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Easy Baking Soda Air Freshener-TUTORIAL

| Filed Under: Gift Ideas, Home Decor, Natural Living, Tutorials

So you all know how I love me some natural home products, right?  Like my natural deodorant recipe and my natural air freshener recipe from way back when in the archives 🙂  Well, today I wanted to share another one of my favorite ways to add a simple natural scent to your home with a basic room air freshener using baking soda.  Sooo simple, sooo easy…and way better for you than those icky glade sprays and chemically-laden plug-ins!  
This literally will take you minutes to do and cost you pennies if you already have some essential oils in your cupboards.  You can customize it with any scent you like and prettify it with any color scrapbook paper.  Have I piqued your interest yet?  Well then, let’s get started!
Easy Baking Soda Air Freshener
1/2 cup baking soda (per jar)
Essential oil of your preference (8-12 drops)
Mason jar (I love the 8 oz wide mouth Elite Collection for these!)
Scrapbook paper
Tapestry needle 
Scissors and pen
This is seriously so easy, no lie!  I have a few books of Amy Butler Scrapbook paper that I love to use for  random odds and ends type projects like this.  I’ve had them forever and no matter how much I have used them the pages never seem to get depleted, yay me!
All you do is grab some scrapbook paper and trace the lid part (not the ring part…basically not the one in the picture above!) onto it with a pen or marker.  Then just cut out your circle….are you still with me?  I told you this was easy!

Then grab your tapestry needle, it’s one of those long needles similar to an embroidery needle (which would probably work just as well!).  It has a large eye as you can see in the picture above.  I like using these needles because they are much thicker than your average sewing needle, they pierce through the scrapbook paper with ease, are much easier to hold, and make a nice sized hole.

Then go to town punching the needle all over the scrapbook paper.  You are basically making a way for the pretty essential oil smells to waft throughout your home.

Then pour about 1/2 cup of baking soda into the mason jar and add in 8-12 drops of essential oil of your choice.  Start off by adding less oil and if you find it’s not strong enough to scent your room add in a bit more.  A bigger room will need more oil and a smaller room like a bathroom will use less.

Place the scrapbook paper inside the mason jar ring and tighten it onto the jar.  Gently shake up the baking soda/essential oil mixture and there you go…presto!  Easy Baking Soda Air Freshener!

You could make one for each room in your house in lots of pretty scents.  I personally like Lavender in the bedrooms and cinnamon in the bathrooms but anything goes with this fun project!
Thanks for stopping by!
XOXO,

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    Comments

      • Emma Barton says

        I see part of my Christmas and household care in this… with a few minor changes. I’m thinking “Dollar Store” bargain paper doilies… cut the lid shape from those… put the baking soda and oils in jar, and have the lid IN the jar for shipping/giving. Otherwise, just have the doily in it. Automatic air holes, and still pretty! 😀 Great idea!

      • miranda says

        I’ve actually got a few of these around the house and I used fabric for the lid and it works great! Just cut a square or circle that is a few inches larger than the mouth of the jar and use pinking shears… when you put the lid on it pulls it nice and tight, which makes it nice and sturdy!

      • miranda says

        I actually have a few of these around the house and I used fabric on mine! Just cut a square or circle a few inches larger than the mouth of the jar using pinking shears. When you screw the lid on it will pull the fabric nice and tight which makes it nice and stiff!

    11. Emily says

      I just pinned something like this from ucreate last week but I really like your addition of scrapbook paper. How clever and fun!! 🙂

      • Maggie says

        How funny! Glad you like the scrapbook paper option, it’s easy to change out with the seasons too…I am such a craft dork!

      • Maggie says

        I bought mine at Target I think, waaay back when…although I know you can get them online too! Look for the Elite Collection, they have that neat shape!

      • Anonymous says

        I am in Phoenix and they are at the WalMart Stores. They are less than $4.00 for a box of 4.

      • Marcy says

        I just bought mine today at Hobby Lobby. There were 4 in the box and they were $12. Although today was the grand opening, so they were half price! Can’t wait to make mine this weekend!

