This post may contain affiliate links. These help support this website.
This homemade air freshener with baking soda and floral scent is such a fun solution to make!
I shared a little behind the scenes on this a few months ago on instagram, and everyone was curious what it was going to be. I am excited to share it with you today.
If you are looking for some other fantastic room spray options we have this orange rose and this amazing autumn scented one!
Homemade Air Freshener with Baking Soda and Floral Scent
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup Vodka
- 1 cup Water
- 1/2 tsp Baking Soda
- 15 drops rosewater concentrate oil
- 10 drops geranium essential oil
- 5 drops grapefruit essential oil
- Spray Bottle
Directions:
- Add water, vodka, and baking soda to a glass spray bottle.
- Add in the essential oils.
- Give the bottle a good shake before each spray.
Storage Tips For Homemade Air Fresheners with Baking Soda
Remember to use a glass spray bottle for this type of solution. When essential oils sit in a solution, it is best to use a glass bottle.
This solution will stay fresh and ready to spray for a few weeks. The reason this is made in a smaller amount, is so you can use it up within a few weeks. DIY air fresheners and cleaners do best when they are fresh. Use this up within 3 weeks for optimum freshness.
IMPORTANT! Shake well before reach use to make sure oils and baking soda are incorporated!
How to Use This Solution:
Homemade room sprays work best in small areas! So, bathrooms, closets, and laundry rooms. I like to do about 3 pumps on the nozzle for smaller areas.
If you would like to use this homemade air freshener for your car, just lightly spray the floor board areas with a few pumps.
I also love to spray the trashcan with this, and also Amelia’s diaper pail!
Can This Be Used On Fabric?
No, this solution is specifically an AIR freshener, it should not be used on fabric.
How to Make This DIY Air Freshener with Essential Oils Work Like Poo-Pourri:
I have had so many readers asking if we have a homemade poo-pourri recipe! If you check out their ingredients, it contains many essential oil combinations. You can use this recipe the same way. Just spray inside the toilet bowl area instead of around the room.
Chemistry Behind this DIY Air Freshener
There is a great reason these items are used, thanks to Chemistry.
Here is a break down!
Vodka
As we mentioned briefly above, drinking alcohol is the type of alcohol you want to use for homemade air freshers. Although I love rubbing alcohol for cleaning everything, vodka makes a better option for air freshers. Alcohol is a common component in homemade air fresheners to make the solution evaporate better. It will also help the oils combine.
If you use straight water in a solution, it can leave water drops when you spray it.
Alcohol evaporates quickly, and it is also an odor eliminator.
Be sure to read this important post about drinking alcohol vs rubbing alcohol for cleaning.
Baking Soda
We use this in most of our air freshers because it is an odor eliminator. I mentioned in this post for homemade orange, rose air freshener to not skip the baking soda. It can really help with odor! I have made these room sprays many times over the years. They smell better with the baking soda in it! You can try it both ways, and it is amazing to see the difference.
Why such a small amount? It is all about residue, too much baking soda will leave residue and mess up the solution. Some have asked why it is even added if the amount is so small. Just try it out. You will notice a difference when the baking soda is added. If you don’t want to add it, that is okay too.
Rosewater Concentrate Oil
I always use this little bottle for cleaners and DIY solutions. Why? It is affordable and much cheaper than rose essential oil. Remember, the only thing needed from this bottle is scent. This pure rose essential oil can be $45 or more per bottle!
There are actually 275 chemical compounds in a rose with 40 important to smell! I learned this fact from a master perfumer who was telling us how important these chemical compounds are to home and fabric care products. This is how they are able to add smells to products and also keep things affordable! One of the key compounds is geraniol for scent. This brings us to the next ingredient, geranium essential oil.
Geranium Essential Oil
Geranium also contains the chemical compound geraniol which contributes to scent. Roses have this same compound which is why their scents are similar. Geranium and rose oil work so well together, I love adding them both into this room spray.
Be sure to head over to this post all about geranium essential oil components and how to use for skin!
Grapefuit Essential Oil
The reason I love adding this oil to the floral scents is how well it combines. The citrusy smell offsets the floral. It really makes this smell even better!
If you don’t have grapefruit oil, a little bit of lemon or orange can also be used.
Water
Using distilled water is the best way to ensure no minerals are in the solution, but you are welcome to use tap water too. It is up to you! I just use tap water if it is all I have on hand. We have had questions asking if this solution can still evaporate with water? Yes, it will evaporate better due to the vodka, but it might be a little damp when you spray. Again, this is why this is an AIR freshener. It is for the air 🙂
I hope you have fun making this amazing DIY air freshener. It is the perfect way to celebrate the upcoming spring season 🙂
Enjoy!!
Follow on Facebook | Bloglovin | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest | Hometalk
Alexis is an investigative chemist sharing her expertise in cleaning, skincare, gardening, and home hacks. She personally tests out products like the best skincare products or home products then shares not only the science behind how it works, but also her personal results. She is the mom of two living in Texas with her husband. Find her on Instagram for fantastic videos, tips, and behind the scenes.
What a fun idea!! Thanks for sharing – I like that you can use different types of flowers.
It’s really fun to try all different scents and types!
Hmmm… homemade air freshener, and probably more effective than commercial brands. We are not into floral scents; how would we modify this so we can still banish odors?
It’s the same base as all the other air fresheners so you can use the one we shared with orange oil or the fall one we have. All have the same base, so work just as good! They are more mild than store-bought, but with all the asthma and allergies in our family, it’s better 🙂
I like the sound of this, such fun
It really is fun to make!
Such easy ingredients to whip together a sweet smelling air freshener. I would have never thought to use vodka for this purpose!
Vodka is so great for extracts and infusions!!
Hello. We love the scent of cinnamon. Does cinnamon have any valuable compounds that would be great in an air freshener spray? If “yes,” how would we use it,? Thanks
I use cinnamon types scents in the fall. You can use the same recipe, but instead of the floral and citrus oil, use cinnamon oil. we also have a homemade fall room spray with cinnamon scents.
I am always worried about my pets with essential oils. Are any of these really bad
for cats or dogs? Love all the information you give us at Chemistry Cachet.
Thanks. Arleen
Hi! Yes, this is very mild. More mild than anything store bought. I use it around my bulldog all the time 🙂
I love Gardenias. And Jasmine. Can I just use the one scent or should I mix in something else like citrus.
I love your posts. I trust them because you can give the reason behind what you use and why.
Hi! You can use any combination of flower scents you like 🙂 I like adding the citrus because it makes the scents flow better together, but you can try it without it!
8-27-2021
HELLO ALEXIS, JUST WONDERING IF I CAN USE FABRIC SOFTENER AS A DIY ROOM REFRESHENER,
WILL THE FABRIC SOFTENER STAIN ANY FABRIC or FURNITURE IT COMES IN CONTACT WITH?
Thank you, be safe…..
If the fabric softener touches surfaces, it can leave a residue, so I prefer not to use it