I don’t like scented candles, and I’m not the kind of person who spritzes air fresheners around the house. I can’t help but wonder what chemicals are in them. I worry that they might be damaging in some way.

When we had budgies we were instructed not to use air fresheners or highly-scented cleaning products (not that we were using them anyway) because they contain compounds that could be deadly for our birds. And if that’s true, why would I expose myself and my kids to them? And for what? A house that smells like fake vanilla or apple spice?

Did you know you can create your own natural scents with stuff you probably have lying around the house?

Although we have the world’s largest air freshener in our house right now, a.k.a our freshly cut pine tree, I sometimes like to make a wee holiday blend to simmer on the stove.

Check it out:

This batch contains leftover bits of lemon (peel and all), one cut up mandarin, a stick of cinnamon, a bit of pine tree, a slice of pomegranate for colour, and two or three cups of water. You don’t even have to use the freshest fruit. In fact, I often use dry lemons I find in the back of the fruit drawer. Bring the mixture to a boil and then turn it down and let it simmer on low for a couple of hours. If the water runs low you can just fill it back up. Pitch the mixture when it starts to look yucky (after a day or so).

Other ways to create great natural smells:

• Take some oranges and stud them with cloves in pretty patterns (personally I hate the smell of cloves, but some people love it).
• Bake cookies!
• Boil water on the stove with some old cut up lemons and a splash of vinegar
• The next time you vacuum the house, put a few drops of essential oil in the vacuum bag. (I like orange and lemon. See a theme here? Hmm.)
• The cinnamon ornaments we made the other day are all in the living room. And they still smell great.

Any other ideas you’d like to share? I’m all ears, er, nose. :)