Everyone loves a great smelling home, but often air fresheners contain a lot of toxins. This DIY Gel Air Freshener Recipe will leave your home smelling great naturally. It is so simple to make, and the scent combinations are virtually endless. (You can even customize them for the seasons!) This Homemade Air Freshener with Essential Oils deserves to become a habit.
You Are Going to Love How This Homemade Air Freshener Leaves Your Home Smelling!
There is nothing like walking into a great smelling home!
We all want our homes to smell fantastic, but sometimes that can take a little work.
When I was younger, I reached for commercial air fresheners and candles to keep my home smelling fresh. In recent years I've learned that this wasn't a good idea because most of them are loaded with toxins that I don't want my family exposed to.
Today I've got a great DIY Gel Air Freshener for you, but first, let's take a look at why you should consider getting rid of commercial air fresheners in your home.
Why You Should Skip Commercial Air Fresheners
- There are some 3,000 plus chemicals used in the manufacturing of commercial air fresheners, including volatile organic compounds. VOCs are known irritants linked to cancer, liver and kidney dysfunction, neurological impairment, asthma and other respiratory disease. Learn more about VOCs here.
- 95% of the chemicals in synthetic fragrances (listed as “fragrance” on the label) are derived from petrochemicals.
- Many air fresheners contain formaldehyde and benzene which are known carcinogens. They often also contain phthalates, which are chemicals known to cause hormonal abnormalities, birth defects, and reproductive problems.
- Even those market “natural” can contain harmful chemicals since there is no regulation governing the use of the term. Many of these can contain chemicals that are known to cause allergic reactions, asthma attacks, and other sensitivities.
Hopefully, you are convinced to ditch commercial air fresheners!
I love using a diffuser in my home, but these DIY Gel Air Fresheners are great for bathrooms, entryways, closets and other spaces that you might not have a diffuser.
Tips to Make a Homemade Air Freshener
- Make sure you use sea salt and not table salt. Table salt will impact the color and can turn the air freshener cloudy.
- I use grass-fed gelatin, because it is what I have on hand. Since you aren't eating this, it really doesn't matter what kind you use. You can find gelatin at most all grocery stores. (Usually near the jello.) You can also buy it online.
- Make sure you keep the tops lightly covered if you are going to allow these to solidify at room temperature. If dust gets on the top before they are solidified it is almost impossible to get out.
- While you can go the room temperature route, I highly recommend putting them in the refrigerator. Not only does it eliminated the dust issue, but it also makes your air fresheners more solid. And bonus: your fridge will smell great!
7 Homemade Air Freshener Recipes
1 Stress Relief Air Freshener
- 24 drops Cedarwood
- 22 drops Bergamot
- 14 drops Jasmine
2 Relaxation Air Freshener
- 30 drops Frankincense
- 20 drops Cedarwood
- 10 drips Roman Chamomile
3 Uplifting Air Freshener
- 20 drops Bergamot
- 20 drops Sweet Orange
- 10 drops Geranium
- 10 drops Rose
4 Citrus Sunshine Air Freshener
- 20 drops Grapefruit
- 20 drops Sweet Orange
- 10 drops Lime
5 Energetic Air Freshener
- 20 drops Eucalyptus
- 15 drops Cardamom
- 15 drops Rosemary
- 10 drops Lime
6 Fall Air Freshener
- 30 drops Sweet Orange
- 15 drops Patchouli
- 15 drops Ginger
7 Air Freshener for the Holidays
20 drops Fir Needle
20 drops Cassia
20 drops Sweet Orange
As a Plant Therapy affiliate, I earn from qualified sales.
Blends You Can Buy to Make a Homemade Gel Air Freshener
I love making my own blends to use in this recipe, but sometimes I need something quick and easy. Whether you are in a hurry, don't have a huge supply of oils to make blends, are just want to try something new, all of these oil blends will leave your home smelling A-Mazing!
- Bouquet is a delightfully refreshing scent that combines mandarin, lemon, lavender, palmarosa, and ho wood. It is a cheerful aroma that can help to lift the mood.
- Meditation is one of my all-time favorite blends! This blend of ylang-ylang, patchouli, frankincense Serrata, clary sage, sweet orange, and thyme helps to bring about calm alertness.
- Love Vanilla is a combination of vanilla oleoresin and ylang-ylang complete. It is a luxurious sensual scent and perfect for anywhere you want to add a touch of romance.
- With coriander seed, geranium bourbon, sweet orange, and jasmine absolute, Joyful Creation invites a sense of joy while helping to nurture creative expression.
- With sweet orange, cinnamon bark oil, ginger root oil, and nutmeg, Holiday Season brings up warm memories of holidays past.
- Deodorizing Synergy is perfect if you are looking to make air fresheners for areas in your home that can get to smelling…less than ideal. This blend includes palmarosa, lemon, patchouli, coriander, pink grapefruit, cypress, bergamot, and tea tree. (This blend is impressive - it instantly took the odor out of a front-loading washer when nothing else would work. It is one of my favorite natural ways to eliminate odors.)
