11 Homemade Air Fresheners to Make Any Space Smell More Inviting

It's not much fun to walk in the front door, take a sniff, and realize your home smells stuffy - or worse. And that's a pretty common experience if you actually do any living at all in your home; you know - pets, kids, showers, plants, cooking. Since we think it's safe to assume that you do, indeed, engage in activities of life in your home, chances are there are odors from time to time. Homemade air fresheners can help. Our DIY air fresheners are an affordable, sweet-smelling, and nontoxic way to change that first impression through the front door from "peeew" to "oooooo".

Homemade Spray Air Freshener With Essential Oils

Why fork out for an expensive commercial air freshener with a bunch of mystery (possibly toxic) ingredients and an aroma that may or may not smell like what the can advertises? Instead, create your own DIY air freshener spray that's custom scented just the way you like it.

Ingredients

• 1 cup distilled water
• 20 drops of essential oils

Instructions

1. In a clean plastic spray bottle, combine the water and essential oils.
2. Put on the lid and shake well. Spritz.
3. Store in a cool, dry place for up to six months.
4. 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 DIY 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

1. In a mixing cup, dissolve the baking soda into the hot water.
2. Add the lemon juice and stir. Cool.
3. Pour into a spray bottle.
4. Shake well before spraying.
5. 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.

Homemade Baking Soda Air Freshener

This air freshener contains baking soda to neutralize odors rather than just cover 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

1. In a small bowl, use a spoon to mix together the baking soda and essential oils until well combined.
2. Add to the spray bottle and top off with the distilled water.
3. Shake before spraying.
4. 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

1. Add water to a spray bottle.
2. Add the vodka and essential oils.
3. Shake well before spraying.
4. 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

1. Add water to a spray bottle.
2. Add the rubbing alcohol and essential oils.
3. Shake well before spraying.
4. Store in a cool, dark place for up to six months.

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

1. Add water to a spray bottle.
2. Add the vanilla and essential oils.
3. Shake well before spraying.
4. 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

1. Add all ingredients to a large spray bottle
2. Shake well and spray.
3. Store in a cool, dry location for up to six months. Shake before spraying.

DIY 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 with that 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

1. Combine all ingredients in a large spray bottle.
2. Shake well to mix.
3. Spritz.
4. 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

1. Put the baking soda in a mason jar.
2. Put 10-20 drops of essential oil into the baking soda.
3. Put plastic wrap over the top and secure it with a rubber band.
4. Use the pin for popping holes in the plastic wrap to release the scent.

Homemade 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

1. Allow a tablespoon of water beads to soak in water overnight, more for bigger jars.
2. Drain the water and add them to the mason jar.
3. Sprinkle your favorite essential oils over them.

How to Make Gel Air Fresheners

Gel air fresheners release a constant scent that can help to freshen nearby air. These homemade gel air fresheners last about 6 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

1. Bring one cup of water to a boil and dissolve the gelatin in the water.
2. Add the remaining one cup of water and the salt.
3. Mix well and remove from the heat.
4. Pour into a mason jar.
5. Add the essential oils and stir.
6. Let the jar sit undisturbed for 24 hours to allow the gelatin to cool and set.
7. 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.