Homemade Air Freshener Gel Recipe

This homemade air freshener gel recipe is an easy, all-natural way to add your favorite fragrance to your home’s air.

Homemade Air Freshener Gel

The Problem with Most Air-Fresheners

As we become increasingly aware of indoor air pollution dangers, many are choosing to replace commercial cleaning products with all-natural homemade cleaners. We shouldn’t stop there, however. Air freshener sprays and plug-ins other sources of volatile organic compounds (VOC’s) linked to cancer, including several banned under federal law.

Labeling laws don’t require manufacturers to disclose the specific ingredients in their air fresheners or cleaning products. If you or someone in your family have allergies, that lack of transparency can lead to a lot of unnecessary discomforts.

So, the real question is: why would anyone want to spray that stuff around their home? With homemade air freshener gels, you can have beautifully-scented air while knowing the exact ingredients you’re using, and you can enjoy those things for just pennies! (Related: How to Make Homemade Cleaners.)

Homemade Air Freshener Gel Recipe

Ingredients

• 20 drops of your favorite essential oil(s)
• 2 tbsp. sea salt (table salt will make them cloudy)
• Liquid food coloring (optional)
• Four packets of plain, unflavored gelatin
• 2 cups water
• Four clean 8-oz. size glass food jars with screw-on lids

Directions

1. In a measuring cup, sprinkle the gelatin over 1/4 cup cold water. Let it soften 5 minutes.

2. Meanwhile, bring 3/4 cup water to boil in a small saucepan over high heat.

3. Immediately remove the pan from heat and gently stir in essential oils, and salt. (The salt helps prevent mold growth.) If you are using liquid food coloring, stir it in now.

3. Pour the softened gelatin into the hot water and stir until combined. Next, gently stir in 1 cup of cold water. Do not stir vigorously or it will foam up and create a cloudy gel!

4. Place the jars on a towel-covered countertop or cutting board and carefully pour one-fourth of the gelatin mixture into each container. Let the contents set-up overnight then put the lids on.

5. Store unopened jars in a dark, cool place and use within three months.

Fragrance combinations

Coming up with a signature scent for your home is part of the fun of making this homemade air freshener gel recipe. Here are a few ideas to help you get started.

Citrusy – Orange, lemon, grapefruit, and spearmint.

Fresh and clean – Lavender and lemon.

Autumn spice – Bergamot, sweet orange, frankincense, and cinnamon.

Winter woodsy – Balsam fir, cedarwood, cypress, and lemon.

Romantic floral – Rose, geranium, and neroli.

Tips

• Decide how many air fresheners you plan to use right away. Poke five to six holes in those lids using a hammer and nail. Leave the remaining covers without holes to keep their fragrance intact during storage.

• If you want to make the cap attractive, prime and spray paint it before hammering in the holes. Or cover it with a beautiful scrap of thin fabric hot-glued around the rim. Just be careful not to clog the holes with hot-glue!

• One 8-oz container of air freshener gel will scent an average-sized room. For larger rooms, use more than one jar.

• Keep the homemade air freshener gel away from direct sunlight. Don’t place the jars directly beneath ceiling fans or in front of air vents, or their fragrance will evaporate quickly.

• If you use a lid with holes, the homemade air freshener gel in each jar will last approximately one month. If you don’t use caps, you’ll need to replace them more often.