Homemade Eco-Friendly Air Freshener – The Search is Over!
Learn how to make your own homemade eco-friendly air freshener using simple ingredients and essential oils! This easy DIY recipe creates a natural, chemical-free room spray that’s perfect for a fresh-smelling home. 🌿
Easy Homemade Eco-Friendly Air Freshener Recipe: A Natural Solution for Your Home
I have been on a quest for quite some time to make as many home and personal care items as possible rather than constantly buying premade items. On the list of things to find a homemade replacement for was air freshener.
I am not a fan of synthetic air fresheners or any overwhelming smells in general so I pretty much just lived without any kind of air freshener until I got a diffuser and started using essential oils.
While the diffuser with oils has been a big help in keeping the air in our home fresh and clean, I also wanted something I could spray as needed on things like furniture, bags, and bedding. So I was excited when my searching in books and online resulted in a very simple recipe that actually works and is customizable.
This recipe is very easy to change up, and if you get a set of multiple spray bottles like these I found on Amazon, then you can make a few different smells to have on hand.
Pro Tip: Just a note that if you have special fabrics, you might test an inconspicuous place first before spraying the entire surface.
What You’ll Need
- 1 ½ cups water
- 4 tablespoons alcohol such as plain vodka, Everclear, or rubbing alcohol
- Essential oils of your choice – see suggested combinations below
- 16 ounce spray bottle
How to Make Homemade Air Freshener
The process couldn’t be simpler — just combine everything in your spray bottle and give it a good shake!
My Favorite Essential Oil Combinations
Fresh Home Blend (perfect for living spaces!)
- 10 drops lavender
- 10 drops lemon
- 10 drops rosemary
Clean & Fresh (amazing for bathrooms)
- 12 drops eucalyptus
- 16 drops lemon
- 8 drops tea tree
Flowery Fresh (lovely for bedrooms)
- 10 drops geranium
- 8 drops grapefruit
- 16 drops lavender
My Best Tips for Using Homemade Air Freshener with Essential Oils
- Always shake well before each use – the oils and water like to separate!
- Test on a small, hidden area of fabric first (learned this one the hard way! 😉).
- Store in a cool, dark place to preserve the oils’ freshness.
- Make smaller batches at first until you find your perfect scent combination. Just divide the ingredients in half to make 8 ounces.
This recipe is super versatile. I keep different blends around the house for different purposes – one by the laundry for freshening clothes, another in the bathroom, and my favorite floral blend near the bedding. It’s like having a custom scent for every space!
Remember to refresh your bottle every few weeks for the best results, and don’t forget to label your creations – trust me, it helps when you stumble upon that perfect blend and want to recreate it later!
Quick Safety Note: While these ingredients are natural, some essential oils can be strong. If you have pets or small children, double-check that your chosen oils are safe for your household.
Why I Switched to Homemade Eco-Friendly Air Freshener
Money Saving: I did the math (yes, I’m that person who keeps spreadsheets for everything), and making my own air fresheners saves me about $172 per year. That’s a lot of secondhand books, friends! One bottle of essential oil might seem pricey upfront, but it makes dozens of batches when you break it down, plus I use oils for so many other things, too.
Healthier Than Synthetics: Turns out, many conventional air fresheners contain something called phthalates, which can trigger all sorts of respiratory issues. When I switched to natural ingredients like essential oils and simple alcohol-water bases, the difference in how I handled the “fragrance” was night and day. I can’t tolerate the synthetically made stuff, but I actually enjoy the ones made with essential oils.
Environmentally Friendly: I have to touch on the environmental impact for a sec. Every plastic air freshener bottle or plug-in cartridge we toss adds to our planet’s plastic problem. My homemade version uses the same glass spray bottle over and over – I’ve had the same one for two years now! Plus, the vodka and essential oils I buy also come in glass containers with only the lids being made of plastic.
Eliminate Smells vs Covering Up: Natural air fresheners actually deal with odors instead of just masking them. Commercial fresheners are basically perfume for your air – they cover up smells but don’t eliminate them. But ingredients like vodka (yep, you read that right!) actually neutralize odors at their source. Who knew a margarita ingredient could be such a cleaning superhero? 🦸♀️
Design Your Own Scent: You have complete control over the scents. No more “Spring Meadow” that smells nothing like actual spring or meadows! Want your home to smell like a spa? Add some lavender and eucalyptus oils. Craving a cozy fall vibe? Mix up some cinnamon and orange. The possibilities are endless, and you can adjust the strength to your liking.
Switching from store bought air fresheners to an eco-friendly homemade version is one of those small changes that makes you feel really good – like you’re doing something positive for your family’s health and the environment. Plus, there’s something incredibly satisfying about spraying your own creation around the house and knowing exactly what’s in it!
My Favorite Essential Oils
I get my essential oils from doTERRA and have used this company for almost a decade. I believe they have very high quality products, and I like the way they source their ingredients.
If you have any questions about essential oils, their uses, or the doTERRA company, I invite you to comment below! You can also see and purchase the complete doTERRA product line here.
Now It’s Your Turn!
Ready to give it a try? I’d love to hear about your favorite combinations! Drop a comment below with your go-to essential oil blend.
And if you’re new to essential oils, feel free to ask any questions – we’re all in this natural living journey together! 🌱
