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Everyone wants a home that looks and smells amazing! With scented candles, Febreze, and more there are lots of ways to mask unwanted odors but how do you make your home smell amazing naturally?
There are tons of chemically scented products on the market these days. From scented plug-ins and sprays to scented garbage can liners and candles. These products basically just cover up other smells. We’ve all seen the commercials where the blindfolded subject is led into a filthy room that has been sprayed down with room freshener and can’t seem to smell anything terrible. The chemically scented products are super effective, right? But what’s the cost?
Unfortunately, almost all artificial fragrance is made with phthalates. Phthalates are endocrine disrupting chemicals used in plastics and fragrances. They can have horrible impacts on fetal and infant development, metabolic functions, fertility, genital development and more. Need more info about these dangerous chemicals? Check out this article.
You definitely don’t want your home filled with phthalates, artificial chemicals or other things that can cause indoor air pollution. But you also want things to smell nice. So what’s the natural solution?
Clean
This may seem obvious, but it’s not a good idea to mask the smell of a full garbage, a dirty toilet, or your sweet pup who desperately needs a bath. Just clean! Starting with a clean slate feels so much better anyway. Take out garbages, clean up spills, do the dirty dishes in the sink — fully clean. You rarely get into a smelly mess if you have a regular routine for cleaning so set something up and get your kids, partner, or roommates on board! Everyone is happier with a cleaner home.
While we’re on the subject of cleaning, make sure you are using natural cleaners. Conventional cleaners often contain phthalates and other harmful chemicals so make sure you are using natural cleaners or make your own! I love using my lemon-grapefruit all-purpose cleaner and window spray and then basking in the yummy smelling cleanliness!
Get some fresh air
One of the best ways to improve your indoor air quality and make your house smell better is to let in some fresh air. Even in weather extremes, it’s important to get some fresh air inside for even just a couple minutes. This will help get stagnant air moving through your home and freshen things up. You can also add plants to a room to benefit from their amazing air cleaning properties!
Diffuse Essential Oils
A diffuser is a device that slowly disperses scent from essential oils into a room. It’s important to use good quality essential oils and not fragrance oils (they may contain phthalates). Essential oils are extracted from plant material through a distillation process. Make sure you buy 100% essential oils (and preferably organic) and skip things that just say “pure” or “natural” because there is little regulation for those terms.
I have found that a diffuser basically replaces your need for a scented plug-in. This is the diffuser I have – it’s small but a great one to start out with! It disperses scent very effectively and you can completely customize how you want it to smell. My favorite combo is lavender, spearmint, and lime. I would’ve never put this combination together on my own but it makes my home smell like a spa. Pinterest has a ton of diffuser recipes if you feel lost!
Stovetop Potpourri
A super easy and zero-waste way to diffuse scent in your home is with a stovetop potpourri blend. Essentially, herbs, spices, and fruits are simmered in water on the stove to create delicious smells. You can use sliced lemons, rosemary, oregano or other herbs from the garden, and any bulk spices (like cinnamon or cloves) from your pantry. This is especially lovely during the winter when the humidity inside is in the teens – the light steam from the potpourri is intoxicating and provides some much-needed moisture. The best part is that everything can be composted afterward and there’s no waste!
Essential Oil Candles
Candles are very commonly used for their scent in the home but they have similar issues to other air fresheners: phthalates. Most candles contain phthalates to help hold the artificial fragrance so that it lasts longer. Even “natural” candles made with soy wax can contain these toxic chemicals. Look for candles scented with 100% essential oils or that are specifically labeled phthalate-free. I actually make my own soy wax and beeswax candles scented with essential oils. I find that the essential oils aren’t as strong (scent-wise) but I absolutely love the smell of a burning beeswax candle. Making your own candles is also cheaper since most high-quality phthalate free candles are pretty expensive.
Fresh Flowers
Bring a bouquet of flowers inside for a pop of color and amazing scent. Harvest flowers from your backyard or buy local flowers from the farmers market to make sure you aren’t bringing pesticide-laden flowers into your home. No backyard? You can grow flowering plants inside year round! My personal favorites are paperwhites, hyacinth, gardenia, and jasmine. These amazing flowers will fill your home with intoxicating fragrance – naturally!
Room Freshener Spray
Another very easy and fully customizable method for room scents is with a spray. I mix whatever essential oils I want in a spray bottle half filled with filtered water and half filled with vodka. Shake and spray for a delightful mist of scent. For Christmas, I mixed clove, cinnamon, orange, and fir needle essential oils and it smelled exactly like the holidays. I mix a eucalyptus and lavender spray for a simple and refreshing car spray and even use it on laundry hanging to dry in the sun!
With these simple tips, you can keep your home smelling amazing the natural and healthy way!
What’s your favorite trick for making your home smell wonderful naturally? Have you ever tried one of these tips?