Quick & Easy DIY Recipes for Fall {with essential oils}

Fall is filled with great smells!  Gingerbread cookies, pumpkin pie, warm chai, and mulled cider are just a few of my favorites.

I love combining essential oils to create fall scents.  I use essential oils around my house to make my home cozy & inviting all season long.  (read more about that here in this post on 15 Ways to Use Essential Oils to Make Your Home Smell Like Fall)

But I also love combining these fall essential oil blends with my love of making homemade DIY beauty products like body butters, sugar scrubs, soaps, and perfumes.  It’s a fun activity for a girls night or a make & take class.  Plus they make great gifts!

Fall Essential Oils for DIY Beauty Recipes

Here are a few of the fall essential oil blends that are fun to combine with homemade DIY beauty products like body butters, sugar scrubs, soaps, and perfumes.  I’ve shared 15 of my favorite DIY recipes below (such as gingerbread whipped body butter, pumpkin pie sugar scrub, and harvest spice coffee scrub), but you can mix and make any of the essential oils blends any way you want.  Be creative with it!  If you’d prefer an “autumn breeze” or “warm chai” sugar scrub, you can easily change out the recipes to do that.  Have fun!

gingerbread:  ginger, cinnamon, clove, and nutmeg

snickerdoodle: cinnamon & vanilla

warm chai: cardamom, cinnamon, clove, and ginger

mulled cider: orange, cinnamon, nutmeg, & clove

harvest spice latte: coffee, cinnamon, clove, cardamom, ginger, & nutmeg

autumn wreath:  white fir, juniper berry, & clary sage

sweater weather:  eucalyptus, juniper berry, & clary sage

a walk in the woods: arborvitae & cinnamon

autumn breeze:  orange, patchouli, & clove

pumpkin pie: cinnamon, clove, ginger, cardamom, & nutmeg

fall retreat:  orange, cedarwood, & ginger

1. DIY “pumpkin pie” sugar scrub

mix together and store in airtight container:

1 cup brown sugar

3/4 cup oil (use any natural oil you prefer: sweet almond oil, apricot kernel oil, and fractionated coconut oil all work great)

2 drops cinnamon essential oil

2 drops clove essential oil

2 drops ginger essential oil

2 drops cardamom essential oil

2 drops nutmeg essential oil

to use:

• scoop out with clean spoon, making sure to not get water into the container
• apply a generous amount of sugar scrub to wet skin
• massage sugar scrub into skin using a circular motion to help exfoliate and remove dead skin cells
• rinse well
• pat skin dry

2. DIY “snickerdoodle” sugar scrub

mix together and store in airtight container:

1 cup organic cane sugar

1/2 cup fractionated coconut oil

2 tsp vanilla extract

8 drops cinnamon essential oil

to use:

• scoop out with clean spoon, making sure to not get water into the container
• apply a generous amount of sugar scrub to wet skin
• massage sugar scrub into skin using a circular motion to help exfoliate and remove dead skin cells
• rinse well
• pat skin dry

3. DIY “harvest spice latte” coffee scrub

mix together and store in airtight container:

3/4 cup ground coffee

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/4 cup unrefined coconut oil

2 drops cinnamon essential oil

2 drops clove essential oil

2 drops ginger essential oil

2 drops cardamom essential oil

2 drops nutmeg essential oil

to use:

• scoop out with clean spoon, making sure to not get water into the container
• apply a generous amount of coffee scrub to wet skin
• massage coffee scrub into skin using a circular motion to help exfoliate and remove dead skin cells
• rinse well
• pat skin dry

4. DIY “gingerbread” Sugar Scrub Cubes (a.k.a. solid sugar scrub)

Disclaimer: Please know that this website contains affiliate links. This means that should you click on certain links, and then subsequently purchase a product, I will receive a small commission. The price is exactly the same for you as it would be without the affiliate link.  

Sugar scrub cubes are VERY EASY to make. It’s basically melt, stir, and mold.  I’ve listed the ingredients below; click here for step-by-step instructions

1 bar (1/2 pound) of melt & pour glycerin soap

1/4 cup of shea butter

1/2 cup of jojoba oil (or you can use another skin-nurturing oil like avocado oil, sweet almond oil, rose hip seed oil, apricot kernel oil, or sunflower oil)

a few drops of vitamin E oil

15 drops ginger essential oil

5 drops cinnamon essential oil

5 drops clove essential oil

5 drops nutmeg essential oil

2 cups of organic cane sugar

1/4 teaspoon mica for coloring

to use:

• Use one cube per shower — Wash hair and skin as normal, then before leaving shower, rub a sugar scrub cube over skin using small circular motions.  Focus efforts on arms, legs, and back.  After scrubbing for a minute or so, I smoosh the cube in my hand.  This exposes more of the sugar and increases the exfoliation.
• rinse well to remove all traces of sugar from your skin
• pat skin dry with a soft towel

5. “spiced chai” Lip Balm

I you love chai tea like I do, then you’re going to LOVE this “spiced chai” lip balm!  It has the moisturizing goodness of fractionated coconut oil and cocoa butter, beeswax for texture and antibacterial properties, honey for sweetness, vanilla extract for taste, and a blend of cinnamon bark, ginger, and clove essential oils for scent.

