It's so nice to have a home that smells fresh and there are many products available to help you accomplish that. Unfortunately, many of the most popular products contain chemicals that can be harmful to your health and/or the environment. Using essential oils in place of these chemicals can eliminate their harmful effects and still leave your home smelling fresh and beautiful.
Another benefit of using essential oils to freshen your home is that they have additional benefits beyond smelling good. Below are some of the side benefits of the oils most commonly used as air fresheners.
- Lavender: improves sleep quality and calms the nervous system
- Basil: helps relieve headaches
- Rosemary: stimulates the mind and improves memory
- Clary sage: calms the nervous system
- Clove oil: helps relieve nasal congestion and also contains aphrodisiac qualities
- Lemon: acts as a natural antidepressant and calms anxiety
- Orange: refreshes and relaxes
There are a variety of ways to diffuse essential oils throughout your home. One way is to use an oil diffuser, which is a device that heats the essential oil solution in order to release the scent into the environment. These can be purchased in many retail shops or on the internet, or you can make your own by following simple instructions that can be found online.
Another way to utilize essential oils as air fresheners is to mix them up into a solution and use them in a spray bottle. A simple diffusing solution can contain 1 cup water, 2 tbsp vodka, and 20 drops of concentrated essential oil. Combine these ingredients in a clean spray bottle, shake it up, and you're ready to go.
Use a few drops of essential oils on tissues, washcloths or cotton balls and place them in drawers, in the dryer or under beds to freshen up your living spaces. Making potpourri or sachets is also an easy way to make your home smell great the natural way.