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I’ve done a few posts on how to make your home smell good, but these DIY gel air fresheners just might be my favorite! They’re easy to make, you can customize them with any scent you prefer, and they’re very nice to look at! :-) The process is so simple, you can easily make a bunch of air fresheners in just a few minutes.
There are two different methods for making these gel air fresheners, either with water and essential oils, or with liquid potpourri. Water and essential oils will give you an all-natural air freshener, and the scent combinations are virtually endless! Liquid potpourri can be purchased next to scented candles, and comes in a few standard scents. They smell great and are fairly inexpensive.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup water OR 1 cup liquid potpourri
- 2 individual envelopes of unflavored gelatin
- 1 Tbsp. Salt
- 20 drops of your favorite essential oils (only if using water)
- Heat-Safe Containers
- Food Coloring (optional)
- Silk Flowers (optional)
In a small saucepan on the stove, heat 3/4 cups of water (or liquid potpourri) and the salt. When the salt is completely dissolved, slowly add the gelatin, and stir until that is completely dissolved as well. If you add the gelatin too quickly, it might get a little sticky and “clumpy,” but just keep stirring until it dissolves.
Remove the saucepan from the heat and then add the remaining liquid. Stir until fully blended, and pour the mixture into the containers of your choice.
Now add your essential oils (only if you used water). You can always add more or less essential oils based on your preference, and you can do different oils in each air freshener! I used a combination of Sweet Orange and Rosemary oils, and it smelled amazing! I also love using citrus oils like grapefruit, tangerine, lemon and lime. They smell so clean. :-)
Now it’s time for a bit of decoration, if you want to! Some silk flowers and a drop or two of food coloring make them look so fun! Now that your air fresheners are scented, colored and decorated; let them cool to room temperature.
You don’t have to add a lid, but the gel will dry out a little faster without a lid. I used a lid with a hole for a straw, and one frog lid. You could also use a hole punch to make your own vented lid! Just a couple of punches through a standard lid will work perfectly.
This project is super easy, and a cute flowery air freshener would make a great hostess gift! You could easily double or triple the recipe to make more at a time, but keep in mind that they do dry out in a month or so (faster if you don’t use a lid of some sort.)
What’s your favorite scent?
Gel Air Fresheners
Ingredients
- 1 cup water OR 1 cup liquid potpourri
- 2 envelopes of unflavored gelatin
- 1 Tbsp. salt
- 20 drops essential oils only if using water
- heat-safe containers
- food coloring optional
- 1 silk flower optional
Instructions
- Heat 3/4 cup of water or liquid potpourri over medium-high heat.
- Add the salt and stir until dissolved.
- Add the gelatin and stir until dissolved.
- Remove from heat and add remaining 1/4 cup of water or liquid potpourri.
- Pour into containers and add essential oils, food coloring and silk flowers; if you want to.
- Let cool, and then cover with a vented lid.
