Creating Natural Aromas: A Simple Guide To Fragrance

Creating natural aromas for your home is a great way to enhance your space, boost your mood, and de-stress. Natural aromas are a safer alternative to commercial air fresheners, which often contain harsh chemicals that can lower indoor air quality and damage your respiratory system.

There are many ways to make your home smell great naturally, and most methods use ingredients you likely already have. For example, you can simmer water in a pot on the stove with orange slices and cinnamon, or add essential oils to pine cones for a decorative and fragrant ornament.

Another simple method is to create a room spray by mixing essential oils, water, and vodka. This acts as an odor eliminator and can be sprayed around your home as needed.

You can also use essential oils in combination with other household items such as rice, cotton balls, or baking soda to create air fresheners that can be placed in drawers, pillowcases, or around the house.

Natural aromas can be easily customized to your preferences and provide a safe and effective way to add fragrance to your home.

Simmering stovetop scents

To make a simmering stovetop scent, start by filling a small saucepan or cast iron pot with water. You can use edible ingredients such as fruit, spices, and herbs to create your desired scent. For example, lemon and rosemary, or lime, mint, ginger, and thyme are great combinations for a refreshing spring aroma. If you want a warm and spicy scent, try combining lemon, cinnamon, mint, and thyme. You can also use food scraps such as apple peels or orange rinds for a fresh citrus scent.

Once you have chosen your ingredients, add them to the pot of water and simmer on low heat for a couple of hours. Be sure to keep an eye on the pot and add water as needed to prevent it from boiling dry.

Natural room sprays

Room sprays are a great way to instantly refresh your environment, lift your mood, and get rid of unwanted odours. However, many off-the-shelf room sprays are filled with chemicals. Making your own natural room spray is easy and fun, and you can create unique fragrances to suit your taste and your home.

Ingredients

You will need:

• A clean, 4 oz glass bottle with a fine misting sprayer
• Filtered water (bottled or filtered tap water)
• Essential oils (derived from plants)
• Vodka (to help the oil and water mix)
• A small funnel (optional)

Method

• Remove the nozzle from your glass spray bottle.
• Using a funnel, if you have one, combine 30 drops of your chosen essential oil, or oils, with water and vodka.
• Replace the nozzle and shake well before spritzing.

Fragrance Ideas

There are endless combinations of essential oils to try, but here are some fragrance ideas to get you started:

• Purifying Eucalyptus and Lemon: detoxifying, energising, and a great disinfectant
• Sensual Sandalwood and Vanilla: a natural aphrodisiac, perfect for the bedroom
• Spearmint and Tangerine: uplifting and energising
• Lavender and Spearmint: calming and grounding, like a summer breeze
• Cinnamon, Sweet Orange, and Nutmeg: a cosy, freshly-baked scent
• White Neroli, Mimosa, and Lemon: a crisp, refreshing scent, like a freshly mowed lawn

Where to Spray

The beauty of natural room sprays is that you can spritz them anywhere! Spray your chosen fragrance in the air, directly onto furniture, or onto laundry, bedding, or baby clothes. Natural room sprays are non-toxic and safe for children and newborns.

Homemade candles

Ingredients and Materials:

• Soy wax flakes or beeswax pellets
• Essential oils or fragrance oils
• Glass jars or tins (or other similar containers)
• Natural wicks (with optional wick stickers or tabs)
• Pencils or clothespins
• Wooden skewer or disposable stirring device
• Candle-making pitcher (a metal pitcher used only for melting wax)
• Pot to use as a double boiler
• Electric heat source (optional)

Method:

• Prepare your workspace by laying out all your ingredients and materials. You can use a gas stove to melt the wax, but an electric burner is recommended.
• Melt the wax in a candle-making pitcher on a double boiler over medium heat. Fill the bottom pot of your double boiler halfway with water and place it over high heat. Fill the top pot with wax flakes or pellets—twice the volume of your container. Stir the wax occasionally with a wooden skewer or disposable stirring device.
• Once the wax is melted, remove it from the heat. If you are using essential oils, add them now. For a 16-ounce candle, you can use about 10-20 drops of essential oil. If using fragrance oils, add about 6-10% of the weight of your wax. Stir the oil and wax together thoroughly for about 2 minutes.
• Prepare your wicks by cutting them to length so that they are longer than the height of your container. Attach a wick to the bottom centre of your container using a wick sticker or a dab of hot glue or melted wax. You can also use a wick sustainer tab by threading the wick through it and twisting or knotting it at the bottom. Balance a pencil or chopstick across the top of the container and wrap the loose end of the wick around it to keep it upright.
• Carefully pour the wax into your prepared containers, leaving about 1/2-1 inch of space between the wax and the lip of the container. Embed any desired organic items like herbs or plant clippings near the top of the wax before it hardens completely.
• Allow the candles to cool and harden for at least 24 hours. You may need to reheat and top up the wax if it sinks around the wick.
• Once the wax has hardened, trim the wicks to about 1/4 inch using scissors or a wick trimmer. Your homemade candles are now ready to be gifted or enjoyed!

