Keeping your home smelling great at all times require some work. You can use candles, diffusers, Potpourri, essential oils, and baking goods to improve your mood and welcome guests.

Impress your guests and enhance your mood with these tips for achieving a fragrant and festive atmosphere in your home.

BY KAZEEM ADELEKE, ARTCENTRON

Keeping your home smelling great for the holidays is not only a way to impress your guests but also a way to enhance your mood and well-being. There are many natural and artificial methods to create a pleasant aroma in your home, depending on your preferences and budget. Here are some tips to help you achieve a fragrant and festive atmosphere in your home.

How to Keep Your Home Smelling Great

Use scented Candles, Diffusers, or Wax Melts.

One of the easiest ways to create a cozy and festive atmosphere in your home is to use scented products that can fill the air with pleasant aromas. Depending on your preferences and budget, there are a variety of options to choose from. They include candles, diffusers, or wax melts. While candles are great for adding some warmth and light to your space, diffusers can provide a continuous and subtle fragrance. Although wax melts are similar to candles, they don’t have a wick and are heated by a warmer.

Mixing and matching different scents to create a custom blend can also make your home smell good and enhance your mood during the holiday. Some of the popular scents for the holiday season are cinnamon, vanilla, pine, gingerbread, and apple. These scents can evoke memories of baking, decorating, and celebrating with your loved ones.

Make Your Potpourri or Simmering Spices

Another way to keep your home smelling great during the holiday season is to make potpourri, or simmering spices, with natural ingredients. Potpourri is a mixture of dried flowers, herbs, spices, and other fragrant materials that can be displayed in a bowl or a sachet. Simmering spices are similar, but they are often added to a pot of water and heated on the stove to release their aroma.

Making a potpourri or simmering spices is easy. The first step is to choose base ingredients, which may be a combination of dried flowers, herbs, spices, citrus peels, pine cones, nuts, or berries. Some popular choices are rose petals, lavender, cinnamon sticks, cloves, star anise, orange peels, cranberries, and juniper berries.

Add Essential Oils to Keep Your Home Smelling Great

The second step is to add some essential oils that match or complement your base ingredients and add extra scent. Examples of common oils are rose, lavender, vanilla, peppermint, orange, lemon, and pine. All that is necessary to make your potpourri or simmering spices alluring is a few drops of essential oil per cup of potpourri or simmering spices. Mix everything in a large bowl or a ziplock bag, ensuring they are well coated with the essential oil and evenly distributed. Next, store the potpourri or simmering spices in an airtight container until they are ready for use.

To use your potpourri, simply place it in a decorative bowl or a sachet and enjoy the fragrance. It is essential to refresh the scent regularly by adding more essential oil every few weeks.

As for the simmering spices, fill a small pot with water and add a handful of the mixture. Bring it to a boil, and then lower the heat to a simmer. Then, let it simmer for about an hour, adding more water as needed.  You can also customize them according to your preferences and mood.

Indulge in Freshly Baked Goods

There’s nothing like the aroma of freshly baked goods to keep your home smelling great, filled with warmth and coziness during the holiday season. Whether making cookies, pies, breads, or cakes, baking is a fun and rewarding way to celebrate with loved ones during the holidays and create lasting memories.

Indulging in healthy, freshly baked goods requires following some basic steps. The first step is to choose recipes that use whole grains, natural sweeteners, healthy fats, and seasonal fruits and nuts. These ingredients will not only add flavor and texture to the baked goods but also provide essential nutrients and antioxidants that can boost the immune system and mood. If you are open to experimenting with different spices, adding cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and cloves will enhance the festive feel of the freshly baked goods.

The second step is to plan and prepare in batches. Because baking can be time-consuming and messy, it’s a good idea to do some prep work beforehand and freeze some dough or batter for later use. This way, you can save time and energy when you’re ready to bake and also have some backup options in case you run out of ingredients or have unexpected guests. It is always better to make some extra batches of baked goods and share them with neighbors, friends, or family as a thoughtful gift. You can store some of your baked goods in an airtight container or wrap them in foil and freeze them for later consumption.

