How to Make Simple, Natural and Great-Smelling Air Fresheners
What’s the first thing that you think of when it comes to a homemade air freshener or odor absorber? If you guessed baking soda or any lemon-based oil or liquid, then you’re not alone. These are two of the most common items that come to mind, and unfortunately, most people don’t look for better or a more diverse set of alternatives. While air fresheners may not be on the top of your list of priorities with respect to your preparedness efforts, they will most definitely make a welcome addition after the SHTF.
Let’s take a look at a few ideas that will give you some additional options as well as scents that can help to make survival living a little more bearable.
Stove top Potpourri
This is a very simple recipe to put together as long as you have access to a working stove and plenty of extra fuel. All you need to do is add some cinnamon as well as a few slices of your favorite citrus to some water. Throw in a couple of berries and bring the heat up just enough to cause the water to steam without simmering or boiling. The fragrance will start to permeate the air and help to neutralize odors and freshen things up a bit. Feel free to experiment with different fruit and spice combinations to achieve the scent that you’re looking for.
Gel-Based Air Freshener
If you have some small glasses or candle bowls, you can make a nice, fragrant air freshener without the need to light a flame or cooking one on your stove top. All you need is a packet (or tablespoon) of gelatin, some essential oils, dried lavender or rose petals, a tablespoon of salt and some water. All you need to do is add the gelatin to ¾ cup of boiling water and stir until it is completely dissolved.
Remove from heat and stir in the essential oils before topping with your dried flowers. All you need to do is allow the jars to cool to room temperature in order for the gelatin to set, and you can start to use these air fresheners right away. Again, feel free to improvise with different oils, flowers or spices until you find the most appealing combination. As a general rule of thumb, try to add about 10% essential oil in relationship with how much liquid and gelatin you are using as a starting point, but you can add more or less as desired as well.
Alcohol-Based Essential Oil Spray
This option is great when you want to spray a room or area from time to time to freshen the air. Take ¾ cup of water and combine it with about 2 tablespoons of vodka, pure vanilla extract or rubbing alcohol, and pour it into a spray bottle. Add in about 10-20 drops of your favorite essential oil or combination of oils based on your preferences, screw on the spray cap and give it a good shake. All you need to do is start spraying and you’re good to go.
These are just a few examples of dozens of alternatives to baking soda or citrus for air fresheners, and there’s no limit to the different combinations that you can create. Do some experimentation and see how these little ideas can eliminate the need to purchase and stock up on chemical-based products. You can also start benefiting from them now in addition to incorporating them into your off-the-grid living plans in the future.
