Make Your Own Cologne-Based Room Freshener

Making your own room freshener is a fun and easy project that can be done at home. All you need are a few simple ingredients and supplies, many of which you may already have at home. In addition to being inexpensive, homemade room fresheners allow you to choose your own fragrances and get the perfect concentration. You can also control the ingredients used, opting for natural, chemical-free essential oils to avoid potential allergies or reactions.

Choosing a scent

If you are using cologne to make your room freshener, you can opt for a single-note fragrance, or combine different colognes to create a unique blend. For example, you could mix a fruity cologne with a muskier scent, or blend floral notes with something earthier.

When creating your own room spray, you can use a concentration of up to 25% fragrance. However, it is recommended to start with a small amount of fragrance and keep adding until you reach your desired scent strength. You can always add more, but it is harder to reduce the intensity if you have added too much.

If you are using essential oils, add a few drops at a time to test the strength of your mixture.

For a bedroom, a calming and soothing fragrance is a good option. Something with notes of lavender or chamomile could be ideal. To bring a refreshing scent to a bathroom, a crisp, ozonic fragrance is perfect. For a living room, a delicate and inviting floral fragrance, such as cherry blossom or peony, could be a great choice.

You can also create a room spray that doubles as an aromatherapy spray, using essential oils with added health benefits. For example, lavender is great for relaxation, while citrus scents are energising. Other essential oils with healing properties include eucalyptus and tea tree oil.

If you are using perfume samples to make your room spray, you can combine different scents to create a unique fragrance. You can also add essential oils to the mix to enhance the scent.

The possibilities are endless, so get creative and experiment with different combinations to find your perfect scent!

Finding a spray bottle

When making a room freshener from cologne, the type of spray bottle you use is important. The bottle should be made of glass or high-quality plastic. You can easily find spray bottles online or at your local homeware store.

Amazon offers a wide variety of spray bottles in different materials, colours, and sizes. For example, they have a set of 16 4oz amber glass spray bottles for $18.99, which comes with 24 nozzles, 2 funnels, 2 droppers, and 24 labels. They also offer a pack of 2 16oz amber glass spray bottles for $11.99, which includes accessories for aromatherapy and cleaning.

Etsy is another great option for finding spray bottles, especially if you're looking for something more aesthetically pleasing. They have a set of 6 or 12 4oz amber, clear, or black and gold glass fine mist spray bottles with a product box for $21.13, currently on sale for $14.79.

If you're looking for a more cost-effective option, you can try eBay or your local thrift store. You can also reuse old spray bottles from household cleaning products, as long as they are thoroughly cleaned beforehand.

When choosing a spray bottle, consider the type of nozzle and whether it creates a fine mist or a stronger stream. For room fresheners, a fine mist nozzle is usually preferred to evenly distribute the scent without creating a strong concentration in one area.

Make sure to check the seller ratings and read reviews before purchasing spray bottles online. This will help ensure that you're getting a quality product that meets your needs.

Once you've selected and purchased your spray bottle, you can move on to the next step of making your room freshener from cologne!

Diluting the cologne

Prepare the Cologne and Other Ingredients:

Firstly, gather your supplies. You will need a spray bottle, preferably made of glass or high-quality plastic. The spray nozzle should produce a very fine mist for optimal dispersion of the fragrance. You will also need distilled or purified water, as it helps prevent bacterial growth and prolongs the life of your room freshener. Additionally, you can opt for an unscented essential oil such as jojoba oil or similar.

Mixing the Ingredients:

Now, it's time to mix the ingredients. Start by pouring the water into the spray bottle, filling it halfway. Then, add your chosen cologne. A good rule of thumb is to use 3 to 4 drops of cologne for every 1/2 cup of water. You can adjust the ratio based on your desired fragrance strength, but remember that colognes are highly concentrated, so a little goes a long way. Finally, add a few drops of the unscented essential oil to the mixture.

Mixing and Testing:

Secure the spray bottle with the nozzle and cap, then shake the bottle vigorously for about a minute. This helps combine the ingredients and ensures the cologne is adequately diluted. After shaking, test the fragrance by spraying a small amount into the air or onto a piece of fabric. Assess whether the scent is too strong or too subtle and adjust the ratio of cologne to water accordingly.

Adding Extra Ingredients:

If you want to enhance the fragrance or create unique scent profiles, consider adding essential oils. For a calming scent, add a few drops of lavender and chamomile essential oils. For a refreshing citrus scent, opt for orange, lemon, or grapefruit essential oils. You can also get creative and mix different essential oils to create custom blends.

Storing and Using Your Room Freshener:

Once you're happy with the fragrance, your room freshener is ready to use! Store it in a cool, dry place, and give it a quick shake before each use. When using the room freshener, spritz it into the centre of the room, avoiding direct contact with fabrics or porous surfaces to prevent staining. Enjoy your freshly scented space!

Adding essential oils

Supplies:

• Glass spray bottle (an old, cleaned bottle will work)
• Distilled or purified water
• Vodka, witch hazel, or rubbing alcohol
• Essential oils of your choice
• Funnel (optional)

Instructions:

• Start by pouring 1 fluid ounce (30 mL) of vodka, witch hazel, or rubbing alcohol into your spray bottle. These substances will help to emulsify the essential oils so they don't just float on top of the water.
• Add 15-20 drops of your chosen essential oil(s). If you're using multiple oils, you can play around with the ratios to create a unique blend.
• Fill the rest of the bottle with distilled or purified water. Using distilled or purified water will help prevent bacterial growth and extend the life of your room freshener.
• Screw on the spray top and shake the bottle vigorously to combine all the ingredients.
• Spritz your homemade room freshener into the air or onto linens to enjoy your custom scent!

Tips for Creating Your Scent:

• Choose essential oils that complement each other. For example, lavender, eucalyptus, and chamomile are often used together for a calming scent, while citrus oils like orange and lemon can create an energizing blend.
• If you're using a strong-scented essential oil, start with a small amount and test the scent before adding more. You can always add more oil, but it's harder to remove it if you've added too much.
• If you want to get creative, try adding dried flowers, herbs, or spices to your room freshener for extra fragrance and a decorative touch.

Benefits of Making Your Own Room Freshener:

• You can create a custom scent that's perfect for your preferences and space.
• Homemade room fresheners are often more cost-effective than store-bought options.
• You can avoid the potentially harmful chemicals found in some commercial air fresheners.
• Essential oils offer various benefits beyond scent, such as improving mood, promoting relaxation, or boosting energy.

Using your room spray

If you want to make the scent last longer, try spraying it onto fabrics such as towels, pillows, blankets, and soft linens. The aroma will absorb into the fabric, giving it a longer lifespan. You can also add a few pumps from the spray bottle onto an extra piece of cloth and store it in a closet or cupboard to keep the space smelling pleasant.

You can also spritz your room spray onto curtains, especially if they are made from soft fabrics such as cotton, silk, linen, rayon, velvet, lace, or brocade. If you open a window, the wind will help carry the scent throughout your space.

Another tip to make the scent last longer is to spray it onto wool dryer balls before doing the laundry. The sweet-smelling wool dryer balls will then give all of your clothes a fresh and uplifting scent.

If you are always on the go, carry a small bottle of room spray in your purse or keep one in your car.

Frequently asked questions