This homemade air freshener is the perfect solution to store bought, and it is fun to play around with the scents. I highly recommend using this combination of orange and rose though. It smells incredible!
This chemist solutions series has become one of my favorite things to share with you on Chemistry Cachet. I get to use my chemist skills to create something that helps you or makes your life much easier. I also get to research things like why pineapple is awesome or why you should be eating lemon!
I also get to mix up solutions like I am back in the chemistry lab, like with this homemade plant food.
It really is my passion and I love sharing it with you!
This homemade air freshener is so easy to whip up! I love store bought febreze, but in reality, it isn’t totally necessary to buy. It also has many unnecessary chemicals in it.
I love making this homemade air freshener to keep on hand!Easy Homemade Air Freshener Infused with Rose and Orange
Chemistry Cachet’s Orange Rose Petal Homemade Air Freshener
½ cup vodka
1 cup water
10-15 drops of orange essential oil
10-15 drops of rose essential oil
½ tsp baking soda
Directions:
- As you can see from the picture, it is so simple. Add some water to a mixing bowl or jar, then add in the essential oils. I really like a strong scent so I go with 15 or so of each.
- Add in the vodka (see note below on why to use this type of alcohol). Last, add in the baking soda. Stir around until everything is dissolved, then pop it into a sprayer.
So simple and so effective!
Why vodka in this? Vodka is the perfect alcohol source because it’s clear, not sweet or sticky, and it’s cheap. All drinking alcohol contains ethanol or ethyl alcohol. It evaporates well so there isn’t drops left where you spray.
I have had people ask me if they can just substitute rubbing alcohol, or isopropanol. The answer is no! Rubbing alcohol has a very pungent scent AND it is HIGHLY combustible. It is just better not to use that source of alcohol.
Read more about rubbing alcohol vs vodka in this post.
I don’t drink alcohol due to health reasons, but vodka is so cheap and easy to keep on hand. It is also PERFECT for making homemade vanilla extract which I always keep on hand.
You can use the cheapest vodka you can find for this and it still works great!
Don’t skip the baking soda!
You may be tempted to skip the baking soda since it is such a small amount, but don’t! Baking soda is great at absorbing odors. It is great to add to a room spray to really help get rid of lingering scents! I will be sharing some details soon on this awesome chemical and why it rocks!
Information about the rose essential oil in this:
Many readers have reached out about what type of rose essential oil. I use a rosewater concentrate or this type. Pure rose essential oil is very expensive. Since this is just for scent, you don’t have to use anything pricey. It is just for the scent, so I always use Now brand for this.
Ruger loved it too 🙂
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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 cool thing to make! As I read the ingredients I was thinking why vodka? So I’m glad you explained all the ingredients and why they should be used. So interesting!
This is so fun to make! And so easy! Vodka does sound kind of strange lol but it really is the perfect household source for this stuff!! 🙂
I would like to know the best source and brand of essential oils. Thanks!
Hi Tina! Inexpensive oils are fine for this since it is just for scent. THey should be linked in the ingredient list above for you 🙂 I use NOW brand for room sprays
This is great Alexis! You and your chemically ways. 🙂 What a great idea… you know, since I can’t drink (thank you MTX), if my hubby sees me reaching for the vodka, I’m going to get the “huh?” look… Could we mix different oils – like eucalyptus and lavendar… How about orange and or lemon (fruit salad). How much fun is this chemistry?!
My husband did the same thing lol. You could definitely mix your favorite scents and play around! Anything you like would be awesome! Chemistry is seriously the best!!!
Sounds nice and easy
Thanks Jo-Anna, it is so easy and fun to make 🙂
I never thought to do this before! What a great idea!
I love making it! So fun and easy, and it smells so good!! Thanks Lauren!
So doing this today. Love making natural and homemade for my home. Stuff like this makes great gifts.
It does make great gifts! I hope you enjoy making this 🙂
This is great! Lately I’ve been trying more homemade, nontoxic cleaning products. I never use an air freshener because the scent makes me feel funny, probably from all the weird ingredients. This one would be perfect!
