Lance Carson
There are many ways to perfume your house, from natural remedies to store-bought options. Natural aromas of herbs, flowers, and essential oils can lift the spirits and calm the mind, bringing a soothing freshness to any space. Flowers such as sweet peas, geraniums, roses, and lavender are great natural air fresheners. Herbs like basil, rosemary, and sage can also be used to create a sweet and spicy fragrance. For a quick fix, boil rosemary in water and let the vapors drift around the house. Alternatively, create your own homemade air freshener by mixing essential oils, water, and vodka. Store-bought options include candles, air fresheners, and reed diffusers. However, it's important to note that strong fragrances can be uncomfortable for guests with allergies or sensitivities. The key to a pleasant-smelling home is often to address the source of odors, such as moisture, and to neutralize them rather than simply masking them.
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What You'll Learn
Natural air fresheners
Simmering Potpourri
Fill a pot with water and add fragrant ingredients such as spices, herbs, and fruit. Bring the water to a boil, then lower the heat and let the mixture simmer. The steam will fill your home with a pleasant aroma. You can use ingredients like cinnamon, cloves, anise, lemon halves, orange rinds, apple peels, or any herbs you like. This method provides a powerful scent that will spread to multiple rooms. You can also add slices of lemon, orange, and lime with spices like mint, lavender, or basil to create a fresh, citrusy scent.
Natural Room Spray
Create your own natural room spray by combining essential oils, water, and vodka in a spray bottle. You can use essential oils such as tea tree, rosemary, peppermint, or lemon. Shake the bottle well before spraying the scent around your home. This method allows you to target specific areas and freshen up linens and fabrics.
Scented Sachets
Make your own scented sachets to tuck into drawers, closets, or place behind decorative pillows. Cut small squares of fabric and fill them with dried lavender petals and rice. The lavender scent will gently permeate your space without being overpowering. You can also use lavender essential oil and dip cotton balls into it, placing them in bathrooms or bedrooms to create a soothing atmosphere.
Baking Soda and Essential Oils
Baking soda is a natural odour absorber. Mix baking soda with essential oils, such as wild orange, and distilled water in a spray bottle. Shake well and spray the mixture into the air or onto fabrics to eliminate unwanted smells. Baking soda can also be left in open boxes in the refrigerator, cabinets, or drawers to absorb odours.
Fresh Air and Cross Breeze
A simple yet effective way to freshen your home is to open windows and create a cross breeze. This helps flush out stale air and lingering odours. Hanging bed sheets to dry on sunny or windy days also captures the freshening power of the outdoors.
Natural Air Freshener Gels
These gels are easy to make at home and are free of toxins and allergens. Combine essential oils of your choice, such as lavender, basil, orange, or rosemary, with gelatine in a jar. Follow simple instructions to create your own natural air freshener gels that are safe and effective.
Experiment with different combinations of ingredients and essential oils to find the scents that you enjoy the most. Natural air fresheners provide a healthy and eco-friendly way to make your home smell wonderful.
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Neutralising bad odours
Once the source has been identified, you can take specific actions to neutralise the odour. Here are some general tips:
- Open doors and windows to create a breeze and bring freshness inside.
- Use baking soda to eliminate odours. Sprinkle it on carpets, leave it overnight, and vacuum the next day. You can also pour it down drains with the hot tap running.
- Place saucers of white vinegar around the house and leave them overnight to neutralise smells.
- Boil water with fresh rosemary and simmer for a few hours to fill the house with a pleasant scent.
- Use natural ingredients like herbs, flowers, and essential oils to create your own blends.
- Boil orange slices, cloves, and cinnamon sticks to release a warm and inviting aroma.
- Use a combination of household detergent, water, and ventilation to remove mould and neutralise musty odours.
- For garbage disposal, avoid putting carrot, onion, or potato peelings down the drain. Wash the garbage can with white vinegar and water to eliminate odours.
- In the kitchen, check for trapped food particles under the oven or fridge, and dispose of expired food properly by taking it outside.
- For laundry baskets, sprinkle washing soda or baking soda onto the pile of clothes to neutralise smells until you can do the laundry.
- For pet odours, maintain their hygiene and use a strong detergent with warm water to clean affected surfaces.
- For damp towels, ensure they are laid out to dry to prevent mildew growth. Wash towels with white vinegar or baking soda if they have a musty smell.
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DIY linen sprays
Linen sprays are a great way to perfume your house, and they are easy to make at home. They can be made with simple, non-toxic ingredients, and you can customise the scent to your preference. Linen sprays are a milder fragrance than perfumes, and they can be used on linens without causing irritation, whereas perfumes may be too strong and could cause staining.
