DIY Home Fragrance

I have one of those little fragrance oil burners that I use to heat scented oil. As the oil heats, it releases it’s fragrance in the house. The scent is strong and it quickly makes me whole house smell beautiful. Unfortunately, I am limited by the choices offered in the stores and the little bottles of oil can get pricey.

By using essential oils – either in combination or as a single scent – and floating them in little bit of water, I can save money and tailor the fragrance to my own taste and mood. You can find essential oils in health food stores, in the health food section of your local market, or online. Cermaic oil burners are available all over the place – Walmart, Target, World Market, etc.

Keep in mind that this is aromatherapy that we are talking about and certain scents can affect your mood. For example, citrus scents are energizing, they make you feel perky. Lavender, on the other hand, aids in relaxation.

When heating oils in the diffuser, fill the top reservoir half-full of water, then add a few drops of essential oil. Light the candle below and scent will be released in a few minutes. Check the water level periodically and the scent can last as long as 3 hours.

Here are some fragrance ideas:

Single scents
*Bergamot
*Rose
*Grapefruit
*Lemon
*Lime
*Lavender
*Vanilla (You can use Vanilla Extract)
*Juniper
*Coriander
*Anise
*Orange
*Cinnamon
*Clove
*Rose Geranium
*Eucalyptus (especially nice during cold and flu season, soothing)
*Peppermint

Combinations:

*2 drops each of Grapefruit and Lavender
*2 drops each of Clove and Orange
*2 drops each of Cinnamon and Orange
*3 drops Bergamot to 1 drop Ylang-Ylang
*1 drop each Bergamot, Cypress, and Juniper
*3 drops Frankincense to 2 drops Basil
*3 drops Mandarin or Orange to 1 drop Vetiver
*2 drops each of Cinnamon, Clove, Lavender, and Orange

If you don’t have a diffuser, or essential oils, don’t worry. You are not out of luck. Simply look around your kitchen for the necessary supplies. You can simmer a small pot of water and whole spices on the stove.

Add to the water any of the following:

*Apple slices (especially good paired with Cinnamon)
*Citrus peel, thinly sliced; Lemon, Lime, Orange, Grapefruit, Mandarin
*Whole Vanilla Bean
*Whole Cloves
*Whole Star Anise
*Whole Cinnamon Sticks
*Slices of fresh Gingeroot
*Peppercorns

Or from your garden:
*Rose petals
*Juniper Berries
*Rosemary

Keep an eye on the water level in the pan and simmer at a low temperature.

Image credit: Michelle Smith