Ensure your home always smells fresh and clean
There’s something deeply comforting about stepping into a home that smells wonderful. Just like the way you carefully choose to style your home, the way your home smells can also be a means to communicate your own personal style and evoke powerful emotion.
A fresh, inviting aroma can uplift your spirits, ease away the day’s stresses, and create a cosy, welcoming atmosphere for both your family and your guests.
In the quest for a beautiful-smelling home, many turn to commercial air fresheners and scented candles. Unfortunately, many of these products are filled with nasty chemicals that tend to do more harm than good.
The excellent news, however, is that there are plenty of natural and effective alternatives that smell incredible and look visually stunning at the same time. Imagine a home where each room whispers sweet fragrances, where every breath you take feels like a gentle nurturing hug.
Our sense of smell is closely linked to our emotional centre in the brain, meaning that certain aromas can trigger memories, influence our mood and even affect our behaviour. The right fragrance can make us feel more relaxed, energised, or focused, depending on its characteristics.
1. Address the obvious odour sources
First things first: tackle the common culprits of unpleasant smells. Wipe out the bottom of your garbage bin thoroughly and give your dishwasher a thorough cleaning every month or so. A small bowl of baking soda in your fridge can do wonders for eradicating unwanted food smells.
Don’t forget to launder your bedding every week or so (I like to add lavender essential oil to this particular wash). Carpets, rugs, curtains and cushion covers can benefit from a deep clean, as they often harbour lingering odours. Before vacuuming, sprinkle some baking soda on your carpets to remove musty odours and pick up excess dirt.
2. Create a stovetop simmer
Bring water to a gentle boil in a pot, then add slices of orange, whole cinnamon sticks, cloves and a pod of vanilla. Let it simmer gently for 15-20 minutes, then turn off the heat and let the pot sit on the stove.
The delicious aroma will waft through your kitchen and into other rooms creating the most nurturing experience. Similarly, the smell of vanilla-scented baking, such as banana bread or cookies, can create a cosy, homey ambience.
3. Embrace the power of essential oils
Essential oils are an excellent way to infuse your home with natural, uplifting scents. And one of the easiest things you can do is place 5-10 drops of your favourite essential oil in a diffuser. A clever trick is to add a few drops of essential oil to your toilet roll; every spin releasing a fresh aroma in your bathroom.
You can also mix 10-12 drops of essential oil with witch hazel or rosewater in a small spray bottle to create an invigorating room or pillow spray. Another charming idea is to toss essential oils with dried rose petals or eucalyptus leaves to make beautiful potpourri bowls that you can dot around the home.
Essential oil blends that continually spark joy:
- Lavender and orange – Uplifting
- Peppermint and lemon – Invigorating
- Geranium, orange and lavender – Floral and feminine
- Frankincense, lavender and sandalwood – Calming
- Grapefruit, lemongrass, lime – Tropical
- Bergamot and chamomile – Relaxing
- Eucalyptus, peppermint and lemon – Refreshing
4. Flowers and foliage
Plants and flowers not only beautify your home but also add natural fragrances. Many plants have the magical ability to purify the air, while flowers provide subtle, lovely scents within the space.
Another idea is to create fragrant herb bouquets with fresh rosemary, mint, and lavender from your garden. Small jars of these herbs placed thoughtfully around your home will look charming and smell magnificent.
5. Keeping your home clean, naturally
Natural cleaning products can leave your home smelling fresh and clean without the use of harsh chemicals.
Run a lemon through your garbage disposal while using hot water to freshen up your kitchen. Make a paste with baking soda, natural liquid soap and eucalyptus or tea tree essential oils to scrub toilets, showers, baths and basins.
These are just a couple of ideas, but there are a plethora of recipes online using ingredients such as natural vinegar and baking soda for everyday tasks like window cleaning, surface wiping, and even homemade washing powder.
6. Throw open your windows
And lastly, proper ventilation is key to keeping your home smelling fresh. Open your windows to let in fresh air, especially when you’re cooking, showering or drying clothes. This helps to remove air pollutants, cooking smells and excess moisture that can lead to dampness and unpleasant odours.
Using extractor fans can also help remove unwanted pollutants and aromas.
7. Make a homemade reed diffuser
What you’ll need:
- A glass or ceramic vessel with a narrow opening
- ½ cup carrier oil such as fractionated coconut oil, almond oil or neutral olive oil
- 25-30 drops of essential oils of choice (see my favourite blends listed above)
- Diffuser reeds
Method:
- In a measuring jug, add the carrier and essential oils, then stir to combine. Pour the mixture into your chosen vessel.
- Place the reeds into the solution, allowing them to soak up the oil for an hour or so, then flip them over.
- I flip the reeds about once a week, to keep the fragrance wafting.
Text: Eleanor Cripps
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Shop home fragrance options below
1. Guava Passion Large Soy Candle
$65.90 at Shop Your Home and Garden
This candle gives off a fruity fragrance, containing dragonfruit, guava, grape, apple and mandarin.
2. Gold Dusk Soy Candle
$42.49 at Shop Your Home and Garden
This candle is jam-packed with so many complementary fragrances. It’ll carry scents of black cardamom, pepper, wood, lily, jasmine, water lily, amber, leather and sandalwood through your home.
3. Peony Rose Reed Diffuser
$63.90 at Shop Your Home and Garden
If you’re looking for a beautifully subtle floral scent in your spaces, opt for this peony and rose diffuser to keep your home feeling fresher than ever.
4. Autumn Soy Candle
$42.49 at Shop Your Home and Garden
Feel the full force of autumn with this candle. Imagine fresh cooking with cinnamon and nutmeg and a perfectly lit fireplace.
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