Recovering The SelfA Journal of Hope and Healing

Home and Garden

3 Ways to Make Your Home Smell Good

by Richard Clayton

Smell is one of the most powerful senses – and as Discover magazine reports, it’s probably more powerful than you think. While experts once believed that humans could only detect around 10,000 different odors, recent research found we can distinguish at least one trillion different smells, good and bad.

Smells tell us a lot about the world, from what we should eat to who we should kiss, but when it comes to our home, if it has a pleasant, fresh aroma, it makes us feel comfortable. If it smells bad, it can make us feel uneasy. Making it smell good doesn’t just mean spraying a bunch of fragrance on top of an unpleasant smell, however, that only makes it worse.

smell

If you just purchased one of the new Birmingham homes for sale and are excited to decorate, you don’t want to forget about the smell. And, if you’ve lived in your home for years, you might need to do a good cleaning to start with a fresh slate. Garbage cans, the dog bed, litter box, a diaper pail – there are lots of things that can give off a funky odor, and when we’re around them for a while, we’re less likely to notice those smells. To make sure there isn’t a stink you just aren’t detecting, be sure to wash any pet beds regularly and scoop out that litter box daily. Clean the inside of garbage cans at least once a month. Bed linens, upholstery, throw pillows, and window covers can all start smelling, too, so you’ll want to clean them regularly.

Once you’re sure that everything is clean and there are no bad odors lingering around, there are some easy ways to make your home smell even better.

Add Plants 

Plants are ideal for your home as they can reduce indoor humidity, improve air quality, and even well-being. A 1989 study conducted by NASA revealed that plants can remove up to 87 toxins in the air every 24 hours. That includes formaldehyde, which is in plastic grocery bags, cigarette smoke, man-made fibers, vinyl, paints, and more.

Flowering plants are even better as they’ll add fabulous scents to your space. Some to think about include gardenia, hyacinth, and jasmine.

Stovetop Potpourri

Making your own homemade fragrance for your home is easy with stovetop potpourri with practically endless recipes for all while calling for all-natural ingredients. If you plan to entertain, begin simmering the materials about an hour before your company arrives. Like perfume, there are scents that complement various seasons, like warm, spicy scents for fall and winter, and citrus-heavy ingredients in the spring and summer. Just measure out about 5 cups of water and pour it into a saucepan. Place the saucepan on the stove and add your ingredients – for example, for a great autumn fragrance, add four cinnamon sticks, a tablespoon of cloves, and a quartered orange. Turn the heat to medium, bring the mixture to a boil, stirring occasionally, and then just allow it to simmer for as long as you like.

Spray Essential Oils Onto Air Filters and Vents

Another very easy option is to spray essential oils onto your air filters and vent covers – any scent you prefer. Just stay consistent, so nothing clashes. Begin by using just a small amount and increasing as needed so that you don’t overdo it.

About the Author

Richard Clayton is a freelance blogger. He has been writing blogs for over 5 years. Through blogging he connects and shares his experiences with his friends and other people.

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