The Conscious Shopper: Make Your Own: Homemade Febreze

I have a five-year-old bottle of Febreze that's starting to get on the low side. Obviously judging by how long I've had it, I don't use Febreze often. But let's face it. There are just some times when you need a quick and easy way to cover up a smell. (Like when your potty training child has an accident and you have guests coming over any minute. I know I'm not the only one who's been there...)I decided to try making my own Febreze mainly because the ingredients list on the back of the bottle is awfully cryptic: water, alcohol, odor eliminator derived from corn, fragrance. "Odor eliminator derived from corn?" What does that mean? And what kind of fragrance? Natural? Synthetic? I have this thing about only using products when I can identify the ingredients.I tried googling for homemade deodorizers, but most of the recipes I found involved fabric softener, which I haven't bought since back when I was battling Second Son's eczema (and we haven't missed it). I think you can probably find some eco-friendly fabric softeners, so if you're interested in that recipe, here's a link.I think a greener solution would be this recipe from my favorite resource, Better Basics for the Home:8 drops lavendar oil4 drops each bergamot and clove oil2 drops oil of peppermint1/2 cup vodka1/2 cup distilled waterCombine the ingredients in a spray bottle and shake well. Spritz into the air four or five times in areas you feel need freshening, being careful to avoid your eyes when spraying.Other Resources:: Best Green Home Tips uses the same recipe but with alternate essential oil combinations.:: Darla Shine's Happy Housewives Club has a recipe with the simple combination of lemon juice, baking soda, and water.:: About My Planet provides a number of suggestions for naturally eliminating odors, including making your own potpourri.Photo by KitAyThis post was included in the Make It From Scratch Carnival on August 25 at It's Frugal Being Green.Related Posts: