Combat those pesky odors might dwell on your sheets, clothes, furniture, etc. with this easy homemade linen spray! Using your favorite essential oil scents, your nose will thank you! Pair with our essential oil and epsom salt laundry booster for naturally clean and soft linens and fabrics.
You know that happy feeling you get when you get of whiff of something that smells really good?
Like when you walk into a home with chocolate chip cookies in the oven, or the scent on your pillow when you’ve just washed all the sheets?
Wouldn’t it be cool if we could bottle it up and sniff it anytime we wanted? Turns out, we can! I created the perfect linen spray (with essential oils). I’ve freshened pillows, sheets and the entire room in my favorite scent with just two simple ingredients. Lavender and rosemary is my favorite combination. I can’t wait to share this DIY with you!
Here’s What You Need
- 6-10 drops essential oil(s) of your choice**
- 2 oz glass spray bottle or 4 oz glass spray bottle (those link to Amazon, but I also found some at Whole Foods)
- 2 Tbsp vodka or witch hazel
Notes on Ingredients
I know there are a lot of essential oil companies out there and I’ve certainly tried my fair share of brands. But after testing and researching and more testing, only one is worth spending money on (in my opinion).
For a couple years now I’ve been committed to Young Living oils, and you can read more about their oils and my decision HERE.
Step by Step Instructions
Step 1. Measure vodka or witch hazel into a glass spray bottle. Using a small measuring cup is easiest, but a small funnel works well if you already have one.
Step 2. Add 6 drops of essential oil. Start with 6 drops, and you can always add more if desired.
Step 3. Add water to the bottle, not quite filling to the top. You want to leave enough room so that the liquid doesn’t overflow when you fit the top on.
Step 4. Replace the top and shake well. Spray a bit on your hand or shirt or rag and smell. If you want the scent stronger, add up to 4 more drops of essential oil.
Step 5. Spray on linens or other fabrics as desired.
Recipe Tips
Really, you can choose whatever essential oil you want, it just depends on what you’re trying to achieve. Do you want to…
- Energize the Body– rosemary, peppermint, lemon, orange, grapefruit, tea tree. A spray with these oils would be great to help wake you up in the morning, to mentally prepare you for a workout or if you need a mid-afternoon pick-me-up.
- Uplift Mood & Spirit– bergamot, orange, grapefruit, ylang ylang. These oils can be used if you’re feeling down and out, are dealing with Winter blues or any other similar emotional state.
- Calm the Nerves– lavender, chamomile, marjoram, geranium, frankincense. This is the spray I designed with lavender, but all of these oils would be great. You could also use these to help relax before bed at night.
To be honest, choosing the scent you want or the mood you want to create is the hardest decision. Making the actual room and linen spray is super easy!
Tip: If you really want to get a room smelling nice, with an air freshener made of natural essential oils, make a batch of DIY carpet deodorizer the next time you vacuum!
FAQS
Linen spray is used to combat those pesky odors on your sheets, pillows, furniture, clothes, car, or room!
Yes, linen sprays are safe. Especially when you make it from home. Try my recipe and you can customize the scent. I have some suggestions listed above.
Oil and water don’t mix, and neither do oil and grain alcohol. However the alcohol helps the scent to linger longer. You could mix it with water, but you’ll get better results with vodka or witch hazel. In either case, be sure to shake well before using.
You can mix/match essential oils of your choice, but it would be wise to smell each oil individually before adding to the spray bottle.
Adding scents together is like adding black and white paint. It only takes a few drops of black to turn white to grey. But it takes A LOT of white to turn black to grey, and you might never get there!
If at all possible, use light colored oils if you’re spraying directly on fabric so you don’t stain them.
Essential oils, and anything made with essential oils, stay fresh when stored in a cool place and out of direct sunlight.
More DIY Recipes
- DIY Homemade Carpet Deodorizer
- Homemade Stain Remover
- DIY Homemade Bug Repellent with Essential Oils
- 28 Non-Toxic Spring Cleaning Tips
How long would a bottle of linen spray last? In terms of will it go bad?
Hi Whittney, It will last over a year if you keep it in a cool place out of direct sunlight.
Hello
thank you for all your great ideas.
