There are little household tricks that seem almost too simple to deserve attention, yet once you try them, they quietly earn a permanent place in the kitchen, and this combination of baking soda and dried bay leaves is one of those wonderfully old-fashioned ideas. I first came across it as a way of freshening small enclosed spaces without filling them with an overpowering artificial fragrance, and what surprised me most was how useful two ingredients already sitting in the cupboard could become when placed together in a simple open jar.
Baking soda is sodium bicarbonate, a mildly alkaline compound famous for its usefulness in cooking and household cleaning, while dried bay leaves contain aromatic compounds responsible for their warm, herbal fragrance. Put them together and you have a simple dry mixture that can be used around the home as a gentle deodorizing and aromatic jar.
The Simple Bay Leaf and Baking Soda Jar
For one small jar, I use:
- ½ cup baking soda
- 4–5 completely dried bay leaves
- 1 clean, dry glass jar
- a breathable piece of cloth or a lid with small ventilation holes
I pour the baking soda into the jar and gently crush two bay leaves between my fingers before pushing them partly into the powder.
The remaining leaves go on top.
Crushing the leaves slightly releases more of their aroma, while keeping the mixture dry makes it easy to maintain.
Then I cover the jar with breathable fabric secured around the rim, or use a lid containing several small holes.
That is the entire trick.
Why Baking Soda Is So Useful
Baking soda has a long history as a household deodorizer because its chemistry allows it to interact with certain acidic and basic odor-producing compounds.
This makes it especially useful in places where stale food aromas tend to accumulate.
Bay leaves bring something completely different.
Their characteristic fragrance comes from naturally occurring volatile compounds, including 1,8-cineole and other aromatic plant compounds, so when dried leaves are gently crushed, they release that familiar herbal scent.
The combination therefore gives us two functions in one jar: baking soda provides the deodorizing base, while bay leaves contribute a subtle botanical aroma.
My Favorite Place to Use It
I love this little jar inside a kitchen cupboard.
Cupboards containing spices, onions, packaged foods, or cooking ingredients can gradually develop a mixture of aromas, particularly when they remain closed most of the day.
I place the open breathable jar toward the back where it cannot easily be knocked over.
Every few days, I gently stir the baking soda and crush the bay leaves a little more between my fingers.
The scent remains subtle.
That is exactly what I want.
Rather than making the cupboard smell like perfume, it simply feels fresher when the door opens.
Try It Near the Trash Area
Another excellent location is near the kitchen trash bin.
I place the jar beside the bin in a secure dry location rather than mixing anything directly into wet waste.
The baking soda can help manage some surrounding odors while the bay leaf contributes a mild herbal fragrance.
For stronger odor control, I occasionally use the baking soda by itself because the deodorizing effect is the main purpose here.
The bay leaves are the pleasant extra.
A Refrigerator Version
For the refrigerator, I keep things even simpler.
I use approximately ½ cup baking soda with two dried bay leaves in a shallow open container placed securely toward the back.
Food stays covered normally, and the jar simply sits there as a deodorizing aid.
I replace the mixture periodically once it has been exposed for a while.
And because this baking soda has been sitting open absorbing kitchen and refrigerator odors, I retire it from food preparation afterward.
The Shoe-Cabinet Trick
This may actually be my favorite use.
I place several tablespoons of baking soda into a small breathable fabric pouch, add two crushed dried bay leaves, tie it securely, and leave it inside the shoe cabinet.
The powder stays contained while air can still circulate around it.
For individual shoes, I keep the pouch beside them rather than allowing loose powder to disappear inside every seam.
A second pouch can go into a gym bag or another dry storage area.
Suddenly the same two kitchen ingredients become useful far beyond cooking.
Make a Larger Herbal Version
When I want a stronger botanical aroma, I combine:
½ cup baking soda + 3 crushed bay leaves + 1 teaspoon dried rosemary + 1 teaspoon dried lavender.
Everything must be thoroughly dried.
I mix the herbs through the baking soda and place the mixture in a decorative jar with a breathable top.
This works beautifully in a hallway cupboard or bathroom.
Every few days, shake the jar gently.
The herbs redistribute through the powder and release another little wave of fragrance.
Baking Soda Has Another Kitchen Trick
The same box of baking soda can also become a simple cleaning paste.
I place 2 tablespoons baking soda into a bowl and add just enough water to create a thick paste.
I use it on appropriate washable surfaces where a mild abrasive is suitable, working gently with a damp cloth before rinsing and drying.
This is particularly handy for certain sinks, mugs, and other durable surfaces.
Baking soda’s fine particles provide gentle mechanical cleaning while its alkalinity can help with some greasy residues.
Surface materials differ, so I always follow the manufacturer’s care instructions for delicate finishes.
Bay Leaves Deserve Their Place in the Kitchen Too
After experimenting with the household jar, I always end up appreciating bay leaves as a cooking ingredient again.
A single leaf can transform a pot of lentils, beans, soup, tomato sauce, or slow-cooked meat because its aroma develops gradually during cooking.
One of my favorite combinations is incredibly simple: white beans simmered with onion, carrot, garlic, tomato, thyme, and one bay leaf, finished with parsley and olive oil.
The leaf comes out before serving.
Its contribution is subtle, but remove it from the recipe and somehow the pot feels less complete.
The Little Jar Worth Remembering
The basic formula could hardly be easier:
½ cup baking soda + 4–5 dried bay leaves.
Place them in a dry jar.
Crush some of the leaves slightly.
Keep the top breathable.
Set the jar somewhere secure where gentle deodorizing and a light herbal aroma would be useful.
Stir it occasionally and refresh the contents periodically.
No complicated preparation, no elaborate equipment, and no mysterious reaction is required. It is simply a clever pairing of baking soda’s household deodorizing properties with the natural fragrance of dried bay leaves.
And that may be why this tiny trick is so satisfying: two ingredients that normally live quietly in the kitchen cupboard can become one of the simplest little freshening jars in the house.
For more surprisingly delightful tips, check out how adding ginger to your coffee can amaze you or discover the many benefits of beet juice. And if you’re looking for comfort, we’ve got a trick that helps soothe foot lumps.
