All my adult life, I've had pets. Dogs, cats... oh, and for a period, I had a teen boy, too. So my house? Sometimes, it smelled a little funky — something that drives me nuts. I can't stand walking in the door, taking a whiff, and thinking, ew.
One of my earliest sensory memories is probably the reason why off smells in my house bother me so much. As if it happened only yesterday, I can still remember walking into somebody's house and being bowled over by the smell of wet dog. It's something I never want someone else to experience walking into my home.
But there are a ton of environmentally safe ways to make your home smell not just okay but amazing. Spritz one of our homemade air fresheners, and your house will smell inviting no matter how many teens or catboxes lurk in your darkest corners.
Essential Oil Air Freshener
I love essential oils and use them a lot in my house (I like to put a few drops in my steam cleaner to make it smell yummy when I use it). They're more natural than cleaning products, and they make my house smell amazing. Plus, a few drops go a long way, so these homemade air-freshening sprays are super economical. I also like that I can mix it up and make custom scents that suit my moods or the season.
Wear gloves when working with essential oils. While they're made from natural plant substances, they're concentrated. Direct skin contact can cause a sensitization reaction. Always dilute essential oils to about 3% of the carrier liquid (about 1 to 3 drops per ounce or maximum 24 drops per cup of liquid).
Ingredients
- 1 cup distilled water
- 20 drops of essential oils
Instructions
- In a clean plastic spray bottle, combine the water and essential oils.
- Put on the lid and shake well. Spritz.
- Store in a cool, dry place for up to six months.
- Always shake before using.
Alluring Essential Oil Combinations
You don't have to do all 20 of your drops of the same aroma (although you can). Mix and match at your discretion — or try our suggested blends. If you do your own mixing and matching, only mix about 2-3 different oils, or the scent may become muddled.
- 10 drops vanilla and 10 drops cinnamon
- 15 drops orange blossom and 4 drops jasmine
- 15 drops orange and 5 drops clove
- 15 drops grapefruit and 5 drops ginger
- 10 drops lavender and 10 drops vanilla
- 10 drops grapefruit and 10 drops lemongrass
- 10 drops tangerine and 10 drops grapefruit
- 15 drops orange and 5 drops rosemary
- 15 drops lemon and 5 drops eucalyptus
- 15 drops lavender and 5 drops peppermint
Citrus Air Freshener
Citrus has an invigorating, fresh aroma, and it's perfect for spring and summer — or any time you want your air to smell like summer sunshine.
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons baking soda
- 2 cups hot distilled water
- ½ cup lemon juice
Instructions
- In a mixing cup, dissolve the baking soda into the hot water.
- Add the lemon juice and stir. Cool.
- Pour into a spray bottle.
- Shake well before spraying.
- Store for up to 3 months in a dark, cool place.
Variations
You don't just have to use lemon juice. Try these variations.
- Use ¼ cup each lemon and lime juice.
- Use ¼ cup each lime and grapefruit juice.
- Use grapefruit juice in place of lemon juice.
- Use lime juice in place of lemon juice.
Baking Soda Air Freshener
This air freshener contains baking soda to neutralize odors rather than just covering them up. And once the odors are gone, you can add your own pleasing fragrance with essential oils.
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon baking soda
- 20 drops essential oil
- 1 cup distilled water
Instructions
- In a small bowl, use a spoon to mix together the baking soda and essential oils until well combined.
- Add to the spray bottle and top off with the distilled water.
- Shake before spraying.
- This will keep in a cool, dark place for up to six months.
Vodka and Essential Oil Recipe
This is a great way to use up that cheap vodka you've had since college. While vodka is colorless and mostly odorless, don't worry that your house will smell like a frat house during homecoming weekend. The vodka will absorb odors and help the essential oils mix into the liquid, and the alcohol will evaporate quickly, leaving behind only the sweet, sweet smell of your essential oils.
Ingredients
- 1 cup distilled water
- 2 tablespoons high-proof (and super cheap) vodka
- 20 drops of essential oils
Instructions
- Add water to a spray bottle.
