Essential oils can be extremely helpful when it comes to warding off bacteria, mold and viruses, especially during the long winter months. A healthy immune system is vital but having an essential oil recipe on hand is one of the best ways to naturally combat flu season. Since I diffuse and apply Thieves blend so often during the cold and flu season, I decided to make my own DIY Thieves oil blend to save money and also make sure I always have enough on hand. Today, I’m sharing my simple thieves oil recipe with you so that you can also make your own Thieves blend!
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I can not get through the fall/winter season without several bottles of my homemade Thieves oil. I was using so much of this blend that I knew it was time to come up with my own thieves oil recipe. The thieves blend contains common essential oils that are affordable and common so having this recipe on hand has been helpful to grab when flu season rolls around.
This blend is not only used to diffuse, I also use it in a DIY cleaning spray, a thieves balm and a homemade room spray to spray on upholstery.
The Thieves Blend and name originated from the essential oil company, Young Living. Thieves is a blend of essential oils that every oil company offers. Other oil companies call their blend, On Guard, Nature’s Shield and Fighting 5 just to name a few.
If you don’t know what Thieves oil blend is, let me briefly explain. Thieves is a blend of several essential oils. These essential oils are lemon oil, rosemary oil, cinnamon oil, eucalyptus oil and clove oil. These 5 essential oils are powerful when it comes to killing germs internally, airborne and on surfaces. It is most commonly used in a diffuser during the winter season when colds and flus take hold easily.
Clove Bud is the most potent of the 5 essential oils and is an incredible inflammatory buster. Plus it is helpful in relieving pain. Rosemary is also a pain reliever and helpful with infections. Cinnamon increases blood circulation and fights infection while eucalyptus is known for relieving respiratory tract infections. Lemon is a powerful antiviral and helps with nausea, headaches and even irritability.
Today I’m sharing my at-home DIY Thieves oil recipe just in time for winter!
The Story of the Thieves Oil Blend:
In France during the 15th century, grave robbers would sneak into graveyards to rob from those dying from the bubonic plague and the already dead. It is said they protected themselves by creating a special combination of clove, rosemary, lemon, cinnamon and eucalyptus. According to the legend, the thieves got less punishment as long as they would reveal the recipe that kept them from contracting the plague!
Benefits of Thieves Oil:
The ingredients in the Thieves blend have antimicrobial properties, antiseptic and antiviral, and have immune-stimulating properties.
There have been several studies conducted on diffusing Thieves and it’s effect on airborne pathogens.
According to the Small Footprint Family, when combating colds, flu and bronchitis, dilute 15 drops of the blend with 15 drops of a carrier oil like almond, olive oil or coconut oil. Apply to lower back (where viruses and bacteria tend to hibernate), to the upper back of thighs, and back of neck to help with symptoms.
For coughs and bronchitis, also apply to your feet, sternum, chest and throat.
You can also soothe a sore throat as well as kill harmful microbes by gargling with 1 drop of Thieves in 8 ounces of water and a pinch of salt.
Making a Thieves roll on by adding several drops to a roll on bottle and topping off with a carrier oil (like almond oil, jojoba oil or olive oil) is helpful especially when traveling. Roll it on the back of your neck to boost immunity. Go HERE for a dilution chart. How many drops you add will depend on how sensitive your skin is and the size of your roll on bottle.
Diffusing Thieves Oil Blend:
Thieves is most commonly used to diffuse in order to purify the air but this blend of oils can be especially helpful for respiratory health as well.
I tend to diffuse DIY Thieves Blend almost everyday in the winter. I even diffuse in my car with THIS diffuser. When you have more than one kiddo, diffusing in their rooms can go a long way when it comes to containing a virus to one child. I also like to make a room spray as well as a hand sanitizer. Those instructions are below.
Since I go through so much during the season, I’m thrilled to make my own Thieves blend recipe since the 5 oils are affordable and I had most of them.
Below is the recipe you can use if you don’t end up making the blend and just need to diffuse…
Related Post: The Benefits of Diffusing Essential Oils
DIY Thieves Oil Blend Diffuser Recipe:
How Much Money Do You Save Making Your Own Thieves Blend?
These calculation are based on Plant Therapy’s essential oil prices.
- Clove Bud: $9.99 = $1 per ml
- Cinnamon Cassia: $8.99 = .90 per ml
- Eucalyptus Globulus $7.99 = .80 per ml
- Lemon: $8.99 = .90 per ml
- Rosemary: $11.49 = $1.15 per ml
Total cost for all 5 oils is $47.45
I converted drops to ml and each bottle of Plant Therapy essential oils are 10ml so I then found how much the amount would cost.
