Quickly freshen up your car with this DIY air freshener: Video tutorial

Odors are icky! They aren't welcome in our homes and we don't want them lingering in our vehicles. While last night's pizza tasted and smelled delicious then, most of us don't want that to be what greets us when we open our door.

Candles, oil diffusers and plug-in air fresheners are a few of the ways we try to mask or combat the odors in our lives. However, these options can be expensive, the fragrance too overpowering or the diffuser just not feasible to use. So consider this cheaper alternative: make your own air deodorizer. All you need is a Mason jar, baking soda and your preferred scent of essential oil. Bonus points if the Mason jar fits in your car’s cup holder!

​Watch this video to see how easy it is to make an air freshener for you car.

Homemade car air freshener

To make your own air freshener:

1. Fill the mason jar with baking soda, leaving some room at the top.

2. Add about 30 drops of your favorite odor-fighting essential oil.

3. Place a coffee filter or breathable fabric, like muslin, over the top.

4. Secure the jar’s lid over top and cut off any overhanging coffee filter or fabric.

5. Shake it up!

The baking soda will stay fresh for several months, but you may want to refresh the scent periodically to maintain the efficacy.

By the way, these air fresheners can be placed around your home, too!

Custom air freshener

Making an air freshener yourself means you can customize it to your tastes. Consider combining your favorite scents or opting for seasonal scents, like cinnamon in the fall or peppermint in the winter. Make the jar fit your space or the holiday by adding stickers or painting the exterior.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Homemade air freshener for your car: DIY video tutorial