Stephanie White is a seasoned designer and DIY specialist with more than a decade of experience in educating and writing about design, art, and hands-on projects. Her contributions have been highlighted in various publications, including Couch Magazine and Canadian Living.
Project Summary
- Overall Duration: 10 to 15 minutes
- Output: Nearly 2 cups of fabric spray.
- Proficiency Level: Novice
- Projected Expense: $5 to $20
One of the most delightful aspects of snuggling into freshly laundered sheets is the refreshing, clean aroma they exude. However, this pleasant scent tends to fade within a day or two. Rather than spending money on pricey commercial fabric sprays, you can effortlessly make your own using your preferred fragrances. This budget-friendly alternative allows you to manage the ingredients and steer clear of potentially harmful chemicals.
Utilize your preferred essential oil to craft various sprays. Think about using a soothing aroma like lavender to mist your bedding. Apply your homemade linen spray to sheets, garments, towels, curtains, and other textiles around your home for a revitalizing effect. A gentle spray should be suitable for most materials, but it’s wise to test it on a hidden area first.
Aromatic Oils for Fabric Mist
In addition to using lavender by itself, consider these essential oil blends for creating a wonderfully fragrant DIY linen spray:
- Citrus and lavender
- Clementine and santal wood
- Bergamot, lemon, and lavender.
- Roses, lavender flowers, jasmine blossoms, and sandalwood.
- Roman chamomile, sweet orange, marjoram, lavender, and ylang-ylang.
Steer clear of essential oils that have intense aromas like patchouli, vetiver, tea tree, or mint, as these scents might be overly potent for linens. However, a refreshing peppermint or spearmint oil could be suitable for towels and various household textiles.
Requirements for Your Task
Devices / Instruments
- Narrow funnel
- Oversized measuring jug
- Stirring utensil
Materials
- 3 ounces of plain vodka (or isopropyl alcohol)
- Add 20 to 30 drops of your preferred essential oil.
- 1.5 cups of purified water
- A spray bottle made of amber glass or non-transparent plastic, with a minimum capacity of 16 ounces.
- Compact label sticker and optional pen.
Instructions
Creating Your Own Linen Spray at Home
Combine vodka with essential oil.
Measure out 3 ounces of vodka using a large measuring cup. If vodka isn’t available, rubbing alcohol, commonly found in drugstores, can be used as a replacement. Keep in mind that a linen spray made with rubbing alcohol will need to be shaken more vigorously to ensure the ingredients are well combined each time you use it. Then, gently incorporate 20 to 30 drops of your chosen essential oil into the measuring cup. If you’re using a combination of oils, feel free to adjust the number of drops of each to achieve your desired fragrance.
Fill a spray bottle with water.
Pour 1 1/2 cups of distilled water into a measuring cup, and mix it well with the vodka and oil using a spoon. Remove the cap from the spray bottle. Next, with the help of a small funnel, transfer the vodka, oil, and water blend into the bottle. Finally, reattach the cap securely.
Optionally, you can add a label to the spray bottle.
Affix a small label to your linen spray container to remind yourself of its contents. You might want to jot down the recipe you followed, making it simpler to recreate it later. Additionally, note the date of preparation. Since light and heat can accelerate the deterioration of the oils, opt for a tinted bottle and keep your spray in a cool, shaded area.
Before using, give the spray bottle a good shake.
Before each use, give the bottle a gentle shake. Next, lightly mist the fabric. The fragrance should remain for a few days.
Extra Suggestions
- Expect a more intense odor when opting for rubbing alcohol in place of vodka for your spray.
- If you don’t have vodka or rubbing alcohol on hand, you can use a fragrance-free witch hazel instead.
- Clean an old spray bottle thoroughly if you plan to reuse it for this project. Ensure it is free of any residual smells, as these could combine with your essential oils and result in an undesirable fragrance.
- Opt for a glass bottle instead of a plastic one, as it is less prone to absorbing odors and residues.
- When stored correctly, linen sprays can remain effective for approximately six months to a year.
- If the spray begins to have an unpleasant odor, it’s time to get a new one.
