How useful is a roll-on bottle? In the house or on the go, a roller bottle is a quick and easy way to apply essential oils, and feel the benefits of aromatherapy.
Once you’ve gotten used to a roller bottle, it’s hard to imagine using your oils in any other way!
We love our essential oils roll-on bottles, which is why the natural next step was to start making our own.
They’re so easy to put together, and ensure you can tailor your blends to your preferences and needs.
With a DIY roll-on blend, we always have the essential oils we need on hand!
If you have your own perfect oil blend, or you want to start experimenting with making your own, a roll-on bottle is the way to go.
Take a look at this guide to find out why you should DIY your own roller blend, and the best blends to get started! Once you’ve made one, you’ll realize just how useful they are.
About Aromatherapy
Aromatherapy uses the wonders of natural ingredients to treat ailments such as stress, headaches, and inflammation.
Essential oils have a long history in medicine, and more and more people are discovering the wonders of natural treatments.
Essential oils use botanical ingredients from flowers, herbs, and all kinds of plants, to create natural remedies that can be easily applied in everyday life.
So, that’s why we use aromatherapy. But why should you use a roller bottle?
Why Use An Aromatherapy Roller Bottle?
The roller bottle is a way to apply essential oils so they can be used effectively and easily. Although we can inhale oils directly from the bottle, this method is messy, and less effective than applying the oils to the skin.
Also, it’s much more difficult to do on the go!
With a diluted solution in a roll-on bottle, essential oils can get to work on the skin straight away.
The body can absorb them, and with the diluted carrier oils, the blend won’t irritate the skin.
Non-diluted oils can irritate the skin, and shouldn’t be applied directly to the body.
But with a roller bottle, the essential oils are mixed with a carrier oil, making them safe to immediately apply! So, you can just grab your roller bottle, and get going.
Roller bottles, particularly those with a stainless steel ball, feel nice to apply.
This makes them beneficial for quick massage applications, particularly if you’re struggling with headaches or stress.
And if you’ve ever fumbled around with an oil bottle on the go, you’ll understand the benefit of roller application.
These roll-on bottles can be kept in a purse, and applied when you’re out and about. They also mean you don’t have to leave your oils behind when you go on a trip.
How To DIY An Essential Oil Roller Bottle
There are only three things necessary to make your essential oil roll-on bottle: the bottle, the carrier oil, and the essential oils.
1. Remove the roller ball from your bottle, and add several drops of your essential oil or blend. Below, we’ll go into detail on choosing the correct dilution level.
2. Fill the bottle with your chosen carrier oil. The easiest (and fuss-free) way to do this is with a mini funnel.
Push the roller back into the top of the bottle, until you hear it click.
3. Give your bottle a quick shake, to ensure the essential oils are evenly distributed with the carrier oil.
4. Add a label to your bottle, so you know exactly what the blend is, and when you want to use it!
5. Apply the oils to the back of your neck, the inside of your wrists, chest and shoulders, and the soles of your feet.
6. You only need a quick application, and the oils should start to sink into your skin.
We’ll go into more detail on the essential oils themselves below (after all, they are the most important part). For now, we’ll focus on the first two factors: the bottle, and the carrier oil.
Choosing Your Roller Bottle
Roller bottles can be purchased for a low cost, and tend to come in standard designs. A 10ml bottle is the perfect size for an aromatherapy blend.
It should last for several weeks of application, but is small enough to fit easily into most purses (and even pockets).
If you have several blends you like to use for different reasons, look for multipacks of roll-on bottles. That way, you don’t have to be constantly filling and refilling!
When you’re done with your roll-on bottle, just wash it out, leave it to dry, and use again,
One thing to consider before buying your roll-on bottle is the bottle topper aka the actual roll on ball itself. The two options are plastic and stainless steel.
Plastic is typically cheaper, but it doesn’t feel as nice on the skin, and can drag. Stainless steel is the much better option.
The smooth glide of the steel aids the relaxing effect of the oil itself.
Finally, make sure to buy glass bottles! They’re safer, and easier to use. You might prefer to buy a tinted glass, or dark bottle — this prevents the sunlight from diluting your oil.
But this isn’t a necessity. Most oils will be used before they have a chance to dilute from sunlight.
Roll-on bottles can be purchased online and from larger drug stores.
Choosing The Carrier Oil For Your Aromatherapy Roller Bottle
If you’re new to the world of essential oils, then the carrier oil can be a bit confusing. The carrier oil is an essential part of the roll-on blend, as they dilute the essential oils to make them safe for the skin.
Essential oils are pretty potent on their own, so the carrier oil prevents any irritation to the skin.
Carrier oils are also beneficial to the skin! A carrier oil can moisturize dry skin, and keep it hydrated.
The smooth roll of the carrier oil feels really good when it goes on, and helps as you massage in your essential oils.
