Choosing Alcohol Percentage for Air Freshener Spray
Asked by: mychomstyle
On: July 15, 2020
Product Type:
Cosmetics
Question
I would like to make an air freshener spray. Should I use 95% or 99% alcohol when mixing with 100% essential oil (or fragrance) at a ratio of 10% fragrance and 90% alcohol, so that the alcohol smell is not too pungent?
Answer
Choosing Alcohol for Air Freshener Spray
For making an air freshener spray with essential oils, using 99% alcohol is generally recommended over 95% alcohol, especially if you want to minimize the strong alcohol smell.
Here's why:
- Purity: 99% alcohol is a higher purity grade, meaning it contains less water and fewer impurities compared to 95% alcohol. These impurities and the higher water content in 95% alcohol can sometimes contribute to a stronger, more noticeable alcohol odor.
- Low Odor Grade: High-purity alcohol like Ethyl Alcohol (99.9% , 200 Proof, Research/Perfumer Grade) is often specifically processed to have a very mild or low odor, making it ideal for use in perfumes, body sprays, and air fresheners where the scent of the fragrance or essential oil is paramount.
The ratio of 10% essential oil to 90% alcohol you mentioned is a common starting point for air freshener or perfume formulations. Using a high-purity 99% alcohol will help ensure that the alcohol base does not overpower the natural scent of your 100% essential oil.
Remember to mix the essential oil thoroughly with the alcohol.
