The only way to completely dissolve essential oils in water is to use a high-proof alcohol.
Achieving Water Solubility
Essential oils are naturally hydrophobic, meaning they don't mix well with water. To overcome this, a specific method is required:
- High-Proof Alcohol: According to the provided reference, the most effective method is to use 190-proof alcohol. Lower proofs will not achieve complete dissolution, as the oils will still separate.
Why This Works
The high concentration of alcohol acts as a bridge between the oil and water molecules, allowing them to combine and create a solution.
Other Considerations
While complete dissolution requires high-proof alcohol, some users find it acceptable to mix essential oils with water without dissolving them for applications like sprays, even if they don't fully mix.
- Sprays Even if the oil does not dissolve completely, the user still mixes their organic vanilla essential oil with water for spray use.
Practical Application
Here is a table summarizing methods to make essential oils water soluble:
| Method | Description | Effectiveness |
|---|---|---|
| High-Proof Alcohol | Use 190-proof alcohol to dissolve the essential oil completely in water. | Very effective for complete dissolution. |
| Mixing with Water | Simply mixing water with essential oils | Ineffective for dissolution; oil will separate. |
