Homemade Air Freshener

by katie
(Idaho)

Ive always enjoyed making my own homemade air freshener. As well as it being a good money saving tip, these gel ones are great fun and easy to make. I can make any smell or color to match which ever room I choose.



Ingredients for homemade air freshener ( gel )
2 cups of water
4 packets of unflavored gelatin
Essential oils
Food coloring(optional)
Salt or vodka (optional)

Method
Place one cup of water in a saucepan and bring to the boil.

Add 4 packets of unflavored gelatin and stir, once the gelatin has dissolved remove from the heat and add one more cup of water.

Add a few drops of food coloring and the essential oil, don't be shy with the essential oil I would add at least 20 drops sometimes more.

A spoonful of salt or a splash of vodka will stop the air freshener from going moldy.

Divide the mixture into containers or jars (baby food jars are good for this) and allow the gel to set at room temperature.

To make different colored homemade air freshener, just add the food coloring after you have divided the mixture into there individual containers.

TIP
You can make your own air freshener to complement the seasons, spice and pine in the winter and tropical in the summer. Adding pebbles or glitter to the containers will also give them a different and interesting affect.

Homemade Air Freshener Tips

by Mary
( Maine)

My favorite homemade air freshener tips

1. For a lovely Christmas or winter air freshener, place a few cloves, some broken cinnamon sticks and a sprinkling of allspices into a small pot of water. Gently heat then simmer for 1 or 2 hours, leaving the internal doors open so the smell can travel through out your home.

Other good ingredients are orange and lemon rinds, and sliced apple with a broken cinnamon stick ( this last one makes the house smell like apple pie.) just follow the same method as for the winter homemade air freshener


2. Put a drop of perfume or essential oil on to a light bulb, the fragrance is released each time the light is switched on.


3. Pour a few drops of inexpensive perfume or essential oil into spray bottle, and top up with water to make a spray air freshener that can be used on soft furnishings and bedding.


4. Put one or two drops of essential oil on the cardboard tube inside of the toilet roll. The fragrance will be released each time the toilet roll is turned.


5. Take a large orange and stud it with cloves until completely covered. Using a darning needle, insert strong thread from top to bottom, leaving enough at the top to form a loop. Knot at the base and hang within a room or inside a wardrobe.

Air Freshening Rocks

by Dixie
(Carson city)

I place these air freshening rocks all over the house, they make the place smell lovely. When they start to lose their scent I spray them with a few drops of essential oil that I've diluted with water and placed in a clean empty spray bottle. Once this spray is made up it keeps for ages and makes a great handy air freshener all on its own.

Sometimes I put them into the car to make that smell nice to. Just place them into a mesh bag or a piece of netting tied with a ribbon.

Ingredients
1/2 a cup of salt
1/2 cup of flour
1/4 teaspoon of essential oil
2/3 cup of boiling water
Food coloring

Method
Combine the salt and the flour, then add the water, essential oil and food coloring. Here's How to make your own essential oils Now mix together then shape into little balls and leave to dry. (As the rocks dry out they will remain soft in the center, this will not affect the scent or life of the rocks). Place the rocks into a suitable container or add to a fading potpourri to give it a boost.

Herb Air Freshener

by Carol
(UK)

I often use herbs to make things with, mainly because they have so many natural healing qualities and they are easy to grow at home making them very economical to use.


This homemade herb air freshener that you can make using dried herbs not only smells wonderful, but also seems to have very up lifting qualities (and lets face it we can all do with a bit more of that).


Ingredients
4 tablespoons of dried sage
30- 40 dry shredded bay leaves
1 cup of liquid which hazel
Glass jar
Spray bottle


Method
Pop all of the ingredients in to the jar, put the lid on and give it a good shake. Leave the mixture to rest at room temperature for three or four days, then strain (sift) and transfer your homemade air freshener to the spray bottle ready for use.