How to Make an Essential Oil Inhaler
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Looking for a way to take essential oils on the go? Then, make an essential oil inhaler. They’re the size of a tube of lip balm, and they seal tight, so you don’t have to worry about them leaking in your bag. To enjoy your favorite oil blend, just unscrew the lid, and inhale deeply.
If you’ve ever used a Vicks (R) Vapor Inhaler these work just like those. The only difference is that you get to pick what goes inside. Make inhalers to relieve headaches, congestion from a cold/flu or seasonal allergies, motion sickness or even insomnia. There are so many possibilities. Here’s how they’re made.
These aromatherapy inhalers are also available in my shop in seven blends.
How to Make an Essential Oil Inhaler
What You’ll Need:
Essential Oil Inhaler Tube Blanks
Essential oils (I use the NOW brand)
There are lots of options when it comes to essential oil inhalers. I chose these because they’re made of medical-grade plastic, and have excellent reviews. They also very closely resemble the vapor inhalers sold in drug stores.
Watch this short video to learn how to make an essential oil inhaler, or follow the instructions outlined below.
What You Do:
When you order your essential oil inhalers, you’ll receive a small bag with tubes, wicks, plugs and covers. Assembling your inhalers couldn’t be easier. Just put the essential oils that you want to use on one end of the wick (a few drops of each oil should do it). Then, place the wick in the inhaler tube (make sure the side you applied the oils to goes in first). Place a plug in the end of the tube. Then, press down on your work surface to firmly seat it, and screw on the lid. Be sure to label your inhaler, so you know what’s inside.
Free Printable Essential Oil Inhaler Labels
Here are some printable inhaler labels that you can use on your inhalers. They’re fully editable, and they have a spot for you to write both the type of inhaler that you made and the oils that you used. Just fill in your information, and hit print.
To change the font or font size, hold the “Ctrl” + “E” keys down at the same time. It’ll bring up a menu of options. You can even save the file with your additions, if you’d like to print more labels later.
I recommend printing these labels on full-sheet label paper. Use Avery 8165, if you have an inkjet printer or Avery 5265, if you have a laser printer.
Many web browsers have their own built-in PDF viewers, but they tend to be buggy. If you’re having trouble printing or editing one of our printables, click here for help.
To Use:
Just unscrew the lid, place the top of the inhaler by your nose, and inhale deeply. There’s a little hole at the top of the inhaler that releases the essential oils. Since the lid screws on so tightly, the scent will stay strong for a long time, but you can add more oils to the wick as needed. It takes a bit of effort to remove the plug, but the inhalers are refillable. You can even order extra wicks, if you want to try a different oil blend.
Essential Oil Blends to Try:
I’m using essential oil inhalers to relieve sinus and migraine headache symptoms. Here are the blends that I’m using:
Sinus Headache
Peppermint (relieves headaches, acts as decongestant)
Eucalyptus (decongestant)
Tea Tree Oil (anti-bacterial, anti-viral)
*This blend can also be used to relieve cold/flu congestion
Migraine Headache
Lemon (reduces blood pressure; increases circulation)
Peppermint (relieves headaches)
Lavender (calming)
*This blend can also be used to relieve seasonal allergy symptoms.
If you have trouble falling asleep at night, make an inhaler with lavender oil to keep in your nightstand. And if you have trouble with motion sickness, try one with ginger or grapefruit oil. Both are good for nausea. You can even create blends to help with stress or concentration. These little inhalers are easy to customize to your needs, so play around with a variety of oil blends, until you find the ones that work best for you.
I tend to make my own essential oil blends, but you can also buy them ready-made. If you’re just getting started with essential oils, consider buying blends, rather than all the oils you’d need to make the same blends yourself. It’ll come out cheaper.
Take Charge of Your Own Health
Essential oils need to be used responsibly. Some oils aren’t suitable for kids or people with certain medical conditions. I feel comfortable using these inhalers, and allowing my middle school-aged daughters to use them, but that’s because I’ve done my research. Do your own research to determine what’s right for your family. I’m not a doctor or even an essential oil expert, so I can only tell you how I’ve decided to use these inhalers.
This is the essential oil book that I use to look up information about the oils that I’m thinking about using. It’s organized so that you can look up information by symptom or by the type of oil.
More Uses for Essential Oils
How many drops of oil each for the migraine and sinus headache relief blends?
Hi Amanda,
I usually do three drops of each oil. That seems to give them a strong, long-lasting scent.
Hi Erin, I just wanted to thank you for creating such beautiful inhaler labels. The fact that I can type what they are is a bonus. I love your creativity.
Barb
Hi Erin, this is my fave way of using EOs. The link for the labels though is broken, you able to refresh?
Thank you
Hi Zee, Just checked the link, and it seems to be working. It’s a pdf, so you’ll need a pdf reader to open it. Here’s a link to our print help page with more instructions: https://www.myfrugalhome.com/help-printing/
For the sinus headache inhaler how many drops of each do I use
I usually do three drops of each oil.
Thanks a lot for the labels!
Hello, I’m trying to make mock ups nasal inhalers of the Vicks brand nasal inhalers, large family and the Vicks brand is very expensive for everyone to have their own. I bought menthol, pine needle oil, and camphor all 100% pure and natural, these are the ingredients that were said to be in Vicks nasal inhalers… but when blended they smell nothing like the Vicks inhalers… ugh!! Could you give me any help on this? It would be so appreciated…
Thank you so much, Tina
Hi Tina,
I haven’t tried to duplicate the scent of the Vick’s nasal inhalers, since I created my own sinus blend, but here are a couple things I can suggest. First, I’m not sure what you used for menthol, but the menthol content varies hugely from one type of peppermint essential oil to the next. Using an oil with high menthol content is important when you’re making sinus inhalers. For this reason, I only use Japanese peppermint oil in mine. Also, Vick’s may not be using the ingredients in equal amounts, so I would smell one of their inhalers, and see which oils stand out to you. This might help you fine-tune your blend. The oils that you mentioned are definitely good for sinuses, so even if you don’t land on the exact smell, your inhalers should work great.
Hi there. I am interested to make this inhaler for my husband, instead of using the Dristan. May I know where you buy your containers? Thank for sharing your ideas
Hi Corrie,
You can find them on Amazon.
Hi! Thanks for creating a great site. I was wondering how you take the inhalers apart to replace the wick. Any suggestions are greatly appreciated.
Depending on the maker, you may be able to pry the end back off of the inhaler to gain access to the wick. The ones I use now fit together so firmly, I don’t even try, though.