Are you suffering from odor overload? Recently, I explored reasons to stop buying candles and scent plug-ins. But hey, just because you don’t want to be bombarded with artificial, chemical-filled scents doesn’t mean you’re nose-blind.
Tired of Glade turning your spare outlets into 24/7 fragrance factories? Here are ways to scent your home and car that are healthier, cheaper and more sustainable for the planet.
1. Buy a high-quality air filter
Cleaner air smells better. According to the U.S. Environmental Protect Agency, adding an air filter to your home’s central heating and cooling system can improve indoor quality. For smaller, enclosed spaces such as bedroom, portable air purifiers can further reduce indoor air pollutants.
And though they’re often ignored, cabin air filters for cars really work. According to Car and Driver, cabin air filters protect passengers from airborne contaminants — essential when staring into the tailpipe of a truck while stuck in traffic.
Before we move on, let’s bust a stubborn myth: Houseplants don’t improve indoor air quality according to the American Lung Association. My apologies to the green-thumb community; I was shocked too.
2. Neutralize odors with white vinegar
White vinegar is nature’s Febreze (only better). According to Popular Science, here’s how it works: Acetic acid contained in vinegar binds with volatile molecules in the air, neutralizing any odors they contain. Even better, white vinegar is incredibly cheap! I found a bottle of the stuff at Target for less than $1.
The Spruce offers some simple ways to deodorize a room using white vinegar (and hey, no outlet required!).
Learn more with our article “Avoid These 9 Mistakes When Cleaning With Vinegar.”
3. Mix your own potpourri
The 1980s called and want you to start making potpourri again. But this time, let’s keep the ingredients all-natural and the final product less … pungent.
Making potpourri can be as simple or complex as you choose. This potpourri YouTube tutorial suggests using just a few ground spices and citrus peels. If you have more time, this potpourri recipe uses a mix of dried flowers, citrus peels, orris root powder and essential oils.
4. Make a pomander
Have some time on your hands? Follow the French of yesteryear and make a pomander.
Essentially apples or oranges studded with cloves or cinnamon sticks, these homemade scent diffusers became popular during the Middle Ages.
Over time, smaller versions of the pomander developed as a type of jewelry. Citrus and spices would be encased in metal filigree and worn around the neck to help mask offensive odors of everyday life during the Renaissance.
A pomander will emit its warm, spice-filled scent for about one week.
5. Open a window
Genius suggestion, right? But hear me out: Modern homes are built to maximize energy efficiency, not air-flow. Our windows are double-paned, every crack and seam is sealed, and layers of insulation surround us on all sides. Heck, I get short of breath just thinking about it.
Instead of trying to scent stale air, open a window and let nature work its magic.
6. Create your own mini-diffuser
Need to freshen the air in your home ASAP? Create your own mini-diffuser on the cheap. Simply soak a cotton ball in vanilla extract or add a few drops of eucalyptus oil. Then, place in a bowl near an open window or vent.
How do you keep your home and car smelling sweet? Share your favorite hack below.
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