How to Make Vanilla Room Fresheners in a Jar

Make your own vanilla air freshener in a jar without spending much money.

You can make an air freshener to have your home smell just the way you like it -- cinnamon, vanilla, citrus, or a combination of scents. Homemade air fresheners cost pennies on the dollar and make thoughtful special occasion gifts. Use baby food jars to make small air fresheners if you need them to be inconspicuous. They are also a perfect size for car fresheners. Use your imagination to decorate your vanilla room fresheners with stickers, or print labels with special messages.

Things You'll Need

• Glass jars
• 2 cups distilled water
• 15 to 20 drops vanilla essential oil
• 4 packages Knox gelatin
• 2 tbsp. salt
• Food coloring (optional)

Instructions

1. Heat 1 cup of water until it starts boiling. Remove from heat and add four packets of gelatin. Stir well until gelatin is completely dissolved. Add 2 tbsp. of salt and stir until dissolved. Salt prevents mold from growing in gel.

2. Add another cup of water and 10 to 20 drops of vanilla essential oil, depending on how strong of a smell you prefer. You can add other scented oils for a scent combination. Add several drops of food coloring to reach a preferred color, if desired.

3. Pour liquid into a jar or several smaller jars. Leave at room temperature to set. If you want it to set quicker, put it in the refrigerator. Be aware that the food may absorb the scent.

4. Cover the jar with a lid or a piece of lace and tie a ribbon around it when gelatin is set.

5. Set the jar on a stove to use. Do not put on the burner. You may heat it up in an oil burner by putting a small amount of gel -- equal to the amount of oil you usually use -- on top of the burner and place a candle underneath it. For stronger fragrance, add more gel.

Tips & Warnings

• Craft stores sell concentrated liquid potpourri in many scents. You can heat 1 cup of liquid potpourri to boil. Remove from heat, and add two packets of Knox gelatin. Stir well until dissolved. Pour into jars and let it set.

• For special touch, add embellishments, such as beads, into the gel.

• For a layered look, divide the recipe in two. Follow the recipe and divide the ingredient amounts by two. Prepare the first half with one color. Pour into a jar and let it set. Then prepare the second part with another color, and pour it into the jar on top of the first color. Let it set.

• When the smell starts to weaken, stir the gel.

References

• All Things Christmas: Gel Air Fresheners
• Tipnut: Homemade Gel Air Fresheners