How to Make Aromatic Sachets for Closets / 7 Unusual Ideas

Clothes that have been stored in the closet for a long time can develop an unpleasant musty smell. This usually happens due to improper storage: dense stacks of clothes hinder airflow. First, sort through your shelves and drawers, then take preventive action by placing special aromatic sachets to keep everything smelling fresh. Here's how you can make your own air fresheners.

Herb Sachet

You'll need a small fabric pouch, either bought or homemade, and a fragrant filler. Suitable fillers include dried herbs, lavender, rose petals, spices, citrus zest, or even coffee. You can also mix different scents together: coffee pairs well with citrus or cinnamon sticks, and lavender can be combined with rosemary, rose, or chamomile. Just place the filler in the pouch and tie it up. For a longer-lasting scent, add a few drops of essential oil.

Salt Pillow

Buy unscented sea salt and place a few tablespoons in a container. Add a few drops of essential oil and mix well. Prepare two "pillowcases" — one from gauze and one from decorative fabric (natural cotton or linen is best). The gauze will act as the inner pouch. After adding the scented salt, sew it shut and place it in the decorative fabric cover. You can add a loop to hang it on a rail if needed.

Rice Sachet

Rice is great for absorbing and releasing odors, and it’s inexpensive. Fill a small pouch with rice, add a few drops of essential oil, and mix. You can use essential oils individually or mix them, like lemon, lavender, and mint for a refreshing scent, or lavender, mandarin, and chamomile for relaxation.

Wax Sachet

A wax sachet is long-lasting as the wax retains the fragrance well. Melt wax, add essential oils (about 10% of the weight of the wax), and pour it into molds. Decorate with dried flowers, spices, or herbs. Once the wax hardens, remove it from the molds, and it’s ready to use. To make the sachets sturdier, add some stearin acid to the mix.

Baking Soda Container

Baking soda absorbs odors well, but to avoid the powdery mess, place it in a small container. Add a few drops of essential oil and mix. Cover the container with a lid with holes or use foil with holes. Place it in your closet to keep everything fresh.

Gypsum Diffuser

These are aesthetically pleasing and easy to make. Mix dry gypsum with water in a 1:1 ratio, pour into a silicone mold, and insert a stick if necessary. Once dry, remove the gypsum diffuser, smooth it if needed, and add a few drops of essential oil. Attach a ribbon and hang it in the closet.

Paper Sachet

For the simplest option, use thick watercolor paper (not regular office paper). Spray with your favorite perfume or soak in essential oils, let it dry, and place the sachets between your clothes or on hangers. Paper sachets don’t take up much space but work effectively.

Bonus Idea: Place fragrant soap pieces in your closet; they have a strong scent that can permeate your clothes.