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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.
I made my first batch of homemade laundry soap soon after getting married. Since then, I have perfected a powdered laundry soap recipe, made homemade dryer sheets, and switched my entire laundry routine over to all homemade laundry products.
These DIY laundry scent boosters really complement the laundry soap, leaving my clean clothes with a lasting scent. I have never bought laundry soap since the first time I made it. Now as a mother of littles, doing laundry is a never-ending job!
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 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.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Compared to commercial scent boosters, this homemade recipe is highly affordable! I save so much money making my 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, I can feel good knowing what’s going into our laundry products. These ingredients are simple, natural, and easy to find.
- I love the added fragrance these laundry scent boosters add to my laundry! They neutralize odors and add a nice smell from my favorite blend of essential oils.
What Goes Into This Recipe
- Epsom salt: Epsom salt will help with the scent of your clothes and help soften them! I use Epsom salt in my 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 my suggested blends below or make your own with your favorite oils.
How to Make DIY Laundry Scent Boosters
Step 1. Add the Epsom salt and baking soda to a mixing bowl or jar.
Step 2. Add your essential oils of choice.
Step 3. Stir the mixture until well combined.
Step 4. Store the laundry scent boosters in an airtight container and enjoy fresh-smelling laundry.
Expert Tips
- 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, such as workout clothes.
- Feel free to get creative with your essential oils! You can make your own custom blend or try one of my suggested blends.
How to Use
Simply sprinkle 1/4 cup of the DIY laundry scent booster over the clothes before starting the load. Use the normal amount of laundry soap. This recipe is safe to use on HE washers, front loaders, and regular washer machines.
Essential Oil Blend Suggestions
My Favorite Blend
Lavender + Lemon + Wild Orange + Melaleuca
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
Recipe FAQ
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 my clothes smelling amazing and fresh!
DIY scent boosters will last about a year stored in an airtight container.
Yes! This recipe is suitable for HE washers, front loaders, and regular washing machines.
Related Content
- Homemade Spray Starch
- DIY Laundry Soap Pods
- DIY Wrinkle Release Spray
- How to Get Mold Out of Clothes
- How to Clean a Mildewy-Smelling Washer
If you tried this DIY Laundry Scent Boosters or any other tutorial on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below. Thanks for visiting!
DIY Laundry Scent Boosters
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.
Instructions
- Add all the ingredients into a bowl.
- Whisk together until everything is well combined.
- Store in an airtight container.
Video
Notes
- This recipe is suitable for HE washers, front loaders, and regular washing machines.
- 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!
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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!!!
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?
I made it as well and mine is hard as a rock and the only liquid that was added was the oils that’s it
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!
Thank you so much! And yes, the brand makes a big difference! Thanks for sharing!
I have ready so many blogs on NOT TO USE EPSON SALT in your laundry – its a hardener not a softener.
I have read the opposite, haha! Works well for me!
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!
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.
Yes, you can add more! Also, if you have dryer balls you can add the oils to those.
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 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.
This was so easy to make! My towels smell so fresh and clean!
I love how easy it is!