10 Easy Air Freshener Tricks To Keep Your Home Smelling Amazing

Make some lemon-basil spray to keep your room fresh!

Sophia

• Published in Interesting
• March 27, 2024

Creating a welcoming and positive environment in your home, apartment, or office often comes down to something as basic as ensuring it smells delightful. It's quite fascinating to consider, but the scents surrounding us can profoundly influence our mood and even our productivity at work.

Picture the warmth and comfort of entering your living space to the aroma of cinnamon and freshly baked cookies after a long day; such a sensory experience almost guarantees an uplift in spirits and a sense of affection towards those around you. This connection between scents and our well-being explains the substantial amount of money people are willing to spend on candles, oil diffusers, scent sprays, and other fragrance products.

A space that radiates a fresh scent undoubtedly contributes to our happiness and comfort, a stark contrast to the displeasure felt in less pleasant, odorous settings — like the less-than-ideal conditions of a typical college apartment, for instance.

However, achieving a beautifully scented environment doesn't necessitate a shopping spree for the latest scented products. With a few easy and affordable DIY projects, you can naturally enhance the aroma of your living or working space.

These homemade solutions are not only cost-effective but also incredibly efficient in filling your home with your favorite fragrances, making it a more inviting place for everyone who enters.

Just take a look...

1. Scented Wood Blocks

Making scented wood blocks is simple. You'll need wood blocks, scented oil or perfume, and small paint brushes. Apply the oil/perfume onto the blocks, then let them soak overnight.

That's it! To refresh, just add more oil over time.

2. Gel Air Freshener

If you're a fan of air fresheners but prefer to avoid open flames, this DIY gel air freshener might be perfect for you.

• Here's what you'll need:
• Heatproof jars (such as mason jars)
• 4 packages of unflavored gelatin
• Food coloring
• Salt Essential oils/fragrance

Instructions:

Clean and prepare your jars. (One pint jar was filled in this recipe, but you can use multiple smaller jars if preferred.) Add a few drops of food coloring and approximately 30 drops of essential oil or fragrance (adjust for desired strength).

Boil 1 cup of water on the stove, then pour the gelatin packets into the pot. Continuously whisk to prevent clumping. Once dissolved, add 1 cup of cold water and 1 tbsp of salt.

Stir thoroughly. Pour the mixture into your prepared jars and stir. Allow it to sit overnight until the gel sets. Decorate your scented gel jar to your liking!

3. Pouch Air Freshener

Keeping your car, small room, or closet smelling fresh is easy with small sachets or pouches of scent. Here's what you'll need:

• Lightweight fabric
• Thick hemp or thread
• Makeup pads or cotton balls
• Scented oils/spices/incense cones
• Decorative items such as stamps, paint, or dried flowers
• Scissors
• Sewing machine (or needle and thread)

Instructions:

• Cut rectangles of fabric measuring 5×10 inches.
• Sew a loop on each end of the rectangle to start the sewing process.
• Fold the fabric in half with the edges of the loop facing outward, then sew each side up to the loop.
• Flip the pouch right side out and begin decorating.
• Thread a large piece of hemp through both loops so that both ends come out facing the same direction.
• To add scents, fill the pouches with spices, incense cones, or oil-soaked makeup pads or cotton balls (remember to change the spices regularly to keep them fresh).

That's it! The most challenging part might be sewing the little pouches, but it's still quite manageable.

4. Lemon-Basil Spray

Room sprays are great for keeping your space fresh, but many contain harmful chemicals. This recipe, however, is safe and just as effective. You'll need:

• 16 oz spray bottle
• 1 1/4 cups water (divided into 3/4 cup and 1/2 cup)
• 4 tablespoons of dried basil
• Coffee filter
• Funnel
• 1 tablespoon vodka
• 5 drops of lemon essential oil

Instructions:

• In a small pot, bring 1/2 cup of water to a boil. Add 4 tablespoons of dried basil and let it steep for a few minutes.
• In another pot, bring 3/4 cup of water to a boil.
• Line a funnel with a coffee filter and place it in the opened spray bottle.
• Pour the steeped basil water mixture through the funnel, ensuring the coffee filter catches any tiny pieces of basil. Remove the filter.
• Add the boiling water, vodka, and essential oil to the spray bottle.
• Secure the spray bottle top and shake to mix.

