Get the scoop on laundry fresheners and scent boosters that are made with natural ingredients instead of toxic artificial fragrances that are bad for your health.
I once took part in a mock Febreze commercial. You know the one, where they show a teenager’s messy, stinky room and freshen it by spraying Febreze on everything?
First I was blindfolded, then brought into a room that reeked of extremely strong, artificial floral fragrances – as though they were trying to imitate a fresh spring garden, only failing badly.
Then they asked me – “Where do you think you are?” I said, “I have no idea but it reeks of extremely strong, artificial floral fragrances – like you are trying to imitate a fresh spring garden, only failing badly.”
That wasn’t what they expected me to say.
When the blindfold came off, I saw that the setting was a college dorm room with pizza and dirty clothes everywhere. I was supposed to be shocked and delighted.
Instead, I was the black sheep, saying (politely) that I didn’t like that fake flower smell and asking questions about the toxic chemicals in their laundry fresheners.
3 Natural Ways to Freshen Laundry & Stinky Stuff
(I may receive commissions from purchases made through links in this article. Full Disclosure)
Here’s the problem – the stuff of life begins to stink after a while – and if we don’t want to cover it up with artificial scents – then we need to find safer, more natural solutions.
I’ve stopped buying conventional laundry products because I don’t want my family to be exposed to those chemicals. The laundry detergent I buy is either unscented or very lightly scented with natural ingredients like essential oils. In fact, I’ve got an entire blog post about my favorite eco-friendly laundry detergents. I don’t use wasteful dryer sheets either.
That said, I still want my laundry to come out smelling clean and fresh (for real, not artificially) and sometimes I need a little boost above and beyond detergent.
Wanna be a black sheep too?
Much to the chagrin of the chemical scientists working for enormous companies, there are ways to remove odors and make fabrics smell good, without an overwhelming blast of artificial fragrances insulting your nose and harming your health.
Here are 3 easy and inexpensive ways to freshen clothing and home textiles without toxic chemicals:
1. Natural Laundry Scent Booster
One way to get a little more of that “fresh laundry smell” without nasty chemicals is to use a scent booster, along with your laundry detergent.
Conventional scent boosters are just concentrated amounts of the toxic, artificial fragrances you are trying to avoid in the first place. In fact, Downy Unstopables, one of the most popular scent boosters, rates an F on the EWG’s Guide to Healthy Cleaning. Bottom line, most scent boosters are NOT a safe addition to your laundry routine.
A natural scent booster uses salt as the hero ingredient. Salt acts to neutralize odors and also to soften fabrics at the same time (bonus!) To make your own non-toxic laundry scent booster, simply mix kosher salt with the essential oils of your choice. When added to laundry, it will add a light, fresh scent to your clothes that smells clean instead of artificial.
DIY Scent Booster:
2 cups kosher salt*
30 drops (about 1/2 teaspoon) essential oil of your choice (lavender, eucalyptus, lemon, orange or geranium are all great choices – I recommend Rocky Mountain Oils!)
Thoroughly mix essential oils into salt. Store in a covered jar to allow the scent to infuse into salt.
Use between 2 tablespoons and 1/4 cup per load (a repurposed scoop from laundry soap is a perfect size). Add directly to the washer with garments (same for both top and front-loading washers).
*Some scent booster recipes call for Epsom salt (magnesium sulfate), but this actually hardens rather than softens water, so I opt for kosher salt (sodium chloride) in my recipe.
Other natural scent booster options:
If you are not up for a homemade scent booster, Mrs. Meyers makes a natural laundry scent booster product although I have not tried it myself. Dropps fabric softener pods are another way to add scent to your laundry, without a bunch of toxic chemicals.
2. Scented Dryer Balls
Dryer balls are my laundry savior for so many reasons – they are THE BEST alternatives to chemical-infused dryer sheets because they help prevent static and reduce wrinkles as they bounce around in your dryer. Here’s one more way dryer balls can be of service: infusing your laundry with natural fragrance.
Make it:
Add 2-3 drops of essential oil on each dryer ball and toss them into the laundry. I usually use 3 – 5 dryer balls at a time and I scent them with either lavender or eucalyptus essential oil. The resulting scent will be subtle but will add a nice, fresh scent to your laundry.
Buy it:
My favorite resource for dryer balls is Etsy but you can find them on Amazon as well as Whole Foods or at many local stores.
Expensive essential oils are not needed for laundry use as they are primarily used for scent and not true aromatherapy purposes. As I mentioned before, I love Rocky Mountain Oils, but Aura Cacia and NOW are both good affordable brands, as is the 365 brand from Whole Foods.
