DIY Organic Botanical Skin Care Serum

Soothe your skin with botanical delights

Craft your own botanically-infused skin serum for all skin types, bringing together the soft, uplifting scents of neroli, rose geranium and lavender essential oils. This is a simple blend to make at home, designed to feel light on the skin and pleasant to the senses. Below you will find a little about each oil, followed by the full recipe and a short FAQ to help you get the most from your serum.

Botanical allies for a soothing skin serum

• Neroli essential oil

Neroli essential oil has a sweet, delicate and slightly citrus fragrance distilled from orange blossom. It is one of the most prized florals in perfumery, valued for an aroma that is both bright and softly floral. In a facial serum a single drop goes a long way, lending a refined scent that many find calming at the end of the day. Neroli blends beautifully with other florals and citrus oils, making it a graceful centrepiece for a gentle, everyday blend.

• Rose geranium essential oil

Rose geranium essential oil is a fragrant, rose-like floral with a fresh green edge. It is a popular choice in homemade skincare thanks to its balancing, well-rounded aroma that sits happily alongside both florals and citrus notes. A favourite for facial blends, rose geranium brings a soft, romantic scent that lingers gently and rounds out the character of a serum without overpowering it.

• Lavender essential oil

Lavender essential oil is one of the most versatile and best-loved oils for home blending. Its clean, herbaceous-floral aroma is familiar and comforting, which is why it appears so often in serums, balms and bath products. Lavender pairs effortlessly with neroli and rose geranium, tying the three florals together into a balanced, calming scent that suits an evening skincare routine.

DIY botanically-infused skin serum

This fragrant botanically-infused skin serum is a light blend of nourishing carrier oils with a touch of three florals, designed to feel gentle and smell lovely. The carrier oils form the base, while the essential oils are added in small amounts purely for their aroma.

Ingredients:

• 10 ml evening primrose oil
• 15 ml jojoba oil
• 5 ml grapeseed oil
• 2 drops lavender essential oil
• 2 drops rose geranium essential oil
• 1 drop neroli essential oil
• 2 ml vitamin E

Directions:

1. Sterilise a 30 ml dropper bottle by boiling it in water, then letting it dry out completely.
2. Once your dropper bottle has fully dried, pour in the carrier oils with the essential oils.
3. Blend well between your hands. Label and store in a cool, dry cupboard.
4. How to use: apply a few drops of the serum to your face, massaging gently from the inner to the outer parts of the face. Breathe in the aromas along the way.
5. Apply sunscreen afterwards to protect your skin from sun exposure.

A note on safe use: essential oils are highly concentrated, so always keep them well diluted in a carrier oil and never apply them neat to the skin. Patch test on a small area of your inner arm 24 hours before using on the face, and avoid the eye area. If you are pregnant, breastfeeding or have a known skin sensitivity, seek advice before use.

FAQs

How long will this serum keep?

Stored in a sterilised, sealed dropper bottle in a cool, dark cupboard, a serum like this is best used within around three months. The evening primrose and grapeseed oils are more delicate, and the vitamin E helps the blend stay fresh for longer. Make small batches so you always have a fresh bottle.

Can I use a different carrier oil?

Yes. Jojoba, sweet almond, grapeseed and evening primrose are all popular choices, and you can swap them to suit your preference and what you have to hand. Keep the total carrier oil volume roughly the same so the dilution of the essential oils stays gentle.

How many drops of essential oil should I add?

For a facial blend, keep the essential oils to a low dilution. The five drops used here in roughly 30 ml of carrier oil is a light, comfortable level for the face. Adding more will make the scent stronger but is not recommended for facial use.

Do I need to patch test?

Yes, always. Apply a small amount to the inside of your forearm and wait 24 hours before using the serum on your face. This is a simple way to check that your skin is happy with the blend before wider use.

When is the best time to apply it?

Many people prefer an evening application as part of a wind-down routine, since the floral aromas are soft and calming. If you use it in the morning, remember to follow with sunscreen before heading outdoors.