    14. Kari T! says

      I LOVE LOVE LOVE THIS IDEA!!!!! Thanks sooooooo much for sharing this!!!! I am going to go out and get the supplies later today or tomorrow. I am not familiar with essential oils, can you please tell me where I can get them?? Love it!!!!

      • Maggie says

        I buy my essentials oils at a local health foods store although you can also get them at Hobby Lobby in the soap-making section (for scenting soaps!)

    15. Abby says

      What a great idea! I have the same question about essential oils….where is a good place to find them? Thanks!!

      • Maggie says

        I buy mine at a local health foods store, Trader Joes’s carries Tea Tree Oil if you like that scent. And Hobby Lobby sells them in the soap making section for scenting soaps! Have fun!

    16. Kathryn says

      This would be cute in the back of a fridge! I’m making one to set by the changing table in my daughters room! Thanks–here via pinterest!

    18. Debbie says

      Love this idea — thank you! You’re so very right about the benefits of NOT using commercial room deodorizers. I have a nearly-year-old kitten who is ALLERGIC to many things (who knew — a CAT with a runny nose!) As even non-cat-owners are undoubtedly aware, the need for air fresheners in cat areas is pretty much non-negotiable. And in a tiny Manhattan apartment, where the only halfway decent spot for litter boxes is the bathroom…well, needless to say, I’ve been searching for air-freshening options that won’t make my kitten’s nose run for quite a while now! Can’t wait to try this!

      Folks: you should be able to find canning jars at any kitchen/household supply store (Bed, Bath & Beyond; sometimes I’ve seen them at Target; places like that). You also may get lucky with garage sales & estate sales — sold by silly people who think there’s no other use for their grandma’s old canning supplies! You can find essential oils at Whole Foods, some cosmetics places (Body Shop maybe, Bath & Body Works definitely had a line of E oils years ago…not sure if they still carry them), most “natural” food/nutrition stores; maybe even places like Bed, Bath & Beyond, and some drug stores or apothecaries. They are used for all sorts of things: you’ve probably seen them in stores where you already shop, but just passed them by if you’ve never used them before!

    19. Laura @ ON{thelaundry}LINE says

      One of these things live in my bathroom. 🙂 I love you for also not liking to chemical yourself/your family up… <3

      (the essential oils at The Body Shop are not pure and do contain fragrance/chemicals, since I see it mentioned by the previous poster as a possible place to buy it. I asked if they’re pure and they said no. For me locally I can find them at health food stores, like the ones where you’d buy things like whey protein and stuff, and also bulk food stores!)

      • Maggie says

        That is good to know about the Body Shop oils, I haven’t shopped there in years!! I love my local health food store for their whole rack of essential oils…some I never would have imagined!

    20. Roxanne says

      What a wonderful idea!
      I think these easy fast-doing air freshners would be fantastic in our house(in that rooms without my selfmade soaps and bathboms^^).
      And the air freshner will be nice little presents =)

      Greetings from Germany!

    22. Kari T! says

      Maggie~
      I want to thank you for actually reading your blog comments and helping your readers!!!! Cheers to you!!!! Keep up the good work!!!!

      • Maggie says

        I love reading my blog comments! It’s fun to see what everyone has to say! Thanks for your sweet comment Kari!! 🙂

    24. Sara says

      I just did this earlier this month as well! The scrapbook paper idea is way cute though, I just punched holes in the lid to the jar.

    25. Two Shades of Pink says

      This is brilliant! I have never even thought of making my own air freshener! Anything in a mason jar is just made more awesome. I actually made something similar last summer…but it was mason jar sippy cups using the scrapbook paper as lids for a party. But for grown ups who wont shake it up. :)Cant wait to try this!

    26. Jenny says

      This is such a pretty easy idea. I think it would be really cute to make the holes in a patter – a heart, flower or bird maybe.

    28. Kerri F. says

      Just wanted to say how much I love this idea! I will definitely be doing this one!! Thanks, Maggie.

    29. Jessica says

      I can’t wait to make some of these! I do have one question ~ how long do these last before you have to replace them?

      • Maggie says

        Mine last 2-3 months but it depends on the size of your room, if it’s open or closed in design, and how much oil you are using!

    30. Ruth K says

      I think that a fabric scrap would also work instead of the paper right? But of course it would have to be cotton or a not-so-tight weaved fabric.

