Chemical filled plug-ins, toxic air freshener sprays and candles filled with paraffin are just some of the ways people try to give their home a beautiful aroma – but in reality, these store bought products are merely contributing to the toxic load present in our homes and environment in general. However, there are ways to make your home smell amazing by making your own all natural, cheap, wonderfully scented products, such as reed diffusers, air freshening sprays, candles, potpourri and so much more.
This article reveals fantastic ideas you can make for yourself at home. Plus, many of these ideas would make great gifts for your loved ones!
Reed diffusers gently perfume the air but they can also be incredibly expensive and, at times, you cannot find the scent of your like. Yet, they are so easy to make using just a few ingredients and a few dollars. Here’s how…
Materials:
A reed diffuser bottle! The choices in containers can be of various types, according to your home décor and your likings. Here’s how…
Materials:
– a reed diffuser bottle
– essential oils (e.g. lavender, rosemary, eucalyptus)
– reeds or bamboo skewers
– vodka
– water
Instructions:
– Fill the reed diffuser bottle with water, add a few tablespoons of vodka and an essential oil of your choice. Use the ration of 12 drops of essential oil per 1/4 cup of water. Mix the ingredients together.
– Place one end of the reeds into the solution, allow to soak and then reverse the reeds so the opposite end is submerged. You’ll need to rotate the reeds weekly.
Make Your Own Deodorizing Spray
Store Bought Deodorizing Sprays are supposed to freshen up your home and fabrics – but it’s packed full of toxic chemicals that are dangerous to our health. Plus, it can be outrageously expensive.
It is so simple to make that you’ll never have to buy it again.
Materials:
– a spray bottle
– distilled water
– one teaspoon of baking soda
– 12 drops of essential oil – such as lavender, eucalyptus, lemon, orange or anything you prefer
Instructions:
– Add the baking soda to a bowl, add the essential oil and mix.
– Using a funnel, pour the baking soda into the spray bottle and top up with distilled water.
– Shake and spray! Easy and fun to make!
Making your home, apartment, or office a positive place to be is sometimes as simple as making it smell good. Scents can affect a person’s mood or work performance, as crazy as that might sounds.
Studies made on this subject show that by adding lemon scent to air conditioners or heaters in offices, makes the mind more alert, consequently increasing productivity. It makes sense why individual consumers spend thousands of dollars on candles, oil diffusers, scent sprays and more.
A nice brand that sells empty glass bottles for perfumes is ValeryGlass.
However, you don’t have to run to the store if you want to make sure your place is smelling great. These simple DIY (Do It Yourself) projects are not only cheap, but they’ll leave your house smelling great in no time.
Here are 6 simple ways to freshen up and surround yourself with aromatic scent and smells
1.) Lemon-Rosemary Simmer Pot
To make this simple concoction, all you need is: -A small stockpot -Water -Rosemary -1 lemon -Vanilla extract Fill the pot about 2/3 full with water. Add 1 lemon (sliced) and a few sprigs of rosemary. Then, add the 1/2 tsp of vanilla. Let this mixture simmer all day, it’ll fill your rooms with a heavenly scent. You can use the same mixture for about 2 days, but you’ll want to change it after that or else it’ll smell a little weird.
2.) Scented Wood Blocks
Making scented wood blocks is easy. Just make sure you have: -Wood blocks -Scented oil or perfume -Small paint brushes. By either painting or spraying it on, cover the wood blocks in the oil/perfume. After covering them, you can even put them in a closed container with extra oil. Shake it up to make sure they are coated. Let it sit in the oil overnight so that everything is absorbed. Then you’re done! You can even refresh your wood blocks over time by simply adding more oil to them.
3.) Orange Peel Candles
You thought oranges were just for eating? Think again. You can make simple candles out of them (without wasting the fruit). -An orange -Knife -Oil (canola, vegetable or olive) – The steps are simple, too.
1.) Begin by cutting your orange in half.
2.) Take your knife and run it around the edges of the orange. This will loosen the fruit from the peel.
3.) Take a fork and scrape out the inside of the orange. BE CAREFUL to NOT remove the inside stem. This is the white piece that rests in the center of the orange. It is rather tough, so just continue to scrape away the fruit around it.
4.) Once the inside of your orange is nice and clean, you can fill it ¾ of the way full with oil. Remember you can use any oil of your choosing.
5.) Let the oil sit in the orange for about 45 minutes. It is important to let the oil sit and the stem of the orange (the white piece) absorb it. This is what will help keep it burning well.
6.) In 45 minutes, you can try lighting your orange. You will need a candle lighter to do this as a match or cigarette lighter does not stay lit long enough to get the job done. Hold the lighter to the stem and let it heat up the stem. You will need to do this for 2-3 minutes.
7.) Let the stem rest for a moment. It should be nice and brown/black at this point. To the touch, it should feel dry now.
8.) Try relighting the stem. This may take a few seconds. You should hear a little crackling and then the flame should take off on its own.
4.) Gel Air Freshener
If you love air fresheners but don’t want an open flame in your home, this DIY gel air freshener may be just for you. You’ll need: -Heat proof jars (like wine bottle mason jars) -4 packages of unflavored gelatin -Food coloring -Salt -Essential oils/fragrance
1.) Clean and prepare your jars. (This entire recipe filled up one pint jar, but you can use several smaller jars.)
2.) Add a few drops of coloring and approximately 30 drops of essential oil or fragrance (the more you add, the stronger it will be).
3.) Boil 1 cup of water on the stove. Pour in your gelatin packets into the pot.
4.) Make sure to keep whisking or the stuff will clump up.
5.) Once dissolved, add 1 cup of cold water and 1 tablespoon of salt. Stir it all in.
6.) Pour into your prepared jars and stir.
7.) Let it sit overnight until the gel is set.
8.) Time to decorate your scented gel jar any way you choose!
5.) DIY Reed Diffusers
Oil diffusers are also a simple solution to fill your home with an amazing fragrance without using heat or an open flame. You don’t need much, either: -Vase -Baby Oil -Essential Oil -Bamboo Skewers (or rattan diffusing sticks for better scent) -Ribbon & Washi Tape (optional)
1.) Fill your vase with essential oil (as much as you want)
2.) Fill the remainder of the vase with baby oil
3.) Place washi tape at the end of the skewer and fold over (for decoration)
4.) Place skewers in the vase and tie a ribbon around to finish. The oil will diffuse into the room up through the skewers. You’re done!
6.) Cinnamon Stick Candles
You might think all Martha Stewart crafts are too intense to try yourself, but this one is so simple. -Pillar candle, at least 3-inches in diameter -Cinnamon sticks -Floral shears -Hot-glue gun -Dish or coaster
1.) Measure candle height; cut cinnamon sticks to size with floral shears. You’ll need about 20 lengths per candle.
2.) Run hot glue along cinnamon stick; affix it vertically to side of candle. (Use low-temperature setting to minimize melting)
3.) When first stick is dry, glue next stick snugly against it; repeat to cover candle.
4.) Place finished candle on a dish or coaster. Not only will it be pretty, but you can also smell the glorious cinnamon!
You are home free with a fresh smelling space enveloping you and your friends… ENJOY!