- Clove: 4.5 ml x $1 per ml= $4.50
- Cinnamon: 2.25 ml x .90 per ml= $2.03
- Eucalyptus: 1.7 ml x .80 per ml= $1.36
- Lemon: 3.95 ml x .90 per ml = $3.56
- Rosemary: 1.15 ml x 1.15 per ml =$1.32
The total is $12.77 per bottle for 13.5 ml of Homemade Thieves Blend. Young Living’s Thieves Blend is $51.64 per 15ml.
Germ Fighter from Plant Therapy is $12.99 per 10ml.
The savings isn’t that much if you aren’t buying Thieves Blend from Young Living but having the recipe and oils on hand can be helpful in a pinch.
What You’ll Need to Make DIY Thieves Oil:
Thieves Recipe Notes:
Be aware a plastic bottle is not an option. This blend will eat through. You will also want to use a dark glass bottle and keep your blend out of direct sunlight. Feel free to use an empty bottle of another essential oil.
There are 15 milliliters in 1/2 an ounce which is the typical size of most large essential oil bottles.
Because your homemade Thieves oil is non-diluted, never apply it directly to the skin unless you are applying to the bottoms of your feet and even then, you might experience a burn.
A common recommendation for dilution is 6 to 12 drops of thieves’ oil per ounce of carrier oil.
I have recently created a Thieves household cleaner recipe which I’ve remade countless times because it’s so easy! All you need is a 16 ounce glass spray bottle, your thieves blend, rubbing alcohol! This DIY thieves spray can be used ito clean surfaces all over your home!
Materials
- 90 drops organic clove bud essential oil
- 79 drops organic lemon essential oil
- 45 drops cinnamon bark essential oil
- 34 drops organic eucalyptus essential oil
- 23 drops organic rosemary essential oil
Tools
- 1/2 ounce (15 ml) dark glass dropper bottle or essential oil bottle
- Small funnel
Instructions
- Drop essential oils into a glass dropper bottle
- Shake
Notes
Be aware a plastic bottle is not an option. This blend will eat through. There are 15 milliliters in 1/2 an ounce which is the typical size of most large essential oil bottles.
Because your homemade Thieves oil is non-diluted, never apply it directly to the skin unless you are applying to the bottoms of your feet and even then, you might experience a burn.
A common recommendation for dilution is 6 to 12 drops of thieves’ oil per ounce of carrier oil.
Where to Get the Best Essential Oils:
I get my favorite essential oils either at Mountain Rose Herbs or Plant Therapy. Both have amazing quality essential oils. Plant Therapy is a bit cheaper and offer free shipping with no minimums. They also tend to ship pretty fast. I like to get different herbs, hydrosols and carrier oils from Mountain Rose Herbs so when I place an order I always throw in a few essential oils so I’m not paying shipping for a few tiny bottles. Plant Therapy’s version of Thieves is called Germ Fighter. Mountain Rose Herbs’ version of Thieves is called Shield Blend.
When choosing an essential oil you must make sure you are buying pure essential oils that are unadulterated.
Related Post: Thieves Hand Sanitizer Recipe
Thieves Oil Uses & Potential Benefits:
- Make a multi purpose spray by adding 80 drops to an 8 ounce spray bottle with 1 tbsp. of witch hazel or vodka then top off with water. You can spray this on any and every surface. I spray over beds and in the sheets as well as all over rooms and the car. I have had zero issue spraying this on upholstery.
- Make a hand sanitizing spray by combining 1/2 Thieves blend with 1/2 vodka in a small spray bottle like THIS.
- Make a pre-diluted thieves oil by using 1/4 cup olive oil and 20 drops of thieves oil to use as a therapeutic massage oil for cold and flu relief and relief of minor aches and pains.
- Make a homemade salve by using 1/4 cup of coconut oil, 1 tbsp. beeswax and 20 drops of thieves oil. You can use this directly on your sore throat, neck and chest when sore. You can also apply this to the bottoms of feet. Not only will it help deliver the oils into your body, it will also smooth and moisturize dry heels! You’ll have to test this on children in case it is still too strong. My daughters easily handle this proportion. This thieves oil recipe also works to relive insect bites.
- Add 80 drops to 8 ounces of white vinegar for a potent surface cleaning product. Spray on all counters as well as windows and mirrors to clean and disinfect! Don’t forget that cell phone!
- Add 4-5 drops to laundry loads for a deeper clean!
- Add a drop to your toothpaste-this blend works wonders for gum and teeth health. I like to add it to my homemade toothpaste recipe!
- Diffuse! I’m always diffusing my DIY Thieves blend. It smells amazing and gives me some peace of mind as well.
I might add that if you haven’t smelled this blend, you’ll be pleasantly surprised at how lovely it smells. It’s cinnamon and clove scent is very prominent. The menthol scents of eucalyptus and rosemary are grounding and woodsy and then everything is brightened by the lemon! It’s the perfect scent for any home in the fall and winter! These 5 are some of my favorite essential oils!
I’m so excited to share this DIY Thieves oil recipe with you!
xx, Jenni
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