17 Amazing DIY Air Freshener Recipes you must try

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See how to keep a room smelling fresh with these DIY air freshener recipes. Freshen up your home with Natural air freshener you can make with ingredients you already have available. Sustainable living DIY just got better with these DIY air freshener ideas

Basic air freshener ingredients

When you go shopping next time try to get the ingredients you don’t have for you to be able to make your DIY air freshener with ease. Here is a list of what you need:

1. Fragrance/Essential Oils: Provides the desired scent (e.g., lavender, citrus, pine).
2. Water or Alcohol: Acts as the base or solvent to dissolve and disperse the fragrance. Alcohol helps with quicker evaporation.
3. Propellants: For aerosol sprays, propellants like butane, propane, or isobutane are used to disperse the fragrance into the air.
4. Preservatives: Prevents mold or bacteria growth in liquid air fresheners (e.g., benzisothiazolinone, sodium benzoate).
5. Odor Neutralizers: Compounds like cyclodextrins or baking soda can absorb or neutralize odors instead of just masking them.
6. Emulsifiers or Surfactants: Helps to mix water and oil in water-based air fresheners.
7. Gelling Agents: Used in gel-based air fresheners to solidify the formula and control the release of fragrance over time.

For natural air fresheners, ingredients like baking soda, vinegar, or essential oils in a water base are common alternatives.

Tools you need

To fully prepare for your DIY process, you need these tools or materials to help you make the best air freshener.

1. For Spray Air Fresheners:

• Spray Bottle: To store and apply the liquid air freshener.
• Measuring Cups & Spoons: For accurate measurements of liquids and oils.
• Mixing Bowl or Jar: To mix the ingredients.
• Funnel: Helps transfer the liquid into the spray bottle without spilling.
• Whisk or Stirrer: For mixing essential oils, water, and other liquids.

2. For Gel Air Fresheners:

• Small Jars or Containers: For the gel air freshener (mason jars or decorative containers work well).
• Heat Source (Stove or Microwave): To heat water and dissolve gelatin or agar.
• Measuring Cups: To measure water, gelatin, or agar.
• Spoon or Whisk: To stir the mixture.
• Funnel: To pour the hot liquid into the container.

3. For Reed Diffusers:

• Glass Jar or Bottle: A container with a narrow opening to hold the oil and reed sticks.
• Reed Sticks: These help diffuse the fragrance into the air.
• Funnel: For pouring the oil into the bottle.
• Measuring Cups/Spoons: To mix the base oil and essential oils.

4. For Potpourri or Sachets:

• Fabric Bags (for sachets): To hold dried herbs or flowers.
• Bowl: For mixing dried herbs, flowers, and essential oils.
• Scissors: To cut fabric for sachets.
• Ribbon or String: To tie sachets or close fabric bags.

17 Air freshener ideas

In no particular order which is the best? Here are amazing ideas for DIY air fresheners to make your home smell great.

1. Essential Oil Spray

• Ingredients: Distilled water, essential oils, and (optional) vodka.
• Instructions: Combine distilled water with essential oils in a spray bottle, shake well, and spray around the room.

2. Gel Air Fresheners

• Ingredients: Gelatin, water, salt, essential oils, and small jars.
• Instructions: Dissolve gelatin in water, add essential oils, and pour into jars. Let the mixture cool and solidify.

3. Baking Soda Air Freshener

• Ingredients: Baking soda, essential oils, and a jar.
• Instructions: Fill a jar halfway with baking soda, add essential oils, and cover with breathable fabric or paper.

4. Citrus and Herb Simmer Pot

• Ingredients: Orange slices, lemon slices, rosemary, and cinnamon.
• Instructions: Simmer ingredients in a pot of water on the stove to release a fresh citrus-herb aroma.

5. Vinegar Air Freshener

• Ingredients: Vinegar, essential oils, and a spray bottle.
• Instructions: Mix equal parts vinegar and water, add essential oils, and spray to neutralize odors.

6. Coffee Bean Air Freshener

• Ingredients: Coffee beans and a bowl.
• Instructions: Place coffee beans in a bowl to absorb odors and give off a subtle coffee scent.

7. DIY Reed Diffuser

• Ingredients: Essential oils, carrier oil, and reed sticks.
• Instructions: Mix essential oils with carrier oil, pour into a narrow jar, and insert reed sticks.

8. Herb Sachets

• Ingredients: Dried lavender, rosemary, or other herbs, small fabric pouches.
• Instructions: Fill pouches with dried herbs and place them in drawers or around your home for a natural scent.

9. Cinnamon Stick Candles

• Ingredients: Candles, cinnamon sticks, and twine.
• Instructions: Wrap cinnamon sticks around the outside of a candle using twine for a cozy, spiced scent when lit.

10. Eucalyptus Bundle

• Ingredients: Fresh eucalyptus branches.
• Instructions: Hang eucalyptus in your shower or place it in a vase for a natural, earthy fragrance that intensifies with steam.

11. DIY Carpet Freshener

• Ingredients: Baking soda and essential oils.
• Instructions: Mix baking soda with essential oils, sprinkle on carpets, and vacuum after 15-30 minutes to freshen the room.

12. Citrus Vinegar Cleaner

• Ingredients: Citrus peels, vinegar, and water.
• Instructions: Soak citrus peels in vinegar for two weeks, strain, and dilute with water for a natural, fresh-smelling cleaner.

13. Fabric Softener Air Freshener

• Ingredients: Fabric softener, water, and a spray bottle.
• Instructions: Mix fabric softener with water, shake, and spray on curtains or upholstery for a long-lasting scent.

14. DIY Wax Melts

• Ingredients: Beeswax, coconut oil, and essential oils.
• Instructions: Melt beeswax and coconut oil together, mix in essential oils, pour into molds, and use in a wax warmer.

15. Activated Charcoal Air Purifier

• Ingredients: Activated charcoal and a container.
• Instructions: Place activated charcoal in an open container to absorb odors naturally.

16. Orange Clove Pomander

• Ingredients: Oranges and whole cloves.
• Instructions: Stick whole cloves into oranges in a decorative pattern and hang them up or place them in bowls for a festive, spiced fragrance.

17. Scented Wooden Blocks

• Ingredients: Wooden blocks and essential oils.
• Instructions: Soak small wooden blocks in essential oils and place them in drawers or around the house to slowly release fragrance over time.

Conclusion

These DIY air freshener recipes offer a variety of ways to scent your home using simple ingredients naturally. You can mix and match scents to suit your mood and refresh your living space. Which one would you like to try first?