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A Complete Guide to Adding Scent to Dryer Balls

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Dryer balls are eco-friendly, cost-effective, and chemical-free accessories that separate clumps of wet laundry and improve the ability of the dryer to dry the clothes in record time.

And if you’re wondering, since the dryer balls are tumbling in there, why not make them scented to rub some fragrance off on the laundry?

You’re not alone. More and more people are adding scent to dryer balls these days.

You can use both fragrance oils and essential oils to give the dryer balls a great scent that eventually ends up in the laundry. Essential oils such as lavender, eucalyptus, and balsam fir are ideal for wool dryer balls. But you can always use your favorite scent with any dryer balls you have at your disposal.

The wonderful world of essential oils and fragrance oils is vast and exciting. So why not add some pizzazz to your laundry during the dryer cycle with scented dryer balls? Read more to find out all about adding scent to dryer balls.

A Complete Guide to Wool Dryer Balls (Step-by-step)
I made a video on how to use woolen dryer balls. If you start the video, it will jump directly to the part where I show you how to add scents to the dryer balls.

Can you Use Essential Oils in the Dryer?

The idea of adding essential oils to dryer balls is not new. Since the dryer balls in the market are mainly using fragrances, then why not buy unscented dryer balls and infuse them with essential oils of your choice?

But the question is, is it safe to use essential oils in the dryer? Isn’t there a risk of the inflammatory oil catching fire?

Actually, that risk is quite low, considering that there’s not enough vapor emitting from the dryer ball to ignite a fire.

Granted, essential oils have a low flash point (the temperature at which the vapors ignite) between 104 and 110 degrees F, and the temperature in the dryer is between 125 and 135 degrees F.

But as long as you add only a few drops to the dryer ball at a time, it’s quite safe to use essential oils on dryer balls. 

Can you Use Fragrance Oils in the Dryer?

The same rules that apply to essential oils also are pertinent to fragrance oils. Both fragrance oils and essential oils are flammable.

But since people have been using scented dryer sheets and scented dryer balls in the dryer without incidents, then it’s safe to say that you can use fragrance oils on the dryer balls as long as you limit the amount you add every time to just a few drops.

As long as there’s not enough vapor inside of the dryer to cause a fire, you won’t have any problems. One rule of thumb is to add between 3 to 4 drops of the oils using an eyedrop to the balls before tossing them into the dryer.

The balls will dry out fast, but it’s better to be safe than sorry.

How to Add Scent to Dryer Balls

Dryer balls have many advantages over dryer sheets. But since dryer sheets are scented while dryer balls are not, people prefer to use dryer sheets.

But now, you can add scent to your dryer balls and enjoy the absence of static and the shorter dryer cycles, which translate into lower energy bills.

Here’s how to add scent to dryer balls. 

  1. Select the essential oil you prefer according to the type of laundry you’re doing.
  2. After you drop the wet laundry in the dryer, pick up the dryer balls one by one.
  3. Add a few drops of essential oil using an eyedropper. You shouldn’t exceed 4 drops per ball at any time to keep the dryer safe.
  4. Repeat with the rest of the balls. If you’re using more than 6 dryer balls together, then limit the number of essential oil drops to 2 at most.
  5. Toss the dryer balls into the dryer and let them do their magic.
  6. By the end of the dryer cycle, the laundry will come out dry and scented.
  7. The dryer balls run out of essential oils after every use. So you’ll need to infuse them with the scent every time you use the dryer.

What Essential Oils Go with Dryer Balls?

When it comes to fashion, you always try to follow the trends. But when it comes to your home and your life in it, your personal tastes and preferences take precedence.

This applies to the fragrances and scents that infuse your laundry. That said, here are a few essential oils that have many benefits that most people have come to embrace.

Lavender

Lavender is a soothing scent with an amazingly calming effect. A whiff of lavender does wonders to your stress levels. I recommend using lavender essential oils with dryer balls when you’re doing the bed sheets, linens, homewear such as pajamas, and duvet covers.

When you go to bed at the end of a long day, the calming scent of lavender will prepare you for sleep in no time.

Eucalyptus

Eucalyptus is a trademark scent of spas and health clubs. It has a similar effect on the mind and body as lavender but with a refreshing twist. It’s the ideal essential oil for bathroom linens such as towels and washcloths.

