Like many other people, I enjoy entering a room that is
filled with a tantalizing citrus scent or the fresh smell of pines. I used to
spend a lot of money on room fresheners and perfumers, scented candles, and the
s, but I’ve been reading about all the poisons they contain and realized that a
pleasant odor is not worth my, and my family’s, health. Some of the chemicals
in these aerosols have been linked to the onset of asthma and allergies.
Natural Home Scents
How then, did people make their homes smell nice before the
invention of air fresheners? The answer is a natural one: If you’ve ever baked
bread at home, you remember the incredible aroma that spreads through the
house. When you mow the lawn, there’s a delightful smell of cut grass that
lingers in the yard.
So how do you enjoy a lovely smelling home for more than a
couple of hours? By simmering certain combinations of fresh fruits, spices, and
herbs.
What you’ll need: Fruits (citrus has the longest-lasting
effect), herbs of your choice, fresh pine boughs, extracts, spices.
The basics:
To get the scents you want out of your choice of
ingredients, you will need to combine them all and heat them up - this article
will show you a few ways to do that.
1. Stove top: This is the most efficient way to prepare and
activate the scents. All you need to do is combine the ingredients in a pot,
cover them with water, bring it to a boil and then lower the heat and let the
mixture simmer. Make sure to watch the pot from time to time – if the water
evaporates, your ingredients will burn, which doesn’t smell so nice.
2. Slow cooker: Toss the ingredients into a small slow
cooker and let it work its magic. It will keep your home smelling wonderfully
for hours. Keep the cooker on low heat, and watch it from time to time to make
sure that the water does not evaporate.
3.Candle/teapot warmer: This method works for smaller
rooms, giving off a subtle scent. (If you use extracts, you can get a stronger
effect)
Recipes:
*These are just suggestions, feel free to experiment with
your own combinations.
1. Oranges / Cinnamon / Cloves: A powerful combination that
keeps the house smelling fall time. You can also add allspice and anise if
you'd . This combo can be reused for several days.
Ingredients:
1 orange
2 cinnamon sticks / 2 tablespoons ground cinnamon
½ tablespoon whole cloves
1 anise star (optional)
½ tablespoon allspice (optional)
2. Lemon / Rosemary / Vanilla: Combine fresh oranges and
rosemary with a few drops of vanilla extract to gain a powerful, fresh smell
that will fill the house.
Ingredients:
3 sprigs of fresh rosemary
2 lemons
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3. Lime / Thyme / Mint / Vanilla: Another fresh combination
that makes your house smell summer days. The mint and lime keep the smell fresh
and the vanilla adds a sweetness that relaxes and delights.
Ingredients:
3 limes
3 sprigs fresh thyme
½ teaspoon mint extract
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
4. Orange / Ginger / Almond: These are scents of the Far
East. You can use fresh or powdered ginger, and use almond extract for added
nutty aroma.
Ingredients:
1 orange (or peels from 2 oranges)
Ginger root, sliced / 1 teaspoon powdered ginger
½ teaspoon almond extract
5. Pine or Cedar / Bay leaves / Nutmeg: The small aromatic
twigs will make your home smell a forest, and grating some nutmeg will make the
combination feel a nature stroll.
Ingredients:
Handful of twigs (pine or cedar)
4 bay leaves
1 nutmeg (grate the outer layer into mixture)
Final piece of advice: Uncooked mixtures can be sealed in
jars and kept in the fridge for 1-2 weeks. You can also freeze the mixture for
even later use.
Natural Home Scents
Posted by: Manek Chowk <pothinudehlu@gmail.com>
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