homemade fragrances for rooms

Fill a spray bottle with water and add 10 drops of lemon grass essential oil and 10 drops of sweet orange essential oil. The smell is amazing and you can use it on the furniture, bedding, carpets and as a refreshing mist.

A few sprigs of rosemary, lemon slices and a teaspoon of vanilla in a pot and let it simmer on the stove.

Simmering potpourri is a lovely way to make your home smell warm and inviting, especially during the holiday season when you use fragrant spices like cinnamon and cloves.

Cinnamon Sticks, Oranges & Spices

Cinnamon Sticks, Orange Slices & Spices

How It Works: Just fill a pot with water, add your favorite ingredients and simmer all day. This also helps humidify the home a bit.

The recipes below are just guidelines, you can use different amounts and mix up ingredients as you like. Save: Orange, lemon and lime peels, apple skins (dry them out first before storing in a container) and add assorted spices. Experiment to find your favorite aromas!

Directions:

Fill a saucepan with water and bring to a boil. Add the ingredients from your favorite recipe, boil for a few minutes, then turn the heat down to simmer all day. Top up water as needed.

Caution: Set your timer for 30 minutes so you remember to top up with water. You don’t want the pot burning dry. Do not leave the house with this left heating on the stove.

Recipe #1

Cinnamon sticks

Apple peels

Orange rinds

Whole cloves

#2

Apple juice

Cinnamon sticks

Whole cloves

#3

Vanilla (a few drops)

Orange peels

#4 – Christmas Potpourri Simmering Pot

3 sprigs evergreen or handful pine needles

2 cinnamon sticks

2 TBS whole cloves

2 bay leaves

2 pieces orange rind

2 pieces lemon rind

#5

2 TBS whole cloves

2 cinnamon sticks

5 star anise

1 orange peel

#6

Whole cloves

1 tsp nutmeg

#7

Peel from a whole orange

Whole cloves

2 Cinnamon sticks

#8

5 bay leaves

1 TBS whole cloves

2 sticks cinnamon

#9

Peel from 1 lemon

Peel from 1 orange

2 bay leaves

3 cinnamon sticks

2 TBS whole cloves

#10

1/8 cup cloves

1/8 cup allspice

2 cinnamon sticks

#11

6 whole cloves

1 cinnamon stick

1 tsp vanilla

#12

1 cup dried lavender

1 tsp anise

1 TBS nutmeg

1 TBS whole cloves

1 Cinnamon stick

#13

2 sticks cinnamon

Peel from one lemon

Fresh rosemary

Whole cloves

Winter Freshener:

2 cups dried rosemary

2 cups dried lavender

1 cup dried eucalyptus leaves

1/2 cup dried peppermint or spearmint

1/2 cup dried bay leaves

Directions: Keep stored in an airtight container then add 1 cup of mix per 3 cups boiling water.

Fragrant Slowcooker Version:

1 cup dried lavender leaves

4 cups dried rose petals

1 tsp. anise seed

1 TBS ground nutmeg

1 TBS whole cloves

1 cinnamon stick (broken and crushed into pieces)

1 TBS crushed benzoin fixative

5 drops jasmine oil

5 drops patchouli oil

5 drops rose geranium oil

5 drops rosemary oil

Directions: Mix all ingredients and store in a glass container for 1 month before using (store in dark location). Fill crockpot halfway with water, add 1 to 2 cups potpourri then turn the heat on low (lid off). Source: Company’s Coming Slow Cooker Recipes (by Jean Pare).

For the Oven:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Take a piece of tinfoil (a few inches wide), pour a teaspoon of vanilla on top and place the foil in the oven. Turn off oven and prop the door open a bit.

Fill a loaf pan with water and your favorite recipe from above. Set in oven on high heat until it starts filling your home with lovely smells. Turn off oven, then prop the door open.

You will need:

1 cup water

1/4 cup white vinegar

10 drops of peppermint essential oil

Combine the water and vinegar. Add in the peppermint oil.

Place in a re-purposed spray bottle and use liberally whenever a room needs a little freshening up.

