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.

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.

DIY gel air fresheners:

You only need a few items...

• 2 Tablespoons gelatin (2 packets if you're using Knox)
• 1 1/4 cup water
• 1/4 cup vodka
• Essential oils
• Liquid food coloring (they have them at the dollar store usually)
  
• Empty jars (I used 4 oz mason jars and I needed 3)

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!

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. 

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.

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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