3. Homemade Fabric Refresher Spray
For those times when you either don’t want to wash or don’t have time – a fabric refresher spray can be a lifesaver! Use fabric refresher to freshen laundry and other household items like these:
- clothes that have been used but are not dirty enough to wash
- seasonal items coming out of storage
- pillows and bedding
- couches
- shoes
- stinky kids rooms or musty basements
But please don’t use that awful Febreze I was telling you about – ewww! Instead, create your own natural Febreze alternative. Believe it or not, you can use vodka to make a non-toxic fabric refresher. Why vodka? It allows the spray to dry quickly and helps reduce odors. Add the essential oils of your choice, to leave a light scent behind.
Make it:
Mix these ingredients in a spray bottle:
1 cup water
1/4 cup vodka
20 drops essential oil (I prefer orange essential oil for this)
Spray liberally on smelly or musty items and allow to dry.
Buy it:
Not into DIY? My go-to fabric refresher is Ecos Breeze by Earth Friendly Products. All the ingredients, including the fragrances, are all naturally derived (the Lemongrass scent is my fav!)
My run-in with the Febreze people was a wake-up call. They listened to my feedback but I doubt they really cared – they have products to sell! Meanwhile, the stinky room commercials continue, and millions of people spray toxic fabric refreshers on their clothing and home goods every day.
Will you join me and stop using toxic laundry fresheners?
P.S. Want even more info about non-toxic cleaning so you can be CONFIDENT that your cleaning routine is safe? Check out my Green Cleaning Kickstart mini-course!
Gabrielle Horner says
GREAT POST! Thank you Micaela. I always discover new things that I wasn’t even thinking about til you raised the eco-alternative. LOVE your blog.
Micaela says
Awwww…thank you Gabe! Glad you find it helpful my dear!
O'Boy! Organic says
I love our dryer balls especially with a little essential oil on them. I never thought of using salt in the washing machine. Would that also help with static cling?
Micaela says
No, the salt doesn’t help with static – but I find that the dryer balls do help with that.
Lorrie Bruhns says
Thank you for the info & recipes; I can’t wait to make up my own scent booster!! I, too, have been using wool dryer balls for years. My only complaint about dryer balls is that they aren’t super effective in combatting static cling. To remedy this, I use aluminum foil to make aluminum foil balls, & add them to the dryer. Just tear off 3 large sheets of aluminum foil (3-4 square feet per ball), crumple the sheets into 3 balls (about 2 ½” ~ 3” diameter), & toss them into the dryer with the dryer balls & wet clothes. You can reuse the foil ball(s) indefinitely; I just leave them in the dryer with the wool balls. It is a safe, effective & chemical-free way to conquer static cling. Thank you!!
Mindful Momma says
Sounds like a good idea!
Malisa says
These are great ideas! I too hate the smell of any artificially scented products, so have been making my own a lot, or buy the unscented, dye free version. I’m also in Marketing Communications, too 🙂
Micaela says
Oh thanks Malisa! I find that DIY is often the way to go – you get exactly what you want, you know all the ingredients and it generally does not cost much!
Kristin says
Hahaha! I love that you disappointed them – what a neat thing to be a part of, though!
We’ve been using dryer balls for a couple years now and LOVE them! My husband is a freak about laundry scent and doesn’t care a bit about all the chemicals, so I’ve been working slowly for years to change him and get closer and closer to completely natural. We’ve been making our own laundry soap for a while, but still adding a scent and I now have a good collection of essential oils so the next batch should be much better.
Pinning these tips so I know how to make these great things! Thanks!
Micaela says
Ha – I’ve talked with so many people who say their husband doesn’t like the healthier options – whether it’s food or personal care or cleaning products. Good for you for being persistent! Hope these tips help!
Mommy D says
Im the opposite… my husband can’t stand the artificial smell. I came to look for options because I grew up in a house that smelled like fabuloso. I’m the one adjusting now.
Elizabeth says
These are great! I’ve just started using essential oils for laundry and I love your ideas!
Micaela says
Oh good – so glad to hear it Elizabeth!
Laura VZ says
I love these ideas! I’ve moved away from chemicals as much as possible in the last 10 years, to the point where I can’t even walk down the cleaner/detergent aisle in Target because I’m too sensitive to the chemical smells. I usually use Seventh Generation drier sheets but I’ll have to look into the drier balls. Thanks!
Micaela says
I’m with you Laura! I hate walking down those highly scented aisles! Try the dryer balls – you’ll love them!
