handle if they are making blends with you. In general, with the dilutions used in aromatherapy sprays, you should be safe with misting a room for a pleasant aroma; As a rule, do not spray any essential oils near the eyes or on the face.

So, now you can create your misters! The basic formula is exceptionally simple: fill your small bottles almost to the top with water or 1:4 Witch Hazel and water mixture, then add the essential oils drop by drop. Once the oils are added, just tighten the cap and shake well until you no longer see the oil and water quickly separating when done. Don't worry if the oils DO still separate a little, this is natural - just shake gently before each use and you'll spritz quite enough aroma into your space. For the most simple formulas, just use a four to sixteen drops of any one essential oil per ounce of water. French Lavender, Geranium, Rose, Sandalwood and Chamomile are excellent choices, as are any of the evergreen oils, or the citrus oils. Steer toward smaller amounts of the essential oil if intending to use the formula with children.

A formula that is wonderful for use in an infant or child's room is as follows: To the water and witch hazel base mix add in 2 drops each of Roman Chamomile and wild Lavender essential oils. Spray a few pumps into the corners of the room as a natural and healthy sleep aid. NEVER spray directly towards the child's face. Remember to shake again before each use to assist in dispersing the oils. Both Lavender and Chamomile are well-known for their gentle soothing effects, and help many children (and adults) rest more deeply. Another oil much loved by the youngest children is Vanilla. While its scent is very sublime, its calming effects are profound, and it is also a very safe oil. Again, add 2 to 4 drops per ounce of base.

For a more lively, uplifting aromatic, mix together your favorite citrus scents. Essential oils are pressed from all the citrus fruits - you'll find orange, lemon, lime, tangerine and grapefruit readily available. The aromas mix well together, and it is easy to adjust their ratios to your liking. Mandarin, a member of the tangerine family, has a certain soothing effect unique to this fruit, and again, works particularly well with children.

Finally, the evergreen oils are very popular as room fresheners. These are the essential oils distilled from the needles of Pine, Spruce, Balsam Fir and from Juniper Berries. Like the citrus oils, these all blend well together, and mixing them creates very complementary scents. Juniper Berry is especially lively and bright; Pine is a classic evergreen aroma, and Balsam Fir and Spruce are somewhat richer and more complex. Like the citrus oils too, these are uplifting aromas, though they seem to be uplifting and grounding at the same time.

Really, any essential oil will work in an aroma-mist. Using flower essences in addition to essential oils would create an especially therapeutic blend. Experiment to your heart's content; you can easily create a blend for every room, or every time of day. This is a wonderful way to bring the healing effects of nature into your home, and support your family's health and wellbeing with essential oils.