Here are our top choices for carrier oils:
Fractionated Coconut Oil. Virgin coconut oil is a bad choice for carrier oil because it turns solid in cold weather.
But fractionated coconut oil, or FCO, is different. The fractionation process keeps the liquid from solidifying, making it a perfect choice for a carrier oil.
The consistency is light enough for easy rolling, and FCO is odorless, so the scent of our essential oils comes through.
Fractionated coconut oil also has an indefinite shelf life, so you don’t have to worry about it going off.
Jojoba Oil. Jojoba oil is a top choice for carrier oil because of the properties of the oil itself.
Regularly used in skin care, jojoba oil is nourishing and caring. It absorbs quickly, and has a long shelf life.
Sweet Almond Oil. Sweet almond oil feels fantastic on the skin, and it’s gentle and nourishing.
This is an excellent choice if you’re making a massage blend. The only disadvantage to sweet almond oil is the scent.
Nutty and sweet, the aroma of sweet almond oil can sometimes overpower the essential oils.
Can’t pick a carrier oil? Try making a blend! Jojoba oil or sweet almond oil can be mixed with fractionated coconut oil, to get the best of both options.
Use ⅔ or ¾ FCO, and the rest either jojoba or sweet almond oil.
If you’re using a ready-made blend that’s already mixed with a carrier oil, then you can add this straight to the roller bottle.
The three oils above are our favorites, but you can use other natural oils as a carrier oil! But make sure to consider the consistency.
It needs to move smoothly and easily across the roller, so it can be applied to the skin. Anything too thick just won’t go on correctly.
Why You Should Make Your Own Essential Oil Roll-On Blend
They’re quick, easy to use, and wonderful when you’re just getting started.
No matter how good blends are, they’re designed to appeal to many people. You might be lucky and find a blend that’s just right for your needs. Amazing!
Once you’ve been using essential oils for a while, you’ll have developed preferences and favorites.
Then, you might start looking for blends that match your ideas. But you just can’t find any brand that makes just what you want.
That’s when you need to start making your own blends.
Making a blend is about choosing oils based on both their effects, and your own smell preferences. I’m sure we all have specific scents we just don’t like (orange!).
By making your own blend, you can navigate the scents, and find the perfect formula for you.
The perfect blend has between 2 and 5 different oils. Avoid any more than 5, or you start to max out the number of benefits in a bottle.
Also, the scents will become confused. Factor in your carrier oil as well when deciding a blend. If you’re going with sweet almond, you want to avoid any other scents that won’t play nicely.
Making your own blend is particularly useful if you suffer from allergies or other health conditions.
Finding the perfect blend that works for you can take some time, but you learn about the oils along the way.
Diluting Your Roll-on Blend
You must dilute your essential oils, to make them safe for skin use. Below are some guidelines for dilution, based on the standard 10ml roller bottle:
For infants: 1 drop, 0.5% of total liquid.
For children, pregnant women, the elderly, and sensitive skin: 3 drops, 1% of total liquid.
For daily use: 6 drops, 2% of total liquid.
For short term use: 15 drops, 5% of total liquid.
This probably doesn’t seem like a lot, but you have to remember how strong these oils can be!
These are general guidelines, as dilution rates are tricky to get exactly right. Depending on the consistency and viscosity of your oil, the size of the drops can be variable.
Use your judgement to ensure you have the correct dilution rate.
The Best Essential Oil Recipes For Roller Bottles
A roller bottle is a great way to ensure you get the most use out of your essential oils, with minimal waste and fuss.
If you’ve never used a roll-on for essential oils before, you’ll soon understand the benefits.
Before you start making your blend, there are a few factors you must consider.
First, think about who you’re making the blend for. If it’s for personal use, consider what therapeutic benefits you want from the oil. But also, think about what scents you like.
There’s no point mixing up an impressive headache-busting blend if you can’t stand the smell.
If you’re mixing a blend for children, there are some oils that can’t be used. Avoid any oils that have a warming sensation, such as lemongrass, cinnamon, and clove.
Avoid peppermint for young children as well, because it can be intense. Always use child safe oils.
Have pets at home, or making a blend for someone with pets? Use pet safe oils.
Animals have a habit of sticking their nose in everything, including your freshly applied roll-on blend.
If pets lick the essential oils by accident, it can cause them harm.
Oils drop at different speeds due to their consistency, so don’t worry if you add a drop or two more. Some oils fall fast! In time, you’ll get used to it.
The blends below are our favorites, created using oils we tend to have on hand. But if you have to skip an oil, then it isn’t a big deal.
Headache Relief Essential Oil Blend
This blend is designed for those who suffer from headaches and stress. We find it a particularly useful one to have on hand, because headaches have a tendency to strike out of nowhere.
