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 essential oils, Epsom salt, and baking soda.
I made my first batch of homemade laundry soap soon after getting married. Since then, I have perfected a powder recipe and made homemade dryer sheets. These DIY laundry scent boosters really compliment the laundry soap leaving the clean clothes with a lasting scent. I have never bought laundry soap since the first time I made it. Now that I am a mother of 4, doing laundry is a never-ending job!
I love looking around the laundry aisle at the store to see how much money I am saving by making my own, and guess what? It is so simple to do! I make 5 gallons of laundry soap at a time, so I don’t have to make it very often.
These homemade laundry scent boosters are just the thing to add to your all-natural laundry products. Just as the name says, they really boost the scent. Using natural soaps most certainly get your clothes clean, but if you want that fresh, long-lasting scent that conventional soap leaves behind, then you may want to try this.
PIN IT FOR LATER
ALL-NATURAL LAUNDRY SCENT BOOSTERS
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EPSOM SALT
Epsom salt won’t only help with the scent of your clothes, but it will also help to soften them. Many homemade fabric softeners use Epsom salt in the recipe!
The chloride in salt can also help keep your clothes brighter and whiter too.
If you look at the back of your baking soda box, it will have a whole section about using it with your laundry. It can add a lot of benefits, and neutralizing odor is one of them.
Adding baking soda to your laundry can keep your whites whiter and your colored clothes brighter. Like the Epsom salt, it will also help to soften the fabrics.
Baking soda is an effective odor remover and can leave clothes smelling fresh and clean.
ESSENTIAL OILS
Now for the real scent booster, essential oils. Essential oils are extracted through steam distillation or cold pressing. When done correctly, the end product has therapeutic properties and has maximum potency. They are very concentrated and fragrant.
Adding essential oils to your laundry can boost the scent for days. You can add a single oil or a blend of oils, depending on your preference.
These essential oils are great for laundry because of their cleansing and purifying properties and their ability to cover the odor. They smell great together too!
CITRUS
Lemon + Wild Orange + Lime
Wild orange + Tangerine + Bergamont
Tangerine + Lime + Grapefruit
FRESH
Eucplutus + 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
HOW TO MAKE LAUNDRY SCENT BOOSTERS
INGREDIENTS
1 cup of Epsom salt
1/4 cup of baking soda
20-30 drops of essential oil (Choose from one of the suggested blends above.)
INSTRUCTIONS
Mix all the ingredients into a bowl.
Whisk together until everything is well combined.
Store in an airtight container.
NOTES:
The shelf life is one year.
I prefer to make a larger batch at a time and store it in a half-gallon mason jar with a lid. Then I don’t have to make it as often.
You don’t have to use this on every load. I throw it into any load that is extra stinky and dirty. Think workout clothes!
HOW TO USE THE DIY LAUNDRY SCENT BOOSTERS
Simply sprinkle 1/4 cup of the “booster” over the clothes before starting the load. Still, use the normal amount of laundry soap. This recipe is safe to use on HE washers, front loaders, and regular washer machines.
so is it safe to use it on black and colored clothes as you mentioned the backing soda and the salt will make the whites brighter?
I have front load machine. Can I put this where I actually put my regular softener or I must put it insidr where the cloths are? I dont get it cause the softener is the last step and if I put it inside the wash machine will wash it away….
I made your laundry scent booster and it was great-except when I took my clothes out of the washer there wasn’t even a hint of the essential oil smell. I used a fragrance free detergent to make sure I could smell the lemongrass essential oil. Is it safe to add a bit more essential oil or didnI possibly use one that is too weak on it’s own?
Hi, I’ve tried your recipe and it smells great. I was very excited to try. However, even though I put on the clothes, when the wash was finished, I couldn’t smell the lovely scent.
Am I doing something wrong? I have a front leader.
Tips would be appreciated.
TIA Diane
Hi Laura,
Love your blog and all your homemade products. I have been making some of your natural skin care products, and am going to venture onto cleaning products. I have purchased many essential oils on amazon, and as you know, they are not all created equal. The doTerra oils I have, leave a nice scent in my skin care products that last. The cheaper versions I have purchased online, fade in a short period of time. I wonder if this is the case with some of your followers stating they do not smell the scents in the laundry booster. Just a thought. Thanks for all you do!
It is normal for the laundry soap to be clumpy. As mentioned in the post, it is best to shake it really well after 24 hours of sitting to help with that. The booster should not be hard, did you get any liquid in it?
Lindsay cotter says
This was so easy to make! My towels smell so fresh and clean!
Laura says
I love how easy it is!
Ellen says
so is it safe to use it on black and colored clothes as you mentioned the backing soda and the salt will make the whites brighter?
I have front load machine. Can I put this where I actually put my regular softener or I must put it insidr where the cloths are? I dont get it cause the softener is the last step and if I put it inside the wash machine will wash it away….
Laura says
I use it on all of my clothes and have never had any issues with it. I also have a front loader and I sprinkle it over the clothes.
Heather Riddle says
Hi!
I made your laundry scent booster and it was great-except when I took my clothes out of the washer there wasn’t even a hint of the essential oil smell. I used a fragrance free detergent to make sure I could smell the lemongrass essential oil. Is it safe to add a bit more essential oil or didnI possibly use one that is too weak on it’s own?
Thanks so much.
Laura says
Yes, you can add more! Also, if you have dryer balls you can add the oils to those.
Diane Charles says
Hi, I’ve tried your recipe and it smells great. I was very excited to try. However, even though I put on the clothes, when the wash was finished, I couldn’t smell the lovely scent.
Am I doing something wrong? I have a front leader.
Tips would be appreciated.
TIA Diane
Amanda says
I have ready so many blogs on NOT TO USE EPSON SALT in your laundry – its a hardener not a softener.
Laura says
I have read the opposite, haha! Works well for me!
Julie says
Hi Laura,
Love your blog and all your homemade products. I have been making some of your natural skin care products, and am going to venture onto cleaning products. I have purchased many essential oils on amazon, and as you know, they are not all created equal. The doTerra oils I have, leave a nice scent in my skin care products that last. The cheaper versions I have purchased online, fade in a short period of time. I wonder if this is the case with some of your followers stating they do not smell the scents in the laundry booster. Just a thought. Thanks for all you do!
Laura says
Thank you so much! And yes, the brand makes a big difference! Thanks for sharing!
Tabitha Anne Brown says
Imade the laundry booster, and it’s hard as a rock, and I’ve made the laundry soap it’s all clumpy? What did I do wrong? Help!!!
Laura says
It is normal for the laundry soap to be clumpy. As mentioned in the post, it is best to shake it really well after 24 hours of sitting to help with that. The booster should not be hard, did you get any liquid in it?
Chyenne says
I love how soft and fluffy this makes my towels and clothing but I cannot smell the fragrance after drying…. what can I do?