Essential Oils for Eliminating Home Odors
A Natural Solution for a Fresher Home
There’s nothing quite like stepping into a space that smells clean and inviting—a breath of fresh air that instantly makes you feel at home. But let’s be honest: life happens. Lingering cooking smells, pet odors, musty corners—sometimes our homes don’t smell as fresh as we’d like. And when a room carries an unpleasant scent, it’s hard to truly relax in it.
Instead of masking odors with artificial fragrances (which bring a cocktail of synthetic chemicals into our homes), we can turn to nature’s original air purifiers: plants.
Plants have been purifying the air long before the first air freshener was ever created. They absorb toxins, release oxygen, and fill the world with scents that signal life and renewal. Essential oils capture this natural power, offering a way to clear out stale, stagnant air and replace it with something that feels alive.
In this post, we’ll explore the best essential oils for tackling home odors and share easy DIY recipes to keep your space smelling delightful.
The Best Essential Oils for Eliminating Home Odors
Oils with strong aromas and antimicrobial properties are the best options, as they can destroy and neutralize odor-causing microbes. There are far too many options to include in this list! The ones you choose will be based on your preferences.
That said, here are some of my favorites:
Cinnamon Bark (Cinnamomum verum) – With its warm, spicy aroma, cinnamon bark oil deodorizes while leaving your room cozy and inviting! (Learn its benefits!)
Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus globulus) – Eucalyptus’s clean, medicinal scent is perfect for bathrooms and laundry areas, helping to clear out damp and musty odors.
Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) – Soothing and fresh, lavender is particularly effective at neutralizing pet odors and creating a relaxing environment.
Lemon (Citrus limon) & Sweet Orange (Citrus sinensis) – These citrus oils are excellent at cutting through strong odors, especially in kitchens where cooking smells linger. Their uplifting scent also brightens the atmosphere!
Peppermint (Mentha × piperita) – Crisp and invigorating! Peppermint essential oil is one of my favorites for musty or stale odors. Get tips on using it here.
Rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus ct camphor) – Herbaceous and slightly camphoraceous, rosemary essential oil is ideal for eliminating food and musty smells.
Tea Tree (Melaleuca alternifolia) – Known for its antibacterial and antifungal properties, tea tree oil excels at neutralizing odors caused by mold, mildew, or bacteria. It’s also great for wellness blends.
2 DIY Odor-Eliminating Recipes
These recipes come from my latest free guide—Toxin-Free Spring Cleaning Checklist + Recipes Guide. It contains more natural recipes and cleaning tips than I could possibly include in this post, but these two are some of my favorites for unpleasant smells. You can use any essential oils you like in these recipes, or stick with the suggestions below.
All-Purpose Air Freshening Spray
A natural air freshener that helps eliminate odors while adding a light, refreshing scent to any space! Lavender hydrosol provides a gentle floral base, while eucalyptus oil brings a crisp, clean aroma. Sweet orange oil adds a bright, uplifting note.
Make this recipe in an 8 oz glass or PET spray bottle.
Ingredients
1 cup (8 fl oz) Lavender Hydrosol (Lavandula angustifolia)
10 drops Eucalyptus Oil (Eucalyptus globulus)
10 drops Sweet Orange Oil (Citrus sinensis)
Directions
Combine all ingredients in a small spray bottle.
Shake well before each use.
Spritz lightly around the room, on linens, or in closets to refresh the air naturally.
Pro Tips!
You can swap in any essential oils you love! Try peppermint for an energizing boost, cedarwood for a grounding scent, or lemon for a fresh, citrusy twist.
For extra-strong odors, use only 1/2 cup lavender hydrosol, and add 1/2 cup white vinegar. White vinegar is a secret weapon against unwanted smells!
This water-based blend will last about 1–2 weeks if stored in a cool, dark place. Make fresh batches frequently to keep your blend free from bacteria.
Baking Soda Deodorizer
Baking soda absorbs odors naturally! We can combine it with a few drops of essential oil to create a powder that helps remove unpleasant odors and releases a fresh, beautiful scent.
The Toxin-Free Spring Cleaning + Recipes Guide has multiple versions of this recipe for different purposes, but all are very adaptable. Here’s a basic version you can use throughout your home!
Baking Soda & Tea Tree Deodorizer
1/2 cup (4 oz) Baking Soda
10 drops Tea Tree Oil (Melaleuca alternifolia)
Directions
Combine the ingredients in a small bowl, stirring the tea tree oil into the baking soda. You can also put them in a jar with a lid and shake it well to distribute the essential oil.
Suggestions for Use
Freshen the trash: After emptying the trash, sprinkle inside the trash can to deodorize. You can also add a bit of water and use the mixture to scrub away any stains.
Refresh carpets, mattresses, and upholstery: Sprinkle it over your carpet, mattress, or upholstery in an even layer, let it sit for 10 minutes, and then vacuum.
Deodorize the bathroom: Place a small, decorative bowl on the bathroom sink. The baking soda will remain effective for 3–6 months, but the essential oil will lose its aroma and evaporate more quickly. Feel free to add more drops of essential oil to your little dish of baking soda as needed.
More Tips for a Naturally Fresh Home
Diffuse essential oils – Keep your indoor air fresh and sweet-smelling! Try this energizing diffuser recipe.
Freshen the bathroom – Keep a bottle of the All-Purpose Air Freshening Spray in your bathroom.
Scent closets & drawers – Drop essential oils onto cotton balls in closets, drawers, or shoes.
Spritz linens – Make linen spray for fresh-smelling sheets, curtains, and upholstery.
DIY fridge deodorizer – Place a box of baking soda at the back of the fridge to absorb odors. (I suggest leaving the essential oil out of this one, as you may not want the aroma of the oil to affect food.)
Pet-friendly refresh – Use lavender hydrosol to freshen pet bedding. Before using essential oils for (or around) animals, check our post about aromatherapy and pet safety.
Wipe down surfaces – Add essential oils to a natural cleaning spray for kitchen counters and bathroom surfaces. Try this DIY All-Purpose Cleaner recipe!
Ready for a Whole-Home Refresh?
These deodorizing recipes are straight from The Toxin-Free Spring Cleaning Checklist + Recipes Guide!
This complimentary downloadable guide walks you through deep cleaning every area of your home—without exposing your family to harsh chemicals.
✔ Step-by-step, room-by-room checklist for a truly thorough spring cleaning
✔ The 10 best essential oils for fighting microbes & odors
✔ Easy-to-make, tried-and-true DIY recipes for every part of your home
✔ A simple breakdown of natural cleaning ingredients and how to use them
Let’s swap out synthetic fragrances for nature’s real freshness!
Download your free guide today!
My Takeaway
Lingering odors can make a space feel heavy, stagnant, and off, no matter how spotless it looks. But nature has always had the answer. Just as trees and plants cleanse the air outdoors, essential oils bring that same purifying magic inside, replacing stale smells with the crispness of citrus, the earthiness of herbs, the heart-warming allure of flowers.
The beauty of essential oils is in the way they transform a space into something that feels alive, welcoming.
Breathe it in. Let it settle. And enjoy a home that feels as fresh as it smells.
