You and I both know the bathroom can be a source of, ahem, unpleasant smells. Today, I’ve got two versions of a super simple DIY air freshener to share with you.
What You Need to Make DIY Air Freshener
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For Both Air Fresheners
- Empty Spice Jars (Preferably with a Lid)
- Washi Tape or Other Decorating Items (Optional)
- Silicone Funnel– Optional, but makes it easier to fill the spice jars
Version One: Using Baking Soda & Essential Oils
- Baking Soda
- Essential Oil of Your Choosing (Not sure where to buy essential oils? Check out this post.)
Version 2: Using Coffee
How to Make A DIY Air Freshener
Target’s spices come in the cutest jars, and they are perfect for this project. However, any spice jar will work if you don’t happen to have these lying around.
Go ahead and decorate the outside any way you choose. I thought a simple go-round with washi tape would be easy enough, but feel free to let your creativity flow. I think burlap, ribbon, and/or buttons would also work well. If cutesy isn’t your thing, you can just leave the jar alone, and not decorate it at all. Totally up to you.
You now have a couple options on how you want to freshen the air…
Baking Soda & Essential Oil
Depending on the size of your jar, mix together 1/4-1/2 cup baking soda and 6-10 drops of essential oil. I will admit that I had never bought essential oils until I made these. There are a variety of fragrances, so choose one you enjoy. (I’m not sure what’s with the oils at the Health Food Store; most did not smell great to me… at all. I finally went with AmyrisBergamot, and apparently every time I use it to freshen the bathroom, I will feel centered and cheerful 🙂 Sounds good to me.) Use a silicone funnel to fill the jar with the baking soda/essential oil mixture. The baking soda is great for absorbing odors, and the essential oil will create a pleasant scent.
Coffee Grounds
Use a silicone funnel to fill your spice jar with fresh coffee grounds. Easy enough. A nurse I worked with swears that coffee grounds are great for alleviating odors. While working in the hospital, she would put coffee grounds in a patient’s room when there were less-than-ideal odors wafting into the hall. Within minutes, the smell was gone. This makes sense because I remember using coffee beans as a way to “cleanse” my nose when smelling perfume samples.
Replace the lid with the holes in it as this will allow the freshener to do its job.
You can also replace the regular lid in order to keep the odor-absorbing power in the jar until needed.
Now set them on a shelf or vanity and use as needed.
Love it? Pin it!
Thank you so much for sharing. I was given a flavored coffee that had a great aroma but didn’t taste the greatest. I was about to throw it out and thought what a shame to do this when it smells wonderful. I wondered about a diy air freshener and went to Google and found your post.
That’s perfect! Glad you found a use for your good smelling, but not so great tasting, coffee 🙂
Hello Erin,
I tried baking soda but never done anything with coffee.Its cool i have to try this. Will let you know results.
Thank you
Janna Jamieson
I’ve done the baking soda version but not the coffee version! That sounds awesome. Thanks for sharing!
This is the first time I’ve heard of using coffee beans as an air freshener! I will definitely try this out. I wonder if it will make a difference if I used ground coffee beans?
Hi Lindsay! I actually did use ground coffee, not whole beans, so that’s the way I would go. When I replaced the grounds after a couple months, I decided to go with a caramel cream flavored coffee to add more fragrance.
When hubby drove truck over the road he used coffee to clean smells off the floor of his reefer trailer. I love that this does not involve vinegar. On our in-laws house redo, I am on my 2nd gallon of vinegar and am sick of that smell. Thanks for sharing where you got the bottles also.
I am a huge fan of vinegar for so many cleaning projects, but you’re right, the smell is anything but pleasant. The bottles I used are actually spice jars from Target’s Archer Farm brand. I had been keeping them after I ran out of the spice because I thought they were cute. Now I have the perfect use for them.
I’ve done the baking soda version but not the coffee version! That sounds awesome. Thanks for sharing!
I just used regular coffee when I originally did this, but thinking I might try a flavored coffee for an even better scent. Thanks for stopping over Lisa! Enjoy your weekend!
I’ve never heard of coffee but I could even do that! I have the jars and coffee. Thanks Erin for another great idea and linking up with us at #AnythingGoes
You are so welcome. I hadn’t heard of the coffee trick either, until the nurse at work told me about it. Funny, I had another nurse later tell me the same thing. Those nurses are just full of great knowledge!
