Room Spray or Fragrant Water
IMPORTANT... If you want to use this product as a fragrant ironing water in your steam iron, it is best to use twice the amount of water or reduce the solubiser and fragrance content by half from the quantities given below.
YOU'LL NEED.....
1) Suitably sized bottle/s.
2) Measuring spoons.
3) A small bowl/cup.
4) Measuring jug/s.
5) Stirring spoon or hand whisk.
6) Microwave oven/double boiler (if using PEG-40 hydrogenated castor oil)
INGREDIENTS
A Solubiser - Either Inovasol or Peg 40 Hydrogenated Castor oil
Essential Oil or Fragrance Oil
OPTIONAL:Deionised or Distilled Water
Preservative
HOW TO..... (using PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil as a Solubiser)
Proportions: If using PEG-40 Hydrogentated Castor Oil a higher proportion of solubiser may be required. Per litre of water we suggest 10ml of fragrance/essential oil with up to 20ml of PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil.
PEG-40 Hydrogenated castor oil is the consistency of Vaseline at room temperature, so warm this solubiser, preferebly in a suitable jug or container either for a few seconds at a time in the microwave or in a 'bath' of hot water until it becomes mobile. The container needs to be large enough to hold the water content as well.
Warm the water in a suitable jug or container (if using tap water, simply use warm water. If using deionised water, which will improve clarity, warm the jug of deionised water in a 'bath' of fairly hot tap water).
Mix the warmed solubiser with the fragrance/essential oil and stir thoroughly. Then add the warmed water to the jug of solubiser/fragrance, mixing all the time.
If the mixture does not solubise satisfactorily, warm the mixture and whisk until it does. If separation still occurs you may need to add a little more solubiser.
To give reasonable shelf life this fragrant water will require the addition of a suitable preservative. We suggest Gluconolactone and Sodium Benzoate (GSB) which comes in powder form and easily dissolves in water. Use at between 0.5% and 1% (5g - 10g per litre of water). If using an alternative preservative, refer to the recommended inclusion level.
Leave to cool and bottle as required.
HOW TO..... (using Inovasol as a solubiser)
Inovasol is a branded product especially produced to render fragrance/essential oils soluble in water. It is a viscous liquid at room temperature and so can be used cool. Otherwise the procedure is similar to above.
Proportions: Per litre of water, use approx 10ml Inovasol to 10ml fragrance/essential oil.
Add the solubiser to the measuring jug and add the fragrance/essential oil to the solubiser, mixing thoroughly. Add the water (deionised will improve clarity), mixing all the time. Leave to settle. Bottle as required.
If the mixture does not solubise satisfactorily when using 1:1 concentration, it may be the water used was too cold. Warm the mixture a little and continue whisking until it solubises satisfactorily. If problem persists, add a little more Inovasol.
Inovasol doesn't contain it's own preservative, so we recommend using Phenoxyethanol to help preservation.
IMPORTANT... The resulting fragrant water may be slightly 'milky' in appearance. This is entirely normal and may vary when using different essential oils or fragrances.
