I love using laundry scent boosters. They make my towels and sheets smell so nice and I love how long lasting the scent is. It’s so nice to have them smell fresh even when they’ve been sitting in the linen closet for a few weeks. I’ve stared at the bottle for ages trying to figure out how to recreate those little pellets and quit paying $10 per bottle. You know…make my own Homemade Laundry Scent Booster.
I was talking to a friend about it, asking her to help me brainstorm and she reminded me that a different brand is crystals and not waxy pellets and that gave me the genius idea to try epsom salt and what do you know, it worked! So now I make my own Homemade Laundry Scent Booster and customize it with my favorite essential oils. It costs less and my sheets and towels still smell amazing!
Supplies
- 2 Cups Epsom Salt
- 15 drops Orange Essential Oil from Young Living (Here’s why)
- 15 drops Lavender Essential Oil from Young Living
- Mason Jar or other container for the Laundry Scent Booster
Directions
- In a mixing bowl combine the Epsom Salt and Essential Oils. Use a spatula to ensure the oils are fully incorporated.
- If you prefer a more mild scent, decrease the amount of oils. I prefer mine stronger – especially for items headed to the linen closet.
- Add laundry scent booster to a container. If you are using a citrus oil in your mix it’s best to store your scent booster in a class container. You can use a mason jar I found the glass bottle above at Michael’s. If you don’t have citrus oils in yours, repurpose an old container! I love using the old name-brand containers because they already have the measuring cups attached!
To Use
- Add 1/8 to 1/4 a cup of Laundry Scent Booster directly to your washing machine tub before you begin the wash cycle.
- This recipe yields 8-16 loads.
I made the recipe above with Orange and Lavender Essential Oils but you can use anything. I actually have several batches in the laundry cabinet and use whichever strikes my mood. Sometimes I just use Lavender. Want a citrus-y smell? Try Citrus Fresh or Lemon. Want something floral? Try Joy. Want something earthy? Try Patchouli. The possibilities are truly endless. Just grab your favorite oils and some Epsom Salt and get mixing!
Love this idea? Follow Me on Pinterest and check out my Best of Simply Shellie board. Plus I have lots of other homemade hacks you can try, to replace the store bought things in your home:
- How to Make Citronella Candles
- How to Clean Your Oven Without Chemicals
- Bath & Body Works’s Copycat Warm Vanilla Sugar Scrub
- How to Make Vanilla Extract
- Homemade Lavender Orange All-Purpose Cleaner
I was wondering if I could use this recipe in place of downy more as a scent booster than a softner?
This IS a scent booster. It’s not intended to be used as a softener. I use mine in place of Downy Unstopables. Enjoy!
Great idea! I am going to try it with sea salt (softner) in the rinse, then with my homemade dryer sheets. That should do it! Thanks!
Is this safe for HE washers? Is that what you are using it in? Thanks!
Yep! I have an HE Washing Machine and it works just fine. The salt dissolves in the water so it doesn’t hurt your machine. And if you have hard water it actually helps soften it a little!
Epsom salts are magnesium sulfate, and will actually make your water “harder”, which in turn makes detergents less effective.
TFP I was thinking the same thing !! JS
i use the same thing in my laundry and it definitely softens my clothes as well as make them smell great
Use Rock Salt instead of Epsom Salt.
Totally! Vinegar is a much better addition.
Shelly, would you still place directly in the tub of an HE front load machine or in the dispensing cup? Thank you in advance.
Kelle
I place it directly in the tub of our front loader.
Wow, this was inspired! I love the ease of this idea. I’m curious, since you use this to boost scent, what do you use for softener? I imagine it would be tricky to find one that doesn’t compete with your smell good stuff?
Right now I use Seventh Gen unscented dryer sheets. But I’m working on a post with Homemade Wool Dryer Balls with a complimentary scent. Stay tuned for that!
Did you ever get your dryer balls worked out
The first attempt was a major fail. I think I didn’t get the right kind of yarn. I am headed to JoAnn on Friday to look for some that is better.
If you want to felt them, you’ll need a yarn that’s at least 80% wool.
I purchase my wool to make dryer balls from a lady who raises sheep and shears them. They turn out great and then I can add YL essential oils to the dryer balls. I have been using the wool balls for two years now!! They do help the clothes dry faster. (If you have static in your clothes, it is caused from over drying the clothes.)
