Pumpkin Spice Air Freshener

Learn how to make a pumpkin spice air freshener with warming essential oils and natural materials like putka pods and pumpinos. This cozy homemade pumpkin potpourri makes beautiful fall home decor and is a simple homemade gift idea!

DIY pumpkin spice air freshener

What smells cozy and feels like autumn? That’s right. It got to be this pumpkin spice air freshener! I love all things pumpkin spice, be it delicious food or this homemade air freshener. It’s great for scenting my living spaces and creating a warm, inviting atmosphere in my house.

This lovely fall concoction doubles as an air refresher and seasonal piece of home decor. The essential oil air freshener is the perfect craft project for a cold afternoon and will fill your home with a delicious fragrance.

Store-bought plug-in air fresheners are usually loaded with synthetic perfume and unpronounceable chemicals. My pumpkin spice potpourri is made with natural materials and essential oils safe for you and your family.

The pumpkin potpourri is also a lovely handmade gift idea for your friends and family. It’ll warm their homes and hearts during the holiday season. I love homemade gifts because they are intentional and heartfelt.

For more homemade gift-giving ideas, try essential oil holiday gifts, my self-care package ideas, fall food gifts, and this holiday spa gift basket.

Materials for pumpkin air freshener

Let’s have a look at the supply list. For the full ingredients and instructions, see the printable how-to card at the end of the post.

• Putka pods look like adorable miniature pumpkins and make up the bulk of this DIY fall air freshener. They are available natural or colored, and you want to get them unscented as you will fragrance them yourself. The pods aren’t real mini pumpkins but the fruits of the Australian cheese tree.
• Dried pumpinos have a vibrant orange hue and resemble tiny pumpkins. The dried fruits are actually an ornamental eggplant variety and make an excellent bowl filler.
• Dried strawflowers are another way to dress up our homemade pumpkin potpourri. They come in different colors, ranging from pink to red, orange, and yellow.
• Spices add visual interest and a natural scent. I used whole cinnamon sticks and gorgeous star anise.
• Essential oils provide a natural pumpkin spice scent, and I’ll you how to make a pumpkin spice essential oil blend. Just read on!

You can order these items online, for example, on Amazon. Whole spices are also sold in most supermarkets. You will find putka pods and pumpinos at Pottery Barn, Michael’s, and other home decor and craft supply stores.

Tools

• Decorative, medium-sized bowl to display the air freshener.
• Gold acrylic paint to give some of the putka pods an elegant makeover.
• Paintbrush to paint on the dried pods.
• Piece of carton or old newspaper to cover your work surface and catch paint drips.

Pumpkin spice essential oil blend

You need the following oils to make my pumpkin spice essential oil recipe. It’s warm and spicy with a hint of sweetness. The amounts are enough to scent a medium-sized potpourri.

• copaiba oleoresin
• cinnamon bark essential oil
• clove bud essential oil
• botanical vanilla extract
• sweet orange essential oil
• nutmeg essential oil
• ginger root extract

Spice essential oils are sensitizing and can irritate sensitive skin. Please put on nitrile gloves when you handle spice essential oils and wash your hands with soapy water in case of spills.

Premade pumpkin essential oil

Instead of buying individual oils, you can also work with a premade blend. Plant Therapy offers a delectable pumpkin spice essential oil blend as a part of their fall scents.

The blend is available individually or in their Smells Like Fall bundle, including other mouthwatering scent combos like Maple Bar and Apple Orchard.

How to make a pumpkin potpourri

See how to make a natural pumpkin spice air freshener! With a few easy tips and tricks, you’ll have a fragrant and all-natural air freshener. Let me walk you through the steps:

Step 1: Paint putka pods (optional)

• For a little sparkle, paint a few putka pods with gold acrylic paint. Use a soft brush and cover your work area to protect it from paint drips.
• Once painted, set the putka pods aside to dry for about 20 minutes.
• This step is optional, but I like the gold shimmer effect.

Step 2: Assemble air freshener

• Get a medium-sized glass bowl or ceramic dish. I don’t recommend wooden or plastic bowls because essential oils can affect these materials.
• Fill the bowl with putka pods.

Step 3: Decorate the potpourri

• Place pumpinos, strawflowers, cinnamon sticks, and star anise on the putka pods to decorate the top of the potpourri.

Step 4: Add essential oils

• Drop the essential oils onto the putka pods. You don’t have to stir the potpourri. The pods will absorb the oils within 30 minutes to 1 hour.