It’s also good for work trips and frequent travelers. With the roll-on bottle, you don’t have to leave your aromatherapy oils behind when you need them most.
It’s really important when making a stress and headache blend to think about scents that appeal to you. Find scents that make you relax, and that you enjoy using.
Our headache formula is:
4 drops of lavender.
4 drops of peppermint.
1 drop of roman chamomile.
Fill the rest of the bottle with fractionated coconut oil. Apply to the temples or behind the ears, the back of the neck, and the shoulder.
Other oils commonly used for headache relief include eucalyptus and rosemary.
This recipe can help those suffering from insomnia, or those who find themselves tossing and turning at night.
Lavender is an incredibly popular oil for aiding sleep, and we’ve had great success with it. It’s a vital part of our sleep blend.
For a simple sleep aid, dilute 4 drops of lavender with fractionated coconut oil, and apply before bed.
Our sleep formula is:
4 drops of lavender.
3 drops of frankincense.
1 drop of cedarwood.
Fill the bottle with fractionated coconut oil. Apply to the temples and wrist, 20 minutes before going to bed.
For children, try this simple sleep blend:
1 drop lavender.
1 drop cedarwood.
Fill the bottle with fractionated coconut oil. Apply to the shoulders and chest.
To find the perfect sleepy time blend, use scents that are relaxing, and not too strong. These oils calm you, quiet the mind, and ease you into a restful night of sleep.
Focus Essential Oil Blend
It’s so easy to lose focus at times. Sometimes you’ve been hard at work, and then you realize minutes have passed with your mind wandering. Sometimes it feels impossible to get started.
Being able to just quickly swipe over your roller ball is so much more effective!
Focus oils are bright and bold. They help to center the mind on a task, but can also bring you calm.
Focus blends aren’t necessarily about giving you a big burst of energy. Instead, they help you to control the energy you do have!
Our focus blend is:
3 drops of bergamot.
2 drops of peppermint.
2 drops of patchouli.
Fill the bottle with fractionated coconut oil. Apply to the temples, wrist, and shoulders.
The patchouli helps aid relaxation, while the peppermint brings energy and brightens the mind.
The citrus scent of bergamot is stimulating, but not as strong as other citrus scents, so mixes well with the patchouli.
For an energy enhancing focus blend, we like this simple mix:
6 drops of spearmint.
4 drops of lemon.
Quick, invigorating, and really helps get the mind going.
We mentioned above about how important considering your own preferences is when creating a blend. In this case, we replace a scent we consider unappealing, orange, with bergamot and lemon.
Cold Fighting Essential Oil Blend
When cold and flu season rolls in, essential oils can be a natural way to fight against the common symptoms.
Essential oils can also be used to help you relax, and even bust through that seasonal brain fog.
We have a couple of different blends that we like to turn to during cold season, depending on what issue we want to tackle.
For coughs, sniffles, and blocked noses, we use this blend:
5 drops of eucalyptus.
3 drops of lemon.
2 drops of lavender.
Fill the bottle with fractionated coconut oil. Apply to the chest, and rub in.
To help cope with a fever, try this blend:
4 drops of peppermint.
4 drops of lemon.
2 drops of frankincense.
Fill the bottle with fractionated coconut oil (or add some jojoba to help massage the oils onto your skin). Apply to the neck and chest.
Finally, for some all around support for your immune system, try this blend:
2 drops of eucalyptus.
2 drops of lemon.
2 drops of oregano.
2 drops of clove.
Fill the bottle with fractionated coconut oil. Apply to the soles of your feet, the wrists, and chest.
Conclusion
We absolutely love roll-on bottles, and we think you will too. They make it easy to apply your favorite oil blends, even when you’re on the go.
All you need is a glass bottle with a stainless steel roller ball, a carrier oil, and, of course, your essential oils!
Mix them together, and you’re ready to go.
We love our blends, as they’re perfectly formulated to match our needs. We hope you like them too.
Once you’ve tried mixing together our recommended blends, try experimenting with essential oils to create your own.
Choosing The Best Oil For You
If you’ve never experimented with making your own essential oil blend, it can feel pretty intimidating. You’ll need to take some experimenting before you find something that’s just right for you!
If you haven’t found the right blend just yet, try starting with just a single oil.
We recommend lavender or peppermint, for a multipurpose oil that you’ll find yourself using all the time.
Hi, my name is Hannah Shiftle, and I started using essential oils 15 years ago. At first, I was dubious of them, much like a lot of people. However, as I began to use them on a daily basis, I quickly discovered how much of a difference they had on both my physical and mental health.
Through Oil Health Benefits, I will be sharing my knowledge and passion for essential oils with you, providing readers with all the information they need to know. From the best oils to use for illnesses, to understanding what makes essential oils pure, I have covered all these topics.