May I add this comment of what I’ve discovered thats great? Old socks. I take all my old socks n mis matched socks and start with a ball of one sock, then I put that inside another sock over it, twist n pull over. Keep doing that till I get a ball the size I want. Then I just fold back the last sock a bit, add a few drops of essential oils of choice, fold sock back over n put in dryer. It lasts for several washings. (Scent) Much cheaper, lasts forever, repurposing old/single socks, works great! ;D
That’s a great tip! Thanks for sharing Linnia.
Hi,
I was wondering how I would use it for a front loader? Would I just sprinkle it on my clothes before I turn on the machine?
Thanks for the Great Idea!!!
Yes! I have a front loader and that’s exactly what I do. I stuff all my clothes in, then I dump about 1/8 to 1/4 cup on top and start the machine like normal.
Have you ever had oil spots on the clothes from this?
What a fun idea! I know that there are quality issues that arise depending on the brand of oils you use, but for laundry, does it really matter that much? Just curious. I do love this idea though and will definitely be pinning.
Yes, some oil brands are more pure than others and as far as laundry is concerned it means that some brands are stronger than others. If you are using a brand purchased at the grocery store as opposed to the Young Living oils I usually recommend, you might need to use more drops to get the same effect. But other than that, I think the brand shouldn’t matter too much.
Most store bought essential oil brands have been diluted or cut with carrier oils to make them cheaper to produce. I wouldn’t trust using them on my laundry. Not only will the vegetable (fatty oils) stain your clothes but they can also be adulterated with artificial fragrances that are toxic. Why would you want toxic fragrances embedded into your clothes, towels, and sheets that will touch your skin all day and night?
Which is why, Tiffani, she recommends Young Living oils or oils of that caliber because they are pure and food grade oils–never harmful, never toxic.
I sure hope the oil I purchased doesn’t stain.Its not YL so fingers crossed!!!
Thank you, Shellie, for going to the trouble for us. I’m definitely going to use your recipe. I’ve wanted something with Lavender EO for my laundry for months. I’m looking forward to your dryer ball post. I’ve wanted to make my own, but am having a hard time finding 100% wool yarn, and the ones we can buy are too expensive (then again, anything I know I can make or build myself I consider too expensive).
I don’t know anything about making dryer balls, but since you are having trouble finding wool yarn, couldn’t you use felted wool (just buy a wool sweater at the thrift store, wash it in hot water, then put in hot dryer), and wrap a piece around a tennis ball? Or, following the pattern of tennis ball covering, cut the pieces out and whip stitch them onto the tennis ball.
You could try going to a resale shop to find a wool sweater to use for the balls. I go to resale shops to find very large clothes so I can refashion them. If your freaked out by used clothing you can buy wool socks.
Jennifer, I just purchased some Patons 100% wool at Hobby Lobby. This reply is about a year later than your post, but I hope someone else can use this bit of information.
So the essential oils don’t leave any oil stains on any of your laundry?
not that I have noticed. They absorb into the salts and when those dissolve in the water, it’s not a concentrated dot like if you just poured it on your clothes. Also, I find that even when I spill essential oils directly on my clothes, it comes out in the wash on most fabrics. You can test a load on towels to see what you think.
I was curious if the epsom salts help the essential oils to work better. (I have just added drops of oil right into my wash load). I am pinning this!
I have also dropped them straight into the wash but I find the Epsom salts do work a little better. With the epsom salts you have a delayed release factor. The salts take time to dissolve, thus prolonging the time the clothes come into contact with the oils. I think the salts may also help distribute the scent better.
Does the scent come through the dryer? Some scents dissipate with the high heat
If you like a really strong scent, then you will need to use a lot more drops than I mentioned above. The scent does come through the dryer but it is a little lighter than the store bought boosters. I’m hoping that by adding scented wool dryer balls it will help the scent remain strong. I’m still working on the wool dryer balls so I’ll keep you posted!
I tried this, as is, and I could not smell anything even though I put my sheets right back on the bed as soon as they were finished drying. It was a fail for me.
Hi Colleen. Sorry they didn’t work for you. I’m going to cut/paste a comment I made to another user and hopefully this may help you too.
