safe home fragrance/candle/"febreeze" alternative??

[bobandjess99]

I want my house to smell nice, like my friend's bhouses. Problem is, they all use copious amounts of things i thin are bad, like febreeze, candles, sprays, electric warmers with scent oils, etc.
I'm concerned about contaminating out lungs with chemicals, especially since dd has asthma. I've tried to do some research, but teh only thing I've found that is supposedly safe is essential oils, but I have a couple diffusers around the house and they just don't work well..my house doesn't have the overwhelming fresh scent I want....and with candles, I've read stuff about how some are safe if the wick doesn't contain lead and the wax doesn't contain contaminnts..but I'm confised and not sure which ones are "good"/safe?

So..how do you get that "wave of wonderful scent smacking you in the face when you open the door" scent without using nasty chemicals?

[lil_earthmomma]

I have asthma, and fabreeze just about kills me, so I totally kwym!

Here is an awesome all purpose room spray that I use:

12 drops eucalyptus oil
10 drops lavender oil
14 drops orange oil
5 drops tea tree oil
1/2 cup distilled water

1. Pour the distilled water into a spray bottle. Try to use a dark glass spray bottle.
2. Add the essential oils to the bottle.
3. Shake gently but thoroughly before using.

Store away from heat or direct sunlight. Do not spray near eyes.

HTH!

[Drummer's Wife]

what I've done before is boil water and vinegar on the stove with a bit of cinnamon sprinkled in it. It diffuses it thru the house and smells pretty dang good.

Otherwise, I did cave and buy some potpourri and put in bowls in two of our bathrooms for the holiday (when we had houseguests) I'm sure it's not so good, either but there's no way I'd get sprays or other stuff and I wanted to make sure it didn't smell yucky.

[Tellera]

Originally Posted by Drummer's Wife

what I've done before is boil water and vinegar on the stove with a bit of cinnamon sprinkled in it. It diffuses it thru the house and smells pretty dang good.

I do something similar. I boil water that has a few cloves, several squirts of lemon juice, some grated lemon and/or orange peel and the rest of the peel, and half a cinnamon stick in it. Gorgeous, delicious, lovely scent.

[~PurityLake~]

Originally Posted by Drummer's Wife

what I've done before is boil water and vinegar on the stove with a bit of cinnamon sprinkled in it. It diffuses it thru the house and smells pretty dang good.

I am so going to try that, wait, I don't have vinegar, darn it all...

I own parrots, so all those candles, febreeze, plugins and such are off limits in my house (the birds would be killed a slow and painful death if I used those products). Besides, strong unnatural scents trigger my allergies and asthma.

I can't afford natural oils simply to make my house smell purty.

So I guess I need to buy some vinegar (is this distilled white vinegar, because that's what I was assuming).

[philomom]

I boil the apple peels and orange peels on the back of the stove with a little cinnamon.


So many of my friend's kids have asthma, I wonder if its linked to all these home fragrance products?

[Drummer's Wife]

Originally Posted by ~Purity♥Lake~

I am so going to try that, wait, I don't have vinegar, darn it all...

I own parrots, so all those candles, febreeze, plugins and such are off limits in my house (the birds would be killed a slow and painful death if I used those products). Besides, strong unnatural scents trigger my allergies and asthma.

I can't afford natural oils simply to make my house smell purty.

So I guess I need to buy some vinegar (is this distilled white vinegar, because that's what I was assuming).

yep, I just use cheapy white vinegar. Tellera's recipe sounds like it would smell even better. I just used what spices I had one day... i figured oregano wouldn't smell as good

and interesting and scary about the bird thing.

I totally remember my mom boiling orange peels with cloves... ahhhh, I'm going to have to do that.

[lightheart]

Even just leaving orange peels sitting out on a table smells up our house nicely. There is a point though that you can leave them too long and then you get some funk smell going on.

[Tangled Hill]

: Subbing

[choli]

Opening the windows and letting the air get in as much as possible helps. Having a lot of house plants helps too.

I find it better to get rid of smells than trying to cover them up.

[~PurityLake~]

Originally Posted by choli

Opening the windows and letting the air get in as much as possible helps. Having a lot of house plants helps too.

I do this as the weather permits and I think it's very healthy. However, 6 months plus of the year this is not possible. I live in Alaska and the past several weeks the temps have been in the negatives.

Originally Posted by choli

I find it better to get rid of smells than trying to cover them up.

That is true, but I think the OP isn't trying to get rid of any smells, she just likes the pretty smells she smells at other people's homes as opposed to the lack of any smells.

[Buddhamom]

I second the essential oils with water mixture. I buy mine on ebay and mix patchouli and sandalwood (10 drops) in a spray bottle of water and after cleaning I spray the carpet, couch and curtains. I also add a few drops onto the vacuum filter so I can smell it when vacuuming. It is an upfront cost, but you use so little it will last a long time and you won't use an electricity trying to heat it.

[alison_in_oh]

I find that if I mix baking soda with essential oils, sprinkle it on the carpet and vacuum it up, the smell lingers most of the day.

You can also burn soy candles, or use natural room sprays (there are several vendors for each on etsy.com.)

[bobandjess99]

Originally Posted by ~Purity♥Lake~

I do this as the weather permits and I think it's very healthy. However, 6 months plus of the year this is not possible. I live in Alaska and the past several weeks the temps have been in the negatives.




That is true, but I think the OP isn't trying to get rid of any smells, she just likes the pretty smells she smells at other people's homes as opposed to the lack of any smells.

We do have a bunch of plants to help with air quality, and yes, thank you for clarifying, it isn't trying to get rid of unpleasant odors, just wanting the house to smell all fresh and pretty like others houses, without killing all our lungs, lol.

[mnnice]

I've read but haven't tried that you can put essential oil on the wick of a high quailty, otherwise fragrance free candle. The oil burns with the candle and it's supposed to smell good. I haven't tried it.

[slsurface]

Originally Posted by philomom

I boil the apple peels and orange peels on the back of the stove with a little cinnamon.


So many of my friend's kids have asthma, I wonder if its linked to all these home fragrance products?

You can also "bake" slices of orange or lemon in a low oven (around 200 degrees F) all day. Makes the house smell fresh and yummy and it's a great way to get rid of those oranges that turned into mumified fruit in the back of your refrigerator .

[SquishyBuggles]

Originally Posted by slsurface

You can also "bake" slices of orange or lemon in a low oven (around 200 degrees F) all day. Makes the house smell fresh and yummy and it's a great way to get rid of those oranges that turned into mumified fruit in the back of your refrigerator .

I'm going to try this! Love the idea.

[JamieCatheryn]

Another natural option is hydrosols: rose water, chamomile, lemon balm, lavender, orange, etc. Spray them in the air like an air freshener, of even on your body, or onto soft surfaces.

[shelbell]

Originally Posted by philomom

I boil the apple peels and orange peels on the back of the stove with a little cinnamon.

I do the same, but I even throw in apple cores.

[Mama Poot]

Originally Posted by philomom

I boil the apple peels and orange peels on the back of the stove with a little cinnamon.


So many of my friend's kids have asthma, I wonder if its linked to all these home fragrance products?

YES. Woman's Day (of all things) had an article in either this or last month's issue. I stopped using everything......except Yankee candle wax tarts. We don't have allergies or anything here, and I only use them on special occasions.

i like the boiling citrus peels idea! we eat a crazy amount of oranges and clementines right now...seems like a waste to throw away those peels!