Want to make your home smell divine in an eco-friendly and safe way? Light a candle!
- Mar 01, 2019
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And it doesn’t have to stop there! Not only are candles created from natural products a wonderful way of making your home smell great, they can also get rid of musty scents or pet or cooking aromas (particularly if your dog just came back from a swim!) In the past you might have reached for an air spray or plug-in device, but did you know that these are potentially unsafe and definitely not Green?
Get rid of the chemicals
A large proportion of households use these artificial types of air fresheners without thinking about how many chemicals they contain. Spraying this into the air that we breathe is not a good idea, nor is burning candles made from paraffin. If the rooms are poorly ventilated, this is a real health concern as when lit, paraffin gives off toluene and benzene, both potential carcinogens. But surely reed diffusers are OK? The answer has to be no as they often contain chemicals used in antifreeze which can be dangerous to pets or small children if they touch them or the liquid gets into their eyes.
But help is at hand. Here are our tips for making your home smell great, without using any horrible chemicals.
- Light a scented candle – always use candles made from natural wax and containing zero artificial fragrances. The range from Juliette at Home are not only made by hand but contain a unique blend of natural wax and the finest and most fragrant essences. https://julietteathome.com/product-category/kitchen-larder/
- Throw those windows open! – unless it is pouring with rain or freezing cold, open the windows. Pure fresh air is the most heavenly scent in the world. If it is sunny, this also helps to eradicate stale air and unpleasant smells.
- Get crafty with cinnamon – all you need to do is find a few sticks or powder, add them to water and boil in a pan. If your house is a large one, carry the pan from room to room, wafting the scented steam with your hands as you go.
- Concoct your own natural spray – mix together pure lime juice, baking soda and water and decant into a spray bottle. Very cheap, safe and natural.
- Get baking – when we were selling our house, I always made sure that I was baking when viewers came to visit. Bread is tops but also cakes or biscuits work nicely.
- Get the coffee on – freshly percolating coffee is a well-known trick to use to scent your whole home. Get the pot on well in advance and let the smell wend its way through each room from its central spot in the kitchen. Organic coffee works best.
- When you bring flowers indoors, choose scented – walk around your garden and select the most scented flowers to pick. If you are buying, smell before you purchase. Roses, freesias, lavender, honeysuckle, orange blossom – the list is endless. They will look wonderful too.
- Dry herbs and make small scented bags – use cotton or muslin, tie with ribbon and use to scent drawers and clothes. They look so pretty they can also make a super gift. Dried lavender is a top favourite.
- Make your own reed diffuser - if you really love reed-type diffusers, put some essential oil or perfume into almond oil, mix and pour into a bottle and add reeds. This way you know it is safe.
As always, keep candles out of the reach of small children and pets and never leave the house or go to sleep with them burning.
Try out a few of our top tips for scenting your home naturally today and get ready to enjoy when you see a smile on your visitors’ and your family’s faces!
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