A nice-smelling home feels welcoming, not just to guests but to members of the household themselves. Good smells can give out a feeling of comfort and coziness.
Let’s take a look at some awesome home smell hacks. Read on and learn these tips and tricks to make your home smell amazing!
Car Air Fresheners
A car air freshener is a simple, affordable solution. It can be just as effective inside your house as it is in your vehicle. These come in a variety of fragrances, from ocean breeze to vanilla and even new car smell.
They’re designed to last for weeks, which means they can keep your home smelling great for a long time. Plus, they’re incredibly affordable, so you can switch up the fragrance whenever you want.
Most car fresheners have a clip or a hook, making it easy to secure them to the slats of your home’s air vents. You can usually find vents on the walls, floors, or ceilings. Once in place, every time your heating or cooling system kicks in, it will circulate the fresh scent throughout the room.
If you have central air, the fragrance could travel even further. When the system is on, the airflow can carry the fragrance from room to room, meaning your entire home could smell delightful.
Scent Jar
You can make your whole house smell good naturally with a simple, natural DIY project. This idea involves making a homemade scent diffuser, with a jar filled with water and a combination of spices, herbs, or fruit slices.
Choosing Your Scents
Picking the right ingredients for your scent jar is crucial. Consider what smells make you happy. Here are a few suggestions to get you started:
Citrus burst: Lemon, lime, and orange slices create a fresh and invigorating scent.
Herbal bliss: Rosemary, lavender, and mint offer a soothing and refreshing fragrance.
Spice paradise: Cinnamon sticks, cloves, and star anise bring a cozy warmth to any room.
Creating Your Scent Jar
Now, let’s put it all together. You’ll need a clean jar, preferably one with a wide opening, to allow smells to disperse easily. Fill the jar with water, then add your chosen ingredients. Here’s a simple step-by-step:
Fill the jar three-quarters full with tap water.
Add thin slices of fruit or a handful of herbs and spices.
Stir gently to mix the ingredients into the water.
Place the jar in a spot where you spend a lot of time, like the living room or kitchen.
Keeping It Fresh
One of the best parts about these natural scent jars is that you can keep them in the fridge when you’re not using them. This helps the ingredients stay fresh and potent for longer.
Whenever you want to enjoy the aroma, simply take the jar out and place it in your desired room. The coolness from the fridge will give an extra burst of freshness as the smell warms up to room temperature.
Rice: A Natural Way To Make Your House Smell Good
Rice has some surprising uses beyond being a source of food. One of the lesser-known tricks is turning this common kitchen staple into a freshener to keep your home smelling good.
Creating a Homemade Fragrance
To start, find a clean bowl and fill it halfway with uncooked rice. All kinds of rice work well. Then, pick out an essential oil that you enjoy. Some popular choices include lavender for relaxation, lemon for freshness, or peppermint for a bright, energizing aroma.
Combining Rice and Essential Oils
Next, add a few drops of your favorite essential oil to the rice. The amount you use depends on how strong you want the scent to be. As a guide, start with about 5-10 drops and adjust based on your preference. Stir the rice and oil together until the grains are evenly coated. This mix allows the rice to absorb the oil, locking in the fragrance.
Placing Your Natural Air Freshener
Once your rice is scented, place the bowl in a room where you want to add a fresh smell. The rice will slowly release the scent over time, giving your space a pleasant smell that can last for days or even weeks. If the smell starts to weaken, simply add a few more drops of essential oil.
It’s Always Fall in Your House
The fall season is known for its warm, inviting scents. If you want your home to have that signature fall smell all year round, there’s a simple trick you can try.
Spices: First, you’ll need to gather a few key spices that are famous for their connection to fall. Cinnamon and nutmeg are excellent choices because they have a sweet, earthy fragrance that instantly makes you think of autumn leaves and pumpkin pies.
Coconut Oil: The next step is to combine them with a little coconut oil. Coconut oil is a great carrier because it’s safe to heat and has a subtle scent that won’t overpower the spices. Plus, it’s easy to find at your local grocery store.
Wax Warmer: Take your spice and coconut oil mixture and place it on a wax warmer. These are readily available at many stores and come in a variety of styles to match your home decor. The gentle heat from the warmer will melt the coconut oil, releasing the delightful fragrances of cinnamon and nutmeg into the air.
This method is not only simple but also cost-effective and all-natural. There are no artificial components being used.
Simmering Potpourri
Creating your own stovetop potpourri is not only easy but also a fun way to experiment with smells to reflect your personal style or the season.
Begin with a base of water in a small saucepan or pot. Then, choose your aromatic ingredients.
Common combinations include citrus peel with cinnamon and cloves, or apple slices with nutmeg and allspice.
Fill a pot with water and bring it to a gentle simmer. Then, add your chosen ingredients. A good rule of thumb is to start with a small amount, as you can always add more to intensify the fragrance.
