Essential Oils Used for Feminine Hygiene Sprays

For thousands of years, essential oils have benefited female health, beauty and emotional well-being. Essential oils are highly concentrated extracts of plant material, so you need only 1 or 2 drops per cup of filtered water when using a mist spray. This article is not intended to replace medical advice and is simply a suggestion for a natural aromatic spray for cosmetic purposes. Please contact a physician if you are experiencing vaginal discomfort.

Rose Oil

Poets and other writers have long mused about the rose and its distinct aromatic quality. According to the book "The Aromatherapy Encyclopedia" by Schiller and Schiller, the rose is native to the Mediterranean area, and the Persians, Greeks and Romans would bathe in the fragrance and use it during religious ceremonies 1. Rose oil can be cooling and purifying and may reduce stress. It can lessen pain and inflammation, and it's considered an aphrodisiac. Rose may regenerate skin cells and is especially beneficial to dry, red and inflamed skin. For women in particular, it is said to help balance hormones and the reproductive system. All these qualities may be complementary for its use for feminine hygiene. Rose is a very strong essential oil, so use sparingly in your mist spray. To keep a woman's vaginal area clean, it's best to use just water and mild soap, according to the website TeensHealth.

Lavender Oil

Lavender comes from the Latin name lavare, which means "to wash," due to its fragrant and pleasant-smelling flowers. According to the website Organic Facts, lavender may help "to remove nervous tension, relieve pain, disinfect scalp and skin, enhance blood circulation and treat respiratory problems." It may also help with skin conditions because of its antiseptic and antifungal properties 2. It is said to help heal wounds and cuts. Schiller and Schiller write in their book that lavender has long been used as a perfume in soaps and lotions. They also state that lavender is purifying, relaxes muscles, uplifts moods, lessens pain and heals the skin. These properties may make it beneficial as an addition to a mist spray for feminine hygiene.

Chamomile Oil

The German or Roman chamomile plant is native to both Europe and Asia. Schiller and Schiller write that the flowers from the Roman plant were used to treat muscle aches and pains, calm nerves and relieve menstrual problems. Roman chamomile has often been used in creams, perfumes, lotions and soaps. Chamomile is said to uplift moods, soothe inflammation and help heal the skin, and thus could help with feminine hygiene. Organic Facts also claims that chamomile has "very good antiseptic and antibiotic properties and does not let biotic infections -- infections due to biotic factors such as bacteria, fungi, etc. -- develop." Chamomile would also blend well with the rose and lavender essential oils.

Precaution

Essential oils are very highly concentrated plant material, therefore it is important not to apply directly to the vaginal area but lightly through a water-based mist spray. Women who are pregnant or nursing should exercise caution when using essential oils. You should apply small tests to the skin because essential oils can cause allergic reactions. Again, please consult your primary health-care provider before implementing alternative treatments.