Not only will it keep the bathroom smelling fresh, but it will also turn it into your personal spa.

Balsam Fir

Balsam fir is a rejuvenating essential oil. It perks you up when you need to and calms you down when you just want to relax and shed the stress of the day.

You can use balsam fir oil with all types of clothes and fabrics. It goes well with home clothes, activewear, office wear, and even casual wear. You cannot go wrong with balsam fir.

Below I have put together a list of all my favorite essential oil for dryer balls.

The Best Essential Oils for Dryer Balls

Please note that all of the product links in this article are sponsored.

1. Best Value: Expressive Scent Fresh Sea Spray

Sea spray is an unusual scent that one only finds by the seashore. It’s the fresh odor of pleasant time, relaxation, and vacations.

If you want your wool to smell like you’ve just come back from vacation, then I recommend this essential oil from Expressive Scent.

Made in the USA, the high-quality essential oil can be used with dryer balls for wool fabrics as well as a home air freshener.

Because it requires heat to release its fragrance, the essential oil works well with dryer balls. As the inside of the dryer ball heats up, the scent in the essential oil is slow to spread.

You only need a few drops for each load. Each bottle has 2 ounces of concentrated essential oil which will be good for up to 20 loads of wet wool laundry.

2. Best Citrus Scent: Plant Therapy ​Bergamot

Plant Therapy is a European company based in Bulgaria and specializes in natural, undiluted, and 100 percent organic essential oils.

Their bergamot essential oil is made from the fruit peels of the bergamot orange. As a single essential oil, it is made by cold pressing the rinds of the orange to preserve all its odors and flavors.

The result is a soothing and comforting essential oil for your sheep wool sweater.

You can also use it in diffusers, inhalers, or for massage to enjoy a calming effect. Some people use it as a sedative, an antidepressant, and to combat anxiety.

The essential oil is USDA approved and comes in ⅓-ounce bottles. It doesn’t contain any additives, so your natural wool garments will smell better without any chemicals or toxins.

3. Best Natural Scent for Wool: Young Living Lemongrass

One can think of fewer other natural odors that go well with wool than lemongrass. The crisp and fresh scent of lemongrass neutralizes the odors of wet wool that garments made of natural sheep wool often have.

The essential oil infiltrates the fabrics of the sweater and infuses them with a calming odor that creates a positive aura around you whenever you wear it. 

All these positive effects will reflect on your daily life as well.

The calming scents will make you calmer, allow you to sleep better, and give you a better handle on things. You’ll find that you can cope better and think positively all the time.

The half-ounce bottle of concentrated essential oil can be used with dryer balls, as an air freshener, or in massage.

4. Best Floral Scent: Bouquet By Plant Therapy

It’s not easy to pull off a wool sweater or jacket that smells like flowers. But Bouquet from Plant Therapy is not just a bunch of floral scents thrown in together randomly.

Rather, the essential oil has a combination of scents that complement each other and add to the overall effect. The lemon and mandarin scents make it zesty, lavender, and palmarosa give it pleasant tones, while Ho Wood gives it forest tones.

This essential oil will not make your wool garments smell like a bouquet of flowers. But it will leave traces of natural and fresh fragrances that mask the unpleasant smells of natural wool.

Use it in aromatherapy for a boost of energy and dilute it and spray it around the house for an exuberant smell that lasts for hours.

5. Best Energizing Scent: Young Living Ylang-Ylang

The ylang-ylang is a delicate flower with a sweet scent that grows on the tree of the same name. Far from having an overpowering effect, its aroma sneaks on you and envelopes your senses with its energizing effect.

When the essential oil is combined with natural wool fabrics, its fragrance wafts out as the sweater heats up from your body temperature. It becomes a source of positive energy as the day progresses.

The scent of the ylang-ylang flower is believed to help with interpersonal connections. People who wear the perfume saw a boost in their social life and were able to cope with depression and anxiety.

The bottle contains 5 ml of concentrated essential oil. You only need a few drops at a time for the dryer balls or as an air freshener.

6. Best Calming Scent: Rocky Mountain Oils Chamomile

Chamomile is a famous tea to help you relax and combat stress.

