This homemade air freshener needs only baking soda and essential oil, stirred together in a clean glass jar (a mason jar works well). It takes about a minute to mix, and a jar can be set out in every room, which is handy in the colder months when the windows stay shut.
How much essential oil to add depends on the size of the room. As a general guide, a bathroom or other small room takes 10 drops and a bigger space like a living room takes 16; from there, adjust to your own preference. A lid is optional; if one is used, it needs a few holes drilled through it beforehand.
Because the mixture contains essential oils, set the jars where neither children nor pets can reach them.
Homemade Air Freshener
A simple jar air freshener made from 1/4 cup baking soda and 10-16 drops of essential oil, with the amount of oil matched to the size of the room.
Yield: 1 jar (about 1/4 cup)
Materials
- 1/4 cup baking soda
- 10-16 drops essential oil or as desired
Instructions
- Tip the baking soda into a sterile glass jar.
- Drip the essential oil over the baking soda.
- Mix the two together with a spoon.
- Cover with a lid that has a few holes drilled in it, if desired.
- Place the jar in the room, somewhere children and pets cannot reach.
Notes
Equipment: a sterile glass jar or similar container (a mason jar is one option), an optional lid with a few holes drilled in it, and a spoon for stirring.
As a safety precaution, use a spoon and container set aside for crafting rather than ones used for food.
Scale the essential oil to the room: 10 drops suits a bathroom-sized space, 16 drops a living-room-sized one. Adjust to preference.
Instead of a drilled lid, the jar can be covered with a square of breathable fabric held on with a rubber band.
To refresh the scent, stir or shake the jar every few days and add a few more drops of oil when it fades. Replace the baking soda every 1 to 3 months.
Essential oils are the reason for keeping the jar away from children and pets. Some oils are harmful to pets, cats especially, so check before using a particular oil in a room where animals spend time.