Will try the coffee, I love coffee shops anyway!
Me too! I could spend all day in a coffee shop. I always think the environment is so cozy and I love coffee, so win-win!
Love this idea, and maybe if my bathroom smells of coffee I can wake up easier 😉
🙂 Perfect! I struggle with mornings. I’m definitely a night owl by nature, but my kids are all early risers. Maybe I’ll just pop the lid off and breathe deep while getting ready… Happy Monday Kati! Enjoy your week!
Amazingly simple and they will make great gifts.
Great idea on doing them as gifts, Sharon!
So do you add essential oils to the coffee grounds as well, or just let them do their own thing without them?
Thanks,
Lorraine
I did not use essential oil with the coffee, but another reader suggested adding a vanilla essential oil (not sure, do they make vanilla?) Otherwise, you could always go with a good coffee blend that has a flavor in the coffee itself- like vanilla hazelnut or a caramel cream. Good question!
Thanks!! I think regular coffee is probably just fine. Have never seen a vanilla essential oil and can’t think of one that would work with coffee; sage, lemon, grapefruit, bergomot, lavendar – not a single one! 🙂
luv
Thanks Geneva!
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Coffee grounds that have been used or freshly ground coffee?
Thanks for the question Brenda! You will want to use fresh ground coffee, not used.
Tks 🙂
This is awesome! I am all for chemical free alternatives so I will be making some of this asap!!
Awesome! My hope is that people will actually use the tips I post about.
Would this work on cat urine smells in carpet?.,
You could definitely try the baking soda, it’s great for absorbing odors and wetness. I’d leave it on for awhile- at least an hour, to let it work. I would not put essential oil on the carpet though, I’m afraid it would leave an oil stain. If you try the baking soda, let me know how it goes.
Wow, these are simple! I love easy ideas. In fact, I remember using coffee grounds to cleanse my nose when my Honey took me perfume shopping. I’m totally going to add these to the bathrooms! Thank you!
I am all about simple! I know there are some out there that can refinish furniture and create elaborate woodworking projects. I am not one of those people, but I sure admire them. I can, however, do easy, quick projects. Thanks for stopping over Rachel! Have a wonderful evening!
This looks so amazing. Pinned and tweeted. Thank you for bringing such amazing creations to our party. We hope to see you tonight at 7 pm because we LOVE to party with you! Lou Lou Girls
Thanks Ladies!
I haven’t made it – but I can SMELL it! Thanks for the inspiration.
Best,
Michelle from simplysantabarbara.blogspot.com
You are so welcome Michelle! Enjoy your evening!
What a great idea! I love the smell of coffee. Will definitely try this. Thanks!
Thanks Vicky!
Hi, Erin ~ I’m a huge essential oils fan, and I can’t wait to try these out! Baking soda is so versatile. I had no idea! I remember smelling coffee to “cleanse” my nose when trying perfumes, too. :0) Thanks for sharing!
So glad to hear you’ve done the coffee nose cleanse too. It was so long ago, I was hoping I wasn’t just making that up. Thanks for stopping over!
What great ideas!! I am definitely going to make these. Thanks for the tip on the Archer Farms Spice Jars… I’m going to pick some up next time I’m at Target!
I’ve used those spice jars for so many things after the spices run out. Thanks for stopping over Sydney! Enjoy your evening!
I love this idea!! I am going to try them!
Awesome! Have a good evening!
Love this, especially the ground coffee one! Pinning!
Thanks Roxanne! I love the smell of coffee so I’m partial to that one too!
You mean your husband doesn’t gift you air freshener? I’m kind of curious about the longevity, because I’d like to try the baking soda thing in my car.
That story was HILARIOUS! I think it’s so cute that your hubby was so proud of his purchase. Well, when your Hawaiian Breeze (not sure that’s the exact scent, I just remember Hawaii) you can try these out! I will update this post once I use these for awhile so others will know how much use they can get with each jar.
Have you been using either of these for a while? What do you think?
I use essential oils all the time, but have never done this.
I haven’t been using them that long. Once I have them for awhile I’ll post about the longevity and let you know how often you need to change the coffee or baking soda. Great question!
What a great idea!
Thanks Jen! And thanks for stopping over! Have a great evening!