Making Your Own Air Fresheners

Making your own air fresheners is a great way to not only eliminate odor, freshen the air of the home, and have a little bit of fun, but to also save money. After all, reed diffusers, candles, smelling salts, essential oils, incense, and so on are all examples of air fresheners that you can purchase at just about any department or grocery store in the country. Beyond the obvious element of making things smell pretty, there is one other item that they share as well. That item is the price.

The cost of "generic" air fresheners can be expensive, and when you begin dealing with name brands the price only goes up. If you are looking to save a little bit of money, but also have a fresh smelling home, office, or car then take a look at some of these great options for making your own air fresheners.

• Homemade potpourri spray. A simple homemade potpourri is to combine 1 cup of liquid witch hazel, 40 dried bay leaves, and 4 tablespoons of dried sage in a medium sized glass jar and mix everything together. Let the mixture sit at room temperature for three days, and then stir the mixture again. Strain the leaves out, and then pour the liquid into a spray bottle. The result is a great smelling potpourri spray that you can use just like any of the name brands.
• Spicy potpourri. A great smelling traditional potpourri can be made by mixing together some cloves and cinnamon sticks. Place two large cinnamon sticks which have been broken in half, and about three tablespoons of coarsely ground cloves into a cheesecloth bag to make a potpourri sachet. Place your sachet into a small pot along with some water, and heat the water to a gentle boil. Keep an eye on the water while it boils to prevent any scorching, but simply sit back and enjoy the wonderful smells permeating your home.
• Vinegar. Boiling about a cup of water and one table spoon of apple cider vinegar will get rid of many of the odors that you have in your kitchen. You can also mix a 50/50 solution of water and apple cider vinegar and get a dish towel wet with the solution. Allow the towel to air dry, and you will have a simple and safe air freshener that you can simply forget about.
• Open windows and doors. One of the simplest ways to help reduce the odors in your home, and to freshen the air in your home is to periodically open the doors or windows in your home. By leaving the doors or windows open for about an hour a day, you are allowing the air to circulate in your home room, and this helps to get rid of many home odors that build up over time.