Want a natural way to make your laundry smell amazing? Here’s my favorite natural laundry scent booster recipe that doubles as a laundry softener.
It comes together in under 5 minutes, costs less than specialty coffee, and is made with just 2 natural ingredients. Add a scoop to a load of laundry alongside your favorite eco-friendly detergents or my homemade laundry detergent.
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Key Takeaways
- Simple Ingredients – The 2 key ingredients you’ll need are kosher salt, sea salt, or Epsom salt and essential oil.
- Natural – Most commercial laundry boosters (like Mrs. Meyers) are made with artificial fragrances and toxic chemicals that can irritate sensitive skin (source). This laundry booster recipe is 100% natural.
- Great Smell – Use your favorite essential oils to make a simple homemade recipe smell amazing.
- DIY Fabric Softener – This recipe adds a fresh scent to laundry and softens laundry (thanks to the salt).
- Quick & Easy to Make– This simple DIY recipe takes less than 5 minutes.
- Shelf Life – Store the natural scent booster for up to 12 months.
Before You Get Started: What You’ll Need
Ingredients
- 4-5 cups coarse salt – Sea salt, kosher, or Epsom salt are the best type of salt. The salt works as a carrier to carry the essential oil (the scent) to your laundry and also softens laundry (particularly important if you have hard water). I buy a 3lb box of coarse salt from Costco or the grocery store for about $3-4.
- 1-2 teaspoons of your favorite essential oil (100-200 drops) – This is the most crucial ingredient for making your scent booster. Choose your favorite essential oil or combine 2-3 essential oils to create a beautiful blend. I love lavender essential oil, peppermint, sweet orange, lemon, or lemongrass for laundry.
Equipment
- Large Bowl – For mixing the salt and essential oil(s).
- Large Spoon – Also used for mixing the salt and essential oil(s). A large wooden cooking spoon or fork (for whisking) works well.
- Large Storage Container – Something to store the laundry booster. Think about something that will allow you to easily pour the scented salt into the washing machine or a jar that will enable you to scoop the mixture from the jar.
How to Make a Laundry Scent Booster: Recipe Steps
- Step 1 Add Salt & Essential Oil – Pour the salt into a large bowl. Then, add the essential oil.
- Step 2 Combine – Using a spoon, mix the salt and essential oil with a spoon or whisk.
- Step 3 Spoon into a Storage Container – Spoon the mixture into a container with a lid (like a wide glass jar). For best results, I let the mixture rest for 24 hours, allowing the essential oil to infuse the salt. After 24 hours, the scent booster is ready for your laundry routine.
- Pro Tip for Combining the Essential Oil & Salt – If mixing the salt and oil in a bowl is difficult, pour the ingredients into a large plastic bag. Seal the bag and use your fingers (from the outside) to massage the ingredients and combine.
How much should I use for the best smelling laundry?
- 1/2 Cup Per Load – Add 1/2 cup of scented salt per load. Add directly to the washing machine with clothes, sheets, towels, etc. For HE machines, you may want to try 1/4 cup.
- Adjust to Your Preference – This will vary on your water, so test different amounts to see what works best for you.
- Add Directly to Washer – The salt should be added to the washer at the same time as the laundry soap. Add the salt directly to the washer basin with the clothes.
Essential Oil Blends For a Clean Scent
The best part about this recipe is that you can customize it to create your own scent.
Essential oils, a natural fragrance, don’t have the long-lasting scent found in most commercial scent boosters, but they offer a lovely, clean scent without the harsh chemicals and scent additives.
Here are a few of my favorite essential oil combos to create various scents. Use 1/2 teaspoon of each individual oil (about 50 drops).
- Orange & Lemon
- Eucalyptus & Lemon
- Peppermint & Orange
- Rosemary & Peppermint
Learn how to use essential oils and make homemade cleaners in this article. And listen to my in-depth podcast about using essential oils safely in the home.
What to Avoid Doing
- Laundry Softener Compartment – Don’t add the salt to the laundry softener compartment of the washing machine. The salt should be added directly to the washer along with the garments.
- Delicates – Don’t use this booster on delicate items like silk and other garments that require special care.
- Fine Salt – Don’t use fine salt to make this recipe. Choose a salt with large, coarse granules for best results.
FAQs
- How much of the softener/scent do I need the add per load? I recommend 1/2 cup of salt per load. For HE machines, you may want to try 1/4 cup.
- Can I add baking soda? Yes, you can add baking soda to this recipe. Instead of using 4-5 cups of salt, use 3 cups of salt + 1 cup of baking soda. Baking soda neutralizes odors, so this is an excellent formulation for stinky clothes (like workout clothes, sports uniforms, etc.)
- Is any kind of salt okay? Yes, any kind of large granule course salt.
- Can I make a homemade scent booster without salt? Yes, you can. Use all baking soda mixed with the essential oil. However, I’ve found that using all baking soda may leave a white film on clothes. So I recommend something other than this combination for dark-colored garments.
- Is it safe to use salt in the washing machine? Yes, I haven’t had any issues with using salt in my washing machine. If you’re concerned, reduce the amount used.
