How to Make a Homemade Natural Air Freshener with Essential Oils

photo by Anita Ritenour

Make your own air freshener with essential oils and water. Those commercial products that you buy are not cleaning the air — they are adding chemicals and causing indoor air pollution! Popular products such as Febreze contain dozens of air contaminates, including acetaldehyde, a known carcinogen, and ethyl acetate, which is toxic to the brain and nervous system, according to the Environmental Working Group (EWG).

If you are interested in a more natural (and less expensive) alternative, you can make your own homemade natural air freshener with a spray bottle, clean water and a few drops of essential oil. You can make your house smell like a real field of lavender, not a synthetic chemical attempt at nature's aromas.

What are the benefits of using aromatherapy oils instead of commercial products?

1. Essential oils are highly concentrated extractions of plants — this means natural beneficial properties instead of dangerous synthetic properties.
2. Making your own freshener with essential oils will truly clean the air — essential oils have anti-bacterial properties.
3. Aside from neutralizing bacteria and freshening with a pleasant aroma, essential oils also have a positive effect on the nervous system. Some such as mandarin, bergamot and lemongrass are uplifting. Lavender, rose and sandalwood calm anxiety. Rosemary, sage and peppermint are mental stimulants.

To make your own natural air freshener you will need:

• A plastic spray bottle, any size is fine
• Clean water
• 2 drops of essential oil for every ounce of water that you use (so if you fill an 8-ounce spray bottle with water use 16 drops of essential oil)

photo by Francois

Add the water and then the essential oils to your spray bottle. Shake gently and then spray to freshen the air, carpets and even the couch your dog or cat loves to nap on. Excellent blends include neroli and rose, lavender with frankincense and peppermint with thyme.