Step 5: Finishing touches

• Arrange the golden putka pods on the potpourri.

Step 6: Display

• Display the pumpkin spice air freshener in your living spaces and enjoy the cozy scent!

Pumpkin spice potpourri gifts

This pumpkin air freshener makes a quick and beautiful seasonal gift. An 8-oz wide-mouth mason jar has the perfect size to make potpourri gifts. Cyna created printable labels that fit this size of jar. You can download them at the end of the post.

To make small fall potpourri gifts, follow these steps:

1. Place the putka pods into a large glass mixing bowl.
2. Add the essential oils and stir with a spoon to distribute the oils and coat the pods.
3. Let sit for 30 minutes so the pods can soak up the scent.
4. Transfer the pods into your mason jar until the jar is almost full.
5. Decorate the top of the potpourri with spices, a pumpino, and gold putka pods.
6. Print out the label and place it between the lid and the metal band.
7. Close the jar tightly. Your potpourri gift is ready!
8. Allow the aromas to mingle together for one day before gifting.

Where to display the pumpkin spice air freshener

• Living room: The pumpkin air freshener will look stunning on a coffee table. It’s perfect to fragrance a seating area and makes for a lovely conversation piece.
• Dining room: The pumpkin potpourri is a wonderful decor element for sideboards and console tables. You can use it as a centerpiece on your dining table, too.
• Office: I have a dish of this pumpkin potpourri on my office desk. It looks beautiful and aromatizes the air with a delicious fall scent.
• Powder room: A small jar of scented putka pods is wonderful to refresh a powder room. Place the potpourri away from water, for example, on a windowsill or shelf.
• Bedroom: The strong smell of the essential oils is a bit overpowering for my small bedroom. However, you may find it just right for a large bedroom.
• Closets: To scent your clothes and linen, put a pumpkin potpourri jar inside your closet. Just make sure that none of your clothes come in direct contact with the potpourri, as the essential oils can stain fabrics.
• Car: To make a pumpkin spice car freshener, fill the potpourri mixture into a small 4-oz mason jar and add a flower lid. Put the air freshener on the center console and enjoy the warming aroma as your drive.

How to store the fall potpourri for next year

The DIY air freshener stores very well once pumpkin spice season is over. As Rachel from Queen Bee of Honey Dos points out, putka pods may attract mice.

To ensure that doesn’t happen, keep your homemade pumpkin spice air freshener sealed in an airtight glass container in a dark, cool place. Stored properly, you can enjoy the fall potpourri for many years to come.

Pumpkin spice potpourri FAQ

How long does the scent last?

I find that the scent lasts for 1 to 2 weeks, depending on the size of the room. Simply reactivate your pumpkin spice air freshener with fresh essential oils once you notice the smell fading.

How can I make the scent stronger?

Easy! Simple increase the essential oils in case you find the scent too faint.

Can I add ground spices?

Of course! Spices such as ground cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg, give the potpourri a scent boost and more staying power.

Is the potpourri safe for pets?

Cinnamon and other spices essential oils are poisonous for pets. Most dogs and cats will probably ignore the potpourri. However, keep an eye for curious kittens or pups who like to inspect every change in your home.

Can I use this for a simmering stovetop potpourri?

No, this is a dry potpourri and not suitable for simmering. If you want a stovetop potpourri, try my fall stovetop potpourri, holiday simmer pot, and these cute potpourri gifts.

More ways to make a pumpkin spice air freshener

Creating a putka pods potpourri isn’t the only way to make a pumpkin spice air freshener. Here are a few more ideas for you to try:

• Diffuser: Add a few drops of my pumpkin spice essential oil recipe into your diffuser and enjoy a spicy fall fragrance wafting throughout your home.
• Candle: My pumpkin spice candle is the most popular candle-making tutorial here on CHC. And for good reason! The DIY soy candle smells delicious and is gorgeous to look at.
• Wax melts: Pumpkin spice-scented wax melts make the perfect fall craft idea! They smell amazing and look so lovely, dissolving in a wax melter.
• Room spray: Essential oil room sprays allow you to freshen up any space. My fall room spray recipes include pumpkin spice, autumn flowers, and fall forest blends.
• Wax sachets are a wonderful idea to enjoy the pumpkin spice smell in small spaces and scent clothes.
• Car air freshener: Cut a piece of thick felt into the shape of a pumpkin. Apply essential oils and use as a pumpkin spice car air freshener.

And for even more ideas, check out my post on how to make your home smell like fall naturally!