Do you like having a fresh-smelling home but not using harmful chemicals to achieve that? Keep reading to find out why making your own air freshener is a great choice and the recipe for this DIY air freshener with essential oils. There’s a good chance you already have all the ingredients you need for this recipe. So go ahead and make it – you won’t regret it!
Why Not Just Use Store-Bought Air Fresheners?
Most store-bought, conventional air fresheners do not actually remove odors. They just mask the smell with fragrance. On top of that, they can be very harmful to our bodies.
I always check the ingredients on products before I buy them. But many products don’t even list all the ingredients on the package. Or they list “fragrance” as an ingredient, and that could be anything!
Some of the ingredients in air freshener sprays like Febreze and Air Wick, according to EWG, are:
- Phthalates – used as a preservative and can cause hormone disruption,
- Fragrance – undisclosed what exactly it is, but can cause skin irritation, hormone disruption, and more,
- Deodorizing Agent – can cause skin irritation, allergies, and hormone disruption,
- Dialkyl Sulfosuccinates – can cause hormone disruption, vision damage, skin irritation, and allergies,
- Benzisothiazolinone – can cause endocrine disruption, developmental issues, and skin irritation,
- Sodium Borate – can cause endocrine, reproductive, and developmental issues,
- Sodium Nitrate – can cause endocrine, reproductive, developmental, and vision problems, and
- Mipa-Borate – can cause endocrine and developmental issues.
Many air fresheners also release acetaldehyde, a chemical compound formed from ethanol. It can cause many problems, including breathing difficulties, skin irritation, and even cancer.
I don’t know about you, but I’m not taking the chance of getting cancer and many other health problems just to get a clean smelling house. Since conventional air fresheners don’t actually remove odors, and they send harmful chemicals into the air for us to breathe and absorb into our bodies through our skin, I would definitely avoid them. Check out my post Making the Switch to Clean Beauty for more harmful ingredients to look out for in your beauty products and some great options to switch to.
What Are Healthier Alternatives?
When you have some funky odors going on in your home from the bathroom, kitchen, or pets, here are some healthier options to get rid of that gross smell!
- Open a window and let some fresh air in.
- Diffuse essential oils.
- Make your own safe air freshener, like this one.
I’ve been making my own air freshener, along with several other household products, for a few years now. They’re non-toxic, eco-friendly (I’m not buying and throwing away plastic bottles all the time), and budget-friendly. If you love DIY recipes and using safer products in your home, check out my Homemade All Purpose Cleaner Recipe as well.
DIY Air Freshener with Essential Oils
My air freshener spray uses just a few natural ingredients that you probably already have in your kitchen! And it works! The scent is not quite as strong as conventional air fresheners, but it does a great job of actually getting rid of the odor.
I love using essential oils for the great scents, but also for all the homeopathic benefits. They have many benefits like uplifting moods, relaxing, boosting energy, and reducing stress.
They are also MUCH safer than any of the above chemicals. Essential oils are highly concentrated oils in plants. They are totally safe to use – when used the right way. Since they’re so concentrated, most oils should be diluted before putting on the skin or should be diffused in water. Some can cause skin irritation when used directly on the skin. However, when I make this air freshener spray, I put 85 drops of essential oils in 12 ounces of water. That is plenty diluted and shouldn’t cause any reaction (unless, of course, you are very sensitive to a certain oil). Always use caution when using essential oils and make sure to use oils that you haven’t had any kind of reaction from.
What You’ll Need:
- 1 1/2 Cups filtered water
- 3 Tbsp rubbing (isopropyl) alcohol or witch hazel – helps remove the odor
- 1/2 tsp baking soda – neutralizes the odor
- 1 Tbsp castor oil – helps the air freshener come out as a mist
- Essential oils (to your liking) – adds a nice, natural fragrance
I prefer this floral and fruity blend:
- 25 drops lemon – purifies the air and uplifts moods,
- 30 drops grapefruit – energizes and uplifts moods,
- 20 drops geranium – calming,
- 15 drops lavender – calming and relaxing.
My husband likes this richer, earthy scent:
What To Do:
- Add all of the ingredients to your spray bottle (I use a funnel to avoid spilling anything).
- Shake well until all the ingredients are mixed together.
- When it’s time to use the air freshener, just shake the bottle again and spray a few times into the air.
I use these amber glass bottles. I love how they are affordable and eco-friendly. They can be used over and over again. The amber color (same as the bottles the essential oils come in) helps prevent UV rays from going through the bottle and oxidizing the essential oils.
Once essential oils are oxidized they are no longer effective. So, protect those essential oils (good quality ones can be expensive!) with the right container.
Have you made your own natural air freshener yet? What are your favorite essential oils to use? Let me know if you try this one and what you think!
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