DIY Laundry Scent Booster

Does fresh smelling laundry make you happy? It sure does me. I like it to smell good when it’s clean. The trouble is finding a nontoxic way to accomplish that smell. This DIY laundry scent booster is the clean way to have that fresh smell!

In With the Good

A couple years ago, I started to question the ingredients in everything. It started with body products, then cleaners, and now food. So consider this a warning, once you start you can’t stop. 

Ok, now that you’re ready to take a step down this slippery slope let’s talk about my decision to take the first step. It all started with reading the back of the shampoo bottle. I discovered lots of ingredients I couldn’t pronounce. After some Google searches, I found out that most of them were really bad for you. The spark of curiosity caught hold and there was no turning back. I have always been one to question things and research them until I am blue in the face. When I find a problem, I must also find a solution. Pretty soon I was buying essential oils and castile soaps. When I ran out of my normal products, I would replace them with all-natural products that I made myself. 

After that, there was no stopping me. I made my husband crazy reading all the labels. I replaced the dish soap, dryer sheets, mouthwash, lotion, and candles. When I bought anything at the store, I would stand there reading the labels for twenty minutes before making a decision. He was patient, but sometimes I thought he wanted to throw something in the cart and move on. 

Some of the changes were more difficult than others, but they eventually became the new normal. For example, castile soap makes my skin feel weird. At first it really bothered me, but now I barely notice. Another switch I made was my laundry routine. This one took some experiments and research. First, I had to find a scent I liked. Then I needed something that was safe to use in the machine and wouldn’t ruin my clothes. Eventually I found the perfect base and several amazing scents!

Pin it for Later!

My Cleaner Laundry Routine with the DIY Laundry Scent Booster

The very first thing to go in my laundry routine was the dryer sheets. Those things are full of nasty chemicals. I found that wool dryer balls worked just fine. 

Next up was the soap. Revive makes laundry soap sheets that have no parabens, phosphates, dyes, or chlorine. I’ve found that this soap works just as well as those pods of chemicals I used to use. 

I realized that there was little point in using these cleaner laundry options if I was still pouring in the regular scent booster. In fact, that stuff is so bad they don’t even list the ingredients on the bottle. So the research began again. 

First I needed a base. Salt acts as a fabric softener, and since dryer sheets were out it sounded perfect. I learned that the type of salt was very important. Coarse salt takes longer to dissolve so the scent lasts longer in the machine. 

Many recipes I found suggested Epsom salt, but that was bad advice. Epsom salt is magnesium sulfate. Hard water is caused by calcium and magnesium. Basically adding epsom salt makes hard water harder. Which also makes the soap less effective, the clothes less soft, and the colors more faded. 

Kosher salt on the other hand is sodium chloride. It acts as a fabric softener and doesn’t cause hard water to get harder. We had a winner! 

DIY Laundry Scent Booster Recipe

Ingredients

2 cups Coarse Kosher Salt

20-30 drops Essential Oils

Instructions

1. First put 2 cups of coarse Kosher salt in a glass container. 
2. Next add in 20-30 drops of your favorite oil or blend. I’ve provided some suggestions down below. 
3. Then mix it well so the oils are distributed through the salt. 
4. Now let it meld for at least 20 minutes. This makes sure all the salt is nice and smelly. 

Using the DIY Laundry Scent Booster

Add about 2 tablespoons per load. I have a wooden scoop that I keep in my jar so that it’s convenient when I’m doing laundry. If I’m doing sheets or smelly laundry I’ll add a bit more. 

I like to put the same oils on the dryer balls to give the laundry even more scent. Or in the case that I forget to add the scent booster which happens when I’m distracted. Honestly, some days we are lucky that I remember to add soap.

DIY Laundry Scent Booster Oils

Lavender

20 drops of lavender

Lavender is a favorite with just about everybody. It smells clean and isn’t too strong. When in doubt, go lavender. 

Tumble & Tidy

20 drops of tumble & tidy

Tumble & Tidy is one of Revive’s blends. It has quickly become my laundry oil. This blend is made of lavender, lime, rosemary, tea tree, bergamot, ylang ylang, geranium, sweet orange, litsea, and jasmine. It smells like fresh scented laundry soap. 

Fresh Off the Line

10 drops of lemon and 10 drops of basil

This blend reminds me of line dried laundry in the summertime. The lemon smells fresh and clean, while the basil gives it that outside smell. 

Field of Flowers

10 drops of eucalyptus and 10 drops of lavender 

The eucalyptus gives the laundry that fresh smell, while lavender brings the flowers. I really like this one for sheets and bath towels.

Citrus Delight

10 drops of lemon and 10 drops lime

These two oils help with stubborn smells. They’re great for towels and smelly socks. 

The site may contain links to affiliate websites, and we receive an affiliate commission for any purchases made by you on the affiliate website using such links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. As a Revive EO Affiliate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Shop this Post

Wooden Scoops

Essential Oils Use the code MORGANSFARMHOUSE10 for 10% off your first order

Wool Dryer Balls

Revive Laundry Soap