A Cozy Frangrant Home

Happy Hump Day All!

Don't you just love walking into someones house and it feels so cozy and smells so good?

Well after today's post you will have some great ideas to help your home be as inviting as your personality.....

~Peace~

A Cozy Fragrant Home

I think it is safe to say that most of us would like our home to be cozy and fragrant; unfortunately what is offered to us in the stores is expensive and can contain toxic chemicals that can irritate both humans and pets.

Considering you inhale these substances, it makes sense to look for a more natural solution to deodorizing your home. Subtle and soft, herb-based fragrances linger gently, inviting your to breath deeply and fully experience the space around you.

Below you will find some homemade scents for your favorite rooms. These make wonderful gifts as well!



Carpet Deodorizer



Due to their fibrous nature, carpets and area rugs capture and hold on to odor. Spills, smoke, cooking smells and pet stains can all contribute to less-than-fresh carpet scents. Baking soda is a natural, gentle deodorizer that's perfectly safe for use on all carpets.

When enhanced with herbs and essential oils, the mixture not only removes unpleasant odors, but adds a subtle, pleasant herbal accent to your home.

Cinnamon Spice Carpet Deodorizer~Combine the following and sprinkle liberally over your carpet, let sit for at least 20 minutes (an hour is best). Vacuum carpet as normal.

• 1 cup baking soda
• 2 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1 tsp ground cloves
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

You can easily double or quadruple this recipe and keep the mixture on hand in an airtight container. It will keep indefinitely.

Herbal Sachets

Herbal sachets are simple to make and you can place them in nearly every nook and cranny of your home. A simple blend of dried herbs placed in a muslin bag gently scents enclosed spaces such as closets, drawers, or storage tubs. Try tucking one in the bottom of your laundry basket or the glove compartment of your car.

Lavender and Cedar~This is a wonderful mixture to use for storing woolen goods or pet beds. You can find cedarwood chips, which are  used for bedding, at your local pet supply store.

• 1 part lavender buds
• 1 part cedarwood chips

Combine both in small muslin bags and tie bags with ribbon to close.

Herb Garden Sachet~These sachets provide a simple way to use up small quantities of dried herbs or flowers. Simply combine any aromatic plants that you have on hand in small muslin bags. Look to herbs such as mint, lemon balm, lemon grass, lemon verbena, sage , rosemary, thyme, basil, roses, scented geranium, sweetgrass, or costmary. You can also use aromatic pine needles, cedar wood chips, or spices such as cinnamon chips, clove buds, bay leaves or allspice berries.

                                                         

Scented Drawer Liners

Scented drawer liners are a great way to add subtle fragrance to the storage areas of your home. Use them in drawers, linen closets, cupboards, suitcases or gym bags, or even with craft supplies such as fabric or wrapping paper.

 These drawer liners can even make beautiful and unusual gifts. Just look for sheets of handmade or thick-textured paper from an art supply store. Cut them into your desired size or shape, scent the papers with your favorite essential oils, roll the papers up, and tie them with ribbon. These aromatic papers are a great inexpensive gift that anyone can use and enjoy.

Below are some great scent blends...

Citrus Sunshine~This refreshing blend works well in any room, but especially well in the kitchen and bathroom:

• 4 drops tangerine
• 3 drops lemon
• 3 drops grapefruit

Lavender Woods~This is a fresh, unisex blend. It works wonders when you store it with woolen goods, such as sweaters, blankets or yarn. It not only smells good, but it helps repel moths!

• 5 drops atlas cedarwood
• 3 drops lavender

Soft And Sweet~This is a floral, feminine blend which is perfect for a lingerie drawer or woman's closet.

• 5 drops lavender
• 4 drops rosewood
• 1drop ylang-ylang

Woody Musk~This blend is a deep and earthy scent that would be great for a man's drawer and/or closet:

• 4 drops patchouli
• 4 drops cedarwood

Instructions For Making Your Drawer Liners~You'll need thick, heavy paper such as watercolor paper, handmade paper or card stock. Place the paper in a plastic airtight container with lid, put a few drops of essential oil on the paper and close the container tightly. Set the paper aside for a few days. The oil will absorb completely into the paper , leaving no greasy trace, but scenting the paper thoroughly.

The scent will fade in a few months, but you can easily refresh it by repeating the process



Simmering Potpourris

Simmer potpourris are blends of dried herbs, flowers or spices that gently simmer in water. The heat and water release the fragrance of the herbs and scent your home. This can be done on the stove, in a crock pot, in a specially purchased simmering potpourri pot or on top of a wood burning stove:

Be careful not to boil all the water away as the potpourri can burn. Set a timer for checking it every 1/2 hour or so:

Kitchen Spice~

• 1 cup cinnamon chips
• 1/2 cup allspice berries
• 1/2 cup whole cloves
• 1/2 cup crushed bay leaves
• 1/4 cup coriander

Have you tried these? Which is your favorite?

I would love to hear all about it!