How to Make Your House Smell Good Naturally – 4 Ways

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Another good reason to add a pleasant scent to your home is for stress relief! In Japan, there is an ancient practice called “shinrin-yoku” in which they take a relaxing walk through the pine forests. It has been studied for it’s therapeutic value on stress relief.

Around Christmas time I know I feel the same stress relief when I smell my freshly cut Christmas tree in my living room! But, if you can’t walk through any forests or cut any pine branches, you can get the benefit by using essential oils such as balsam, spruce or pine. Other essential oils that offer stress relief are lavender, bergamot, jasmine, and orange. A simple way to breathe in these essential oils is by putting a few drops on a tissue or your pillow. But if you want to add some of these fragrances to your home, keep reading.

Toxins in Air Fresheners

I wish it was as easy buying one of those spray scents that smell like a rainforest or some exotic location (the commercials act like they are so natural), but when it comes down to it, they are one of the most toxic products you can buy!

It seems that many people are buying air fresheners because it was reported that approximately 75% of homes in America use them!

Not only are they toxic, but they can trigger allergy and asthma symptoms.

Some of the toxic ingredients that can be in these air fresheners include volatile organic compounds (VOC’s) and chemicals. The ingredients listed often include benzene and formaldehyde, which are known to cause cancer. One study reported that frequent exposure to VOC’s increased diarrhea and earaches in infants and headaches and depression for the children’s mothers.

Many air fresheners also, contain phthalates and these toxic chemicals have been found to cause birth defects, hormone abnormalities and reproductive problems. Pregnant women and children are warned to stay away from phthalates, especially because products are not labeled properly. It is concerning because the consumer doesn’t know which products pose the danger.

But, there are many natural solutions for how to make your house smell good! I am sharing four quick 100% all natural methods below.

How to Make Your House Smell Good Naturally in 4 Easy Ways

1. Add your favorite scent to pine cones.

Just go out scavenging around your yard or the area you live to find some pine cones. Since, my house borders the woods, these were easy to find! Can’t get much more natural than that!

Next, just add a couple drops of your favorite essential oil, such as lavender or cinnamon on to the pine cones. I did one to two drops per pine cone. Then, just place them in a nice basket to display them. They look beautiful and add a wonderful smell to the room! Plus, it’s easy to move the basket from room to room. You can easily move it from your bathroom to your living room etc.

2. Take an orange and add whole cloves to it.

For this, all you’ll need is an orange or several (if you want to make more) and take a handful of whole cloves. Take each whole clove one at a time and push them in to the orange. You can make a pretty design or simple design. Many call this a Fresh Orange Pomander. A wonderful scent is released from the combination of the oranges and cloves, refreshing the whole room. This is my favorite way for how to make your house smell good because not only does it smell amazing, but it’s also beautiful!

3. Oranges and cinnamon in pot of water.

This is one of the methods first recommended to me by a friend. Just take a good size pot of water, let it lightly simmer and add in some fresh slices of oranges and a few tablespoons of cinnamon, (cinnamon sticks optional, but they sure do look nice). I turn off the stove and let the pot sit on my counter or stove top in my kitchen. The amazing scent is released throughout most of my home.

4. Essential oil room spray.

A super simple naturally scented room spray can be made by taking a spray bottle and adding about a cup of water and 3 to 4 drops (I use this cute small spray bottle) of your favorite essential oil. I like to use lavender or cinnamon most often. After, you add the drops of essential oil, close the container and give it a good shake to mix it up. You can spray it in the air on fabric items such as pillows, a comforter, or even your couch!

Hope you enjoy these simple tips for how to make your house smell good naturally! Leave a comment if you’ve tried any of these before or want to share your favorite ways!