Dryer Balls + Essential Oils = A Match Made in Heaven
In the first part of this 3-part laundry series we talked about wool dryer balls and I walked you through the easy steps to make your own. Now, we’re going to take our dryer balls up a notch with essential oils and learn how to choose the oils to make your own custom dryer ball essential oil blends!
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Safety First: The Lowdown on Flammability
Essential oils are volatile—they evaporate at room temperature. This is why when you smell an essential oil right from the refrigerator, it has very little aroma, but let it warm up a bit and, viola!, aromatics at work!
This volatility is great for filling a room with delightful aromas, but it also means essential oils are flammable.
So, keeping volatility and flammability in mind, it’s good practice to be aware of an essential oil’s flashpoint—the temperature at which it ignites. Some essential oils, such as the citruses, are more flammable than others, such as Cedarwood.(1)
The temperature of the average dryer on low setting is 95°F-110°F (35°F-43°C). On medium, that range increases to 115°F-135°F (46°C-57°C). Switch your dryer to high heat, and the temperature soars to up to 160°F (71°C)!(2) While high heat is fine for felting your wool dryer balls, it’s not safe for using essential oils, nor is it good for your clothes!
When using essential oils on your dryer balls, set your dryer to low or medium heat.
Dryer Ball Essential Oil Blends
If you love using wool dryer balls to speed drying and make your laundry soft, you’re going to love experimenting with essential oil blends to add to your dryer balls! Create a blend of just a few drops at first, applying a drop to each dryer ball with a pipette. When you find a blend you love make a stock bottle.
Remember: These are natural essential oil blends, not synthetic fragrances. They will not have the same staying power as commercial dryer sheets.
Here are three of my favorites dryer ball essential oil blends to get you started.
⭐️Tranquil Twilight Blend
- 2 drops Virginian Cedarwood essential oil (Juniperus virginiana)
- 1 drop Peppermint essential oil (Mentha x piperita)
- 1 drop Ylang Ylang essential oil (Cananga odorata)
⭐️Sun-Drenched Flowers Blend
- 2 drops Lavender essential oil (Lavandula angustifolia)
- 1 drop Egyptian Geranium essential oil (Pelargonium asperum)
- 1 drop Lemon Myrtle essential oil (Backhousia citriodora)
⭐️Cozy Comfort Blend
- 2 drops Lavender essential oil (Lavandula angustifolia)
- 1 drop Sandalwood essential oil (Santalum spp)
- 1 drop Patchouli essential oil (Pogostemon cablin)
🌺See my Recommended Suppliers below
Flash-Points for These Essential Oils
Essential oil flash points can differ between batches and among suppliers. The flash points here are from safety data sheets provided by Plant Therapy.(3) Please check with your supplier.
| Essential Oil | Flash Point |
|---|---|
| Cedarwood, Virginian | 199°F (93°C) |
| Geranium, Egyptian | 185°F (85°C) |
| Lavender | 168°F (76°C) |
| Lemon Myrtle | 210°F (99°C) |
| Patchouli | 230°F (110°C) |
| Peppermint | 153°F (67°C) |
| Sandalwood | 284°F (140°C) |
| Ylang Ylang | 188°F (87°C) |
| Frankincense carteri * | 104°F (40°C) |
| Sweet Orange * | 115°F (46°C) |
* Shown to illustrate essential oils NOT to use in your dryer ball essential oil blends.
Tips for Using Essential Oils on Dryer Balls
- Dry when Present. Only use essential oils on your dryer balls when you are home.
- Less is Better. Add just 1-2 drops of an essential oil (blend) to each dryer ball to start. You can always add more, if desired.
- Allow to Absorb. Before tossing the balls in the dryer with your clothes, allow the essential oils to absorb for several minutes.
- Set Dryer Temp. Use low or medium heat when using essential oils on your dryer balls; this is a safe heat range, and gentler on your clothes.
- Know Your Flash-Points. When you start to craft your own dryer ball essential oil blends, avoid the oils with a low flash point (i.e., citruses). This information is on the Safety Data Sheet (SDS) for the essential oil. Check with your supplier (see how to find a good one with this checklist).
