Did you know you can add essential oils directly to a fabric mask? Fabric face masks can get uncomfortable when worn for long periods. Essential oils can help make wearing a mask more enjoyable. Use this Essential Oil Mask Spray to freshen your face mask and add a pleasant, uplifting aroma.
Six months into a Pandemic, masks are becoming more and more mainstream. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, wearing a face mask has been shown to reduce the spread of COVID-19 by blocking respiratory droplets.
Masks are often required in public spaces where social distancing is not possible. It seems like every major retailer is selling them. Many employers are also requiring them as a condition of employment. At this point, they are hard to avoid.
Adding essential oils to a mask can make wearing one more tolerable, and will help keep your mask smelling amazing in between washes!
Influencing Emotions with Essential Oils
Essential oils inhaled through the nose can affect emotions, mood, motivation, and focus. The sense of smell is called olfaction and is executed by the olfactory system of your body. The olfactory receptors are stimulated by an aroma such as an essential oil.
Adding oils to a mask will help get the molecules directly into your olfactory system, which will communicate with the ‘feelings’ area of the brain. In other words, essential oils make us happy! Read more about essential oils and emotions here.
Best Essential Oils to Add to a Fabric Mask
You can add almost any essential oil to this mask spray. You’ll want to choose oils that you enjoy inhaling and approved for aromatic use. Here are some essential oils to try:
- Lavender
- Lemon
- Rosemary
- Purification
- Peppermint
- Orange
- Stress Away
- Bergamot
- Citrus Fresh
- Bergamot
- Tea Tree
- Eucalyptus
- Joy
- Frankincense
Mask Spray Ingredients
- Witch Hazel – helps disperse the essential oils and prolong the scent. It is also great for soothing skin that may be irritated by a mask
- Distilled Water – extends the shelf life in a recipe since it does not contain containments
- Essential Oils – choose essential oils that are uplifting and bright. Floral and citrus oils are great for lifting moods and promoting a positive outlook
Try this Energizing Mask Spray recipe to freshen your mask, and give you a boost of energy throughout the day!
Energizing Mask Spray Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 oz witch hazel
- 1 oz distilled water
- 5 drops Tangerine
- 5 drops Bergamot
- 3 drops Peppermint
- spray bottle
Directions
- Mix all ingredients in a spray bottle. Swirl to combine
- Lightly add 2-3 sprays to your favorite mask. Do not apply while the mask is on your face. Allow mask to dry completely before use
- Repeat as the scent begins to weaken. Wash or replace mask daily
*This recipe is not meant to sterilize or sanitize a reusable mask. It is a mask freshening spray meant to add fragrance.
More essential oil mask spray combinations to try:
Keep Your Head Up
- 5 drops Lavender
- 5 drops Tea Tree
Just Keep Swimming
- 3 drops Orange
- 3 drops Lemon
- 2 drops Rosemary
Happy All The Time
- 5 drops Joy
- 5 drops Grapefruit
Heal Your Heart
- 4 drops Lavender
- 3 drops Orange
- 2 drops Ylang Ylang
Healthy Mask Options
Most masks are made from cheap fabrics that have been treated with bleach and chemicals. The worst offenders are perhaps the blue disposable surgical masks. Thes types of masks are manufactured from non-woven material made from plastics like polypropylene.
Say no to inhaling harmful chemicals! The healthiest options for masks are constructed from organic cotton or hemp. Reusable masks are better for you and better for the earth.
I am loving this organic cotton mask from Mary Ruth’s Organics. Made from 3 layers of unbleached, organic cotton, this mask is still thin enough for prolonged use. The fabric is soft and comfortable. It only comes in one neutral color, but the benefits outweigh the lack of flair.
Hemp masks are sustainable and often made of recycled materials. These face masks are thicker than the cotton ones, which means they will hold their shape and last longer. Hemp is also surprisingly breathable.
Mask Care Tips
- Wash it every day – If you are using a reusable fabric mask, be sure you are washing it in hot water every use. Use a gentle detergent and let it dry in the sun
- Use a filter – a charcoal or carbon filter can help reduce contaminants and dirt from the air
- Freshen your breath – use mouthwash to help prevent bad breath that can stink up your mask
- Don’t get ‘mascne’ – wearing a mask can irritate skin which may lead to acne. Be sure to thoroughly clean your skin after wearing a mask with a face wash and follow up with a toner. If acne persists, try a blemish gel at night
Shelia Tidwell says
I enjoyed reading this information. The recipes are great. Thank you very much!
Debbie says
Distilled water is not sterile. It only has minerals and metals removed.
Corinne says
Can I boil water, let it cool and then use that instead of distilled water? I’d hate to buy a gallon for just a couple of 2 oz. bottles of essential oil spray.
Diana M says
Yes! You can use that method if you do not have distilled water. I always keep a gallon around since I use it in so many DIY recipes.