Homemade Air Fresheners for Your Home or Car

There are plenty of natural and cost-effective options to make your own air freshener for your home or car. If you’re always on the go, pack an essential oil room spray in your purse, backpack, or briefcase. If you want to keep your commute smelling fresh, leave a baking soda air freshener in your car’s cup holder. Give your home a lasting, cozy scent by placing gel, water bead, or potpourri air fresheners in any room that needs some freshening up. We interviewed cleaning expert Grettel Monge for top tips on these DIY air freshener options. Follow the steps below to create your own aromatic creations.

DIY Room Freshener Spray

Put 15 drops of your preferred essential oil(s) and 1 fluid ounce (30 mL) of vodka in a glass spray bottle. Add 2 cups (470 mL) water, seal the bottle, and shake until all ingredients are combined!

Section 1 of 8:

Essential Oil Room Spray Recipes

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1
Custom Air Freshener Spray Combine 1 fluid ounce (30 mL) vodka with 15 drops of any essential oil of your choice. Add 3 fluid ounces (89 mL) of distilled water and stir to combine. Use a small funnel to transfer the liquid into a glass spray bottle . Seal the bottle tightly and shake until all ingredients are fully mixed. ^{[1]
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- Using distilled or purified water instead of tap helps preserve your DIY air freshener and prevent any chance of bacterial growth.
- Oil and water don’t mix, so vodka helps the essential oils disperse through the air. If needed, you can substitute the vodka with an equal amount of alcohol-free Thayer’s witch hazel .
- You can use any essential oil scent you like, but cleaning expert Grettel Monge recommends using natural, chemical-free essential oils. “When oils diffuse into the air and you’re actually smelling them,” Monge explains, “[the chemicals] could cause some kind of allergy or reaction.”
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Calm and Clean Air Freshener Spray Combine 1 cup (240 mL) water with 2 tablespoons (30 mL) vodka. Add 5 drops of lavender essential oil , 3 drops of rosemary essential oil , and 2 drops of lemon essential oil . Pour your DIY calming air freshener into a spray bottle and shake well.
- Spritz your relaxing room spray across fresh linens, laundry, and in any areas of your home where you want to feel extra clean and rested.
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Citrus Rose Garden Air Freshener Spray Mix 1 cup (240 mL) water ¹ ⁄ ₂ cup (120 mL) vodka in a spray bottle. Add 10 drops each of rose and orange essential oils . Mix in 1/2 teaspoon (3g) of baking soda and shake well to combine! ^{[2]
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- Spray this romantic and refreshing scent to add a touch of softness to any room.
- Orange and rose essential oils have been shown to put you in a better mood and soothe your senses, respectively.
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Lavender Fields Air Freshener Spray Pour 15 drops of lavender essential oil and 15 drops of chamomile essential oil into a small glass spray bottle. Add 1 teaspoon (4.9 mL) of real vanilla extract and stir well. ^{[3]
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- Top the spray bottle off with distilled water and shake it before each use.
- Use this air freshener for your bedroom and spritz it around your sleepy space at night. It’s almost guaranteed to give you even sweeter dreams!
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Flowery Meadow Air Freshener Spray Take a spray bottle and add 8 drops of lavender essential oil , 5 drops of geranium essential oil , and 4 drops of grapefruit essential oil . Fill the bottle halfway with distilled or purified water, then top off the remaining space with unscented witch hazel . ^{[4]
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- Screw the bottle’s lid on tightly and shake it to combine all ingredients.
- For an extra touch of elegance, add a handful of dried flowers to the DIY room spray.
- Spray this room spray anywhere you’d want to smell a fresh bouquet.
- The clean and floral scent pairs nicely with freshly cleaned laundry or bed linens!
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Fresh-Squeezed Summer Air Freshener Spray Pour 4 cups (950 mL) vodka over the peels of 2-4 oranges, lemons, or grapefruits. Cover the container and place it in a cool, dark place for 7-14 days. Once the vodka is infused, pour it into a spray bottle until the bottle is halfway full. ^{[5]
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- Fill the rest of the spray bottle with distilled water.
- Add 10 drops each of sweet orange essential oil , lemon essential oil , and grapefruit essential oil .
- Use this citrusy air freshener to add a touch of lightness and zest to your house or car.
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Cabin Weekend Air Freshener Spray Add 4 tablespoons (59 mL) distilled water and 4 tablespoons (59 mL) of vodka to a bowl. Stir in 1/2 teaspoon (3g) of baking soda until it dissolves. Add 10 drops each of pine essential oil , eucalyptus essential oil , cinnamon essential oil , and ginger essential oil . ^{[6]
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- Spray this DIY air freshener around your vehicle or bedroom to evoke the autumnal feeling of being cuddled up in front of a fireplace.
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Evergreen Forest Air Freshener Spray Mix together 4 tablespoons (59 mL) distilled water and 4 tablespoons (59 mL) vodka. Add ½ teaspoon (3g) of baking soda to the bowl and stir until it fully dissolves. Drop in 15 drops of cedarwood essential oil , 10 drops of balsam fir essential oil, and 5 drops each of pine, cinnamon, and clove essential oils . ^{[7]
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- Spritz this woodsy blend of essential oils anytime you want to channel nature's calm and steady energies!
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Holiday Peppermint Air Freshener Spray Combine 1 cup (240 mL) of distilled water with 1 cup (240 mL) of vodka. Add 10 drops of peppermint essential oil and 20 drops of orange essential oil . Add the mixture to a spray bottle and shake well.
- Add a few drops of rosemary or cinnamon essential oils to make this scent even more festive.
- Spray this air freshener around the house to reinvigorate your holiday spirit, or use it anytime you need a little burst of energy!
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Herbaceous Healer Air Freshener Spray Add 1 cup (240 mL) of vodka to a spray bottle. Drop in 4 drops each of eucalyptus essential oil , peppermint essential oil , and tea tree oil . ^{[8]
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Research source} Fill up the rest of the glass bottle with distilled water, screw on the cap, and shake well!
- Tea tree oil and eucalyptus both have healing properties and earthy scents that add to the tranquility of whatever space you spray it in.
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Focus Time Air Freshener Spray Fill a spray bottle halfway with distilled water. Top off the bottle with unscented witch hazel . Add 10 drops each of peppermint essential oil , rosemary essential oil, and lemon essential oil . Shake up the bottle and spritz away! ^{[9]
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- Make this homemade air freshener when you need to focus on an important project for work or cram for an upcoming exam.
- You could even keep this spray in your locker or office for whenever you need a jolt of focus.