Tips:

• Always trim the wick of any candle before burning it.
• You can add natural colours to your candles using herbs and spices.
• Avoid using paraffin wax, as it is derived from petroleum and can release harmful chemicals when burned.
• If you are using essential oils, add them when the wax has cooled to between 150-185°F (68-85°C).
• If you are making tea lights or small jar candles, essential oils are a good choice. For larger candles, natural fragrance oils are a better option.
• Always clean up your workspace and equipment promptly after making candles to avoid wax buildup.

Essential oil diffusers

There are two main types of diffusers: ultrasonic and nebulizing. Ultrasonic diffusers use evaporating water to carry essential oils into the air, while nebulizing diffusers create an internal vacuum that lifts the fragrance into the air without any humidifying effects. Ultrasonic diffusers are more common and affordable, while nebulizing diffusers produce a stronger scent but are harder to clean and more expensive.

When choosing an essential oil diffuser, consider the dispersing method, settings, coverage area, and aesthetic appeal. Some diffusers offer customizable experiences with adjustable timers, mist settings, and LED lights. The capacity and coverage of ultrasonic diffusers vary, so select a model with a water tank size that suits your needs.

Urpower 2nd Gen 300ml Aroma Essential Oil Diffuser

This diffuser is a simple white plastic cylinder that offers excellent value for money. It produces a strong mist, has a medium-size tank that lasts around seven hours, and is easy to clean. However, turning off the light or mist function requires cycling through all options.

Asakuki 500ml Premium Essential Oil Diffuser

The Asakuki diffuser stands out with its remote control, long runtime of up to 16 hours, and a large 500ml water tank. It diffuses oils well in rooms of all sizes and is easy to clean. Its 6.6-inch diameter may be a bit bulky for some spaces.

Pura 4 Smart Fragrance Diffuser

The Pura diffuser is a smart, app-controlled, and waterless design that uses heat to diffuse oils. It offers adjustable fragrance intensity and a wide range of scents through partnerships with popular candle brands. The app is user-friendly, and the diffuser is easy to use and maintain. However, the replacement vials can be pricey.

Organic Aromas Raindrop Nebulizing Diffuser

The Organic Aromas diffuser is a pricier option that strongly dispenses essential oils without using water or heat. It has a beautiful design, a two-hour runtime, and adjustable mist intensity. Cleaning this diffuser takes more time and effort due to the strength of the oils.

Ultimate Aromatherapy Diffuser & Essential Oil Set

This aromatherapy diffuser set includes 10 popular essential oil scents and customizable LED lighting. It has four timer settings and an auto-shutoff sensor for low water levels. The diffuser runs quietly and effectively atomizes the essences without using heat.

Air freshening decor

There are many ways to make your home smell great, and some of them can even be decorative! Here are some ideas for air freshening decor:

Reed diffusers

Reed diffusers are a popular and attractive home decor item that can be used to keep rooms smelling pleasant. They are easy to make yourself. Simply add your favourite essential oil to a small glass container, fill the rest with baby oil, and place rattan diffuser sticks inside. You can also buy decorative reed diffusers online or in stores.

DIY gel air freshener jars

These jars are perfect for scenting small areas such as an office or bathroom. They are easy to make by combining absorbent crystals, water, and essential oils.

Water bead diffuser jars

For another simple evaporation-based diffuser, combine water beads with your favourite essential oil.

Homemade floral potpourri

Use flowers from your garden to create beautiful potpourri bowls that can be scented with essential oils and used as decor.

Wood cube air fresheners

Unfinished wood blocks and essential oils are all you need to make stylish diffusers.

Baking soda coffee filter sachets

These DIY sachets are made from ingredients you probably already have in your kitchen! They can be used to freshen shoes, closets, and drawers.

Citrus and spice simmering potpourri

Simmer a combination of sliced citrus fruit, cinnamon sticks, and a handful of cloves on the stove for several hours to release a warm, inviting aroma.

Essential oil deodorizer disks

Use baking soda, water, and essential oils to make scented disks that can be used to fight odors in garbage cans, diaper pails, and laundry.

DIY linen spray

Pour one tablespoon of vodka into a liquid measuring cup, then pour it into a reusable spray bottle. Add 35 drops of essential oil (you can use a combination of scents if desired), then fill the rest of the bottle with distilled water. Shake well before spraying linens to keep them smelling fresh.

Frequently asked questions