On average, a large store-bought scented candle costs about $20-30. Instead of spending your money on a week of pleasant fragrance, why not scent your home like MacGyver?

5. Orange Peel Candles

Did you know you can turn oranges into candles? Here's how, without wasting the fruit:

You'll need:

• An orange
• Knife
• Oil (canola, vegetable, or olive)
• Candle lighter

Steps:

• Cut the orange in half.
• Use a knife to loosen the fruit from the peel by running it around the edges.
• Scrape out the inside of the orange, being careful not to remove the central stem.
• Fill the cleaned orange peel ¾ full with oil.
• Let it sit for about 45 minutes to allow the stem to absorb the oil.
• Use a candle lighter to heat the stem for 2-3 minutes.
• Let the stem rest until it turns brown/black and feels dry to the touch.
• Try relighting the stem; it may take a few seconds, but once lit, it should burn steadily with a crackling sound.

6. Cinnamon Stick Candles

You may think Martha Stewart crafts are too complicated, but this one is surprisingly easy. Here's what you'll need:

• Pillar candle, preferably at least 3 inches in diameter
• Cinnamon sticks
• Floral shears
• Hot glue gun
• Dish or coaster

Instructions:

Measure the height of the candle and cut the cinnamon sticks to match using floral shears. You'll need about 20 sticks per candle.

Apply hot glue along a cinnamon stick and attach it vertically to the side of the candle. Use a low-temperature setting to avoid excessive melting.

Once the first stick is dry, glue the next one snugly against it, and continue until the candle is covered.

Place the finished candle on a dish or coaster. Not only will it look beautiful, but you'll also enjoy the delightful scent of cinnamon!

7. Baking Soda Air Freshener

Baking soda does more than freshen your fridge—it can also freshen any room!

Here's what you'll need for this recipe:

• 1/2 cup baking soda (per jar) 8-12 drops of your preferred essential oil
• Mason jar
• Scrapbook paper
• Tapestry needle
• Scissors and pen

Instructions:

Trace and cut out a piece of scrapbook paper to fit the inner lid of the mason jar (not the screwable ring). Use a tapestry needle to pierce holes in the paper to allow the scent to spread.

Pour about 1/2 cup of baking soda into the mason jar and add 8-12 drops of your chosen essential oil. Adjust the amount of oil based on the size of the room.

Place the scrapbook paper inside the mason jar ring and secure it onto the jar. Gently shake the mixture to distribute the oil.

This natural air freshener is flameless and free of harsh chemicals.

8. DIY Reed Diffusers

Oil diffusers offer a simple method for adding fragrance to your home without the need for heat or open flames.

Here's what you'll need:

• Vase Baby Oil
• Essential Oil
• Bamboo Skewers (or rattan diffusing sticks for stronger scent)
• Ribbon & Washi Tape (optional)

Instructions:

Fill your vase with essential oil to your desired level. Fill the remaining space in the vase with baby oil.

Optionally, decorate the ends of the skewers with washi tape. Insert the skewers into the vase and finish by tying a ribbon around it.

The oil will naturally diffuse into the room through the skewers, and your homemade oil diffuser is ready to use!

9. Lemon-Rosemary Simmer Pot

Creating this delightful aroma is straightforward and requires only a few items: a small stockpot, water, rosemary, one lemon, and vanilla extract.

Begin by filling the pot to approximately two-thirds full with water. Slice one lemon and add it to the water along with a handful of rosemary sprigs.

Incorporate half a teaspoon of vanilla extract into the mix. Allow this blend to simmer throughout the day, enveloping your home in a divine fragrance.

This mixture can be reused for up to two days; however, it's advisable to replace it afterward to prevent any odd smells from developing.

In the end, crafting a fragrance-filled haven is less about splurging on fancy products and more about channeling your inner DIY guru. Remember, a pinch of creativity and a dash of effort can transform your space from 'eau de leftovers' to 'essence of paradise'.

Who knew alchemy lived in the kitchen pantry?

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Sophia