I love candles. They make a home smell great and feel inviting which are two things high on my check list whether I’m entertaining or simply having a nice evening to myself. As my process of attempting to eliminate harmful chemicals from the household evolves, I realize that my love affair with these potent pretties is coming to an end….or at least becoming more complicated.
In my college days, you could definitely find a slew of cheap highly fragrant candles adorning basically every room. Nowadays, I tend to be much more picky with my brand, but I still can’t say with confidence what it is that makes that flaming wax so fragrant. Also, as my use of doTERRA essential oils is increasing, I find myself not enjoying the more synthetic smell that’s put out by most air fresheners and candles. A trip into Bath and Body Works used to be heavenly, now I often leave fairly quickly with a headache brought on by the potent melting pot of scent.
The problem is, I still crave the ambiance that a nice candle brings into a room. I can’t say that I will give up my habit completely, but I am definitely using them less and less. Luckily, I have some alternatives that are healthier and offer an assortment of scents. Here are a few ideas of chemical free ways to get your home to smell lovely and more spa-like than synthetic.
Simmering Potpourri. I daresay that 99% of your store-bought potpourri packs are chemical laden with some nasty ingredients. Fortunately, bowls full of this stuff isn’t terribly trendy in home decor right now, so this probably isn’t on your regular shopping list. As an alternative, I love having simmering stove-top versions that are completely natural. There are a million recipes out there, but my favorite is this one. It’s supposedly the scent used at Williams Sonoma stores. True or not, the smell is wonderful.
Essential Oil Diffuser. I talk about my diffuser in probably every other post which is fitting because I literally use it every single day. You can find them online and I have bought several inexpensive ones before investing in my doTERRA one. There are several other options depending on how big of a space you’re wanting to cover. I change my “recipe” of oils depending on my mood. I love OnGuard this time of year for its spicy scent and seasonal support (try saying that five times fast). Blends of citrus oils (Grapefruit, Lemon, or Wild Orange) with Peppermint are a go-to for an afternoon pick me up. Bedtime is a blend of Lavender, Balance, and Serenity.
Cook a Crock-Pot Dinner. I love my slow cooker. It was great when I worked out of the home, but even now being home-bound most days, I still use mine at least once a week. The convenience is unmatched and there is really nothing that makes a home feel cozier than a great smelling meal. This whole chicken is a regular as it makes at least two meals and I use the bones to make my chicken broth. View more of my favorite crock pot staples here.
Use Bars of Soap. After years of buying seasonal scented pump soaps, I now use what was good enough for all households for many many decades….bars of soap. Not only do they last longer and (usually) contain fewer ingredients, they can make your smaller bathrooms smell great just by sitting there! I am an avid Indigo Wild fan and their Zum Frankincense and Myrhh is my favorite scent. Yes, they are “scented”, but they score well with EWG so they are presumably less toxic than many other scented options. **Update: I’m maker greater strides to eliminate synthetic fragrances from my home, so I’ve transitioned to the On Guard Foaming Hand Soap and doTERRA’s bars of soap.
Create a DIY Linen Spray. In 1998, there was no better way to quickly make a room smell nice than a good dousing of Febreze. Nowadays, I’d sooner spray my couch with the water hose than that “fresh air” in a can. Still, there are moments when a quick spritz comes in handy. I’ve bookmarked this doTERRA blog post and fully intend to try the recipe out. I’d love to have one for the bedroom with Lavender and one for the living room with Lemon and Balance. Make sure you use glass bottles for these and not plastic.
Reed Diffuser. Have you ever walked into a home where the well intended owner has plugged in one too many of those outlet oil situations?? The scent is potent and (for me) headache inducing. My natural solution for this is to use essential oils yet again, but in a different form. This recipe for reed diffusers is super simple and would also make a great housewarming gift!
Make Homemade Candles. Alas, if all other scented options just can’t take the place of a flickering glow, you can make your own. It’s like with food, the only way to truly know what’s in it, is to prepare it yourself. I have not tackled this project, but plan to make a day out of it sometime soon and will let you know how it goes.
Change your idea of what clean smells like. I feel like we’re brought up to recognize the smell of Lysol and bleach as being “clean”. While I appreciate these hard hitters when I’m staying at a hotel or in a public restroom of any kind, you won’t find my house smelling like this ever. See my go-tos for natural cleaners (store bought and homemade) here and here. When all else fails, baking soda and vinegar can do wonders.
There you have it, my natural smelling home ala oils and food. When it comes to the ambiance factor, I’m investing in the high end flameless candles. They’re pricey, but they last much longer than their waxy counterpart. The nice ones actually have a “flame” that flickers and provides a realistic glow.
What are your ways to have a nice smelling home without the synthetics??
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