I made the Linen spray but not sure why the sent doesn’t last. i spray an hour before bed but there is no smell on pillow or sheets when i arrive? Does the essential oil manufacturer make a difference-cheap brands?
Hi Bonnie! The brand of essential oils you use DOES matter, as some will dilute the oil with chemicals and other ingredients so that while you *think* you’re getting 100% EO, you’re actually getting as little as 5% EO (that’s the government required minimal to be labeled “pure” EO).
What essential oils do you recommend? Lori
The Young Living brand is great! https://dontwastethecrumbs.com/purchase-essential-oils/ here is a link to our blog post about essential oils.
Hello Tiffany. I have been using my homemade peppermint oil on my bed linens for approximately 2 years. I live among many trees and seemed to be getting bitten at night in my bed with tiny insects. If I spray my linens or my feet and ankles before bed, I avoid being bitten. My question to you as an authority is…. How many drops of peppermint oil can I SAFELY add to 24 ozs of water. Since I’ve been spraying my linens almost every day, a smaller bottle does not work for me. Of course I always do the spray and smell test to try to find the right balance. I hope I am not causing myself any harm by spraying so often. Please give me your honest input. Thank you!
Hi Catherine! As long as you’re diluting properly, you’re fine. My bottle of peppermint says to dilute 1 drop to 4 drops of carrier. 4 drops is probably something like 1/4 tsp of oil… but since peppermint is hot, let’s round up to 1 tsp. There’s 3 tsp in 1 Tbsp and 2 Tbsp in 1 ounce = 144 tsp in 24 ounces (check my math!). So I’d feel comfortable suggesting 144 drops of peppermint for that large of a bottle. How does that sound to you?
Would you combine lavender and tea tree oil for a linen water. Thinking in the tea tree oil being a disinfectant and lavender for the wonderful smell
Actually, I’d use rosemary instead. It has similar properties to tea tree and would smell a whole lot better. 🙂
Are glass bottles better than plastic and why?
In general yes, because essential oils can be broken down through excessive heat and light. Plus some oils are strong enough to break down lesser quality plastics.
What is the difference between which hazel and vodka when used in a spray like this?
Thanks!!
Neither – they can be used interchangeably.
Hi,
I always keep my linen after washing in a box under the bed and I feel that after a while (till I wanna use them again) they do not smell any longer fresh and link the conditioners I used while washing…
So, I was looking for a way to keep them smell fresh and I came across your page.
Do you suggest I spray this mixed (your suggestion) inside the box? I mean after washing and drying them, when I want to place them in the box, I spray this mix too? Or it is better to spray while they are wet, immediately after washing? When is the best time for sparing?
Thanks,
May
I’d spray after they’re dry May. You can then re-spray as needed when they come back out. If you have dryer balls, you can add essential oils to the balls and that will help too. You can even add oils to the washing machine. Each step adds a little bit of scent, but when you do them all, you get a very pleasant scent at the end!
Is the water imperative? I heard it welcomes bacteria since it takes longer to dry than alcohol. Can I omit and replace the whole thing with vodka? Thanks a bunch
Yes you can!
Hello
How many drops and witch hazel would you recommend for a 16 oz bottle….
Thank you
Good afternoon!
If I do a mixture of essential oils do I put 6-10 drops of each oil or 6-10 drops mixed together?
Example 5 essential oils 2 drops of each
Thank you Paula
Hi Paula! You want 6-10 drops total.
Thank you for another wonderful DIY suggestion Tiffany. This will be fun to explore. I am finally getting into using essential oils after researching for some time and this will be the first thing I make! Just got my glass spray bottles in today! No more paying ridiculous amounts of money for lavender linen spray for me!
I used a lavender essential oil mixed with lemon grass essential oil. I mixed about 6 drops each with a quart spray bottle topped of with water and sprayed a bathroom towel. It caused a orange colored stain on the towel. Any advice for where to spray and why the stain?
Thanks for your suggestions and explaining why to use alcohol I didn’t know that! My favorite oils for linen spray is lavender and orange.
Hello Tiffany. I have been using essential oils for many purposes since I was a teenager. But I never thought to use them to create linen fragrance. That is quite innovative to me. I would like to recommend a really pleasant, uplifting flagrance. It’s very simple, yet effective. Eucalyptus and Grapefruit.