The heat of the dryer can really decrease the effectiveness because it causes the smell to disperse or “burn off”. You can tumble dry on low to help keep the scent inside your clothes. I typically tumble my sheets dry on low anyway. I also find the scent to be much stronger in my drip dry things. You can also use wool dryer balls. These help dry things faster and are especially helpful if you are using low heat. I know lots of people add a few drops of essential oils to the wool dryer ball to boost the scent even more.
If you are using pure EOs that are on the expensive side and you are hesitant to use more to test out different methods, grab a cheap bottle of off brand, less pure oils at the grocery store. If they come out of the dryer with a light scent using a cheapie oil, then you will fare much better once you swap it for the pure version. If you started out with grocery store oils, you may need significantly more to produce the same results. These oils typically have additives and aren’t as potent. Hope that helps!
If you are using an oil that has a flash point low enough that the heat from the dryer is burning it off then the quality of the oil has nothing to do with it. Even of you have better results with a less expensive oil from a grocery store, the better oil may still burn off if the flash point is too low. Typically citrus oils have the lowest flash point so if you are finding that the citrus scent isn’t lasting, that is probably why. Check for the flash point of whatever oil you are using and keep in mind that the flash point will not be the same for all oils of the same type. For example lavender oil from 2 different suppliers could have a drastically different flask point. Also use the lowest heat setting possible on your dryer for the best results.. Hope this helps!
Thanks for the great tips Laura!!
Wonderful post, I will have to try this DIY out, so tired of all the chemicals out there! Pinning…..
Was there a reason why you chose epson salt over another type of salt, sea salt for example?
You definitely want to use a coarse salt. The reason traditional laundry boosters work so well is because they dissolve throughout the wash and the clothes constantly come into contact with the scent. If you use a fine salt it will dissolve immediately and you won’t get the delayed release aspect. I used Epsom salt because that’s what I had on had. You could also try rock salt and possibly a very coarse sea salt but I’d stay away from the fine grained salts. I don’t think it would give the same effects.
Thanks for sharing this Shellie, can’t wait to try it out! I have HE washer and dryer, and have used wool dryer balls with essential oils and they do work nicely for reducing static and adding light scent to items. I think using the scent booster will be helpful for things like towels, we use so many in the summer at the pool and beach.
im making a batch of homemade laundry tomorrow. I’m thinking of making a batch of your laundry scent booster and just mixing it in with the laundry detergent. Since some of the homemade detergent recipes call for Downy Unstoppable in the recipe I figure, why not try it?
When I make liquid laundry detergent, I just add the essential oils to the detergent after they cool down. I shake the bottle before dispensing.
How did this end up working for you?
Trying this! I’m wondering where you found the jar?
I think I got it at World Market. It could have been Micaehl’s though. The stores are next door to each other so I usually hit both on the same trip.
You just made my day!…Thanks!!!
I try the Epsom salt with lavender and it does not leave the clothes smelling at all. I put 20 drops of lavender oil to two cups of Epsome salt and mixed it very well, but my clothes doesn’t come out smelling good at all.
Please let me know what I should next
Did you use a scented fabric softener? Because that can overpower the smell. Also, depending on the brand of essential oils, you might need to use more drops.
I added more essential oil. When I took the clothes out of the washer it smell a little better, but after drying the clothes the scent was gone. What am I doing wrong?
Check the flash point of the oil you are using. If the dryer is too hot it burns off the scent. Set your dryer to a lower temperature. (or line dry)
Hi Shellie, I am a first time visitor to your site and was told about it by another of your readers who happens to be one of my blogging friends. I love the instructions for the laundry scent booster. I am a lavender fiend and use it any which way I can so will definitely be trying this recipe using lavender essential oil. Thanks for sharing – oh and BTW, I subscribed to your weekly newsletter.
Thanks Lenie!
Now this is genius. I’ve been missing that “smelly-good,” smell ever since I started using non-scented detergent. Cannot wait to try this. I’m also sharing this on my FB page { Fantabulosityblog} today for my readers! Yay! Thank you!
I love this idea! I have recently transitioned from Tide to homemade laundry detergent and could definitely use help in that area. Thanks. 🙂
I like the blue suavitel scent booster & the blue suavitel fabric softener. The scent is “Field Flowers”. What essential oils tdo I use to make this scent. Thnx
Did anyone ever come up with a scent equivalent to the suavitel fresh fields?! It is marketed in Europe as soupline and absolutely horrible for your health! Please reply if you are a genius and have replicated!