- Have Realistic Expectations. Your laundry will not hold the aroma of the essential oil blend like a commercial dryer sheet, but it will smell clean!
- Let the Sun Shine! On sunny, non-laundry days, let your dryer balls sit in the sun for a while. This helps residual aroma dissipate and imparts some beautiful solar energy to the wool!
Remember, these are just starting points. Feel free to experiment with different combinations to find your perfect laundry fragrance. Let us know what you come up with in the comments below!
References
- Joan Morais Cosmetics School. (nd). Artisanal Candle Making. Retrieved 6/1/2023 from https://joanmorais.com/artisanal-candle-making/
- Fred’s Appliances. (2023). How Hot Should a Dryer Get? Retrieved on 11/1/2023 from https://fredsappliance.com/dryer-repair/how-hot-should-a-dryer-get/
- Plant Therapy Safety Data Sheets.
Mom’s Shopping List
Since you’ll be testing out essential oil blends to find your favorite, I’m also including on this shopping list the items I consider “tools of the trade”!
- Dessert/Shot glasses for blending (on Amazon).
- Pipettes, either Disposable or Reusable (on Amazon).
Tranquil Twilight Essential Oils
- Virginian Cedarwood essential oil (Juniperus virginiana):
- Aromatics International, wildcrafted
- Plant Therapy, sustainable (Direct and Amazon).
- Peppermint essential oil (Mentha x piperita):
- Plant Therapy, organic (Direct and Amazon)
- Aromatics International, organic.
- Ylang Ylang essential oil (Cananga odorata):
- Plant Therapy, organic (Direct and Amazon)
- Aromatics International, organic.
Herbal Oasis Essential Oils
- Lavender essential oil (Lavandula angustifolia):
- Plant Therapy, organic (Direct and Amazon)
- Aromatics International, organic artisan (grown and distilled in Montana)
- TIP: Plant Therapy’s Lavender Hydrosol (Direct and Amazon) is lovely for skin care and general aromatherapy.
- Geranium essential oil (Pelargonium asperum):
- Aromatics International, organic Rose Geranium
- Plant Therapy, organic Egyptian Geranium (Direct and Amazon)💛
- Plant Therapy, sustainable Bourbon Geranium (Direct and Amazon).
- Lemon Myrtle essential oil (Backhousia citriodora):
- Plant Therapy, sustainable (Direct and Amazon)💛
- Aromatics International, organic.
Cozy Comfort Essential Oils
- Lavender essential oil (Lavandula angustifolia):
- Plant Therapy, organic (Direct and Amazon)
- Aromatics International, organic artisan (grown and distilled in Montana)
- TIP: Plant Therapy’s Lavender Hydrosol (Direct and Amazon) is lovely for skin care and general aromatherapy.
- Sandalwood essential oil (Santalum album/S. spicatum):
- This is a precious oil, choose a supplier carefully
- Aromatics International, S. album, organic
- Plant Therapy, S. spicatum, organic (Direct and Amazon)
- Plant Therapy, S. album, conventional (Direct and Amazon).
- Patchouli essential oil (Pogostemon cablin):
- Plant Therapy, organic (Direct and Amazon)
- Aromatics International, organic
- Plant Therapy, Aged Dark Patchouli, richer deeper aroma (Direct and Amazon).
This information has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. It is for educational purposes only.
All recipes provided are for personal use and are not designed for re-sale or large-scale manufacturing.
Please consult your doctor, naturopath, herbal practitioner, or other qualified health professional for medical advice and before starting any herbal regimen, particularly if you are pregnant or nursing, have any existing medical conditions, or are taking any medications.
Chris P | Writer, Certified Aromatherapist, Natural Skin Care Formulator
Chris (“Mom”) enjoys formulating bespoke aromatherapy, skin care, and herbal products to support her family, pets, friends, and clients. She also loves experimenting with recipes in the kitchen. An avid reader, writer, and lifetime learner, Chris enthusiastically explores research rabbit holes and then writes about her discoveries.💚 (Learn more >>)