Herbal Bath & Shower Bags

Bath sachets (also known as bath tea) make a lovely, luxurious soak that can be beneficial to skin, ease stress and help soothe aches and pains.
IngredientsThey’re similar to Shower Spa Bags (details at bottom of page) except these steep in the tub, making a luxurious soak. If some tender therapy is needed to ease sore feet, you can try these foot soaks.
Basic Instructions:
Make drawstring pouches out of cheesecloth, organza or muslin, enough to hold anywhere from 1/4 cup to 1/2 cup of a favorite herbal mix. Tie them tightly shut so the loose ingredients won’t float out. After use the contents can be emptied, the pouches rinsed out then washed to be refilled and reused.
Preparation:
Two ways these can be enjoyed, either hang them on the tap while the hot water is running, making sure the water is running through them. Once the tub is filled, let them float around.
Infusion Method: Boil a quart of water, turn off heat, add pouch, cover, then steep (for at least 20 minutes for best results). Add the piping hot infusion (and the bag) to a full tub, being careful while pouring to avoid burning yourself.
Note: Do not steep in an aluminum pot.
How about some nice teas? These amounts will make a batch at a time to be stored in an airtight container until needed. For convenience, fill up drawstring pouches then store.
Basic Starter:
1 1/2 cup powdered milk
1/2 cup Epsom salt
1/8 cup baking soda
2 TBS cornstarch
This is the base and add whatever dried flowers and herbs are preferred.
Heavenly:
1/2 cup lavender
1 cup Epsom Salts
Floral Deluxe:
1 cup oatmeal
1/2 cup lavender
Splendor:
1/2 cup powdered milk (or the starter recipe above)
1/2 cup oatmeal
1/4 cup lavender
Soothing Mix:
1/2 cup Oatmeal
1/4 cup Rosemary
1/4 cup Chamomile (tea is fine)
Chamomile Brew:
1/2 cup each: Epsom salt, lavender, chamomile
Splendor Blend:
1/2 cup each: thyme, sage, lavender, mint, bay leaves, rosemary
Soother:
1/2 cup each: Lavender, Rose Petals, Sage, Rosemary
Basil Blend:
1/2 cup rosemary
1/2 cup basil
1 cup oatmeal
Bonus Idea: Also add 1/2 cup of honey to the tub while the water is running. Or mix the starter with honey.
Prefer something for the shower? Start the day with a pampered feeling by filling a cloth pouch with the ingredients below then use them to scrub and exfoliate.
The fabric can be muslin, handkerchiefs, cheesecloth, or even strips of nylon pantyhose cut to size then knotted at both ends (good for repurposing ruined nylons).
Tie the end securely closed with a rubber band.
Size them to fit the palm of your hand. Fill as full or as loosely as you like.
Ingredients:
2 parts coarse oatmeal
2 parts mixed dried herbs
1 part grated soap
Tip:
Make a batch ahead of time, just store in an airtight container.

Hardwood Floor Cleaners & Tips

Here are several different recipes for mixing up your own cleaners for hardwood flooring, just a few simple ingredients are all that’s needed. Keep in mind that a little goes a long way, you just need enough liquid to dampen the mop (or cloth) and scrub away.
If you’re happy to damp mop with straight water, try adding about 10 drops of essential oil per gallon of water for extra cleaning muscle. Some suggestions: lavender, tea tree oil, pine or eucalyptus oil will add antiseptic qualities.
You’ll also find tips on this page for removing scuff marks, how to test for wax (and remove it), a few DIY polish recipes and a scratch repair method that may surprise you.
Getting Started: Sweep or vacuum surface to remove as much dirt and dust as possible.
Directions:
When using one of the recipes below, damp mop only. Saturating the floor with liquid may cause spotting or warping of the surface. You can either lightly spray one section at a time or lightly spray the mop head.
Scrub in the direction of the grain of the wood to grab and remove as much of the dirt as possible.
Wipe dry with a soft cloth after washing.
Mix 1 gallon warm water with your choice of the ingredients below…
Solution #1
1/4 cup vinegar
1 TBS castille soap
Solution #2
1 cup white household vinegar (*Is it safe to use? See notes below)
Solution #3
1/4 cup borax
1/2 teaspoon mild dish detergent (liquid)
Solution #4
1 cup vinegar
10 drops peppermint essential oil
Solution #5
1/8 cup mild liquid dish soap
1/2 cup vinegar
Solution #6
1 TBS Dr. Bronner’s liquid soap
1/8 cup vinegar
1/4 cup brewed black tea
Tea Mixture:
Steep 1 bag of tea in 2 cups of boiling water and leave until it comes to room temperature. Remove tea bag and soak cloth in liquid, wring out then wipe floor clean. Dry with a soft cloth. The tannic acid in the tea will help bring wood to a shine.
For Oil-Finish: Damp mop with straight water after first cleaning with the recipe below.
1 TBS rubbing alcohol
2/3 cup hot water
*Is vinegar safe to use? Isn’t it too acidic for hardwood?
If you poured a bottle of vinegar directly on the floor and allowed it to sit, it would most likely damage the surface. However, in the mixtures above it is well diluted and only used as a damp mop (meaning excess liquid is squeezed out). Vinegar is an excellent household cleaner and brings a lot of muscle to the job. If you’re concerned about the effects it may have on the finish over the long-term, consider doing a clear water rinse after wiping floor with a mixture that has vinegar as an ingredient (then wipe dry as usual).
Removing Scuff Marks

Keep a spray bottle with a mixture of 50/50 vinegar, water and about 15 drops of essential oil of your choosing.
Sprinkle scuffs with baking soda then spray solution, let fizz for a few seconds.
Scrub marks until they are removed then dry with a soft towel.
Wax Testing & Removal

Wet your fingers with water then flick into a corner of the floor where there’s not much traffic. If there’s wax on the surface, the floor will turn white under the water beads (may take a half hour or so to turn white).
To Remove Wax:
Scrub the surface with mineral spirits using a household sponge with a nylon scrubby side. Wipe dry with a soft cloth as wax is dissolved. Repeat process a second time if needed.
DIY Polish

Wash surface as usual and dry thoroughly. Using one of the mixes below, apply polish to surface then wipe dry with a soft cotton towel.
Recipe #1
Mix equal parts olive oil and white household vinegar.
Recipe #2
1/4 cup vegetable oil (or olive oil)
2 TBS cider vinegar
3 TBS vodka
Recipe #3
1 TBS olive oil mixed with 1 tsp lemon juice. Apply to a clean, dry mop and treat floors after cleaning.
Quick Tip: You can also spray commercial furniture polish onto the mop head and then wipe over surface.
Scratch Repair

Rub a crayon that is the same color as the flooring into the scratch, filling the space as full of the wax as you can.
To seal in place, heat with a hair dryer to soften the wax, allow to cool for a few seconds then buff with a soft cloth.