A Scent of Regret: When a DIY Air Freshener Goes Wrong

“Oh no, not again!” I shrieked, as the sound of breaking glass echoed through the bathroom. It was the third time this week that my homemade air freshener concoction had met its untimely demise against the cold, unforgiving tiles. My roommate, Jess, poked her head around the corner, eyebrows raised in a mix of curiosity and exasperation.

“What did you do this time, Mia?” she asked, folding her arms as she leaned against the doorframe.

I sighed deeply, trying to mask my embarrassment with a shrug. “I thought a little extra baking soda would make it more effective, but it seems like it just made it more explosive.” I gestured to the white powder now dusting the floor and the shards of glass scattered around my feet.

Jess chuckled, shaking her head. “You know, there’s a reason why they sell those things pre-made in stores.”

“Yeah, but where’s the fun in that?” I retorted, attempting to laugh it off. Deep down, though, I was feeling the weight of my latest string of failures.

Ever since I had moved to New York City for college, I had been determined to prove myself as a resourceful, independent adult. Part of that had involved finding creative solutions to everyday problems—like the persistent stench that seemed to emanate from our bathroom no matter how frequently we cleaned.

It all started with a YouTube video I had stumbled across late one night, promising a simple DIY air freshener that would keep our tiny bathroom smelling fresh. All I needed was a mason jar, baking soda, and a few drops of essential oil. “The perfect solution,” I thought, naively optimistic.

But things had quickly gone awry. The first jar I made tipped over and shattered when Jess accidentally bumped into it. The second suffered a similar fate when I attempted to place it precariously on a narrow shelf. And now, this third attempt had ended in yet another disaster, thanks to my misguided attempt at tweaking the recipe.

As I swept up the mess, I couldn’t help but think about how this small failure was emblematic of my life in the city. Everything seemed to be just a little bit harder than I had imagined—balancing classes, holding down a part-time job, and maintaining a social life, all while trying to stay true to my vision of myself as a capable adult.

“Hey, don’t beat yourself up,” Jess said, as if reading my mind. She offered a small smile. “At least you’re trying. That’s more than a lot of people can say.”

I nodded, grateful for her support. Jess was the kind of friend who always had my back, even when I was knee-deep in baking soda. “Thanks, Jess. I just wish I could get one thing right without it blowing up in my face.”

Later that evening, while I was sitting at the kitchen table, scrolling through my phone for yet another DIY hack, Jess plopped down beside me with a bowl of popcorn. “You know,” she began, “my mom used to say every setback is just an opportunity in disguise. Maybe you just need to look at this from a different angle.”

“Like what?” I asked, genuinely curious.

“Well, for starters, maybe glass jars aren’t the best choice,” she said with a wink. “Or maybe it’s time for a different approach altogether.”

Her words lingered with me, and as I lay in bed that night, I replayed them over and over. Was I going about this all wrong? Was my stubborn insistence on doing things my way blinding me to better solutions?

The next day, I decided to try something completely out of character. I visited the local hardware store and picked up a small, eco-friendly air purifier. It wasn’t a DIY project, but it was a start. When I plugged it in, I was amazed at the difference it made. The bathroom smelled fresh, and there was no risk of broken glass or baking soda explosions.

Jess noticed the change immediately. “Wow, it actually smells nice in here!” she exclaimed, giving me a playful nudge. “Guess you finally cracked the code.”

In that moment, I realized it wasn’t about proving myself with elaborate DIY projects. Sometimes, the simplest solution was the best one, and that was okay.

As I stood in the doorway of the now pleasant-smelling bathroom, I couldn’t help but wonder: why do we so often insist on doing things the hard way when the easy way is right under our noses?”