There really are so many strange chemicals in store bought air freshener! I always feel a little weird after using them too. This one doesn’t have anything that will effect you, so it is the perfect solution!
You seriously come up with things I’d never think of! When I saw the vodka as the first ingredient I was like “whattt?!” So easy and it sounds like it smells amazing! <3, Pamela Sequins & Sea Breezes
I know, you’d never think of vodka lol. It is the perfect source for so many household things!
i love this! i have all of these things on hand and am going to make it during nap time!
I hope you enjoy it! It is so quick to make 🙂
Such a great idea, and vodka? Yes please!
Green Fashionista
Thanks girl!
I am pinning this for later. I love all natural products for my body and home!
I do too! It is so nice to use something that is chemical-free!
Alexis I love this Idea and will be trying it out tomorrow – I also loved seeing you on Pin Worthy Wednesday – I have a new link up on the same day I am Pinnable – I hope you will join in as I love having an excuse to see your blog
I hope you enjoy it! I would love to link up with her new link party! Have a great day!
Pinned! I will be making this! Thank you!
Thanks Abby, hope you enjoy it!
I’ve never seen a homemade air freshener using all natural ingredients! Thanks for the how-to!
Thanks Lisa! This stuff is so easy to make and smells so good!
This is such an awesome idea. I hate store bought air fresheners (like febreeze) because they just reek of chemicals and I cannot stand that smell! This is a natural way to do it and I love it! Definitely going to try!
They have so many chemicals, it’s crazy! This one is very light on the scent, but really combats odors!
Ok, I HAVE to try this! Thank you for sharing.
Thanks Brittany, I hope you enjoy it 🙂
For some reason I’ve never thought of making my own air freshener, but what a great idea!! It sounds like it smells amazing too!! 🙂
It smells great and it isn’t overpowering either. Perfect for using all the time! It is so easy to make 🙂
Thanks for this!! I usually just mix water and essential oils, but I want to try this. 🙂 I’ll need to buy vodka, though – never bought it before. 😉 I bought my ammonia at the store this morning to make your homemade plant food. Love reading your posts every Friday!
Adding the vodka really helps eliminate odors! And it evaporates quick too! Oh that is so awesome, I hope you enjoy making it 🙂
I have the oils, so I’ll definitely have to try this!
You will love it!
Since you have a dog, will this control pet odors (summer heat, sometimes wet if they can get inside quick enough if it starts to rain)? I also have a cat who is pretty much an indoor cat, so I have a litter box in a half bath.
I don’t have experience on cat odors, but this works well with dog odor. I just spray this all around each day and it really eliminates smells. The wet dog smell, I am not sure on. He isn’t wet very often, but I am sure it would help too! 🙂
Thanks, Alexis!
What a great idea! Thank you for sharing at Dishing It & Digging It 🙂
Thanks Angie!!
Will this work as well without the essential oils? In 30 years I haven’t found a scent my husband and I both like when it comes to air fresheners. I will sometimes sprinkle baking soda, ground cloves and ground cinnamon on the carpet before vacuuming, neither of us finds that offensive (though neither of us loves it either).
If there was a way to make lasagne essential oil my life would be SO much easier! lol
Hi Carolyn, it can work without the oils, but it is a little pungent in scent. You can also try my essential oil free autumn room spray here. We made this especially for our readers who don’t use essential oils. It has a nice scent that isn’t very strong, but pleasant! I have a lemon room spray in my upcoming book that is similar without essential oils that you may enjoy. The autumn room spray is a fun one to play around with on the scents. Let me know if you have any other questions! 🙂
Alexis, I have everything except the rose essential oil. Darn!!!! Will rosehip oil work?
You definitely need to use essential oil for this one, regular oils won’t spray well. You can leave it out or sub another essential oil if you have one 🙂
Thanks so much Alexis. You always respond so promptly.
You’re welcome 🙂 anytime!
I am wondering if this will affect my asthma, I have so many allergies to so many different things. For instance, I am allergic to the whole lily family of flowers! (One of my most favorite, by the way…) Will any of your recipes make my asthma and allergies act up? Another thing I am allergic to is chemicals like bleach and ammonia! Please help!