- Add the vodka and essential oils.
- Shake well before spraying.
- Store in a cool, dark place for up to six months.
Rubbing Alcohol and Essential Oil Air Freshener
Wait! Don't use the good vodka! Instead, reach for a much less valuable bottle of isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol. It will do the same thing as the vodka, and any alcohol aroma will evaporate quickly.
Ingredients
- 1 cup distilled water
- 2 tablespoons rubbing alcohol
- 20 drops of essential oils
Instructions
- Add water to a spray bottle.
- Add the rubbing alcohol and essential oils.
- Shake well before spraying.
- Store in a cool, dark place for up to six months.
Some essential oils are toxic to pets. If you have pets, check to see if the oils you want to use are pet-safe.
Vanilla and Essential Oil Recipe
If you're sensing an alcohol theme, hold on a bit longer — we're still on it. Pure vanilla extract (not imitation vanilla) also contains — you guessed it — alcohol. So it's a great and delicious-smelling stand-in for vodka to help emulsify the essential oils in the water while adding its own amazing aromatic profile.
Ingredients
- 1 cup distilled water
- 2 tablespoons pure vanilla extract
- 20 drops of essential oils
Instructions
- Add water to a spray bottle.
- Add the vanilla and essential oils.
- Shake well before spraying.
- Store in a cool, dark place for up to six months.
Disinfectant Air Freshener
Alcohol and some essential oils are known to have disinfecting properties. When used together, they can freshen your home and get rid of germs. To disinfect while freshening, follow this recipe.
Ingredients
- 1 cup distilled water
- 20 drops white thyme, tea tree, or clove essential oils
- 2 tablespoons rubbing alcohol or vodka
Instructions
- Add all ingredients to a large spray bottle
- Shake well and spray.
- Store in a cool, dry location for up to six months. Shake before spraying.
Fabric Freshener
If you've ever sat out by a campfire, you know that scent lingers in fabrics. So, freshening the air is essential, but you also need to freshen any fabrics that might be holding onto odor. This homemade fabric freshener can help by neutralizing and covering odor in a way that's safe for your upholstery.
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons baking soda
- ¼ cup of your favorite liquid fabric softener
- 1 cup hot water
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients in a large spray bottle.
- Shake well to mix.
- Spritz.
- This will keep for up to a year in a cool, dry location. Shake well before using.
Mason Jar Baking Soda Air Freshener
Mason jars are super cute, so they're the perfect, adorable receptacle for this DIY air freshener.
Ingredients
- ½ cup baking soda
- 10 drops essential oils
Instructions
- Put the baking soda in a mason jar.
- Put 10-20 drops of essential oil into the baking soda.
- Put plastic wrap over the top and secure it with a rubber band.
- Use the pin for popping holes in the plastic wrap to release the scent.
Air Freshener Beads
Water beads are attractive decorations and can be used to make little scent jars.
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon water beads
- Water
- 20 drops essential oils
Instructions
- Allow a tablespoon of water beads to soak in water overnight, more for bigger jars.
- Drain the water and add them to the mason jar.
- Sprinkle your favorite essential oils over them.
Gel Air Freshener
Gel air fresheners release a constant scent that can help to freshen nearby air. These homemade gel air fresheners last about six weeks; place them in the bathroom, the car, near a litter box, or anywhere you want a pleasant scent.
Ingredients
- 2 cup hot water, divided
- 4 packets gelatin
- 1 tablespoon salt
- 20 drops essential oils
Instructions
- Bring one cup of water to a boil and dissolve the gelatin in the water.
- Add the remaining one cup of water and the salt.
- Mix well and remove from the heat.
- Pour into a mason jar.
- Add the essential oils and stir.
- Let the jar sit undisturbed for 24 hours to allow the gelatin to cool and set.
- Set out without a lid until the scent fades.
Freshen Your Home
Homemade air fresheners can be as strong or as subtle as you want. Experiment with making your own air fresheners using your favorite scents and see how easy and inexpensive it is to make your house smell amazing.