Betsy says
I have yet to dry adding EOs to my dryer balls. I should, b/c my daughter LOVES scented laundry. She loves getting hand-me-downs and second-hand clothes b/c they still reek of laundry detergent : P
Micaela says
Oh that’s funny that your daughter loves that smell. Try the essential oils and let me know what you think!
Brigette Johnson says
I love that we share this interest! I have yet to make laundry detergent but I will definitely try your recipe.
Micaela says
Oh good! Let me know what you think!
Bre Paulson says
That story is HILARIOUS! lol I’ve never been a big fan of Febreze myself. Although, I do use scent boosters for my laundry (I know, I know…) but I am totally going to try out your recipe!
Micaela says
Ha! It was a bit strange being in that situation – but they need to hear the other side of the story! Let me know how you like the salt-based laundry freshener. It will not be a strong as the stuff you buy at the store – but I actually prefer it that way!
Dora De Zubiria says
Love the idea of the dryer balls with an essential oils scent. For Laundry I use the ENJO laundry soap it is made with all natural ingredients and has aloe in it so no need for fabric softener. It’s also great because 10ml is all I need for a full load of laundry so it lasts me for 100 washes.
Menel B. says
Thank you Micaela! Your post is extremly helpful.
Micaela says
Glad you found it helpful!
Michelle Dugentas says
Hi Micaela,
Enjoyed reading your latest article regarding artificial fragrances in dryer sheets and fabric fresheners. I’m trying to go green wherever I can, reducing plastic use, using natural cleansers and personal care products, etc.. Thanks again for some good tips. I will try the dryer balls with essential oils.. Look forward to reading some of your upcoming articles.
Micaela says
Hope the dryer balls work well for you!
Babe says
I want a chemical free home and love diy suggestions as well as products that are safe.
Micaela says
Happy to help! Be sure to search the website for more DIY cleaning ideas!
Lauren Phetteplace says
Mrs. Meyers products are “green washed”. AKA- they brand themselves as a clean company but if you look at the ingredients they are not safe. The Mrs. meters scent booster contains fragrance. Which is a mostly unregulated industry and “fragrance ” can contain lots of harmful chemicals. 😊
Micaela says
I’m with you – I don’t love Mrs. Meyers either because their fragrances are artificial and very strong. However, this brand can be a “bridge” for some people using products that are much worse. The Mrs. Meyer’s scent booster rates a B on the EWG Cleaning Products Database, while the Downey scent booster rates an F on the database. My preference is to make my own scent booster as discussed in this post. It’s safe and cheap to make and makes my clothes smell great!
Darah says
Instead of vodka could I use rubbing alcohol? I can’t have vodka around. Thanks!
Micaela says
Probably – but I have not tried it myself.
Tahirah says
The kosher salt recipe does not work. I tried by adding the 30 drops. And then I tried by adding 60 drops. After going in the dryer, the scent is gone. At least it was only $3 to pull off. The search continues for a non-toxic scent booster!
Micaela says
Sorry it didn’t work for you. I find the combination of the scent booster and using essential oils on wool dryer balls to work the best.
Alice says
Are the salt fresheners always added to the wash water? Or can we add to the rinse?
Micaela says
I add them directly to the washing machine tub. I suppose you could put them in the rinse cycle – I’ve never tried it!
Anita says
Hi Micaela,
This was a cool article to read but I have a question. Every dryer manufacturer and repairman that I have talked to (and some friends who are firefighters) have warned against using oils in the dryer. They explained that essential oils are a volatile substance that can build up in your dryer and cause a fire. I was wondering what your experience was verifying that the essential oils in the dryer tip was safe? I am interested in cutting out harmful and irritating chemicals from my laundry routine but after hearing the feedback, I am a little afraid to try using essential oils in the machine.
Mindful Momma says
I have not heard about using a few drops of essential oil being a problem. If the oil was not pure essential oil and was mixed with another type of oil, that might be a problem!
Debbie says
Hi, I read so many articles regarding essential oils on wall dryer balls. Most articles say absolutely do not do that! According to the articles it says it could cause a fire in the dryer. I would love to hear your thoughts on this.
Thank you, Debbie
Mindful Momma says
I’ve never heard of a problem with that. I’ve used a few drops of essential oil on my dryer balls for years without any problem.
cameron moon says
i was looking at Arm & Hammer Clean & Simple in-wash Scent Booster Lavender Escape online and they only have 4 ingredients;
lavender, baking soda, crystalized minerals, and a non sticking agent. Do you think this is safer than most brands and worth buying?
Mindful Momma says
I’m not sure because we don’t know exactly what is meant by crystalized minerals and non-sticking agent. In general, Arm & Hammer does not rate very well on the EWG cleaning database, so I would skip it myself.