Purify your space with an easy DIY natural air freshener

Harness the power of scents to switch up the mood and clean the air, too!

Smells are powerful cognitive triggers that play a big role in helping us create desired ambiences. Especially when we spend a lot of time in the same space, scents can help to freshen the mood or even define the space’s function. For instance, a citrus based scent could be used in a home office to help with focus while dreamy lavender is soothing and calming, making it a great choice for a bedroom.

So here’s an easy DIY natural air freshener that’s made with things you probably already have at home. The star of this craft is baking soda that absorbs and neutralises unpleasant odours.

You will need:

• Baking soda
• Natural scent of your choice (some ideas: lavender, eucalyptus, orange, lemon)
• Essential oils of your choice
• Glass jar or Mason jar
• Bowl and spoon
• Paper or fabric
• Twine or string to decorate (optional)
• Scissors
• Needle or pin

Step 1

Pour some baking soda into the bowl - enough to fill your jar to a depth of about 1.5 inches. Then, add your scent of choice. In this case, we used lavender seeds and a few drops of lavender essential oil. Here are some scents to consider based on your needs:

• Clarity and focus: peppermint, rosemary, patchouli
• Energising: lemon, orange
• Calming: lavender, vanilla, bergamot

Step 2

Mix thoroughly with a spoon and transfer the mixture into the jar.

Step 3

If you’re using a Mason jar, poke holes in the lid or replace the flat inner lid with a layer of paper - simply trace a circle around the jar lid onto the paper and cut it out. Poke holes in the paper using a pin, then stick or place the paper between the rim of the jar, then screw the outer lid on.

For regular glass jars with no lids, cut a circle out of fabric that’s 2-3 inches larger than the jar. Poke holes in the fabric using a pin. Then, secure over the jar mouth with string.

Step 4

We then went ahead and decorated ours by tying a sprig of lavender with some twine.

The mixture could also be put in a cloth pouch and left in drawers or cupboards to freshen them up. If you liked this idea, here are a few more ways to incorporate mindful living at home.