- Spring Blossoms is the perfect way to brighten your day. This floral and citrus blend includes Neroli, Sweet Orange, and Lime.
- Harvest Moon is a crisp, clean aroma that will remind you of a brisk invigorating morning walk with autumn leaves crunching below your feet. This blend is made of bergamot, fir needle, cedarwood, juniper berry, and cardamom.
- For a warm and comforting aroma, you can’t do better than Maple Leaf Essential Oil Blend! This blend includes Vanilla Oleoresin, German Chamomile, Cedarwood, and Cardamom. I can't wait to use this blend in my homemade gel air fresheners this fall!Air res -
- Fall Rain is crisp, coniferous, and subtly sweet with Douglas fir, Bergamot, Juniper, and Lavender.
The Quality of The Essential Oils You Use Matters!
After looking closely at the quality, purity, and ethics of so many companies, I've fallen in love with both the company and their oils. They have a large line of organic oils and are serious about safety. Every single batch is tested to ensure purity!
Read my full Plant Therapy Review for why they are my go-to company.
How to Make a Gel Air Freshener
Time needed: 15 minutes.
Learn how to make a DIY Gel Air Freshener and keep your home smelling great without harmful toxins. Perfect for gifts!
- First, gather your ingredients. You will need:
Small Glass Jars (I used 7 ounce jars)
3 cups water, divided
¼ cup unflavored gelatin
2 tablespoons Sea Salt
Essential Oils (this is the brand I use and trust!)
Food Coloring, optional (preferably a natural brand) - Soften the gelatin
Next, place a cup of water in a small bowl. Sprinkle gelatin on top and let sit for a few minutes to soften.
- Boil water
Meanwhile, bring 2 cups of water to a simmer. Stir in salt and allow to dissolve.
- Add gelatin
Reduce heat to low and stir in gelatin mixture. Remove from heat and whisk until combined.
- Add essential oils.
After that, place 60 drops of essential oils to each jar.
- Optional: Add food coloring.
If you want to add color, add food coloring to each jar. I used about 6 drops. Stir into each jar to evenly disperse oils and food coloring.
- Refrigerate until solid.
Finally, refrigerate for about 2 hours.
DIY Gel Air Freshener
Ingredients
- Small Glass Jars I used 7 ounce jars
- 3 cups water divided
- ¼ cup unflavored gelatin
- 2 tablespoons Sea Salt
- Essential Oils
- Food Coloring optional
Instructions
- Place 1 cup of water in a small bowl.
- Add gelatin and let soften.
- Meanwhile, bring 2 cups of water to a simmer. Stir in salt and allow to dissolve.
- Reduce heat to low and stir in gelatin mixture.
- Remove from heat and whisk until combined.
- Place 60 drops of essential oils to each jar. Add 6 food coloring if desired.
- Stir each jar to evenly disperse oils and food coloring.
- Lightly cover, and transfer to the refrigerator until solid. (You may also let them sit at room temperature to get solid, but I found they were much more firm when I used the refrigerator.)
Jenny Kay
How long will these air fresheners last? Weeks... months?? Also does it have to be stored in the fridge after the initial setting process? Seems like it would melt a bit like jello does.
Wendy Polisi
Mine are about three weeks old and still going strong. They haven't melted yet, but I would imagine that they could if your house was very warm.
Jeanette
Oh I am totally going to do this! I love air fresheners but for the reasons you mention here I have not done it! This is perfect!
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I love these! I used to love using candles and air fresheners to keep my home smelling great, that is until I learned about VOCs and how dangerous it is to be exposed to these. I'd love to try making some of these with my favorite essential oils!
Kelly Reci
This is so perfect for our home. I would also like to make some of these as Christmas present to my friends? Do you have any idea how long it will last?
Gladys parker
While my mother always said perfumed things such as deodorants had bad for us ingredients in them I never knew just how bad these toxins and stuff was til now. I love the idea of safe, homemade air fresheners. Maybe I can actually use them as my asthma and COPD doesn't allow for commercial brands.
Irina David
ooooo this sounds fantastic. I already have all the ingredients on hand and my 11 y.o will enjoy making it this weekend... Thank you for the recipe
betzy cuellar
This is a very nice gift for people in our lives. I think I will do something similar for my co-workers.
Cindy Gordon
That is such an adorable air freshner!! I love the gel ones too because they seem to last longer.
Tami
We always have an air freshener going. I like the idea of not causing toxins to float around our home.
Winsant
Great way to bring some cool fragrance to one's home......
Julie Syl
That DIY gel air freshener looks really awesome. It seems to be helpful in every house to have a pleasant air inside the house and delivers good vibes! Thumb up!
Lisa Rios
It is true that so many household products are toxic and are not good for our health. I will have to try this recipe!