As the water heats, the steam will carry the lovely smell throughout your home.
Just remember to keep an eye on the potpourri as it simmers. You’ll need to add more water as it evaporates to prevent the ingredients from burning. Also, keep the heat low to ensure a gentle release of fragrance without boiling away the water too quickly.
Make Vacuuming Smell Great
The smell of your house post-vacuum can be unpleasant. Fortunately, there’s a simple solution to turn that around and make your home smell fresh.
Downy Unstoppables are scent beads that you can find in the laundry aisle. They are designed to add a burst of fragrance to your clothes, but they work just as well on carpets. On the other hand, ground cinnamon offers a natural, cozy smell that’s perfect for creating a welcoming environment.
To start, lightly sprinkle your choice of scent booster directly onto the carpet. Even a small amount will do the trick. When you vacuum, the movement and suction will help to spread the lovely smell from the beads or cinnamon into the air.
This process helps to neutralize any odors that might be lingering in your vacuum cleaner or in the carpet. As a result, as you clean, you’ll be releasing a pleasant fragrance instead of the typical musty vacuum smell.
Coffee Smell Without the Brew
The warm, welcoming smell of freshly ground coffee beans can make almost any place feel cozy. You can fill your space with that delightful coffee fragrance.
Get Creative with Coffee Beans: A simple and effective way to bring the smell of coffee into your home is to use actual coffee beans. Place a handful of whole beans into a small decorative bowl or a glass jar and leave it in your living room or kitchen. As they sit, the beans will naturally release their fragrance.
DIY Coffee-Scented Candles: For those who enjoy a bit of craftiness, making your own coffee-scented candles is a fun project. Melt some unscented candle wax and stir in ground coffee before setting the wick and letting it cool. Light these candles to amplify the coffee smell and add a warm glow to your surroundings.
Perk Up with Potpourri: If you’re not into candles, consider creating a potpourri mix. Combine dry coffee grounds with other aromatic ingredients like dried orange peels, cinnamon sticks, or vanilla pods. This mixture can be placed in open containers around your home or even used in sachets to tuck into drawers and closets.
Coffee-Scented Products: There’s a wide variety of products available that can mimic the smell of coffee without the need for brewing. Look for coffee-scented sprays or oils. These products are designed to fill your home with a lasting coffee aroma with minimal effort.
Add Essential Oils on Wood
You can make your home smell wonderful by using essential oils and a bit of creativity. By using oils on little pieces of wood, you can freshen up your house.
First, gather some small wooden pieces or shapes. Choose a size that’s easy to display around your home. Before you begin, make sure the wood is clean and dry for the oils to soak in properly.
Next, select your favorite essential oils. Think about where you’ll place your wooden freshener and what mood you’d like to set.
Use a cotton swab or a small piece of sponge to dab the oil onto the wood. Cover the surface evenly, but don’t overdo it. A few drops are usually enough. The wood will absorb the oil and start to release the smell.
A piece of string or ribbon can be attached to the wood for easy hanging. Place them in closets, on doorknobs, or anywhere that could use a touch of fragrance. Over time, if the smell fades, simply add a few more drops of oil to refresh it.
Add Essential Oils To Air Filters
Changing your home’s air filters regularly is important for keeping the air clean, but this opportunity can also be used to spread fresh smells around your house.
Use a spray bottle to spray a few drops of essential oil onto your air filter. When the air blows through, it will spread the lovely smell throughout your whole house!
Baking Soda
Baking soda can also be used as a way to make your home smell heavenly. It can be used as a preventative measure and to deodorize.
You can sprinkle baking soda on carpets or trash cans to neutralize odors. You can fill small sachets with baking soda and essential oils, and put them around the house.
You can also simmer baking soda on a slow cooker. Put a cup of baking soda, along with water, into a slow cooker. Put the cooker in a room that has a bad smell and put it in on low for an hour. The baking soda will remove the odor.
Other Ways To Keep Your House Smelling Good
Lemon Cleaners: Use lemon as a cleaner for your kitchen. Mix it with baking soda and scrub counters and sinks with the mixture. This will clean the surfaces while spreading the fragrance. You can also place lemons down a garbage disposal to counter the smell.
Keep Circulation Going: Air circulation should be consistent. Let fresh air in via open doors and windows. If you can’t keep the windows up for whatever reason, get an air purifier or a humidifier to ensure the air doesn’t stagnate. Turn on the fan every now and then.
Clean Regularly: Make sure you follow a reasonable cleaning routine. Pay more attention to areas which have more potential to smell bad. For example, the pet litter, bathrooms, shoe rack, and garbage disposal.
Vinegar Bowls: White vinegar can remove potent odors such as smoke. Bowls or white vinegar can be placed in rooms of the house with such bad smells. They counter-act and neutralize the smell.
