Why bother with homemade air fresheners? Why not just visit the air freshener aisle at the grocery store, you ask??
I used to wonder the same thing… And there was a period of time when I was like a little kid in a candy store when I’dvisit the air freshener aisle at the grocery store.
I’d rub my hands together in delight as I perused the hundreds of brightly-colored packages begging for me to place them in my cart.
The scents always sounded so tantalizing… Island Delight, Fresh Lavender, Boysenberry Splash…
I’d excitedly pick a few different options and hurry home to try them out in my little farmhouse…
And I was disappointed every time.
Why DIY Air Freshener Sprays are Better Than Store-bought:
When I used to purchase air freshener sprays at the store, not only did the scents never quite match their descriptions, but they smelled fake and overly perfumey… And they gave me an instant headache.
The final straw was when I found out that many commonly availableair fresheners have been shown to contain harmful chemicals. At that point, I just decided to just have a boring smelling house forever…
Thankfully, I didn’t have to suffer for long.
Essential oils are my favorite trick for freshening up my home, and I most commonly use them in a diffuser.However, sometimes I’ve found I need a blast of freshness FAST and that’s when I mix up one of these homemade air freshener recipes which:
- Are all-natural and allow you to experience the health benefits of essential oils at the same time.
- Don’t contain harmful substances like many store-bought sprays.
- Are extremely affordable because they use simple ingredients you have in your cabinets.
Supplies for Making Homemade Air Fresheners
Water
I use tap water, but distilled is fine, too.
Essential Oils
These are the powerhouse in the following recipes. Not only do they allow you to acheive the scents you want, they also help to cleanse the air. I’ll give you my favorite scent combinations below, but you can definitely mix and match. This the brand of essential oils I’ve used exclusively for 8 years.
Alcohol
I use a bit of vodka or rubbing alcohol to my sprays because they helpthe essential oils and water to mix more thoroughly, and helps the homemade air freshener to dry faster. You could omit it if you like, but I really think it results in a better end product. My favorite tip? If you don’t keep a lot of alcohol in your home, simply use vanilla extract. It adds extra punch to the recipe, and you can even make real homemade vanilla extract yourself.
Spray Bottle
All of my air freshener recipes will fill an 8oz spray bottle. However, if you want to go gangbusters, don’t hesitate to double or triple the recipe. I adore these continuous sprayers— they are fun to use and produce a fine mist. However, a simple glass spray bottle like this one works as well and I like to keep them on hand for these recipes as well as myDIY after-sun sprayorlaundry spot remover).
How to Make Homemade Air Fresheners: 3 Easy Steps:
- Gather the materials and ingredients. Use one of the recipes below as a starting point, but don’t be afraid to mix-and-match essential oils depending on what you have in your stash.
- Combine all of the ingredients. I like to add them right into my sprayer (usually with a funnel to decrease spills) to keep things easy.
- Shake well and spray! Since the essential oils tend to float on top of the water, always shake your sprayer bottle before spraying in your home. Natural homemade air freshener sprays won’t linger in your home as long as commercial chemical-sprays, but I personally don’t mind spraying a bit more often if it means I’m avoiding the toxins.
10 Homemade Air Freshener Recipes
1. Citrus MintAir Freshener Spray
You can’t beat the combination of citrus and mint to give your home a crisp, invigorating feel.
- 3/4 cup water
- 2 tablespoons vodka, rubbing alcohol, or real vanilla extract
- 10 drops wild orange essential oil
- 8 drops peppermint essential oil
2.Sweet Lavender Air Freshener Spray
This gentle, calming spray is perfect for spritzing in the bedrooms before you tuck your kids in for the night.
- 3/4 cup water
- 2 tablespoons real vanilla extract
- 10 drops lavender essential oil
- 5 drops chamomile essential oil
3. Summer Citrus Air Freshener Spray
Light and airy, I love spraying this blend during spring cleaning.
- 3/4 cup water
- 2 tablespoons vodka, rubbing alcohol, or real vanilla extract
- 5 drops wild orange essential oil
- 5 drops lemon essential oil
- 5 drops lime essential oil
- 5 drops grapefruit essential oil
4. Cozy Holiday Air Freshener Spray
Warm, spicy, and comforting, this blend is all-things holiday rolled into one.
- 3/4 cup water
- 2 tablespoons real vanilla extract
- 6 drops wild orange essential oil
- 5 drops cassia or cinnamon essential oil
- 5 drops clove essential oil
5.Flower Garden Air Freshener Spray
Floral, fruity, and fresh!
- 3/4 cup water
- 2 tablespoons real vanilla extract
- 8 drops lavender essential oil
- 5 drops geranium essential oil
- 4 drops grapefruit essential oil
6. Happy Homestead AirFreshener Spray
My go-to blend for when company’s coming over and I want a welcome scent as they walk through the door.
- 3/4 cup water
- 2 tablespoons vodka, rubbing alcohol, or real vanilla extract
- 5 drops lavender essential oil
- 5 drops lemon essential oil
- 5 drops rosemary essential oil
7. Deodorizing Air Freshener Spray
If you have indoor pets, you’ll appreciate the air-cleansing properties of this simple spray!
- 3/4 cup water
- 2 tablespoons vodka, rubbing alcohol, or real vanilla extract
- 4 drops tea tree essential oil
- 8 drops lemon essential oil
- 6 drops eucalyptus essential oil
8. Spicy Chai Air Freshener Spray
A cozy aroma that will make you think of sipping your favorite cup of tea by the fireplace on a chilly night.
- 3/4 cup water
- 2 tablespoons real vanilla extract
- 4 drops cardamom essential oil
- 3 drops cassia essential oil
- 3 drops clove essential oil
- 2 drops ginger essential oil
9. Walking in the Woods Air Freshener Spray
A woodsy blend that is steadying and grounding for those chaotic days.
- 3/4 cup water
- 2 tablespoons vodka, rubbing alcohol, or real vanilla extract
- 7 drops white fir essential oil
- 6 drops cedar wood essential oil
- 5 drops frankincense essential oil
10. Get Focused Air Freshener Spray
This is my go-to blend when I’m working in my office or we’re doing homeschool and need help staying on task.
- 3/4 cup water
- 2 tablespoons vodka, rubbing alcohol, or real vanilla extract
- 10 drops peppermint essential oil
- 5 drops rosemary essential oil
- 5 drops lemon essential oil
Notes:
- I am a stickler for quality essential oils. The cheapie ones at the health food store just won’t cut it for me. You can read more aboutthe brand I’ve used for 3+ years here, or find out how to purchase them for yourself.
- These homemade air freshener concoctions make fabulous gifts, or check out my giant list of other essential oil gift ideas.
- Can you store these air fresheners in a plastic bottle? I do. At least sometimes. Because some essential oils have the tendency to break down plastic, if I am going to consume a blend, I always, always keep it in a glass container. However, since I won’t be drinking any of these mixes, I don’t have a problem sticking them in a plastic spray bottle if I’m running low on my glass spritzers.
- For all of my favorite home and homesteading products, check out my Homestead Mercantile.
- Also listen to the Old Fashioned On Purpose Podcast. Episode #60 was all about how I grew my homestead blog into a full-time income:
Other DIY Recipes that Use Essential Oils:
- Laundry Spot Remover
- My Top 10 Essential Oil Cleaning Recipes
- Whipped Body Butter Recipe
- Honey Mint Lip Balm Recipe