Ingredients
- Glass spray bottle
- Vodka or rubbing alcohol
- Essential oils of your choice
- Distilled or filtered water
Method
Wash and dry an old spray bottle, preferably glass, to ensure no lingering odours or residues. Add 1 ounce of vodka or rubbing alcohol to the bottle, followed by 20-40 drops of your chosen essential oil. Top up the bottle with 3 ounces of distilled or filtered water, leaving enough space for the nozzle. Screw the nozzle back on and give the bottle a good shake to mix the ingredients.
Scent Combinations
There are endless combinations of essential oils to use in your linen spray, and you can experiment with different blends to find your favourite. Here are some ideas to get you started:
- Lavender and rosemary
- Cedarwood and lavender
- Wild orange and lavender
- Lavender and eucalyptus
- Ylang ylang and wild orange
- Clary sage
- Royal Hawaiian Sandalwood
- Grapefruit, lemon and lime
- Coriander, jasmine, juniper, lemon and sandalwood
- Bergamot, ylang ylang, citrus, eucalyptus, kunzea, tea tree and wintergreen
Tips
- Always shake your linen spray before use to maximise the scent.
- Test the spray on an inconspicuous spot first to check for staining.
- Linen sprays last about 2 weeks to 6 months, so make sure to replace it if the scent is off.
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Using flowers and herbs
To create a natural perfume, you can use flowers, herbs, and other plants from your garden. You can combine natural materials like herbs and blossoms into balanced scent profiles using carrier oils and basic equipment. The most popular flowers in terms of scent extraction are rose and jasmine, but you can also use sweet pea, sweet alyssum, French marigold, and German chamomile.
For a quick, all-natural air freshener, fill a pan with water, add fresh rosemary, and bring it to a boil. Simmer the mixture for a few hours as the vapours scent your house. Once done, cool the mixture and pour it into a spray bottle. Store it in the fridge and spritz as needed.
To make a more concentrated perfume oil, you can use 2 cups of vegetable oil (not olive oil, as it has a scent), 1 to 3 cups of dried herbs and flowers (with stems removed), and grated beeswax. The more you break and cut up the plants, the more you can fit into the oil. Cover the plant material with oil and let it infuse. When it is ready, strain out the plant material and return the oil to the pan. Add the beeswax to the oil and stir it in. Transfer your perfume into containers once the wax has melted.
To make a simple plant perfume, chop or cut plant material into tiny pieces and put them in a small bottle. Fill the bottle with grain alcohol, leaving very little air inside. Let the perfume sit for two weeks, then strain the plant pieces. If the scent is strong enough for you, it's ready to use. If not, add more plant material and let it sit for another week.
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Blending essential oils
When blending, it is recommended to use 3-5 essential oils, with one top note, one to two middle notes, and one to two base notes. You can experiment with different combinations to find what suits your taste. For example, you could try a blend of three drops of patchouli, three drops of palmarosa, one drop of vetiver, four drops of cedarwood, and one drop of neroli.
The next step is to choose a carrier oil, which helps to dilute the essential oils. Popular choices include odourless or lightly scented oils such as jojoba, sweet almond, fractionated coconut oil, or grapeseed oil. These carrier oils can also nourish the skin and enhance the fragrance without overpowering it.
Once you have chosen your essential oils and carrier oil, it's time to mix them. Using a pipette or dropper, add your essential oils to a glass bottle, followed by the carrier oil. The general rule is to add 80 drops of carrier oil for every 10-12 drops of essential oil, but you can adjust this ratio to your preference. Seal the bottle, shake well, and store it in a cool, dark place for about 48 hours to allow the scents to meld and develop.
Before using your perfume, be sure to complete a patch test to reduce the risk of skin irritation or allergies, as essential oils can be potent and some people may have sensitivities. Blending essential oils is a fun and creative process, allowing you to design a unique fragrance that suits your personality and character.
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Frequently asked questions
There are many natural ways to perfume your house, including:
- Using flowers and herbs
- Boiling rosemary and water on the stove
- Using essential oils
- Opening doors and windows
- Using baking soda
To make your own home fragrance, you can experiment with blending essential oils and other ingredients such as vodka, water, and glycerine. You can also make your own room spray by mixing water, vodka, and essential oils in a spray bottle.
To eliminate household odours, you can use baking soda, open windows, and moisture-absorbing products. You can also use natural ingredients such as orange, lemon, or lime rinds, and coffee grounds.