Maintain a Clean and Tidy Home

Maintaining a clean and tidy home for the holiday can be a challenging task, especially if you have guests coming over or children running around. However, with some planning and organization, you can make your home look festive and inviting without too much hassle.

The first step to cleaning and keeping your home tidy for the holidays is to declutter. Get rid of items that you don’t need or use, and donate or recycle them if possible. This will free up some space and make your home look more spacious and neat.

Next, do a deep cleaning of your home. Dust, vacuum, mop, and wipe down all the surfaces, furniture, appliances, and windows. Pay extra attention to the areas that are visible to guests, such as the living room, dining room, kitchen, and bathroom. Adding some natural or festive scents can also make your home smell fresh and cozy.

In addition to cleaning and using festive scents, ventilating your home is the best way to get rid of bad smells. Opening your windows and doors for a few minutes every day to circulate the air and remove any stale or stuffy smells can improve the smell of your home. Fans or air purifiers can also improve the air quality in your home.

Bring Plants or Flowers Indoors

Plants are not only beautiful but also beneficial for your home. They can help filter the air, reduce stress, and boost your mood. In addition, some plants have natural fragrances that can enhance the smell of your home. If you want to know which plants are best for air quality, you should look for plants that can remove harmful chemicals from the air, such as formaldehyde, benzene, and trichloroethylene. According to NASA’s study, some of the most effective plants for air purification are:

• Spider Plant: This easy-to-grow plant can tolerate low-light conditions. It can also remove dangerous chemicals such as formaldehyde and xylene from the air.
• Pothos: The fast-growing vine can thrive in minimal light and humid environments. It can remove formaldehyde, benzene, xylene, and toluene from the air.
• Chinese Evergreen: With its glossy green leaves with silver or red markings, this plant is attractive. It can adapt to dim light and dry conditions. It can remove formaldehyde and benzene from the air.
• Snake Plant: This plant has stiff, upright leaves that can grow up to four feet tall. It can survive in very little light and dry conditions. The plant can remove formaldehyde, benzene, trichloroethylene, xylene, and toluene from the air.
• Peace Lily: This is a plant with dark green leaves and white flowers that bloom in the summer. Peace Lily thrives in bright, indirect light and moist soil. It can remove formaldehyde, benzene, trichloroethylene, ammonia, xylene, and toluene from the air.
• Bamboo Palm: It has long, graceful fronds that can grow up to six feet tall. It likes bright, indirect light and moist soil. Bamboo palms can remove formaldehyde, benzene, trichloroethylene, xylene, and toluene from the air

More Flowers to Keep Your Home Smelling Great

• Dracaena: With its long, slender leaves that come in various colors and patterns, Dracaena is a beauty. It can grow up to eight feet tall indoors. It likes bright, indirect light and moderate watering. It can remove formaldehyde, benzene, trichloroethylene, xylene, and toluene from the air.
• Barberton Daisy: This plant has bright red, orange, yellow, or pink flowers that bloom year-round. It likes bright, direct light and moist soil. It can remove formaldehyde, benzene, and trichloroethylene from the air.
• Weeping Fig: It is a type of ficus tree that has glossy green leaves and a braided trunk. The plant can grow up to 10 feet tall indoors. It likes bright, indirect light and regular watering. It can remove formaldehyde, benzene, and trichloroethylene from the air.

Spritz Perfumes or Essential Oils.

Using spritz perfumes or essential oils is the easiest way to create a festive atmosphere in your home because they evoke the holiday spirit. Spritzing perfume or essential oils around your rooms can make your home smell wonderful and inviting.

One of the important tips for spritzing your home is to choose scents that match your mood and the occasion. For example, you can use citrus or floral scents for a fresh and cheerful vibe, or spicy or woody scents for a cozy and warm feeling.

