When you’re moving, all sorts of funky smells can start to emerge. Whether it’s the old, mothball-eaten blanket from the back of the closet or the musty scent of the boxes you just got out of storage, sometimes your home can use a freshening.
There are many ways to make room deodorizer using fresh ingredients, but most of them require letting a pot boil with the ingredients inside. If you want to have a spray-bottle DIY air freshener that’s portable, you’re going to want to use essential oils.
Essential oils come in all different scents and are often used in aromatherapy. So, by adding them into your everyday cleaning routine you can reap the health and wellness benefits they bring as well.
Ready to try your hand at making homemade air freshener? Follow the steps below!
How to Make Air Freshener in 3 Simple Steps
To make your own homemade air freshener to use around the house just follow the steps below. It’s incredibly easy. Once you get the hang of it you can mix and match scents and play with the strength of the concoction!
1. Gather Your Materials
To make these air fresheners you will need a base of 3 ingredients, and then you will swap out the scents as you wish. You will want a spray bottle that fits 8 ounces, a funnel, distilled water (if you don’t have distilled, tap is fine), and two tablespoons of either 60+ proof vodka or rubbing alcohol. Vodka and rubbing alcohol both have ethanol which is used to solubilize (or dissolve) the oil into the water and acts as a preservative. They also have mild disinfectant properties.
2. Pick Your Scent
Next, you will want to pick the scent you will be using. Citrus scents will feel more invigorating and refreshing, while scents like lavender and chamomile can be soothing. Mix and match until you find a scent that is uniquely yours.
3. Combine Ingredients and Shake
Finally, just grab the spray bottle and use the funnel to pour in about 1 cup of water. You can double the recipe if you want to make 2 cups of air freshener or find the smell too overpowering. Lastly, drop in the prescribed amount of essential oil and shake it up.
10 Natural Air Freshener Recipes
These essential oil air freshener recipes range from invigorating to earthy and are incredibly simple to make.
1. Lemon-Basil
This air freshener has a fresh and clean scent, perfect for a light and bright home. Lemon essential oil is said to nourish the skin while the basil balances with its earthy tones.
- 1 cup water
- 2 tablespoons vodka or rubbing alcohol
- 5 or 6 leaves of fresh basil
- 5 drops lemon essential oil
2. Tea Tree Eucalyptus
With its herb-like aroma, tea tree essential oil mixed with eucalyptus produces an invigorating scent. The mix also acts as a natural deodorizer for fresh, clean air!
- 1 cup water
- 2 tablespoons vodka or rubbing alcohol
- 4 drops tea tree oil
- 6 drops eucalyptus essential oil
- 5 drops lemon essential oil
3. Lavender Chamomile
Relaxing and sweet, this aroma is best to help you wind down after a long day. Spray it on your pillow before bedtime for instant relaxation.
- 1 cup water
- 2 tablespoons vodka or rubbing alcohol
- 10 drops lavender essential oil
- 5 drops chamomile essential oil
4. Grapefruit, Tangerine, Lime
Room spray with citrusy notes can provide the opposite effect. Spray this in the morning when you are gearing up for your day for a refreshing boost.
- 1 cup water
- 2 tablespoons vodka or rubbing alcohol
- 3 drops grapefruit essential oil
- 3 drops tangerine essential oil
- 3 drops lime essential oil
5. Orange Rose
This combination is romantic and revitalizing, great for a soft, feminine atmosphere or anyone who needs a mood boost.
- 1 cup water
- 2 tablespoons vodka or rubbing alcohol
- 7 drops of orange essential oil
- 7 drops of rose essential oil
6. Citrus Lavender
Calming yet rejuvenating, this room spray has the best of both worlds. Spray it before your big meeting or interview to relax and awaken your mind.
- 1 cup water
- 2 tablespoons vodka or rubbing alcohol
- 5 drops of lavender essential oil
- 5 drops of orange essential oil
- 5 drops of tangerine essential oil
7. Invigorating Mint
Just like the name says, the peppermint in this air freshener will open your eyes and get you ready to greet the day. Spray it in the mornings or any time you need a little pick-me-up.
- 1 cup water
- 2 tablespoons vodka or rubbing alcohol
- 7 drops of orange essential oil
- 7 drops of peppermint essential oil
8. Sandalwood
The masculine scent of sandalwood mixed with the earthy tones in the tea tree oil make this a lovely scent for your man cave. The lemon adds a hint of brightness to the concoction.
- 1 cup water
- 2 tablespoons vodka or rubbing alcohol
- 5 drops of sandalwood essential oil
- 5 drops of tea tree oil
- 5 drops lemon essential oil
9. Pure and Simple
This simple, classic scent feels refreshing and clean. Spray it on your fresh linens!
- 1 cup water
- 2 tablespoons vodka or rubbing alcohol
- 5 drops lemon essential oil
- 5 drops lavender
- 5 drops rosemary
10. Healing Herbs
Eucalyptus and tea tree oil are known for their healing properties, and this freshener has an earthy scent perfect for your zen space.
- 1 cup water
- 2 tablespoons vodka or rubbing alcohol
- 7 drops eucalyptus essential oil
- 7 drops rosemary essential oil
- 5 drops tea tree essential oil
Using these homemade air fresheners around your home will help keep your space deodorized and smelling fresh. Depending on your mood you can mix and match recipes or stick to a favorite. Either way, your family will be reaping the benefits of a natural, inexpensive DIY concoction!
st helens says
Really appreciate the content you put, I recently moved into a new home in St Helens, Merseyside and I chose a best air freshener from your list and it smells so good. thank you again.
brian poho says
Hi i love this can i make it and sell to my friends
Joseph chika Kalu says
I really appreciate this list please can I make them for commercial purpose and sell to my friends.
mia says
Some essential oils are toxic for dogs and cats. Do you have a recipie where essential oil doesn’t need to be used? Thank you!
Rutvik Agrawal says
Will you please define the ingredients in ml (millilitres).
Marion says
We’re assaulted with so many chemicals, yet plants can provide wonderful aroma, like lemon geranium.
Great home made ideas and suggestions! Thank you!
Umer Aziz says
Love to read your content about freshener. Enjoy after reading your content and also I get lots of information from your content. If you want to buy fresheners online then you should order fresheners online at GoGet.sa.
Elizabeth Howarth says
Thank you I made up the pure and simple freshener it was great my home smells so fresh. I am trying to use all natural products for health reasons. So thank you once again for some brilliant recipes for fresheners.
lucia 😸😸 says
can i use hydrogen peroxide instead of rubbing alcohol? everything else is perfect tho! thanks
Moksha Lifestyle says
Great Article… I love to read your articles because your writing style is too good, it is very very helpful for all of us and I never get bored while reading your article because, they are becomes a more and more interesting from the starting lines until the end.
Moksha Essentials says
Great Article… I love to read your articles because your writing style is too good, it is very very helpful for all of us and I never get bored while reading your article because, they are becomes a more and more interesting from the starting lines until the end.