My mother survived stage IV lung cancer (!) but the effects of the disease forced her to be on oxygen 24/7.
Needless to say, she’s had to make adjustments to her lifestyle. One thing she had to give up was traditional air fresheners. She loves a clean-smelling house and used chemical-ridden sprays and plugins regularly.
With her breathing problems, she had to make a change. I did some research and found some natural alternatives that do the job and are safe for my mom too.
Read on to learn more about 12 natural air fresheners that can give your home that fresh, clean smell without putting noxious chemicals in the air.
1. Scented Candles
Scented candles are a popular option when it comes to adding some freshness in the home. One of their downfalls is they don’t usually send their fragrance throughout the entire home. With that said, candles are best to use in smaller rooms and spaces.
These easy DIY Holiday Candles are a simple project and you don’t have to use holiday scents. You can use any scented essential oils you like.
2. Reed Diffusers
Reed diffusers are a great way to freshen the air in your home. You don’t have to worry about an open flame as you would with a candle, and it’s basically a scented oil in a cute jar or container with wooden wicks or reeds.
The reeds absorb the fragrant oil and the scent is carried out into the air. They are small so they can be placed in discreet spots without being noticed, or you can have them on display. If you have little ones in the home, they may get curious and want to play with them, so out of sight out of mind may be the best option.
3. Air Freshener Spray
You can make your own chemical-free air freshener with only need three ingredients and a spray bottle. All it takes is 30 drops of essential oil, 1 tablespoon of Isopropyl alcohol, and a little less than 1/2 cup of water.
Related Post: Eco-Friendly Cleaning Products
Just mix all the ingredients together, pour the mixture into a 14-ounce spray bottle, and it’s ready to be used. Be sure you give the bottle a little shake before each use to be sure the ingredients stay nicely blended.
4. Threaded Pomander Balls
Pomander Balls go back as far as medieval times. Back then, they are said to have been used to ward off evil spirits and illness. Nowadays they’re used as simple air fresheners.
Traditionally the pomander ball was made with oranges, cloves, and various spices to create an aromatic blend. They are made very similarly to this day. I like using grapefruit and lemons to make mine. This easy DIY will show you just how to make your own pomander ball.
5. Gel Air Fresheners
I like to call these gels flameless candles. You can purchase them at stores or you can make them yourself following these instructions. I love the scent combinations in that specific DIY project because they smell so good together. I also like to make a vanilla lavender gel freshener. It’s a calming blend of scents, and it is safe to put in your child’s bedroom to help them relax before bed.
6. Potpourri
My auntie had her own shop and it smelled amazing. She would make homemade scented candles and potpourri (among other things). You can find potpourri in the candle section at most stores or make it yourself. This DIY dried potpourri smells so good and it’s beautiful too.
There’s something I find calming about making my own potpourri. I don’t know if it’s the fragrance, the act itself, the memories that come flooding back to me, or the combination of all three. I think using little satchels is great because the scent seems to release more often, but sometimes it fades too quickly for my liking.
7. Scented Wood
I think cedar smells amazing! You could use freshly cut cedar or pine to freshen your home, or you could try this easy DIY project. It is actually pretty simple, and it doesn’t take long at all. You can find the wood-crafting cubes from this tutorial at your local craft store. You can get simple cubes or find fun shapes for the little ones.
To make scented wooden cubes, all you have to do is place a few of the cubes or wooden-shaped blocks into a glass jar, add several drops of the desired essential oil, put on the lid, and give it a good shake. Make sure the blocks are fully covered in oil for the best results. You can also use a paintbrush and brush on the oil. When the blocks start to lose their fragrance, just repeat the process.
8. Simmer Pots
Before oil warmers, there were simple simmer pots. These require a bit more of a watchful eye, but they will make your whole house smell amazing.
All you have to do is add your favorite scented herbs, spices, and fruits into some water in a pot. Bring the mixture to a boil, turn it down, and let it simmer. Keep an eye on the mixture because you don’t want to end up with no water and burning herbs. Here are 10 easy simmer pot recipes for every season.
9. Citrus Spray
I absolutely love this stuff! It’s cheap, easy to make, and smells amazing. Not only does this recipe smell great, but the baking soda actually neutralizes any odors you want to eliminate. All you need is 2 tablespoons of baking soda, 1/2 cup fresh lemon juice, 2 cups hot water, and a spray bottle to store it.
Dissolve the baking soda in the hot water, add the lemon juice, and bottle it. I find that letting the mixture rest for a while allows the ingredients to combine together a little better. Be sure to shake the scented spray before each use.
10. Fresh Flowers
Scented flower arrangements and bouquets are beautiful to the eyes, as well as appealing to the nose. However, fresh flowers tend to lose their fragrance over time and have to be replaced regularly.
Related Post: Edible Flowers
To avoid going to the farmers market or grocery store regularly, I like to grow flowers inside my home where they can flourish and continue adding fragrance for more than a day or two.
11. Homemade Carpet Deodorizer
I found this super simple baking soda carpet deodorizer recipe that not only helps freshen your carpet’s scent but also has antibacterial properties. It’s great if you have little ones or fur-babies in the home. Literally two ingredients: baking soda and essential oils. The recipe calls for lavender (which is what contains the antibacterial properties) though you can use any scent you like.
12. Air Purifying Plants
I love having indoor plants especially ones that are both pretty and useful. Sometimes we need more than something that freshens the air to help our home smell great.
Related Post: 12 Office Plants To Add Some Greenery To Your Workspace
Air purifying plants actually clean the air around you simply by existing. A few of my favorites are the spider plant, sword fern, Dracaena, bamboo palm, and English ivy.
Clean air is important for everyone’s health. When the air smells pleasant too? Bonus!
Leave a Reply