- Do you use this salt fabric softener/scent booster with vinegar or is it one or the other? No, choose one. Both this recipe and vinegar act as a fabric softener, so I recommend sticking to one option: either salt or vinegar.
- Does the scented salt go in the rinse water? I add the scent booster salts with the clothes/towels before turning on the wash.
- Do you know how it will work in a HE front loader? Yes, it will. For a front loader start off with 1/4 cup of salt per load. Add the scent booster directly to the washer, along with the clothes, before turning on the cycle.
More Natural Products For Clean Laundry
Here are my favorite homemade products to use in the laundry room.
- Stain Remover Spray – Remove tough stains with this simple formula made with castile soap, hydrogen peroxide, and lemon essential oil.
- Wool Dryer Balls – Soften laundry naturally with these easy-to-make wool dryer balls—a great alternative to dryer sheets. Add a few drops of essential oils to boost the scent in the dryer.
- Liquid Laundry Detergent – Combine castile soap, borax, washing soda, and water to make my popular liquid laundry soap.
- Powder Laundry Detergent – Make a powder variation of my popular liquid laundry soap using this simple recipe.
- Laundry Softener – Use vinegar to make this simple liquid laundry detergent.
DIY Natural Laundry Scent Booster & Softener
Want a natural way to make your laundry smell amazing? My favorite homemade laundry scent booster recipe comes together in under 5 minutes and is made with just 2 natural ingredients. Add a scoop to a load of laundry alongside your favorite eco-friendly detergents or my homemade laundry detergent.
Cost: $6 ($1.30 per load)
Equipment
- 1 large bowl for combining the ingredients
- 1 large spoon or fork for combining the ingredients
- 1 large storage container that holds 5 cups of dry goods for storing the scent booster
Ingredients
- 5 cups coarse sea salt sea salt, kosher, or Epsom salt are the best type of salt.
- 1-2 teaspoons favorite essential oil or blend a couple of oils together for a custom scent (100-200 drops)
Instructions
- Pour the salt into a large bowl. Then, add the essential oil.
- Using a spoon, mix the salt and essential oil with a spoon or whisk.
- Spoon the mixture into a container with a lid (like a wide glass jar). For best results, I let the mixture rest for 24 hours, allowing the essential oil to infuse the salt. After 24 hours, the scent booster is ready for your laundry routine.
How to Use:
- Add 1/2 cup of scented salt per load. Add directly to the washing machine with clothes, sheets, towels, etc. For HE machines, you may want to try 1/4 cup.
Storage:
- Store for up to 12 months.
Notes
Essential Oil Note: Due to the cost of essential oils, I use a cheaper yet still reputable brand like NOW for laundry purposes. NOW sells some oils, like lavender, in bulk bottles. The essential oil may also be skipped, if desired.
Best Essential Oil Options:
- Individual Oils- I love lavender essential oil, peppermint, sweet orange, lemon, or lemongrass for laundry.
- Make Your Own Oil Blend – I love to combine Orange & Lemon, Eucalyptus & Lemon, Peppermint & Orange, or Rosemary & Peppermint. Use 50-100 drops of each oil.
Tried this recipe?Let me know how it was!
I am looking for an alternative to shop bought chemical stuff and have read from Miele technician that vinegar corrodes plastic ?
Does the salt eat away at the washing machine? We just purchased a new machine and my husband would not be happy if my frugal attempts resulted in another new machine.
Hey Kris, I haven’t had issues with our washer and the small amount of salt used. I only use fabric softener when I’m washing a load of towels. But I might suggest going with a vinegar rinse (the vinegar smell doesn’t stick around) just to be safe with the new washer: https://livesimply.me/2016/01/27/homemade-liquid-fabric-softener/.
Does the scented salt go in the rinse water? It seems like you’re putting it in the wash cycle. Thanks!
Hey Laura, I put it in the wash cycle, because I couldn’t ever catch the rinse water in time. I haven’t seen a big difference, when I’ve tried the two different cycles, in the way the towels or clothes feel. You could definitely experiment with both.
Hi Kristin. I have just red your blog in water softener/Fragrance I have very hard water and as I live aurally ( In the Kent countryside in the UK) and my house is 175 years old, so we have a septic tank and salt is a no-no for the overflow and soak away Is there any thing else I can use.
I put vinegar in the fabric softener dispenser but that is only end of wash. Can you recommend something else.
Many thanks Loraine.
PS I have a front loader machine.
So is any kind of salt okay? You singled out sea salt and kosher salt, I’m just confused as to the really differences when you really get down to it. Any wisdom is appreciated!
Hey Jocelyn, The salt needs to be in the form of large granules from my experience, which is why I go with sea salt or kosher salt.
Can Epsom salt be used? I bought a huge bag thingimh it will until I read your recipe.
Hey Jennifer, I would definitely try them. They won’t hurt the washing machine, based on my research.
Hello! Thank you for sharing your recipe for softener! Do you know how it will work in a HE front loader?
Thank you!!
Hey Betsy, Yes, you can :).
Hi , just want to ask if how long can I keep the softener, please reply thanks
Hey Teresa, It will keep for quite a long time, about 9-12 months.
