Do you worry about the way your house smells when you have visitors? I never used to, but lately I have been particularly conscious about it, especially since we have pets. I also cook more now that we have a larger kitchen, so the trash can and food disposal can be major sources of odor.
Let's look at some of the ways we can eliminate odor, and ways we can fragrance our homes, naturally. I'll just assume you've already opened the windows, which is a great way to eliminate bad smells while letting in a fresh breeze.
If your home has an odor, the first step is to cut it off at the source. Then, you may want to add a bit of fragrance to the indoors. There are so many ways to freshen the air in your home with essential oils, and it's so easy to do, that once you get rid of your store-bought air fresheners, you should never have to buy them again.
Note: Stick around until the end for some great essential oil combination ideas!
Ways to freshen air naturally
- Eliminate garbage odors by sprinkling baking soda in the bottom of the new liner each time you take out the trash. Also, run the garbage disposal frequently to keep odors at bay, even if you don't put food in it very often.
- Freshen the bathroom by placing a few drops of your favorite essential oil on the inside of the cardboard in a roll of toilet paper. Each time you tear off a piece, a little bit of fragrance will be released.
- In a matter of minutes, you can achieve the scent of freshly-baked sugar cookies by placing a few drops of vanilla extract on a cookie sheet and baking it in the oven. This is a great trick to help sell your home, especially during the holidays.
- Place a few drops of your favorite essential oil(s) on a couple cotton balls, then hide them around the house for a fresh, but subtle, scent.
- Or, try the natural, DIY air freshener recipes below...
Air freshener spray recipe
Ingredients:
- (1) 16-oz spray bottle or (2) 8-oz spray bottles
- 1 tsp. vodka or rubbing alcohol
- 25-30 drops your choice essential oil(s)
- 2 cups distilled or spring water
Directions:
- Combine the essential oils with the alcohol in your spray bottles; if you are splitting the recipe between two smaller bottles, do that now.
- Add two cups of water to the spray bottle, or one cup to each of the smaller ones.
- Shake well before each use. Spray your homemade air freshener into the air, avoiding spraying it directly onto clothing or furniture.
Wax warmer refill recipe
Ingredients:
- 1 Tbsp. coconut oil (affiliate link)
- 25-30 drops your choice essential oil(s)
Directions:
- Place the coconut oil in the ceramic bowl of your warmer and heat it up.
- Meanwhile, place the drops of essential oil in the bowl with the coconut oil. Once it heats up, the fragrance will be released.
- Add more drops of essential oil as needed; also, refresh the coconut oil as needed. When it cools, the coconut oil may harden again, or it may remain liquid, depending on the temperature inside your house.
Reed diffuser refill recipe
Ingredients:
- 1 Tbsp. carrier oil, such as jojoba
- 25-30 drops your choice essential oil(s)
Directions:
- In the bottom of a small jar or vase, mix together the carrier oil (choose an oil that always remains liquid) and the essential oils.
- Add the reeds to the jar or vase and you will soon be able to smell your homemade air freshener. Refresh the oils as needed.
Essential oil combination suggestions
Odor Neutralizer: To get rid of unpleasant odors in the home, combine 15 drops of lemon oil with 10 drops of eucalyptus.
Citrus Lavender Blend: Combine 15 drops grapefruit oil with 10 drops lavender to achieve this pleasant aroma.
Insect Repellent: Keep insects out of the house with a blend of 10 drops lemon oil, 8 drops lavender and 8 drops rosemary.
Smoke Eliminator: Need to get rid of a smoky smell in the house? Mix 15 drops of peppermint oil with 15 drops of lime.
Sensual Aroma: Create a natural aphrodisiac fragrance with 15 drops of patchouli oil and 10 drops ylang-ylang.
Uplifting Citrus Blend: You can use either a combination of clary sage, lemon and lavender -- or a combination of grapefruit, lemon, orange and cinnamon essential oil.
Germ Terminator: Does someone in the house have a cold? Spritz some natural air freshener that has a combination of eucalyptus, lavender and rosemary oils to get rid of lingering germs.
What are your favorite ways to fragrance the home naturally with essential oils? Do you have a favorite oil blend?
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**Disclosure: Although this post may contain affiliate links, all opinions are my own.
Your challenge: This week, use the above ideas to make your own, non-toxic air freshener.
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**This post is part of a weekly challenge {Go Green in 2014}, during
which the author has challenged herself - and you - to find 52 ways to
lead a greener life in 2014. You can follow the weekly posts on this page.**
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