Gym shoes, garbage disposals, and trash cans can harbor offensive odors that tend to linger. These noxious smells permeate into the fabric of furniture, carpeting, and window coverings. Despite frequent cleaning, the house stinks. How can you make your home smell clean? With natural ingredients, of course. Making a natural home fragrance is a cinch. There are four primary methods of naturally scenting your home: sprinkle, spray, heat, and containers. The key ingredient in almost every method is an essential oil. Use these ten tips to make a personalized home fragrance.
Spray and Sprinkle
Essential Natural Fragrance Spray
The only ingredients here are water, vodka, and essential oil. Add equal parts of water and vodka; then enough drops of essential oil to reach your desired scent strength. Half a cup each of water and vodka needs 15 drops of essential oil. Bonus: this vodka/water combination is disinfecting!
Powder Power
For carpets and upholstery, mix a batch of natural fragrance infused baking soda. Add twenty-four drops of essential oils to one cup of baking soda. Add the baking soda to absorb the scent. Then, generously sprinkle the baking soda onto the fabric. Wait at least fifteen minutes, then vacuum the powder.
Heat
Potpourri
A classic natural home fragrance, potpourri mixes water with dried herbs, fruit, and spices and a heat source. A warm, comforting aroma blends dried citrus peels, cloves, and cinnamon with water. Heat on a stovetop or in a crockpot.
Warm Wax Bars
Warm wax bars are a blend of beeswax, coconut oil, and your favorite essential oil. First, make your warm wax bars, then heat the bars in a wax warmer. The fragrance will naturally fill your home. Vary the number of essential oil drops: more equate to a more potent scent. Try mixing several essential oils to create a personalized fragrance. Rosemary and lavender create a soothing scent blend. You can melt with an electric wax warmer or candle warmers. If you don’t have one, just use a candle or lamp.
Container
Reed Diffuser
Gather a small glass container, a few rattan reeds, alcohol, almond oil, or any carrier oil, and essential oil. A basic recipe is 1 tablespoon alcohol (vodka works fine), 1/3 cup of oil and 15 drops of essential oils.
Herbs and Oil Scent Shaker
Fill a small glass container with a handful of dried lavender or rosemary and baking soda. Shake well. Add lavender essential oil to reach your desired scent strength. Start with three drops and work up to 24.
Experiment with these eight options for a natural home fragrance. Use several methods of naturally deodorizing your home. Put a reed diffuser in the bathroom and warm wax melter on a coffee table. Try various blends of essential oils to find your unique home fragrance!