    31. Susan Being Snippy says

      thanks for this idea! I am always fighting with my hubby over those store bought room fresheners — they cost way too much and just don’t do the job… I have mason jars and baking soda — must go essential oil hunting tho…Thanks again.

    33. Lisa says

      LOVE LOVE LOVE your site, and this air freshener is so cool! Love the natural ingredients – I have been using some essential oils on cotton balls in little ceraqmioc dishes, which sort of works, but does not last long – looking forward to seeing how long these will last. AWESOME idea for gifts, too – like a certain Secret Pal I have from a group from church. Thanks so much for sharing this 🙂

    34. Anonymous says

      Awesome! I remember my mom doing this back when I was a kid. Instead of essential oils, she would use a spritz or two of her favorite perfume. She also would sprinkle some on the carpet 5 mins before vacuuming to absorb odors. Thanks for reminding me of this!

      • Maggie says

        OMGosh, yes! And they used to make that carpet freshener that you could buy in the stores and sprinkle on your carpets!! Thanks for the memory jog, lol!

    35. Lisa says

      Hi Maggie, You’ve just given me a great idea for getting rid of the dogie-oder in my car! When ever my huge Sarplananic (45+ kilos) goes for a ride in the car, the car stinks for days afterwards. I think I will take some small tins (maybe mint tins) and make mini-car deoderizers. Is it a problem to use tins instead of glass???
      Thanks so much for sharing, Lisa

    39. Lea says

      I’m thinking of trying this with empty baby food jars and fabric. Thanks for your blog!

    41. Bex says

      Found this a couple of days ago and I had to try it! I would like to note that my husband had the idea of using cupcake wrappers in the absence of craft paper — and they’re the PERFECT size! No cutting needed! That’s what I used for mine 🙂

      • Maggie says

        Oooh, that is a great idea! And cupcake wrappers come in such great designs these days there are so many choices now!

    42. Valerie says

      Great idea! (And nicely-written article…thanks for using “piqued your interest” properly!) I can’t stand how chemical-y Glade air fresheners smell, so this little freshener will be a nice alternative to burning rather expensive scented candles. It can be refreshed by adding a few more drops of essential oils, correct?

      • Maggie says

        Yes, you can definitely refresh it by adding more essential oils! I also change out my baking soda every 2-3 months too just to keep it fresh!

    43. Jen @ Dear Mommy Brain says

      Love this! I have a ton of baby food jars at home that I think I will try to adapt for this project. Do you think fabric instead of paper would work? It wouldn’t be quite as secure…

    45. Shelly says

      Awesome idea!!! Thanks so much. I don’t have any Mason jars, so will make my own version with regular jars. I’ll have to poke holes in the jar lid and the paper.

      Also, I saw on Pinterest that Mason jars can be tinted. That would be a neat thing to do to the air freshners for some rooms in the house.

    46. Cheryl says

      Great idea. I love the simplicity of it. I have everything but the mason jars, but I may be in the market to get some mason jars for other things.

    47. Evey says

      This is so cute! Question though…doesn’t baking soda absorb smells? So wouldn’t it be absorbing all the essential oils? I feel like mixing the two would defeat the purpose… I’m still going to give it a try…but I was just wondering. 😉

      • Maggie says

        You know, it’s weird…you would think it would but it doesn’t. It’s a great base for the essential oils although I’m not sure why it works the way it does!

    48. Anonymous says

      Hi I LOVE this idea but over in the UK it’s very hard to get hold of mason jars – do you know of any alternatives that are as cute as mason jars please?

      • Maggie says

        you could use baby food or jam jars too, you may want to put fabric over top with maybe some twine or a pretty rubber band!

      • Anonymous says

        Thanks Maggie I browsed my local shop for alternatives and got a few but none so cute as the mason jar it’s just “dinky!) and used a paper lid and an elastic band popped it in my car and it’s working great! That’s the prototype now to make it pretty for gifts!
        Thanks again for a fab idea!

    49. Laura says

      I just made some of these for my house. They rock! My 5 year old son just asked me, “What’s that great smell I’m smelling?”

      I found my jars at Walmart and they were $3.97 for a 4-pack, and I bought the essential oil at a health food store, Sprouts.