Use a spray bottle or a diffuser to disperse the scent evenly and lightly. It is important to avoid spraying too much or too close to fabrics or furniture, as this can cause stains or damage. If you are the experimental type, you can use different combinations of scents to create a signature blend. Be mindful of people and pets because scents may cause allergic reactions or irritation for those with asthma or sensitive skin. Some essential oils may also be toxic for pets, so check the labels before using them.

Utilize Air Fresheners or Deodorizers

Utilizing air fresheners or deodorizers is an important way to keep your home smelling great, cozy, and maintaining a festive atmosphere. These products can help eliminate unpleasant odors and fill rooms with pleasant scents that match moods and preferences.

There are many types of air fresheners and deodorizers available on the market, such as candles, sprays, diffusers, plug-ins, and more. Each of them has its advantages and disadvantages, so it is pertinent to choose the one that suits your needs and budget.

The first step is to choose scents that complement the holiday theme, such as cinnamon, pine, vanilla, or gingerbread. It is pertinent to avoid scents that are too strong or overpowering, as they may cause headaches or irritations for some people.

To achieve the best effect, place the air fresheners or deodorizers in strategic locations, such as near the entrance, in the living room, in the bathroom, or the kitchen. Make sure they are out of reach of children and pets and away from any sources of heat or flame.

It is important to follow the instructions and warnings on the product labels carefully. Do not use more than the recommended amount, and do not mix different products. Dispose of the used or expired products properly. If you have any allergies or sensitivities to certain scents or ingredients, consult your doctor before using any air fresheners or deodorizers.

Employ Coffee Grounds or Citrus Peels

If you want to keep your home smelling great, you can use some natural ingredients that you may already have in your kitchen. Coffee grounds and citrus peels are two examples of items that can create a pleasant aroma when heated or simmered. Here are some ways to use them:

• Coffee grounds: You can either place some coffee grounds in a small bowl and microwave them for a few minutes, or put them in a pot of water and bring it to a boil. The coffee scent will fill your home and mask any unpleasant odors. You can also add some spices, like cinnamon or nutmeg, to the coffee grounds for a more festive smell.
• Citrus peels: You can use any citrus fruit peels, such as orange, lemon, lime, or grapefruit. You can either dry them in the oven or microwave and then place them in a decorative bowl or jar, or you can simmer them in a pot of water with some spices like cloves or star anise. The citrus scent will create a fresh and uplifting atmosphere in your home.

Incorporate Pine Cones or Cinnamon Sticks.

One of the easiest ways to make your home smell festive during the holiday season is to use natural ingredients like pine cones or cinnamon sticks. Pine cones have a fresh and woody aroma that can create a cozy atmosphere, while cinnamon sticks have a warm and spicy scent that can evoke a sense of nostalgia.

To make a simple pine cone wreath, attach pine cones to a wire frame with hot glue. You can also spray-paint them with gold or silver for a more glamorous look. After that, hang the wreath on a door or wall to welcome guests.

Creating a cinnamon stick candle holder is easy. It begins with wrapping a bunch of cinnamon sticks around a glass jar with twine. Then place a tealight candle inside the jar and light it up to enjoy the sweet and soothing fragrance.

It is possible to create a blend of aromas. To make that, fill a glass bowl or vase with pine cones and cinnamon sticks, and add some dried orange slices, star anise, cloves, or nutmeg for extra color and aroma. Place the bowl or vase on your coffee table, mantel, or shelf to add some natural charm to your living room.

These are just some of the ways you can keep your home smelling great for the holidays. You can mix and match different methods and scents to create a unique combination that suits your style and personality. Remember that the smell of your home is not only important for creating a good impression on others but also for making yourself feel comfortable and happy in your own space.

Featured Image: This is the beautiful living room interior design work by the professional interior designer. Via Wikimedia

Are there other ways to keep your home smelling great? Share your secret with us. Leave a comment.