DIY Car Freshener With Essential Oils
Car fresheners may promise the smell of ocean breeze or trees, but they rarely deliver. Instead, cars end up smelling like the sharper versions of the aromas car fresheners are trying to mimic. But this is just the tip of the iceberg. Store-bought car fresheners contain harmful chemicals that nauseate a lot of people.
Luckily, essential oils provide an alternative to these harmful chemicals. They are nature’s fragrance and deodorizer. They also have a bundle of health benefits, in contrast to the harmful chemicals in commercial car fresheners. If you want an alternative to traditional car fresheners, try this DIY car freshener with essential oils recipe.
Dangers Of Traditional Car Fresheners
Traditional car fresheners are made with synthetic fragrances. Often, these ingredients are not disclosed, so it’s difficult to tell how safe they truly are. Some synthetic fragrances, however, may be made with chemicals that cause diseases, birth defects, or aggravate conditions like dermatitis. They are dangerous because they can be absorbed into the bloodstream through prolonged exposure.
Benefits Of Essential Oils
Essential oils have different properties just as they have unique scents. You can combine different essential oils depending on what you will use them for and what type of aroma you prefer. Not only will you get all-natural, non-toxic fragrance from essential oils, but you will also receive various health benefits.
For a car freshener, a blend of spearmint, peppermint, melissa, tangerine, and rosewood is ideal. This blend helps reduce fatigue, stimulates the mind, relieves headaches, and boosts energy. This is perfect as a car freshener as it can keep you alert and help you stay calm while driving at the same time.
- Spearmint – Antibacterial, antiviral, reduces stress, and alleviates pain
- Peppermint – Antibacterial, reduces stress, and alleviates pain
- Melissa – Uplifts the mood, calms you down, and promotes healthy digestion
- Tangerine – Antifungal, antiseptic, uplifts the mood, calms you down, and energizes you
- Rosewood – Antibacterial, antiseptic, uplifts the mood, and helps with nausea
A DIY car freshener is also much more affordable than store-bought ones, and they can last just as long. A car freshener made with essential oils can last somewhere between 2 to 3 weeks.
Types Of DIY Car Freshener
This DIY car freshener recipe can be stored in different containers. You can use a small glass bottle with a wooden cap, a felt diffuser, or a spray bottle. There are pros and cons to each.
Glass Bottle
This may be a bit harder to find, but it is optimal for dispersing a car freshener solution. The wooden cap serves as the diffuser. The air freshener solution slowly evaporates through the wooden cap and spreads a subtle scent throughout the car. However, you can control the intensity of the scent by tilting the bottle so that more of the solution is absorbed and diffused.
Felt Diffuser
This is a particularly nice and colorful option. It works great for aromatherapy essential oil necklaces, but you can use it as a car freshener as well. You may need to add a few drops of essential oil every few days to keep the scent fresh.
Spray Bottle
A spray bottle gives you full control over the amount solution you disperse in your car. This method is long lasting and you won’t need to use it more than a couple of times a week.
Portable Nebulizing Diffuser
The Mobile-Mini 2.0 Nebulizing Diffuser is a great way to keep your car fresh. You can leave it in your car or you can bring it with you each time you commute or also move it from vehicle to vehicle. Using a diffuser gives you the full benefit of the essential oils while driving. This diffuser is strong and powerful and you may only need to turn it on for five to ten minutes at a time and the scent can linger for many hours if not subtly for days.
The four options we’ve mentioned are the easiest, most cost-efficient methods for storing and dispersing a DIY car freshener with essential oils. Regardless of which one you go for, you will still benefit from the scents and properties of the essential oils in the solution.
How To Make A DIY Car Freshener With Essential Oils
The Ingredients:
- 5 ml denatured alcohol (you may also use vodka)
- 5 ml Energy essential oil blend (spearmint, peppermint, melissa, tangerine, and rosewood essential oil)
The Steps:
- Prepare your chosen diffuser.
If you’re using a glass bottle or a spray, make sure it’s clean and dry.
If you’re using a felt diffuser, cut 3 pieces of felt in the shape of a circle or whatever shape you prefer and sew all the pieces together. Punch a hole in each of them and tie a string through them. (Note: if you’re using a felt diffuser, mix and store your freshener solution in a bottle for easy access later on.)
- Pour the denatured alcohol into the container.
- Pour 5 ml of Energy essential oil blend or equal parts spearmint, peppermint, melissa, tangerine, and rosewood essential oil.
- Stir the solution and cover the container.
- Hang your DIY car freshener inside your car.
Enjoy the fragrant scent of your homemade car freshener every time you drive your car.
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