      Thank you for the great idea!

    51. Dawn says

      I made one today and it smells awesome! I used lime as a pick me up. Question though: isn’t baking soda used to absorb odors? So isn’t it counter-productive to add scent to an absorbant? I love the idea, and bought mason jars and think it’s great, just can’t get my brain around it. 🙂

    53. Lori Ruth says

      awesome idea….so many people don’t know how toxic those store air fresheners are..they don’t freshener air the numb your nose so you can’t smell!

      I pinned your idea on my pinterest page because there was a pinterest botton on your page. If you want me to remove it just let me know.

      Thank you,
      Lori

    55. ABarnard says

      Mine didn’t work, let it sit over night with about 10 drops and next day didn’t smell much at all unless you got really close. Added another 12 so we will see but thinking it might not be working for me 🙁

      • Maggie says

        Oh no! Well, just add more, it definitely can’t hurt anything! I guess it really depends on the type/brand of essential oil you are using as well as the scent!

      • Maggie says

        My bottles say Wyndmere, see the picture above! I bought them at a local health food store…look for true essential oils!

      • Anonymous says

        I have had the same problem! I’m making them for bridal shower favors and now I’m panicking because I can’t get it to smell! I tried oils from Walmart and thought I was being too cheap and that’s why I couldn’t get the scent to come through. Then I tried oils from the local grocery store (they sell high end stuff) and it still didn’t smell good unless I stuck my nose to it. Maybe the scrapbook paper I’m using is too thick?? I tried poking more holes in it without luck. Any suggestions would be appreciated! 🙂

      • Maggie says

        Hmm, I’m not sure. Maybe you just need to add more oil…it could be the scent you are using too. It really won’t hurt to add more oil, I add more every few months just to refresh it!

      • Anonymous says

        I am having pretty much the same issue..Cant even smell it with bathroom door closed..I added like 20-25 drops of pure essential oils to the baking soda 🙁 and made big holes… Any suggestion would be really appreciated…

    58. Sandy says

      I like to use lace remnants… Beautiful and very loose weave. I also use the lace for the cover of my homemade carpet sprinkle. Sprinkles right through.

    60. Sharee says

      I wonder if you could use the essential oil citronella to use as a repellant outdoors as appose to the candles (you know, the ones that you have to remember to ligh, make sure you don’t knock over?)…might have to try it out and see…

    61. justjen2012 says

      Loving this idea ! I did an experiment that seems to be working so far , I have used empty candle jars, a couple of clear glass sundae dishes, anything I could find lying around. I did use the scrap book paper, however without the lid I have used restickable mounting strips ( just happened to have in house from recent CVS clearance) to mount the paper and then a toothpick to poke holes. I found some ribbon and then tied a bow around jars and also used restickable tape for bow. I also did not have any essential oils at this time, so I have used the scented oils that are used for scents in the home in the warmers, on light bulbs, etc. as well as some candy flavoring I also had. I am happy with my outcome and just thought I would share that basically you really can use anything you have at home. I have 5 kids, a traveling spouse, and so being frugal and thrifty is how we roll 🙂

    64. Amy Cain says

      I love this idea! I have asthma and bad allergies (Plug in air fresheners really bother me) so something more natural like this is PERFECT! Cute too, love Mason Jars!!

      Amy

    65. Essential oils says

      Natural deodorant
      Natural air freshener
      Basic room air freshener using baking soda

      Three Recipes are amazing.Thanks for sharing such valuable information.

    66. Anonymous says

      Could you even sprinkle it in your carpet and vacuum it up?
      I bet it would work.od Bless!!

    69. Emily Long says

      Thank you so much for this idea! I plan on making these for teacher/bus driver/troop leader Christmas gifts and I won’t break the bank!

    73. Jamie says

      Perfect use for those little jars because even though they are cute they don’t stack well! I knew I’d come across a good use for them. Thanks!

    74. Anonymous says

      I buy my essential oils from Plant Therapy. Go to their website. They have very high quality essential oils for a fraction of the price of other big name companies.

