How to Scent Wool Dryer Balls with Dried Herbs

I don’t know about you, but I am always looking to improve my laundry game. When I discovered the power of herbs and wool dryer balls, I was pleasantly surprised!

Not only do we now speed up the drying process, save energy, and reduce our ironing load, but we also get to fragrance our clothes naturally.

Have you jumped on the wool dryer balls bandwagon yet?

These glorious balls of (literally) fluff are a godsend in our home!

Not only have I pretty much eliminated my ironing pile, but my clothes smell amazing – thanks to nature’s best herbs!

In this post, I’ll share exactly how I make my dryer balls smell gorgeous without using essential oils. 

Not that essential oils are bad at all. Just sometimes, you want a less intense scent, and this is what you’ll get by following the method outlined below. 

But first, let’s cover the basics. 

What are wool dryer balls?

Wool dryer balls are a natural dryer sheet alternative to be placed into your dryer alongside freshly washed, damp clothes. 

They help speed up the drying process while minimizing creasing on the clothes and reducing static – meaning fewer clothes to iron! (Yay!)

They often impart a pleasant fragrance on your clothing, too (if you use scented balls), and the happy news is that wool dryer balls are eco-friendly and reusable again and again. 

They’re also way more cost-effective than dryer sheets, even DIY dryer sheets, and save a lot of energy by reducing drying time. 

Why you’ll love this method

• It’s simple to do! You simply load the herbs of your choice into a small muslin bag and place the bag in a basket with your (dry) wool dryer balls. 
• It’s not so intense: Unlike using essential oils to scent dryer balls, using natural herbs is more subtle in terms of scent strength – but equally beautiful!
• It’s fun! Is it just me who finds dryer balls such a novelty?! I enjoy using them so much! And I love that my ironing pile shrinks as the weeks go by…

How to scent dryer balls

First, decide what type of scent you want your dryer balls to take on by exploring the wide and wonderful world of herbs. 

Perhaps do some background research and explore different groups of scents, from citrus to floral to earthy, and grounding as some examples. 

I’d say taking a walk in your garden, the local park, or even while you’re out and about with the family in the open air – all offer opportunities to discover what scents you like (did you catch that sweet smell just there in the breeze?)

Herb ideas…

The herbs below are my top choices regarding great-smelling dryer balls!

• Lavender
• Cedarwood
• Geranium
• Lemongrass
• Peppermint
• Rose

Next up is to source the herbs. 

Sourcing herbs for wool dryer balls

The best, most true-to-life place to get herbs for scenting dryer balls is to find them yourself.

Where to source herbs from is your own back garden, a friend’s garden, a garden center, or a foraging trip out with the kids. 

You can also buy dried herbs online, ready to use straight from the packet – a good idea if time isn’t on your side. 

You’ll next need to dry out the herbs if you’ve picked them fresh. If you’re buying ready-dried herbs, feel free to skip the next section. 

Drying herbs

A simple way to dry fresh herbs is to lay them flat on a surface, in the sunshine, or in the open air for a few days, ideally under a cover, so they don’t get wet from rainfall. 

Alternatively, you can dry your herbs indoors by hanging them on a hessian string until they go slightly crisp and brittle. 

This is when you’ll know the herbs are ready to use. 

This post contains affiliate links, which means I make a small commission at no extra cost to you. Get my full disclosure HERE. 

How to scent wool dryer balls

You will need:

• Muslin bags with a tie top
• Dried herbs (of your choice)
• A wicker basket
• Wool dryer balls

Instructions: 

Step 1: Fill the muslin bags with your chosen dried herbs. Pick your favorite! Don’t pack them too tightly, though. Leave a small gap at the top of the bag so it ties nicely together. 

Step 2: Place the muslin bag tied up in a basket with the dryer balls.

Step 3: Keep the basket loosely covered with a towel while not in use to trap the fragrance. 

Step 4: Be patient! You’re infusing the dryer balls naturally with the scent of herbs, which may take a few days to happen. 

Notes

• The scent given by the herbs can last anywhere from 1-2 months to several years. I’m not kidding! Herbs are potent plants, and the scents they give off seem to get absorbed by the wool balls really well. 

• Any herb can be used to scent the dryer balls. It’s up to you to decide!

• Be careful to avoid getting any herbs or flower petals on the dryer balls themselves, or you’ll have a mess to deal with. Ensure the muslin bag is tied well at the top so no herbs escape. 

• Wool dryer balls are to be used as a substitute for dryer sheets and homemade fabric softeners. They’re 100% natural and good for your skin, dryer, and the environment!

FAQs

Do wool dryer balls actually work?

Yes, they do! The trick is not to overload your dryer with clothes. The balls need space to bounce around to help speed up the drying process (therefore saving on energy costs and drying time.)

How do you use wool dryer balls?

Simply place the wool dryer balls in your dryer alongside damp clothes straight from the washer, and put your dryer on. It’s that easy!

What if my clothes smell mildewy after washing?

While there can be a number of reasons for this, a lot of times it’s simply a matter of cleaning your washing machine. Or if nothing else, you may try using DIY laundry scent boosters.

Summary

So there you have it. An easy, no-hassle way to create scented wool balls without essential oils.

If you do try this method of scenting wool balls, I’d love to hear how it works for you. 

Please consider leaving a review below in the comments section so we can all share your experience!

For more DIY laundry-related reads, check these out:

• Homemade laundry soap recipe
• Homemade laundry powder soap recipe
• How to get the smell out of workout clothes
• How to get mold out of clothes
• Homemade starch spray