Wonderful recipe!!! I found a mason jar that actually fits my Unstopable measuring cup sitting perfectly facing down inside the lid.
That’s genius! I may have to go grab an unstopable just for the measuring cup!
Do the oils stain your clothes?
No, you are using so little and they are spread into the salts. I have never noticed oil spots on my clothing.
Where do you find the oils at?
I use Young Living Essential Oils. The link is in the post. Or you can buy the lower quality ones at the grocery store, you just will need to use more drops to get the same effect.
Would using scented Epsom salt make a difference? I.e lavender Epsom salt with added lavender essential oils.
Sure! You are welcome to use scented epsom salts. Then you wouldn’t need as much essential oil.
I found a recipe using rock salt for ice cream makers and the essential oils and flavoring. This recipe will soften the water hence the clothes.
Was wondering if the salt becomes hard, what I mean is I made my own dishwasher detergent and it became one rock hard clump in the jar I used! That was a little discouraging!
That happens when moisture gets into the jar. So you’ll need to store it in an airtight container. This is often a problem in more humid climates. I would recommend making one batch and storing it in smaller jars. That way you don’t have an enormous amount getting hard. You are using small batches at a time.
Is this recipe safe for HE washers?
I use it in my HE washer and have for nearly a year now.
does the oil from the oils not get on the clothes and leave stains ? i have found grease like stains on my good shirts after using downy or gain flings and purex crystals
While I can’t guarantee you won’t have problems, I personally haven’t experienced any oils spots on my clothing. Also, there are no complaints of oil spots in the comments on this post from people who have tried it and come back to leave feedback.
My daughter and I made this today with my YL oils and I even put 20 drops each in it. Yet by the time it was done in the dryer there was no scent left. So do you possibly have any advice? Really wanted this to work!!!!
The heat of the dryer can really decrease the effectiveness because it causes the smell to disperse or “burn off”. You can tumble dry on low to help keep the scent inside your clothes. I typically tumble my sheets dry on low anyway. I also find the scent to be much stronger in my drip dry things. You can also use wool dryer balls. These help dry things faster and are especially helpful if you are using low heat. I know lots of people add a few drops of essential oils to the wool dryer ball to boost the scent even more.
If you are using pure EOs that are on the expensive side and you are hesitant to use more to test out different methods, grab a cheap bottle of off brand, less pure oils at the grocery store. If they come out of the dryer with a light scent using a cheapie oil, then you will fare much better once you swap it for the pure version. If you started out with grocery store oils, you may need significantly more to produce the same results. These oils typically have additives and aren’t as potent. Hope that helps!
Any ideas how to make something similar to the Downy scent? I use wool laundry balls but really miss the smell of Downy.
Downy is a floral scent. That’s a little trickier to achieve with essential oils because those oils tend to be on the more expensive end. You could try Rose, Geranium, Lavender and other floral oils.
Yikes! Detergent companies do all this research on how to remove minerals from laundry wash and you are adding it back in with Epsom Salt.
Epsom salt is not salt per se. It is magnesium sulfate. Calcium and Magnesium is what makes water hard –makes cleaning laundry very difficult turning fabrics gray with build up. You want soft water to clean well which is why some homeowners have to add water softening systems if their water supply is especially hard so that they can clean better and maintain clean plumbing lines and keep their appliances working well. Mineral buildup causes appliances to malfunction.
Mrs. Meyers uses Sea Salt….sodium chloride, I think it is time to reformulate and follow her lead.
Do you know how to recreate the Gain scent? I love the smell but not the chemicals.
Has anyone ever come up with a scent equivalent to the suavitel fresh fields?! It is marketed in Europe as soupline and absolutely horrible for your health! Please reply if you are a genius and have replicated!
I just made my first batch today and I am trying it now on my linen. Question for you do you use it on your clothes as well.
I used your recipe. It didn’t work. I tried it in one load, and couldn’t smell a thing. So I added more YL EO and still couldn’t smell anything. It made the house smell good, but not my laundry. I feel like I wasted my very expensive EO’s…