My mom has severe asthma which is one of the reasons I started creating homemade cleaners. Everything triggers her asthma! I can spray this around the house for her, and it doesn’t bother her. It’s very mild in scent and doesn’t leave anything in the air
That’s kewl…(cool) for those who don’t know… Lol. Thanks!
Orange and rose sound so lovely together. I’ve been wanting to try an all natural, homemade air freshener. How long does this spray keep for? And should I store it in the fridge?
It keeps for a really long time. At least a few months. The only thing that will breakdown over time is the baking soda. You don’t need to store it in the refrigerator:)
Alexis, i definietely will try the orange/rose combination. Would love to hear more about combinations for great home smells. Thanks
I love lavender/lemon together! Also, grapefruit/lemon or orange/lemon. Those are some of my favorite combos
Could Rose water concentrate be used in place of the rose oil? And could you suggest another rose combination other than orange? Thanks for all of your wonderful help and information!
You can definitely use rose water concentrate, it has the rose oil in it too and smells great! I love lavender and lemon together
Thanks so much Alexis! I will try those combinations.
hey Alexis,
Is there any possible substitute for the vodka that isnt as pungent as Isopropyl? Sadly, over here in the land of Oz, id be lucky to find vodka without having to break a $50! lol
Hi Kelly! I would just eliminate the vodka completely. Replace the same amount with water. All the alcohol does is prevent water droplets. If you just spray in the air, it is okay to just use water 🙂
Hi, Alexis.
I had myself thought about this one, but then I thought about these two questions:
1. If baking soda absorbs odors, then, why doesn’t it absorb the scents you add, such as the essential oils or whatever you use to add a nice aroma?
2. Where I live, drugstores and deposits sell industrial grade etanol which costs like 6 times less than vodka. Can I use these ones instead?
Thanks! Keep up the amazing work.
Hi Jose! Thanks for the comment. The baking soda does do a good job of absorbing certain types of odors, mainly things like musty scents. If baking soda is in a dish without other ingredients, like a fridge, it will really absorb any type of bacterial odor. For the room spray, it doesn’t absorb the concentrated oils. It will linger in the air though when it is is sprayed. You can definitely use other types of alcohol. I have found the vodka to have less of a pungent scent than the others, but it is worth a try! IF you think the odor is too strong, you can try the vodka! Hope this helps 🙂
Hi, I don’t live in the US and alcohol/vodka not very cheap here. The cheapest ones I find when I search for Vodka at the liquor store are described as ‘blends’ with 22% alcohol that seem to be a sort of cross between vodka and fortified wine. Do you think this will interfere with the quick evaporation and odorless nature of vodka? I’m really not a drinker or a chemis so have no idea!
As long as there is no coloring to the alcohol, whatever you can find should work. I like to use clear liquids to avoid any coloring dripping out. If you have trouble finding drinking alcohol, you can use a rubbing alcohol. The scent is a a little stronger, so you can add in some more essential oils. The alcohols main benefit is evaporation. If all else fails, you can use water….just keep in mind it can leave water droplets, so make sure to spray directly into open air instead of on surfaces
I’ve been making my room fresheners with essential oil and witch hazel. I can only smell the essential oil which works like a dream. What are your thoughts about using witch hazel? By the way, this spray works great in the bathroom to spray in the toilet before you “go”.
You can definitely use witch hazel 🙂 Witch hazel also contains a little alcohol too. It is not my typical go to ingredient mainly because it doesn’t evaporate as quickly as the alcohol does. It leaves more water spots when you spray (which doesn’t matter on certain surfaces). I have also found it not to cut down odors as much. But, it is definitely a good option and you can use it in place of alcohol if you would like!
Interesting. Well I’ll have to try the vodka. I’ll have to see if it makes a difference.
I don’t know if anyone else has had the same thought, but I think this vodka air freshener recipe should be re-named something like: BOOZIE Air Freshener (instead of using boujie).
Who doesn’t appreciate a good bad pun?
Hahaha that’s good!
Should this be only used in glass containers or is plastic ok
Thanks so much
Glass is better when you essential oils of any kind because it can break down plastic.