7 DIY air fresheners

Making your home a positive place to be is sometimes as simple as making it smell good. We love to smell beautiful and be surrounded by nice smells – even walking into a fresh home can improve your mood! No wonder we all spend so much money on fragrances for our environment, but did you know you can make some great smelling ones at home for a fraction of the price? These simple DIY air freshening projects are not only cheap, but they’ll leave your house smelling great.

Scented wood blocks

Source: @NORTHSTORYCA via Instagram

All you need is:

• Wood blocks
• Scented oil or perfume
• Small paint brushes

Simply paint the oil on to the wood blocks and then put into a container with a few drops of the perfume or oil and shake. Let it sit overnight and done! Display in a decorative bowl.

Orange peel candles

Source: deliacreates

Oranges aren’t just for eating! For a delicious smelling (and tasting!) candle, all you need is:

• Oranges (how ever many you like)
• Knife
• Oil (canola, vegetable or olive)
• Candle lighter

Cut the orange in half and run the knife around the edges, loosening the fruit from the peel. Grab a fork and scrape the inside of the orange out without removing the inside stem (in centre of orange), Fill 3/4 of the orange halve with oil and let sit for 45 minutes. Try to light the orange (you’ll need a candle lighter so it can hold the flame for longer) by heating up the stem for 2-3 minutes until black and dry to the touch. It should relight easily after this!

Lemon-rosemary simmer pot

Source: Pinterest

All you need is:

• A small stockpot
• Water
• Rosemary
• 1 lemon
• Vanilla extract

Fill the pot until it is about 2/3 full with water. Add 1 lemon (sliced) and a few sprigs of rosemary. Then, add the 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla. Let this mixture simmer all day and it’ll fill your rooms with an amazing scent. Be sure to change after a couple of days as this is best used fresh.

Gel air freshener

Source: Pretty Frugal Living

This is a great option if you don’t like open flames. All you need is:

• Heat-proof jars
• 4 packets of unflavoured gelatine
• Food colouring
• Salt
• Essential oils

Add a few drops of whatever colouring (2 drops) and oil (30 drops) you like to the jars. Boil 1 cup of water on the stove and pour in your gelatine packets and whisk continuously. Once dissolved, add 1 cup of cold water and 1 tbsp of salt. Stir it all in and pour into your jars and mix it with the colouring and oil. Let it sit overnight until the gel is set!

DIY reed diffuser

Source: curbly

Reed oil diffusers are another awesome idea if you don’t like flames or have littlies over but still want a nice scent in your home. All you need is:

• Tall jar
• Baby oil
• Essential oil
• Bamboo skewers

Fill the jar with as much essential oil as you like and then the rest with baby oil until about half full. Place skewers in the jars and you’re done! It’ll take a few hours for the scent to work.

Bi-carb soda freshener

Source: @MYHEALTHYHOME via Instagram

All you need is:

• A shallow jar
• Bi-carb soda
• Essential oil

Place the bi-carb soda in the jar so it is around 3/4 full. Add 5 or 6 drops of essential oil and leave near the door or in the bathroom. The bi-carb will suck up the bad smells (it’s great in the fridge too!)

Room spray

Source: @GLAMORGANICGODDESS via Instagram

For a little spritz of freshness, you can also make your own room spray.

All you need is:

• Essential oil
• Clean spray bottle (small)
• Water
• Vodka

Add 10-20 drops of oil (or a combination) to a clean spray bottle filled with 3 parts water and 1 part vodka – voila!