But did you know that the essential oils extracted from the same flower can give you the same results?

The fragrance of the chamomile strikes middle tones. It doesn’t intoxicate or waft stealthily. It makes its presence known with its fruity, warm, sweet, and herbaceous scent.

It’s a great cure for anxiety, depression, and anger management.

Use the essential oil of the Roman chamomile flower on wool garments to enjoy peaceful sleep at night and create a calm and inviting ambiance around bedtime. While the oil is ideal for dryer balls, it can also be used topically for skin care and massage therapy.

It also goes into other products such as soaps and shampoos. The bottle contains 5 ml of essential oil.

7. Best Refreshing Scent: Doterra ​lemon

Lemon is a refreshing fragrance that perks you up the same way a cup of coffee does in the morning. In addition to that jolt of energy, lemon essential oils are great stress relievers.

A whiff of this magical fragrance will bring down your stress levels almost immediately and help you find inner peace. It also does wonders with anxiety and depression, helping people cope and stay cheerful.

The power of the lemon odor in this essential oil masks the dank odors of natural wool, especially in new garments. It’s no wonder that lemon fragrance is quite popular in other products, including perfumes, candles, and lotions.

The bottle contains 15 ml of concentrated oil that you can use in small amounts with dryer balls, inhalers, diffusers, or spray to freshen up the air. 

8. Best Around-The-Clock Set: Woolzies Essential Oil Work Buddy

This set of 3 essential oils from Woolzies has got you covered from the moment you wake up, as you go through your busy day, and stays with you as you relax at home and finally go to bed.

Each one of the three oils has a specific purpose for a different time of the day.

  • The 9-5 Energy essential oil gives you the morning energy you need to start the day.
  • Creative Genius helps you tackle the toughest problems at hand.
  • Then the After Hours is for relaxing and unwinding at the end of a hard day.

I recommend using the first two essential oils of this set for work clothes. The third one is for wool clothes you wear at home. Each bottle contains 10 ml of concentrated essential oil.

9. Best Insect Repellent: Lavender By Lisse Essentials

Lisse Essentials is a family-owned company in Montana. Their essential oils are popular because they have good quality and adherence to industry standards.

If you want to give your wool sweater a cozy and comforting scent, then this lavender essential oil will deliver in spades.

Lavender is the go-to fragrance to stay focused and draw on your inner energy. It relaxes, rejuvenates, and keeps you calm.

Another important benefit of lavender is that it repels insects. When you use it with the dryer balls, you’re effectively making the sweater or jacket off-limits to insects.

Whether you wear it or store it, bugs and moths will not get near the wool fabric.

The half-ounce bottle can be used with air fresheners, diffusers, and dryer balls. 

10. Best For Good Mood: Joy By Young Living

Joy from Young Living is another essential oil that gets its power and fragrance from the ylang-ylang, bergamot, coriander, jasmine, rose, and chamomile flowers.

The citrus flavors and warm aromas are the right combinations for your wool garments. A mixture of zesty and sweet, your sweater will smell fresh and clean all day.

The mixture of all these fragrances has the right effect on your mood all day.

The balanced essential oil also has a calming effect on the mind and creates the right aura and positive thinking mentality you need to stay focused on the task at hand.

If you just bought a jacket or sweater made of sheep wool, I recommend using Joy with the dryer balls to mask the sheep smell and make the sweater more comfortable to wear.

The bottle contains 15 ml of essential oil.

11. Best Blend: Awake & Aware By Edens Garden

If you get up in the morning feeling tired or find it hard to keep your energy levels throughout the day, Awake & Aware from Edens Garden is a good solution. It perks you up and keeps you energized as you power through your daily chores.

It has a combination of musky, earthy, spicy, and sweet tones that tap into your inner sources of energy and boosts your blood circulation.

Conclusion

Dryer balls are a better option than dryer sheets. They’re economical, eco-friendly, and keep the laundry smooth and wrinkle-free.

The one drawback about them is that they’re not scented. But you can infuse them with essential oils such as lavender, eucalyptus, or balsam fir to give your laundry the right scent.

Don’t use more than 4 drops of essential oils per dryer ball at a time.

Next, you can check out my guide on how to use dryer balls to master using them completely.

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