DIY Air freshener

Have you ever wondered whether you can make your own air freshener? Well the answer is, yes you can. Air fresheners are one source of plastic that we often ignore – if you only buy a few a year it won’t make much difference will it? Well unfortunately it is part of the 8 million tonnes of plastic that escapes into the ocean every year. If enough people swapped to making their own and reusing an old bottle, then that could actually have a big impact. Commercial air fresheners can also contain hazardous chemicals, even if they are marketed as unscented or natural. So, at least when you make your own you have more of an idea what’s in it! The last plus is that if you make your own then you can decide on your own scents and the strength of the scents. If you want to give it a go, use the recipe below!

Ingredients:

• Water (3/4 cup for a small amount)
• 2 tablespoons Rubbing Alcohol OR vodka OR vanilla extract
• Essential oils of choice (do a few drops and then see if it’s strong enough for you)
• A spray bottle – why not use a plastic one you have left over?

Method:

1. Add your water to your bottle. If you want to scale up the recipe, make sure you scale up each ingredient.
2. Then add 2 tablespoons of your rubbing alcohol, vodka or vanilla extract. This is what allows the air freshener to dry after you’ve sprayed it.
3. Then add your essential oils. If you’re using one oil, try about 10 drops and see what you think. If you’re using more than one, divide the 10 drops between them and add more accordingly.
4. All done! Make sure to shake the bottle before use.

Scent combinations

Here are a few combinations of scents that work really well. What I will say is that if you use vanilla extract as your alcohol, this scent comes through, so you may not need to add too many more scents.

• Lavender and chamomile (calming)
• Ginger, cinnamon and orange (festive)
• Lemon and orange (citrus)
• Pine and cedarwood (outdoors)
• Rose (floral)
• Grapefruit (fruity)

That’s all from me! As always, let me know if you give this a try or if you have any questions.