Does I matter what temp the washer is on I usually use tap cold or warm?? Is ether of those ok!? I’m definitely going to try this. Thanks
Hey Crystal, I haven’t found that it makes much of a difference. I’ve used both cold and hot water. Personally, I like the way our clothes turn out overall with warm or hot water, but that’s just a preference thing not a product performance thing :).
I love this idea & am going to try it. I have a question about your liquid laundry detergent… Will it work in an HE machine?
Hey Candee, This recipe is based on Mrs. Meyer’s scent booster. Here’s what the site recommends for an HE washer, “Q. Can I use Laundry Scent boosters in my HE Laundry Machine?
A. Yes, Mrs. Meyer’s Scent Boosters can be added into your machine right on top of your clothes before starting your wash. Do not put it in any of the dispenser trays.” I would use the salt in the same way.
I wonder how the cost of this stuff compares to Seventh Generation Lavender Fabric Softener. I buy that stuff in bulk. I bet this is cheaper.
I bet it would be cheaper! I purchase a giant 3lb box of salt from Costco for $2 (or something like that).
I like using liquid softener, especially since I can just pour it into the dispenser and not have to catch (which I often missed) the rinse cycle. Do you think I could mix this recipe in water and then pour it in the dispenser?
Hey Diane, I’m really not sure, but it’s worth a shot! If you’d like a liquid fabric softener another great alternative is white vinegar (you could even add essential oil(s)). Just add 1/2 cup of vinegar to your wash.
Ummm dry laundry soap powder? Where are you hiding this little gem? 😉
Thanks for the info on front loaders-Ive been having a hard time incorporating all your wonderful laundry recipes since I got one-ill check out that website for more tricks. Can’t wait to see the ebook!!!
Hey Brandi, That little gem is in the eBook ;). I haven’t been a big laundry soap powder fan for a long time, so I never really focused on creating a homemade version. Then, the eBook came about and I started working on one and love it! The powder is actually what I’m currently using–it’s even easier than a liquid version! I may end up sharing it on the blog, too!
*cue screeching like my 6 year old daughter* I can’t wait!!! ?
Ohhhhhh a new eBook. Can’t wait!!!!
Thank you, Krystal! I’m excited to finally release the book. It’s been a long time coming :).
Hi! I’ve been loving your homemade laundry soap recipe (although I did thicken it a bit)! Actually thinking it will make great Christmas gifts this year. I wonder what would happen if I just mixed the salt right in with that?
Hey Mallary, It’s so great to hear you’re loving the soap recipe. I experimented with adding salt to the laundry soap recipe for the DIY Natural Cleaning eBook releasing on November 23rd. I combined 1-2 cups with my dry laundry soap powder and loved the result, so I bet you could add salt to the liquid version! I would wait until the laundry soap has cooled to add the salt so it doesn’t dissolve in the warm solution.
I’ve made my own liquid soap for years, and generally, adding salt to a soap does one of two things, it either causes it to thicken to a paste (normally only if there is an artificial foam booster involved), or it liquifies to a state that can’t be thickened! test with a small quantity of soap and a proportional amount of salt before dumping salt into the whole batch!
Thanks for sharing, Melissa!
Hi Mallary, I know you posted this a fee months ago, buy I am wondering how you made the laundry soap recipe thicker. Thanks!
Your DIY laundry softener is a great idea. I’ll definitely make one just to try it, I would then compare it to my usual softener. Thank you for sharing this.
You’re welcome, Olivia. Enjoy!
This is so cute! I need to try this. Would love some minty clothes 🙂
http://www.MarinaSays.com
Awesome, enjoy!!
How does this work with front loading machines. Do you put it in the machine?
It sounds wonderful!
Hey Brenda, I wish I personally had an answer for font loading machines…I really need a new washing machine ;). I took a look at the Mrs. Meyer’s product page for the salt scent booster (http://www.mrsmeyers.com/lavender-laundry-scent-booster/ –basically salt and fragrance) and this is what I found,
“Q. Can I use Laundry Scent boosters in my HE Laundry Machine?
A. Yes, Mrs. Meyer’s Scent Boosters can be added into your machine right on top of your clothes before starting your wash. Do not put it in any of the dispenser trays.”
That response sounds like you could do the same with a homemade salt solution–add the salt directly to the machine with the clothes.
For those that have a whole house water softener installed (we do)… would that effectively do the same thing as adding this salt laundry softener? Or would that not put enough salt into the wash water to be effective? My guess is it would not? Just curious.
Hey Sherry, If you have a water softener and just want to soften specific garments (linens, towels, sheets, etc.), then I recommend soaking garments in the salt and water for 30 minutes or up to a few hours, then washing the clothes. If you have soft water you may not need a fabric softener. If you’d just like to use the salt as a natural freshener/scent booster, then you may use the salt mixture in the washing machine without soaking.
You wrote a new eBook and it comes out just a few days (ish) of my birthday?! You shouldn’t have ; ) ! Ohhhh I can’t wait.
Awesome, JoAnn! We’ll have to do something extra special!! Happy Birthday :).