Using Terpenes To Make DIY Hand Sanitizer
If you live in a city, odds are you may have noticed the shortage of things like disinfectant sprays, alcohol wipes, and hand sanitizer. During the Coronavirus scare and the yearly common flu endemic, it’s never been more important to keep your hands clean to help prevent the spread of these potentially deadly viruses. Have no fear though. Even with the shortage of soap and sanitizer, you can easily make your own at home with a few supplies you probably already have on hand. Here’s an easy recipe for hand sanitizer, as well as a few ways to infuse it with terpenes, which have anti-viral, anti-microbial, and anti-bacterial properties.
Terpene-Infused Hand Sanitizer Recipe
To make an effective hand sanitizer, the formula you use must contain at least 60% alcohol to help kill germs and viruses. You’ll also need clean water and aloe vera gel to help protect your skin from the damaging effects of sanitizers, which can damage the oils your skin naturally produces, thus drying your skin out. To make an effective hand sanitizer, you will need:
Ingredients:
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1 cup 91-99% Isopropyl Alcohol or 190-proof grain alcohol (like Everclear)
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¼ cup Water
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¼ cup Aloe Vera Gel (optional)
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5 drops Limonene Terpenes
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2 drops Linalool Terpenes
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5 drops a-Pinene Terpenes
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3 drops Tea Tree Oil
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Large mason jar with a lid
Directions:
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Combine all ingredients into a mason jar
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Shake the jar or stir well to mix until a gel forms
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Transfer to hand sanitizer dispensers or shake well before using sanitizer directly from the jar
Why add terpenes to your hand sanitizer?
Scientific evidence suggests that terpene isolates like Limonene, a-Pinene, and Linalool offer a variety of virus-fighting and anti-bacterial properties. While alcohol is a popular disinfectant, the addition of terpenes may help boost the effectiveness of alcohol as a disinfectant. A recent study from the National Center for Biotechnology suggests that Limonene, a-Pinene, and Linalool terpenes have potent anti-viral, anti-bacterial, and anti-microbial properties.
Terpenes also offer additional benefits when introduced to your body through your skin. For example, aside from the antiviral, antimicrobial and antibacterial properties, a-Pinene terpenes can also reduce inflammation and pain and increase alertness and energy levels with its piney scent. Limonene terpenes are also anti-inflammatory and help kill fungal spores. Linalool is also a great choice since it soothes muscles. Its delicate scent promotes stress-relief and anxiety-reduction, too.
Even without the extra boost from the antiviral properties of terpenes, you may still want to include them to help improve the scent of your final product. Many cosmetic companies and hand sanitizer companies rely on added terpenes to improve the scents of their products. If you’ve ever shopped for soaps and sanitizers at bath and body works, you’ve probably smelled terpenes at work within their products. Terpenes improve scents and may even offer additional benefits for your skin.
At Peak Supply Co, our a-Pinene, Linalool, and Limonene terpene isolates are extracted from all-natural food-grade fruit, flower, and nut oils in our state-of-the-art facility. With our proprietary extraction and refinement method, we remove plant materials and any leftover impurities, leaving behind the purest terpene isolates on the market. Best of all, we even offer sample packs so you can try them all.