Fall air freshener DIY and other homestead gifts

The first cool day has come which means the unofficial start of pumpkin everything season! Lol No really, fall is on it's way and the stores are filled with the cutest Autumn decor. Incidentally just last week I was whipping up a new batch of my MYO air fresheners using essential oils and I got the idea to make some fall themed scents and use some of those cute jars and such to hold them! 

Making your own air fresheners is super easy and it's so much better for your health to have these in your home than one of those scented cone air fresheners that are packed with tons of chemicals! Or even the gel ones. I mean, do you really know what all those things on the ingredient list are? It's kinda scary when you think about it. 

I have 2 different ways I like to make my own air fresheners. The first is to make a gel with gelatin, water, vodka and food coloring then add essential oils and allow to cool. 

This makes an awesome scented gel that is no spill and can be customized completely. These are great for filling cute seasonal votives and glass pumpkins. (exact recipe below)

I also make air fresheners with orbeez and these look really cute in the seasonal holders, but they can spill out if bumped, so you won't want to use those around kids or pets. Unless you cover them with some netting, like I did with these mini mason jars. 

I also love using these mini jars because you can put the metal lids on them if you won't be using them to keep them from evaporating.

DIY essential oil air freshener gifts

Make your own 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. You shouldn't need to mix them as the colors, oils and gelatin should mix together when pouring. 

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!

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. Or just use the colored ones if you have them! Just another way to use Orbeez if you happen to have them around. 

Autumn scents for air fresheners

Since it's fall I've been playing with seasonal blends! I love the warm, spicy scents that make up autumn blends and here are the ones I used to make the air freshners in the picture. 

Smells like fall: 6 drops Ginger, 2 Cinnamon, 2 lemon
Autumn Leaves: 4 drops each Orange, patchouli, nutmeg
Spiced Cider: 4 drops each, Orange, cinnamon, ginger
Spicy and warm: 4 drops each, Clove, Cinnamon, Ginger
The woods in fall: 4 drops frankincense & cedarwood 2 drops Scotch pine

For the large containers you will want to double or even triple the recipe.

Need more ideas to scent your air fresheners? Check out: The Best Essential Oils & Blends For fall and Give Thanks Fall Blend.

Don't forget when making your essential oil air fresheners that they can also be used for a little boost when your feeling under the weather. Fight off colds with some thieves oil or use peppermint and basil in one that you keep on your desk for a little pick me up.

I love the fact that I can easily make different air fresheners to fit my mood or the season. If you're looking for a gift to give a teacher, coworker or friend, these would be great! Think of all the possibilities with so many cute containers and essential oil scents available!

Speaking of gifts, I've teamed up with some of the best homestead bloggers on the net to bring you this A-Mazing homemade gift guide! All these gifts can be made at home (many with materials you already have on hand) in as little as an hour! 

Gifts You Can Make in an Hour or Less

Creative Cookie Packaging Ideas || Rootsy Network
Create a Giftable Indoor Herb Garden Kit || Not So Modern
Spa quality sugar scrubs|| Feathers In The Woods (that's me!) Two Holiday Chai Tea Blends: The Perfect Fall or Winter Gift || Healing Harvest Homestead
Soup in a Jar: the Perfect Comfort Gift || Dehydrating Made Easy
Snickerdoodle Cookies || Nancy On The Homefront
Cinnamon Roasted Almonds (with printable gift tags) || A Modern Homestead
How to Make & Give Homemade Hot Cocoa Mixes || Homespun Seasonal Living
How to Can Homemade Salsa || The Not So Modern Housewife 
Make Gift-Worthy Bread Mix In A Jar - Great for Your Own Pantry Shelf Too! || Oak Hill Homestead
Make Your Own Lotion Bars || Learning and Yearning
Easy Homemade Bath Salts Recipe || Better Hens and Gardens
Peppermint Foot Salve || The Self Sufficient Home Acre
SPF Lip Balm Recipe || Our Inspired Roots
3 Bedtime Bath Teas for Kids || Homestead Lady
DIY Flaxseed Neck Heating Pad for Soothing Muscles || Joybilee Farm
No-Sew Scented Sachet Bags With 5 Herbal Recipes || Rockin W Homestead
Fall Air Freshener DIY || Feathers In The Woods (that's me!)

Gifts You Can Make in a Day or Less

Easy Applesauce Recipe For Canning or Eating Fresh || Hidden Springs Homestead
How to Make Hot Process Soap Complete Picture Tutorial || Healing Harvest Homestead
Crockpot Apple Butter with Canning Instructions || A Modern Homestead
DIY Quilted Mug Rug || Flip Flop Barnyard
Easy Sew Sinus Headache Pillow and Hand Warmer Set|| Feathers In The Woods (that's me!)
Feathers & Hugs - How to Create a Psalms 91 Throw || The Farm Wife
DIY Flower & Veggie Row Markers || The Self Sufficient Home Acre
Make Your Own Veggie Hod || Nancy On The Homefront
Horseshoe Farm Sign - Fun DIY Gift for the Horse Lover || Homegrown Self Reliance

Gifts You Can Make in a Week

Easy Primitive Throw Pillow Tutorial || Hidden Springs Homestead
How to Make a Rag Quilt || Flip Flop Barnyard
Make Your Own Plant Pots and Baskets || Homestead Lady

Special Gifts That Take One Month to Create (but are well worth the wait)

Making Herbal Vinegar || Better Hens and Gardens
Elderberry Elixir - A Delicious Immune Boosting Gift || Homegrown Self Reliance
How to Make Homemade Vanilla Extract || Farming My Backyard
How to Make Strawberry Wine Step-by-Step || Stone Family Farmstead
How to Make Cold-Process Soap from Scratch || Oak Hill Homestead

So what do you think? Which one of these amazing homestead gifts are you gonna make first?

~L

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