I can’t bare to part with my empty essential oil bottles. I know it’s not rational. 🙂 But I’m always looking for ways to reuse them or upcycle them to a new life. This is one of my favorites because it’s cute and EASY-PEASY-LEMON-SQUEEZY.
I’m mean just look at all these beauties! How can I let them go, right?
WHY should you avoid traditional air fresheners and use essential oils instead? Check out THIS article from the Environmental Working Group (EWG) on the truth about air fresheners. The EWG website is a great resource to check out health safety ratings on air fresheners (and other household products, like cleaners and personal care products). The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released their Top 10 Killer Household Chemicals (check out the results HERE) and guess what is number 1 on the list? You got it = air fresheners.
So, bring on nature’s plant juice instead, right?! Best part? It could not be any easier to make this little natural air freshener! I keep mine on the back of the toilet. (Cuz, you know…needing some fresher air in there!) But you could put them wherever you need a little happy air.
WHAT YOU NEED:
All you need is your empty essential oil bottles and a dish or basket for them. Epsom salts are an optional way to rev up the scents. Get creative on your dish. Here’s the cute galvanized metal soap dish I used.
And here are some cute ideas for customizing it!
- Galvanized metal buckets HERE
- Wire Soap Dish HERE
- Metal Bucket HERE (this one is pretty big, but awfully cute!)
- Adorable Claw Foot Tub Dish HERE
INSTRUCTIONS:
Select empty essential oil bottles with scents that compliment each other. Scents that are strong and bright are great bathroom options. Some of my favorites are Orange, Lemon, Lemongrass, Citrus Fresh, Purification and Abundance.
Empty essential oil bottles still have some of that yummy residue remaining on the sides and in the bottom. Remove the cap and orifice reducer (the stopper). Line your dish with your favorite oil bottles to enjoy the fresh scent of that leftover oil residue!
You can stop there if you want! If you want to make the smell even juicier, fill some of the empties about half full with Epsom Salts. (You can get it HERE.) First, place your finger over the top to stop it up and shake gently. This will help the salts soak up the remaining essential oil residue from the inside of the bottle. Next, add a couple of drops of oil to the salts. Use your finger as a stopper, and gently toss the salts with the oil again. It’s up to you how many you choose to fill. I filled 4 of my empties. My personal favorite combo right now is Bergamot, Cinnamon Bark, Spearmint and Tangerine.
That’s it! Place them around the house, wherever you need some fresher air. Just think of all the spots…bathrooms, stinky kid bedrooms, the kitchen, even in closets!
And if you don’t have any empty essential oil bottles, the GIRRRRLLLL, what are you waiting for?!?! HERE is why I love essential oils and how you can get started the same way I did. This is my DIY solution for all those empty bottles that keep stacking up. But essential oils in a diffuser are my absolute FAVORITE option for freshening the air in my house and setting the mood. Remember, that like the chemicals in traditional air fresheners, essential oils too can contain synthetic ingredients and chemical additives. It’s important to select essential oils that are 100% pure and that you know where they come from. THESE are the only oils I use with my family!
Enjoy!
