Updated: Jul 28, 2022
Say goodbye to smelly shoes with these essential oil DIY shoe odour recipes.
Whether you prefer slingbacks or sandals, wingtips or walking shoes, there’s one piece of footwear you don’t like sitting in your closet: the dreaded smelly shoe.
No one wants their closet smelling like stinky feet So how do you deodorise your shoes without relying on whatever’s in those commercial odour eliminators? Tap into the essential side of nature and kick unpleasant odours to the curb. We’ve whipped up recipes for a DIY deodoriser spray and a shoe powder, so you can pick your preference.
60ml witch hazel
30ml distilled water
30-40 drops Young Living essential oil
100ml glass spray bottle
1. Add witch hazel and water to the spray bottle. Remember to leave room at the top so that you can add the essential oils. You may not need a full 30ml of water.
2. Add 30-40 drops of essential oil. (See our recommendations below.)
3. Put the spray top on and shake well to mix. Add more oil if you want a stronger scent.
Shake well before each use. Spray the insides of your shoes enough to make them slightly damp, but not enough to soak them. Let the shoes sit for at least 12 hours before wearing them again to ensure that they are completely dry.
YL tip: Mix and match any of our recommended essential oils to suit your sense of smell! This is the recipe we used:
11 drops Purification essential oil
11 drops Eucalyptus Radiata essential oil
10 drops Peppermint essential oil
5 drops Lemon essential oil
¼ cup baking soda
¼ cup arrowroot powder
15 drops essential oil (see suggestions below)
1 glass jar
1. Combine baking soda and arrowroot powder in a mixing bowl.
2.Once combined, add your essential oil to the mixture. Just like in the spray, you can use any oil combination you like. Purification and Thieves are our favourites.
3. Stir until there are no clumps.
4. Place mixture into a glass jar with a lid.
Use a small spoon to sprinkle a dash of powder into your shoes before use.
Here are some of our favourite super-powered funk-fighters.
Purification essential oil blend—Scent profile: Clean, invigorating, crisp
Thieves essential oil blend—Scent profile: Spicy, rich, warm
Cedarwood essential oil—Scent profile: Woodsy, warm, balanced
Cinnamon Bark essential oil—Scent profile: Sweet, spicy, comforting
Eucalyptus Radiata essential oil—Scent profile: Sharp, refreshing, cool
Kunzea essential oil—Scent profile: Spicy, woodsy, sunny
Lemon essential oil—Scent profile: Fruity, sweet, bright
Lemongrass essential oil—Scent profile: Lemony, refreshing, outdoorsy
Peppermint essential oil—Scent profile: Fresh, cool, clean
Tea Tree essential oil—Scent profile: Powerful, herbaceous, crisp