You and I both know the bathroom can be a source of, ahem, unpleasant smells. But before you reach for those store-bought air fresheners, consider this: 75.7% of store bought air fresheners scored a D or F from the Environmental Working Group. Instead of grabbing an air freshener that may pose some health risks, you can make your own homemade air freshener to naturally deodorize your home; and you’ll know everything you’re putting into the air.
Did you know that companies do not have to disclose any ingredients they use to make “fragrance”? This is because “fragrance” is considered proprietary. Honestly, I would rather know what’s in the products I use, so I have been replacing a lot of store-bought cleaning and personal care items with homemade versions. That way, I know exactly what I’m applying to my body, or breathing into my lungs.
What You Need to Make Your Own Homemade Air Freshener
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Ingredients Needed for A DIY Air Freshener Using Baking Soda & Essential Oils
- Baking Soda
- Essential Oil of Your Choosing (Not sure where to buy essential oils? Check out this post.)
Ingredients Needed for A Homemade Air Freshener Using Coffee Grounds
- Fresh Ground Coffee– You can certainly go with a regular, classic roast coffee, but I prefer flavored coffee grounds for an sweeter scent.
Supplies Needed to Make Your Own Air Freshener
- Empty Spice Jar (Preferably with a Lid)
- Washi Tape or Other Decorating Items (Optional)
- Silicone Funnel– Optional, but makes it easier to fill the spice jars
How to Make A DIY Air Freshener
Decorate Your Spice Jar (Optional)
If you happen to have some empty spice jars on hand, go ahead and grab one. Otherwise, you can purchase empty spice jars online.
If you want to decorate your spice jar in any way, do so prior to making the air freshener contents. I went with a simple go-round of washi tape, 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.
Choose Which Homemade Air Freshener You Want to Make
There are two different ways you can naturally freshen your home using a homemade air freshener.
Option 1: Baking Soda & Essential Oils– Baking soda absorbs unpleasant odors and essential oil creates a pleasant scent. The fun part about using essential oils to deodorize your home is you can create any scent combination you like.
Option 2: Coffee Grounds– A nurse I used to work with swore that coffee grounds are great for eliminating 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. If you love the smell of coffee (like me) this is an easy way to absorb odors while leaving behind that heavenly coffee scent.
How to Make A DIY Air Freshener with Baking Soda & Essential Oil
Start by filling your spice jar with baking soda (leaving a little room at the top). Then pour that baking soda into a glass mixing bowl. This assures you have the right amount of baking soda for the size of your spice jar. Depending on the quantity of baking soda and desired strength of scent, add anywhere from 5-15 drops of essential oil into the baking soda and give it a good stir. I have found the easiest way to transfer the baking soda/essential oil mixture into the spice jar is with a silicone funnel, however, you can also try scooping it in with a spoon if you’d like.
How to Make A Homemade Air Freshener Without Essential Oils, Using Coffee Grounds
Use a silicone funnel to fill your spice jar with fresh coffee grounds. Easy enough.
Replace the Lids On the Spice Jars
Replace the lid with the holes in it as this will allow the air freshener to do its job.
You can also replace the regular lid in order to keep the odor-absorbing power and scent in the jar until needed.
Now set them on a shelf or vanity and use as needed.
If you prefer a room spray, try this tried-and-true DIY Room Spray recipe. It’s one of my favorite recipes!
Common Questions About Homemade Air Fresheners
How Long Will A DIY Air Freshener Last?
The answer to this question will depend on a few things. If you are willing to replace the solid lid on the spice jar when not in use, the air freshener will last a lot longer simply because you are not releasing any of the scent while the lid is closed, and the ability to absorb odors is preserved. Another factor is how much essential oil you added to the mix (if going the baking soda/essential oil route). If you added a stronger concentration of essential oils, the scent will last longer. Multiple sources state that baking soda will absorb odors for up to 3 months. I would assume coffee grounds will do the same. However, if you notice the scent has faded and odors are not being eliminated, it’s time to make a new batch.
Where Can I Use A Homemade Air Freshener?
I know the first thing we think of when we hear the word “air freshener” is the bathroom, and while these homemade air fresheners would be perfect for that space, you can also use them in a coat closet (I’m thinking of those smelly shoes) or in your car (just place them in the cup holder).
Which Essential Oils are Good for DIY Air Fresheners?
There are so many essential oils you can choose to use when making a homemade air freshener. You can go with a single essential oil, like lavender, grapefruit or peppermint. Or choose from a variety of blends (which are pre-mixed essential oils used to create various scent combinations). I love using Christmas blends during the holidays and citrus blends for warmer months.
Are Homemade Air Fresheners Safe to Use Around Children & Pets?
As with most cleaning products, you should store your homemade air freshener out of the reach of children and pets. I don’t think anyone would feel great if they ingested baking soda or coffee grounds. Yuck! There are also some essential oils that should be avoided around pets, particularly cats. I am not an expert on essential oil use around animals, so I will refer you to these articles so you can determine which essential oils you are comfortable using in your home.
Essential Oils and Dogs | Essential Oils and Cats | Safe & Unsafe Essential Oils for Dogs
Homemade Air Freshener
Ingredients
- Baking Soda & Essential Oil OR
- Fresh Coffee Grounds
Supplies
- Spice Jar
- Decorative Material optional
- Silicone Funnel optional, but very helpful
Instructions
- Start by decorating your spice jar, if desired. You can use any material you'd like. I went with washi tape, but you could use anything from fabric to buttons to ribbon
- Choose whether you want to make your air freshener with baking soda and essential oils or fresh coffee ground.
- IF USING BAKING SODA AND ESSENTIAL OILS: Add baking soda to your spice jar and then dump it into a glass mixing bowl. This assures the proper amount of baking soda. Add 5-15 drops of essential oil depending on the amount of baking soda and the desired strength of scent. Stir and add to your spice jar using a silicone funnel.
- IF USING FRESH COFFEE GROUNDS: Fill your spice jar with fresh coffee grounds using a silicone funnel
- Replace the spice lid that has holes in it. Leave it open to freshen your space. For longer shelf-life, replace the solid lid when not in use.
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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!