Top 10 Scents to Make Your House Smell Good Naturally
Shandra Martinez
| 3 min read
First impressions are everything, especially when it comes to your home. When you open the door after a long day of work, or when you are welcoming guests into your home, you want the scent that greets you to catch your attention -- in a good way.
Think about this signature scent you would like to create – or make a different one for each room. Do you want your kitchen to greet people with the scent of cinnamon? Should your bedroom carry a whiff of lavender? These are scent impressions you can create easily.
Here are our top 10 scents for making your home smell good naturally.
Lemon. You can’t go wrong with this citrusy staple that has a wonderfully clean smell. It’s a great scent for a DIY spray that combines an emulsifier like witch hazel, rubbing alcohol, or even vodka with water and essential oils. Lemon is one of those scents that goes well with other scents, from lavender to basil.
Eucalyptus. This aromatic scent can have mood-boosting and other health benefits, according to the Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture. You can add fresh or preserved sprigs to decorations or put them in their own vase. Another option is to use a diffuser with eucalyptus essential oils.
Cinnamon. This cozy scent definitely has an autumn vibe because our favorite autumn sweet treats feature a heavy dose of cinnamon, from apple pie to chai. This spice is a perfect cover-up for unpleasant cooking aromas. You can make your own deodorizers by placing little bowls of ground cinnamon or cinnamon sticks around your kitchen.
Orange and cloves. These are used to create pomander balls, which not only smell heavenly but make beautiful holiday decorations. Make them by pressing the cloves into the peel of an orange in any pattern you like.
Peppermint. Not only does peppermint smell refreshing, but this herb also has the additional benefit of being a natural pest deterrent. Try dipping a cotton ball in peppermint oil and wiping along window panes and doorways to create a barrier to keep ants and spiders out.
Coconut. This is a perfect summer scent that evokes the vibe of island breezes and pina coladas. Coconut oil is also an insect repellent. Place coconut oil in a glass to keep bugs away.
Jasmine. This scent is a natural soother. Consider adding the essence of this white flowering plant to your kitchen or the bathroom for a sweet scent. You can make a room spray by adding 15 to 25 drops of jasmine oil to distilled or purified water.
Lavender. This flowering plant, part of the mint family, has a sweet floral scent. It may be best used as a scent in the bedroom. One study found that lavender essential oil increased the quality of sleep and reduced the level of anxiety in patients with coronary artery disease.
Rosemary. The needle-like leaves on this herb are air purifiers that help to absorb indoor odors. Research has found the scent can reduce stress and anxiety, improving cognitive function.
Sandalwood. There’s something very zen about this rich and woodsy aroma. It’s often burned as incense or used as an ingredient in satchels. Made from the dense, inner part of a tree's trunk, sandalwood has been used for thousands of years for its calming and stress relief properties.
Many of these scents are good ingredients for simmer pots, which are homemade air fresheners that are economical and easy to make. It's as simple as boiling fragrant pieces of fruits, herbs and spices in water. Shanthi Appelö, a registered dietitian and a health and wellness spokesperson for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, created recipes for a Fall Holiday Simmer Pot and a Winter Holiday Simmer Pot you can check out here.
Photo credit: Getty Images
