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Make you own air fresheners

Would you like to make your own air fresheners using essential oils but don't know where to start? I have 3 super easy recipes to show you today. The first recipe uses gelatin to make a gel air freshener, kind of like the commercial gel cones in stores. I also use water beads to make a fun, bubble looking air freshener. Lastly we'll throw it way back to when we all put baking soda in our refrigerators to make the third (easiest) one.

Homemade air fresheners using essential oils

I actually still put baking soda in my refrigerator, but I digress.

I've never been fond of commercial air fresheners. I like the scents, I've just always worried about what kind of chemicals they put into them to make them smell like that. Is it really a good idea to breathe that stuff in? So I started using essential oils to scent my house several years back. I put them in reed diffusers and mixed them into soy candles as I made them.

The easiest way I found to use essential oils as an air freshener was by mixing them with  baking soda OR Orbeez (water balls) and simply setting a dish of them out in the room. I was using this method for several years when I found that you can make gel air fresheners with gelatin and EO's. Game changer! It's super easy too...

How to make air freshener with essential oils


I know there is a lot of talk about which essential oils are the best and most pure. When using essential oils for air fresheners though, that's not as important as when placing them on your skin. 

Not that you don't still want to use pure oils...you do! It's just using essential oils as a room deodorizer is the perfect way to use up oils that are a little older, lower quality or the ones in your oil kit that you just can't find a use for. 

Related reading: Getting started with Essential oils cheaply.
disclosure

DIY gel air fresheners:

You only need a few items...

Bring 3/4 cup water to a boil and whisk in the gelatin till dissolved. Remove from heat. Add remaining 1/2 cup water and vodka and whisk together. 

Put your choices for food coloring and 8-10 drops of essential oils into each jar. You'll only need one drop of food coloring per jar unless you want them really dark. Fill with gelatin mixture. 

Place lid loosely on top or cover with plastic wrap to prevent essential oils from evaporating too quickly while warm. Allow to cool. Remove lid and display wherever you want to smell nice!

Gel air fresheners DIY

DIY Air Freshener with Water Beads


You can also use Orbeez or water beads to make an essential oils air freshener. Simply hydrate the little water balls then add a few drops of essential oils to them and display in a pretty dish. I've noticed that the scent seems to last longer if you hydrate the beads with water that has the essential oils added to it already. 

I've also found that you can also color the water balls by adding food coloring to the water before you hydrate the Orbeez. I added purple food coloring and lavender essential oil to the clear water beads in the picture. 

Just another way to use Orbeez if you happen to have them around. 

DIY orbeez air freshener

Baking soda air fresheners


The other method I use is with baking soda which is already a great air deodorizer. Simply take a 1/4 cup of baking soda and mix in a few drops of your favorite essential oil. These can be displayed in small jars with perforated tops, or just in a decorative bowl (if you don't have pets or kids that might get into it!) 

The scent should last about a week before fading, though stirring or shaking the mixture up will renew the scent.

Make your own air fresheners using baking soda, gelatin or water beads!

I love the fact that I can easily make different air fresheners to fit my mood or the season. I can also make them to experience the aromatherapy effect of essential oils like lavender for sleep (that's my favorite) or peppermint to put on my desk when I'm exhausted.

Speaking of exhausted, I need to go make more coffee. Have a great weekend! 

~L

PS....I updated (rewrote) this post with cute holders and fall scents. Check it out: Autumn air freshener diy.

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(This post contains affiliate links. If you chose to purchase something through the link, I will get a small payment from Amazon. It will not affect your purchase price. Click for full disclosure.)

18 comments:

  1. Oh what a fun idea!! I love scents in the house and always buy them, would love to try my own! Thank you so much for sharing at Sweet Inspiration!!!

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  2. I'm starting to learn about essential oils. Thank you for sharing this idea with us at #OvertheMoon Link Party. I've pinned and shared.

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  3. Lisa, this is fabulous! Thanks for sharing this at Brag About It! I can't wait to give it a try. Pinned to share. Hope you have a wonderful week ahead!

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    1. Awww, thanks! I love these because I can whichever essential oil I'm currently in love with! Let me know how they work out for you.

      ~L

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  4. I love these DIY air fresheners. I am going to try the water beads using with essentials oils. Is there another ingredient that you could use for the gel fragrance besides vodka? I usually don't like to use any alcohol products plus I really don't have any way of getting vodka. Please let me know.

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    1. Marla, the vodka is added to keep mold from forming on the gel. Salt should work the same way. Instead of vodka just stir in 1 teaspoon of salt till dissolved. Let me know how they turn out!

      ~L

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  5. So easy! Thanks for sharing on the Pleasures of the NW's DIY party!

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  6. What a great idea. I started to question what was in the store bought air fresheners when one spilled on my table and eat the finish off it. Can't be a good thing to that breath in.

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    1. That is scary! If you think about it that stuff is airborne and we're inhaling it. Yuck! You're right, that can't be good at all!

      ~L

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  7. What a fun thing. I love the colors that you made. Thanks for sharing on the Waste Less Wednesday Blog Hop!

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  8. Should you use vodka when using Gel Beads?

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    1. No, you don't need to use vodka with the gel beads. They are not edible so they won't mold the way gelatin will if it doesn't have a preservative added.

      Lisa

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    2. Thanks Lisa. I can now save my Vodka for other reasons :P Like Chocolate Martinis.

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    3. I just love this idea! Made one for every room in the house! I ran out of 4oz jars so I improvised. We have tons of cat food cans we recycle (and use a can opener that seperates the lid from the can with no rough or sharp edges) that are thoroughly cleaned out. So I used some of them. The size is perfect for a small space.

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    4. Joleen I've been using those little glass yogurt jars, and small smuckers jars too. Whatever works!

      Lisa

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  9. great idea, how long does the fragrance last? thinking of making for gifts.

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    1. The waterbeads seems to last a little longer than the gel, but I get at least a few months out of them.

      Lisa

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