    75. Cheryl says

      I think this is a great idea. I work at an Elementary school. I work with some very wonderful ladies. I’m always trying to come up with cute ideas for gifts. It’s in a rural area and we are very homesie kind of ladies. Always giving tips on everything. I like this, will try it and maybe give them out. Need to figure out the cost per unit and then take them to the near by crafts fair. Again, thanks again.

    76. Beth says

      I love this idea. Do u have any ideas for a portable version for say the car or say a hockey bag? My son plays hockey and the bas smell so bad. It smells the whole car up. It is very difficult to wash the pads. It is literally a full day or more process so only done about once every other month as he doesn’t have that much time off. Would love something I could throw in his bag to absorb the odor but don’t want to get it everywhere. Any ideas would be awesome

      • Naví says

        Hi Beth,
        the reply is a bit late, but… what about a sock full of lavender? or any other pouch that’s durable but thin. I use that in my drawers to keep moths out, and keep the clothes smelling fresh in my humid climate.

    77. Brittany says

      Thanks, I spend so much money on candles. Hopefully I can just stick with this. I didn’t have a top for my mason jar so I just used flowered fabric, poked holes in it, and secured it with a rubber band. Great Idea!

    78. Joy says

      The Kerr wide mouth 8 ounce jars are available from Ace Hardware for about $12 a 12 pack, with free delivery to your local Ace Hardware.

    79. Simply Joyful says

      Love this… Think I will use in refrigerator instead of the “box of baking soda” Any ideas of w hat oils to use?

    80. Mel says

      Loved this idea and tried doing it. I followed the directions and made my freshener in a 4 oz Ball jar and cut holes in the top of a piece of colored paper. I put 12 drops of lavender e.o. and I shook up the jar, but it doesn’t seem to release any scent in my bedroom. Is there anything I can do to make it release the smell? Thanks!

    82. Amber says

      I made one of these…then 5 more! They are sooo good! I made the following scents:

      Pumpkin Pie — 15 drops cinnamon leaf, 10 drops nutmeg, 5 drops sweet orange, 3 drops bergamot. (orange food color)Divine!!!

      Lemony Fresh–15 drops lemon grass, 10 drops sweet orange, 5 drops bergamot. (yellow food color) It is beside the kitchen sink

      Manly scent–20 drops sage, 5 drops tea tree. (blue food color) In my husband’s bathroom. Works very well

      Vanilla Lavender–20 drops lavender, 10 drops vanilla (purple food color) For my bathroom.

      I used muffin liners for the “lid” I love it so much. Thank you!!!

    83. Jennay says

      Could I use these alone in my fridge with just the baking powder to get rid of smells?

    84. Laurie says

      I made these, and while they looked really cute, they didn’t smell much at all. Am I doing something wrong? I added the baking soda and at least 12 drops of essential oil. It was in my bathroom, so it wasn’t a big room, but no real aroma. Any advice?

    86. Alysia says

      I love these! I saw something similar to this a while back and have incorporated baby food jars with baking soda in hemp hangars hanging around my home to freshen the air. But I couldn’t bring myself to put essential oils in them. It just seems counterintuitive to me. 😛 If I put essential oil in the baking soda wouldn’t the baking soda absorb that scent, thus be a bit of a waste of the EO? And decrease the effectiveness or amount of time the baking soda is good? That has always troubled me.

      Sorry to be a party poopee. I really do love your site!

      • Maggie says

        If you use a good EO the smell last for quite some time, Alysia. Yes, eventually it where’s out but you should get a good month out of them!
        xo,
        Maggie

    89. Laura Wilson says

      I think these are so cute! If you’re planning to make an oil blend as opposed to just one scent would you recommend making the blend first and the adding to the baking soda? Or just add the drops individually to the baking soda? Also are you supposed to shake it up once you’ve added the oil? Or just let it sit on top? Sorry for all the questions, lol

      • Maggie says

        Hi Laura! I just drop the oils in separately when I mix scents. Shaking the jar will wake up the scents, I do that every few days if I can remember!

    Trackbacks

    14. […] Well, today I wanted to share another one of my favorite ways to add a simple natural scent to your home with a basic room air freshener using baking soda. Sooo simple, sooo easy…and way better for you than those icky glade sprays and chemically-laden plug-ins! To read more click here […]