How to Make a Homemade Air Freshener

Are you on a journey to living a more natural lifestyle and removing synthetic fragrance from your home? One of the first and easiest things to ditch are air fresheners! But you still want your home to smell good right? How about making a homemade air freshener instead? Theyβre easy and inexpensive to make, and even better, you get to control what ingredients and scents goes into them!
Homemade air fresheners are really customizable and can be made for any season of the year. You can also choose what types of ingredients you include. If you use essential oils, this is a great way to use your favorites! If you donβt use essential oils yet, or choose not to, no worries. There are plenty of fragrant herbs and spices that make a homemade air freshener smell amazing!
WHY REMOVE SYNTHETIC FRAGRANCE FROM THE HOME?
Synthetic fragrance is used in most conventional household products including laundry detergent, shampoo, body wash, cleaning products and more. If itβs used in so many products, then surely itβs not bad, right? Wrong. According to this Huffington Post article, βMore than 95 percent of the chemicals in synthetic fragrances are derived from petrochemicals.β Petrochemicals are made from petroleum. One of the most well known petrochemicals are known as phthalates. Phthalates can affect the reproductive system and have other health risks.
Other issues with the use of synthetic fragrances in your home include increased asthmatic symptoms in those with asthma, endocrine disruption, as well as skin allergies. In fact, according to the American Academy of Dermatology, βFragrance allergy is the number one cause of cosmetic contact dermatitis in the U.S.β
If youβre trying to clean up your home and live a lower toxic lifestyle, then ditching synthetic fragrance and other chemicals is a great place to start! Not only will removing synthetic air fresheners and candles be good for your overall health, but replacing things like laundry detergent and laundry scent boosters with more natural alternatives will help too! If you want to know more about switching to an all natural laundry routine, check out this post! Now letβs get into how to make your very own homemade air freshener!
TOOLS YOU MAY NEED:
- Small mixing bowl
- Mixing spoon
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Small glass jar (an 8 oz mason jar works well)
- Canning ring (if using a mason jar)
- Thin piece of fabric (preferably cotton)
- Pencil and scissors
- Twine, yarn, string or rubber band (if not using a mason jar)
INGREDIENTS:
- Β½ cup baking soda
- 20-30 drops of favorite essential oils total of 40-60 drops
- 1-3 tsp favorite herbs and/or spices
HOW TO MAKE A HOMEMADE AIR FRESHENER
On a piece of fabric, trace a circle (use a small bowl or cup) thatβs twice the diameter of your jar or container. Cut it out and set aside.
In a small mixing bowl, combine baking soda, essential oils and/or spices or herbs.
Add the mixture to your small jar of choice and place a thin piece of fabric (preferably cotton) over the opening of the jar and secure it with a canning ring (if using a mason jar) or twine, string, et cetera.
Place the air freshener in a place of your choosing! I recommend a small area like a bathroom. See the notes below for more information.
NOTES
- Donβt want to use essential oils or donβt have any? No problem, try adding dried orange peel powder, dried lemon zest, spices like cinnamon and allspice or dried herbs!
- If you donβt have any fabric to cover the opening of your jar, you can use a piece of paper or cardstock. Simple cut it in a circle big enough to cover the opening of the jar and attach it. Using a needle or end of a pencil, poke holes into the top. If you donβ t have kids or pets that could knock it down, you donβt have to put a cover on it at all.
- This type of homemade air freshener will not be as potent as conventional air fresheners. I recommend using these in small areas of the home, like the bathroom.
- Because homemade air fresheners are made with baking soda, it will not only smell good, but help to eliminate odors in the space as well!
Did you make this homemade air freshener? Tag me on Instagram (@thesimplehomeplace) to show me your own recreation of this air freshener!
Enjoyed the project?
Suggested materials:
- Baking Soda
- Essential oils
- Favorite herbs and spices

Comments
Join the conversation
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The Simple Homeplace on Dec 09, 2021
Hi Ginger, I'm not sure what you mean exactly. Do you mean when you put the essential oils into the baking soda, you can't smell them? I haven't had that problem, as baking soda typically is a great scent absorber. I would check the type of essential oils you're using. Quality really does matter. If nothing else, simply omitting the essential oils and using more spices like cinnamon, all spice, nutmeg, things like that should give the air freshener a nice scent. Hope that helps!
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Karen Goodenough on Sep 25, 2022
This is good but do know that even though essitial oils are natural does not mean they canβt be toxic, lavender particularly can cause severe reactions in some people and some are toxic for pets too, check into what youβre using and ask your vet as far as pets go to make sure everyone stays healthy
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Frequently asked questions
Have a question about this project?
What kind of spices to be used? How long I the orange peel should be put in oven? Or lemon zest?