10 DIY Air Freshener Recipes: Fresh Scents for Your House

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!