Section 2 of 8:

Deodorizing Room Spray

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Combine water, vinegar, rubbing alcohol, and essential oils. Add 1 cup (240 mL) of distilled water to a 2 c (470 mL) spray bottle. Stir in ¹ ⁄ ₂ cup (120 mL) of white vinegar and 2 tablespoons (30 mL) of rubbing alcohol. Mix in 10 drops of lemon essential oil , 10 drops of lime essential oil , 10 drops of tea tree oil , and 5 drops of fir essential oil . ^{[10]
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- Replace the spray bottle’s top and shake well to mix.
- Try using this deodorizing room spray in your car to combat any lingering smells or at the gym to freshen up your locker.
- This homemade air freshener may also help with stenches from the trash can, stinky food, or pet-related smells in your house.

Section 3 of 8:

Baking Soda Air Freshener

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1
Find a small, squat glass jar with a two-part lid. Use the disk-shaped part of the lid to trace a circle onto a piece of scrapbook paper, then discard it. Cut your traced circle out and set it aside for now. ^{[11]
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- If your jar doesn’t have a circular lid, you can just draw a circle on the sheet of paper. Make sure the circle is a few inches wider than the mouth of the jar.
- You can choose any color pattern you want for the scrapbook paper, but consider choosing something that matches the decor of your room or the current season.
- If you don’t have scrapbook paper, take a sheet of printer paper and draw a design on it with markers or colored pencils.
- You can also use a thin but sturdy piece of fabric, such as burlap.
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Add baking soda and essential oils. Fill the jar halfway full with baking soda. Add 10 to 20 drops of essential oil. Use just one scent or mix different scents together. Place your paper disk on top of the jar and screw the metal ring part of the lid on top of it.
- If you use fabric instead of a paper disk, secure it to the neck of the jar with a piece of ribbon or a rubber band.
- Add more or fewer drops of essential oils to personalize the strength of your fragrance.
- Some popular scents include lavender, which is great for bedrooms or anywhere else you want to relax, and citrus, which is great for family rooms and kitchens due to its energizing qualities.
- If you want to use your baking soda air freshener in your bathroom, eucalyptus and mint are good choices because they smell fresh and clean.
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Shake the jar to mix everything up and poke holes in the lid. Keep shaking until any clumps formed by the essential oil disappear. Once all the ingredients are combined, use a needle to poke holes into the paper lid. These holes allow the scent to waft through and freshen up the air in your home.
- If you’re shaking the jar and the clumps don’t disappear, take the lid off and crumble them up with a fork.
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Place the jar in any room that needs freshening up. Baking soda is particularly helpful in bathrooms and bedrooms because it helps absorb stale odors and make any room smell fresher, as confirmed by cleaning expert Grettel Monge.
- You can also use baking soda air fresheners for your car. The mason jar should fit snugly in a cup holder and keep any unpleasant smells at bay.
- Keep shaking the air freshener every few days, and add more drops of essential oil if you feel the scent is starting to wane.
- Make a new baking soda air freshener every one to three months. At this point, the baking soda will have absorbed all the bad odors it can and won’t be as effective.

