There must be lots of people who want a hand sanitizer that doesn’t include alcohol. I’d never really thought about it before my local news did a story about an alternative. Apparently essential oils have the same antibacterial qualities as alcohol, and they smell better, too!
This is not an endorsement for the safety, efficacy or frugality of the recipe or it’s contents. Always check with your doctor and lawyer before doing anything, especially anything I talk about. Use at your own risk. Don’t sue me.
According to my local news, this is how you make “natural” hand sanitizer:
Fill a small spray bottle halfway with sterile (I’m assuming distilled) water.
Add to it:
1 tsp Aloe Vera gel
1-2 drops of cinnamon oil
1 drop of eucalyptus oil
1 drop of clove bud oil
1 drop of rosemary oil
5 drops of lemon oil (for scent_
Top it off with more sterile water.
Shake well and… voila!
Not frugal, certainly. You can get a ten gallon tub of off-brand sanitizer for thirty-seven cents (okay, not really). The essential oils aren’t cheap. Still, it’s kind of a neat idea. Put it in pretty spray bottles and it might make a nice stocking stuffer idea, too. Especially for all you crunchy people!
Whatever type you decide on, please wash often. I don’t want to catch H1N1, Swine, or any other Flu or virus, thankyouverymuch.
Are You Going To Be This Way The Rest of The Time I Know You? 
October 10, 2009 at 4:43 pm
Thanks for posting this! I’ve been looking everywhere for a homemade recipe of hand sanitizer with no alcohol, this is perfect! I’m going to try and maybe make it for everyone for Christmas!
October 28, 2009 at 6:15 pm
Awesome:) I have been looking for one without alcohol as well…and I couldn’t careless if its not frugal, the crap you buy in the store, I have heard two squirts can kill a toddler, they can even get sick just from licking it off their hands…I rather be natural!:)
January 26, 2010 at 1:23 am
Lemon Essential Oil actually does have benefits besides scent for something like this. Lemon is a natural antibiotic, antiseptic, and antifungal. The Cinnamon is antibiotic, antiseptic, and antiviral. Eucalyptus is antibiotic and antiseptic. Rosemary is an antiseptic.
You still have to be careful with essential oils! The are natural but they are a form of “medicine” and should be treated as such. I have been using essential oils for 20 years and I would NOT use this on a child under a year and would only use sparingly on children under 5. If I was to use it regularly on a child under 5 (which I have a 6 year old, 2 year old, and another on the way) then I would omit the Rosemary. I am not a professional, but do have years of experience and research.