ingredients:

2 teaspoons beeswax

1 1/2 teaspoons cocoa butter

5 teaspoons fractionated coconut oil

4 drops vitamin E

1/4 teaspoon honey

1/8 teaspoon vanilla

3 drops cardamom

3 drops cinnamon

3 drops ginger

3 drops clove

how to make:

Using a double boiler method, melt the beeswax, cocoa butter, and fractionated coconut oil until fully liquid. Mix with a wooden craft stick. Remove from heat and add the remaining ingredients. Stir and then pour into empty lip balm tubes or pots and let set. Makes about six pots/tubes.

6. “mulled cider” Lip Scrub

mix together:

2 tablespoons unrefined coconut oil

1 tablespoon honey

1 tablespoon brown sugar

2 drops orange essential oil

1 drop cinnamon essential oil

1 drop clove essential oil

1 drop nutmeg essential oil

To use: 

gently massage a very small amount (about the size of half a pea) into your lips using small circular motions.  dab off excess.  apply lip balm to moisturize and seal in softness.

7. “gingerbread” Whipped Body Butter

This is absolutely the best whipped body butter I’ve ever tried!  It’s soft, silky, and extremely moisturizing— and all without being overly greasy.   I’ve listed the ingredients below; click here for step-by-step instructions

 1/2 cup mango butter  (find my favorite here)

1/4 cup shea butter  (find my favorite here)

1/4 cup kokum butter (find my favorite here)

1/4 cup cocoa butter  (find my favorite here)

1/4 cup unrefined coconut oil (you probably already have coconut oil in your pantry, but if not, find my favorite here)

1/4 cup sweet almond oil  (find my favorite here)

1 tablespoon arrowroot powder

15 drops ginger essential oil

5 drops cinnamon essential oil

5 drops clove essential oil

5 drops nutmeg essential oil

8. “autumn breeze” Bubbling Bath Salts

Do you love detox Epsom salt baths AND do you also love a good, old fashioned bubble bath?

Well, now you don’t have to choose.  Bubbly Bath Salts is BOTH a detox Epsom salt bath AND a bubble bath.  What a fantastic way to relax and soak your cares away!

I’ve listed the ingredients below; click here for step-by-step instructions

2 cups Epsom salt (find it here or at your local drug or grocery store)

1/2 cup baking soda (I get baking soda in a large size at Costco, but you can also find it at your grocery store or here)

1/2 cup citric acid (find it here or here)

2 Tbsp arrowroot powder or cornstarch (grocery store)

2 Tbsp sweet almond oil (find it here) or substitute with another light, moisturizing oil like apricot kernel oil (find it here)

8 drops orange essential oil

8 drops patchouli essential oil

3 drops clove essential oil

2 Tbsp of SLSA  (find it here or here)

1-2 tsp witch hazel (find it here or at or local drug or natural foods store)

<1 tsp (a few sprays) of rubbing alcohol (find it at your local drug store, Walmart, or Target)

To use:

scoop about 1/4-1/2 cup of bubbling bath salts and put in tub under running hot water for a regular size tub.  use 1/2-1 cup of bubbling bath salts for a large whirlpool style tub.

Run your hand back and forth in the tub water to agitate the water which will help dissolve the Epsom salt and it will also help make more and bigger bubbles.

Please be careful when getting in and out of the tub.  This recipe uses a little bit of oil which could possibly cause the tub to become slippery. 

9. “fall retreat” Bath Bomb with Essential Oils

How to Make (recipe below, click here  for full instructions including step-by-step photos and tips for making bath bombs)

To a glass mixing bowl add…

1 cup baking soda

½ cup citric acid

1 Tbsp cornstarch

2 tsp cream of tartar

¼ tsp lake (color dye)

And mix well

Add wet ingredients

1 Tbsp apricot kernel oil

7 drops orange essential oil

7 drops cedarwood essential oil

2 drops ginger essential oil

A few sprays witch hazel

A few sprays rubbing alcohol

3) Mix well- You want it to get to the consistency of damp (not wet) sand.

It should be able to hold its shape when you squeeze it together, but break apart when you drop it into the bowl.

4) To form the bath bomb, add a heaping pile of sand to each half of the bath bomb. don’t pack the mixture into the mold at this point, just loosely pile it into the mold. You’re wanting to make a light (not dense) bath bomb that will float on the top of the bath water.

5) Press the two halves of the bath bomb mold together

6) Unmold the bath bomb- it should pop right out, but if it sticks a little, give the mold a whack with the back of a spoon to help it release

7) Place the bath bombs on top of something really soft and cushy to dry — I use a clean bath towel on top of a couple layers of bubble wrap.

10. “sweater weather” Bath Salts

Making bath salts is incredibly easy!

Combine the following ingredients, trying to somewhat evenly distribute the essential oil.  Once mixed well, store the bath salts in a glass container (like this or this or this or  this).   And tie a fun (and functional) spoon or scoop (like this or this or this) to the jar to make a super cute gift!

