DIY Laundry: Scent Boosters

DIY laundry scent boosters are perfect for adding to your laundry routine to make your clothes smell fresh and clean. Follow this simple homemade recipe made with only 3 ingredients in under 10 minutes.

We made our first batch of homemade laundry soap soon after getting married. Since then, we have perfected a powdered laundry soap recipe, made homemade dryer sheets, and switched our entire laundry routine over to all homemade laundry products.

We have never bought laundry soap since the first time we made it. Now as a mother of littles, doing laundry is a never-ending job! These DIY laundry scent boosters really complement the laundry soap, leaving our clean clothes with a lasting scent.

Just as the name says, they really boost the scent. Using natural soaps most certainly gets your clothes clean, but if you love that fresh, long-lasting scent that conventional soap leaves behind, then you may want to try this. These homemade laundry scent boosters are just the thing to add to your all-natural laundry products.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Compared to commercial scent boosters, this homemade recipe is highly affordable! We save so much money making our own laundry products and these scent boosters are no exception.
This recipe is extremely easy to make, taking only 3 ingredients and just a few minutes to throw together.
With just Epsom salt, baking soda, and essential oils, we can feel good knowing what’s going into our laundry products. These ingredients are simple, natural, and easy to find.
We love the added fragrance these laundry scent boosters add to our laundry! They neutralize odors and add a nice smell from our favorite blend of essential oils.

A jar of homemade laundry scent boosters with a spoonful of scent boosters on a white counter.

What Goes Into This Recipe

Epsom salt: Epsom salt will help with the scent of your clothes and help soften them! We use Epsom salt in our homemade fabric softener for this very reason.
Baking soda: Baking soda is a fantastic natural laundry ingredient because it neutralizes odors, along with many other benefits. Adding baking soda to your laundry can keep your whites whiter and your brights brighter. Like Epsom salt, it can also help soften the fabric.
Essential oils: Essential oils add a lovely natural fragrance to the laundry that is completely customizable to your preferences. Feel free to use one of our suggested blends below or make your own with your favorite oils.

How to Make DIY Laundry Scent Boosters

Adding laundry scent booster ingredients to a large mason jar.

Step 1. Add the Epsom salt and baking soda to a mixing bowl or jar.

Adding essential oils to a jar of laundry scent boosters.

Step 2. Add your essential oils of choice.

Stirring the ingredients for homemade scent boosters in a jar using a wooden spoon.

Step 3. Stir the mixture until well combined.

A glass jar filled with homemade laundry scent boosters next to green flowers.

Step 4. Store the laundry scent boosters in an airtight container and enjoy fresh-smelling laundry.

Expert Tips

We prefer to make a larger batch at a time and store it in a half-gallon mason jar with a lid. Then we don’t have to make it as often.
You don’t have to use this on every load. We throw it into any load that is extra stinky and dirty, such as workout clothes.
Feel free to get creative with your essential oils! You can make your own custom blend or try one of our suggested blends.

How to Use

Use the normal amount of laundry soap. This recipe is safe to use on HE washers, front loaders, and regular washer machines. Simply sprinkle 1/4 cup of the DIY laundry scent booster over the clothes before starting the load.

Essential Oil Blend Suggestions

Our Favorite Blend

Lavender + Lemon + Wild Orange + Melaleuca

Citrus

Lemon + Wild Orange + Lime
Wild orange + Tangerine + Bergamont
Tangerine + Lime + Grapefruit

Fresh

Eucalyptus + Lavender
Peppermint + Wild Orange
Siberian fir + Roman Chamomile
Cypress + Lemon

Clean

Melelauca + Lavender + Lemon
Lavender + Lemon + Peppermint
Rosemary + Lemon

Floral

Lavender + Patchouli + Wild Orange
Roman Chamomile + Lemon
Geranium + Clary Sage + Ylang Ylang

Epsom Salt and baking soda mixture in mason jar on white shiplap with dryer balls and amber colored essential oil bottle.

Recipe FAQ

What are laundry scent boosters for?

These natural laundry scent boosters work in addition to laundry soap and help to neutralize unpleasant odors in clothes, soften the fabric, and add extra scent. Scent boosters leave our clothes smelling amazing and fresh!

What is the shelf life of these scent boosters?

DIY scent boosters will last about a year stored in an airtight container.

Can we use homemade laundry scent boosters in any washing machine?

Yes! This recipe is suitable for HE washers, front loaders, and regular washing machines.

DIY Laundry Scent Boosters

By the studio Ascher Prep: 5 minutes minsTotal: 5 minutes mins Epsom Salt and baking soda mixture in mason jar on white shiplap with dryer balls and amber colored essential oil bottle.

SaveSaved Pin Print DIY laundry scent boosters are perfect for adding to your laundry routine to make your clothes smell fresh and clean.

Equipment

Airtight container for storage

Ingredients

1 cup of Epsom salt, 8 oz
¼ cup of baking soda, 2.5 oz
20-30 drops total of essential oils, Choose from one of the suggested blends above.

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Instructions

Add all the ingredients into a bowl.
Whisk together until everything is well combined.
Store in an airtight container.
Sprinkle ¼ cup of the scent booster over the clothes before starting the load.

Video

Notes

This recipe is suitable for HE washers, front loaders, and regular washing machines.
The shelf life is one year.
We prefer to make a larger batch at a time and store it in a half-gallon mason jar with a lid. Then we don’t have to make it as often.
You don’t have to use this on every load. We throw it into any load that is extra stinky and dirty. Think workout clothes!

Tried this recipe?Mention @our_oily_house or tag #ouroilyhouse!