Section 4 of 8:

Gel Air Freshener

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Mix water, gelatin, and essential oils. Combine ¹ ⁄ ₂ cup (120 mL) of hot water with 2 packets of gelatin powder . Stir until the powder is dissolved. Add food coloring to your desired shade, or leave it clear! Pour ¹ ⁄ ₂ cup (120 mL) ice-cold water into the mixture and mix until combined. ^{[12]
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- Add 15-20 drops of your preferred fragrance oil(s) and pour the liquid evenly between two small mason jars.
- Remove the flat lid and replace the screw-on mason jar lid. Let the jar sit in a cool place until it sets, about 1 to 2 hours.
- Now that you’ve made your own gel air freshener, place it in any room you want to smell delicious!
- Try fun scents like pumpkin pie fragrance oil , sugar cookie fragrance oil , or coconut fragrance oil .

Section 5 of 8:

Water Bead Air Freshener

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Combine water beads, water, and essential oils. Add a small spoonful of water beads to a mason jar. Pour in ¹ ⁄ ₂ cup (120 mL) tap water. Add 20-40 drops of your preferred essential or fragrance oil(s). ^{[13]
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- Fragrance oils smell nice but have no beneficial cleansing or therapeutic properties. In contrast, essential oils can actually disinfect your house, boost your mood, relax you, or help you focus.
- Add a mason jar lid that has a cut-out design , or remove the flat lid and replace the screw-on one.
- Drain any excess water after 8 hours.
- Keep your water beads moist by adding small amounts of water or oils when you see the orbs starting to dry out.

Section 6 of 8:

Dry Potpourri

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Mix dried flowers and add essential oils for a pretty air freshener. Find or use leftover flowers and herbs for your dry potpourri. Remove the stems from your chosen flowers and herbs. Lay the flower heads and herbs on a baking sheet. Place them in the oven at 180 °C (356 °F) for about 2 to 4 hours or until they look shriveled and crumble at the touch. Add equal portions of each item to a mason jar to fill it halfway. ^{[14]
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- Add 20 drops of your preferred essential oil(s) to every 4 cups (480g) of potpourri. Replace the mason jar lid and shake well.
- Allow the potpourri to sit for 2 to 4 weeks before opening it up and displaying it in a nice dish or bowl.
- Some of the most popular flowers and herbs used to make potpourri include rose petals, peony buds, lavender sprigs, calendula, lemon verbena, and anise stars.
- Many people place dry potpourri on the back of their toilet to keep their bathroom naturally smelling fresh.

Section 7 of 8:

Stovetop Potpourri

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Choose a combination of spices, herbs, and citrus fruits. Gather enough ingredients to fill one standard-sized cooking pot or a 2-pint (0.95 liters) mason jar. Grettel Monge, owner of Essential Cleaners Miami, recommends a combination of “cut-up oranges, cinnamon sticks, and apples.”
- If you like a sweeter scent, try 2 sliced lemons, 3 rosemary sprigs, and 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract.
- Another fresh but sweet combination is 3-4 sprigs of thyme, ½ teaspoon (2.5 mL) of mint extract, 1 teaspoon (5 mL) of vanilla, and 3 sliced limes.
- To create a woodsy, wintery scent, combine a handful of pine needles, 4 bay leaves, and 1 whole nutmeg. Be sure to grate the outer layer of the nutmeg; this will help it release its scent.
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Place your ingredients in a pot with water and heat it on the stove. The water level should just cover the top of your ingredients. Bring the water to a boil, then reduce it to a simmer. Let the water simmer to give the room a nice fragrance. As the water continues to heat, your ingredients will give off a pleasant smell. ^{[15]
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- If the ingredients Are strong enough, the aroma may even carry into other rooms.
- You can also transfer your stovetop air freshener into a crock pot, fondue pot, or heatproof mason jar set on top of a mug or candle warmer.
- Turn off any heat sources before leaving your air freshener unattended.
- You can make stovetop potpourri or simmer pots any time, but they’re an especially nice touch if you’re hosting a party and want your guests to be greeted by a pleasant and welcoming scent.

Section 8 of 8:

Why make your own air freshener?

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DIY air fresheners are safer and more effective than store-bought ones. Many store-bought room sprays contain harmful chemicals that can affect indoor air quality and the environment. Consequently, these chemicals may induce migraine headaches, asthma attacks, and other health issues. ^{[16]
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Science Direct
Online archive of peer-reviewed research on scientific, technical and medical topics
Go to source} Making your own air freshener removes any hazards and carries other benefits like:
- Saving money to make your own room spray rather than buying one at the store.
- Enjoying a lighter and more natural scent in your home.
- Being able to personalize your scent with essential oils that also provide health benefits .

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Can I use white vinegar to deodorize?

Community Answer

Yes, of course, because it has the same properties as regular vinegar. It will work the same by deodorizing and disinfecting.

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Glass spray bottles are best for homemade air fresheners, but plastic bottles are fine to use as long as you’re not drinking from them!

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