1 cup epsom salt

¼ cup sea salt

¼ cup baking soda

3 drops eucalyptus essential oil

3 drops juniper berry essential oil

2 drops clary sage essential oil

to use:  Depending on the size of your tub, use about 1/4 to 1/2 cup of this salt blend per bath.

11. “autumn wreath” Shower Steamer with Essential Oils

No time for baths, but love the aromatherapy benefits of essential oils?  Try shower steamers!

mix together:

1 cup baking soda

1/3 cup distilled water

15 drops white fir essential oil

8 drops juniper berry essential oil

4 drops clary sage essential oil

then scoop the mixture into silicone molds like these   let them dry until hard and completely dry (usually 12-24 hours, but it will vary depending on the humidity in your home)

Here’s a great video from TheBargainHound on YouTube showing how she makes shower steamers.  Around the 3-1/2 to 4 minute mark you can see the consistency you’re looking for with the baking soda and water mixture.  And at the end of the video, you can see what the shower steamers look like once they’ve dried.

12. “sweater weather” Foaming Hand Soap

to a 16 ounce soap dispenser, add…

• 1/4 cup liquid unscented Castile soap  (here’s the kind I use)
• 1 teaspoon sweet almond oil  (here’s the kind I use)
• 1 teaspoon vegetable glycerin  (here’s the kind I use)
• 9 drops eucalyptus essential oil
• 9 drops juniper berry essential oil
• 6 drops clary sage essential oil
• fill with distilled water, leaving a little room for the pump

Click here for 20 more fall hand soap recipes

13. “warm chai” Exfoliating Essential Oil Soap

This 3-ingredient melt & pour soap is super easy to make and it’s great for your skin.  The soap softens & moisturizes skin, while the poppy seeds gently exfoliate and smooth skin.

Here’s how to make it:

• cut 1 pound of melt & pour soap into small chunks
• melt soap in the microwave at 30 second intervals, stirring after each 30 seconds
• continue heating soap until completely melted and no chunks remain (microwaves will vary; mine takes 60-90 seconds total time)
• allow the soap to cool slightly (this is so that the poppy seeds will stay suspended in the soap.  If soap is too hot and too thin, then the poppy seeds will fall to the bottom and not be evenly mixed throughout the soap)
• add essential oils and mix well
  • 15 drops cardamom essential oil
  • 5 drops cinnamon essential oil
  • 5 drops clove essential oil
  • 5 drops ginger essential oil
• add 2 Tbsp poppyseeds
• mix well
• pour into silicone molds
• spray tops of soap with 91% rubbing alcohol so that soap will be smooth and will not sweat
• let cool and solidify completely before removing from molds

14. “gingerbread” Nourishing Dry Body Oil

I love making dry body oils scented with essential oils!  This one hydrates skin like a body butter, but feel silky & light like a dry body oil.   Plus it smells like gingerbread!

combine the following in a glass bowl or measuring cup:

1/4 cup fractionated coconut oil

1/2 cup apricot kernel oil

2 Tbsp rice bran oil

2 Tbsp safflower oil

1 tsp vitamin e oil

30 drops ginger essential oil

10 drops cinnamon essential oil

10 drops clove essential oil

10 drops nutmeg essential oil

Carefully pour mixture into 8 ounce glass spray bottle

To use:  After a shower or bath, pat skin dry, then apply this nourishing dry body oil to arms and legs.   It feels light and absorbs into skin quickly, leaving a smooth finish.

Tip:  to avoid your bathroom floors getting slippery from the oils, spray or apply the oils to your hands and then rub into your arms and legs.

15. “autumn breeze” Perfume

It’s easy to make your own essential oil perfume.  All it takes is two ingredients and a little time.

Here’s how you do it:

add the following essential oils to a 4 ounce glass spray bottle

25 drops orange essential oil

25 drops patchouli essential oil

10 drops clove essential oil

mix essential oils together

then add 4 ounces of vodka

put lid on the bottle and shake well

place bottle in a cool dark place for several days (or up to several weeks) to let the scent develop.  This allows the alcohol scent to fade and the scent of the essential oils to develop and intensify.

click here for a FREE PRINTABLE of all 15 recipes

You might also be interested in these other posts about Fall Essential Oils

30 Best Fall Diffuser Blend Recipes

Halloween essential oil blends for your diffuser

Fall room sprays {pumpkin pie, spiced chai, walk in the woods, autumn breeze, and many more!}

Pumpkin Spice Cleaner {the perfect natural cleaning spray for countertops, sinks, kitchen cabinets, toilets, and more}

All about Fall Essential Oils- what are they and what are their therapeutic benefits

15 Ways to Use Essential Oils to Make Your Home Smell Like Fall

DIY vapor rub

super rich & creamy dry hand lotion

“Lysol” disinfecting spray

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Disclaimer: Please know that this website contains affiliate links. This means that should you click on certain links, and then subsequently purchase a product, I will receive a small commission. The price is exactly the same for you as it would be without the affiliate link.