Essential oils are one of the most versatile home products one can buy. They can be used for cleaning, crafting, personal care products, and in many other ways. One of the easiest ways to use them is aromatically. You can inhale directly from the jar, apply a few drops to hands and inhale, or wear as a perfume. To allow the whole family to enjoy the benefits, you will want to get the scent into the air.
1. Diffuse – This is the most beneficial way to use essential oils to scent your home. This allows particles of the oils to get into the air and spread. Also, depending on the diffuser, you can cover a wide area of your home. The most cost effective diffusers tend to be the ultrasonic diffusers which mix essential oils with water. I use my diffuser almost everyday. Lavender for sleep, a grounding blend when I get ready to start my day, and On Guard during cold and flu season. I use a doTerra diffuser, which you can get at my shop, but there are also many great options on amazon.
2. Air Spray – Another great options is making an air spray. EWG’s Cleaning Guide rates most Febreze products as a D or F. Not something we want in our home. Luckily, room sprays are super easy to make. Simply add witch hazel or vodka, and essential oils to a spray bottle, and fill to top with water (see full recipe here!). Some great deodorizing oils to use are lemon, lavender, melaleuca, peppermint and clove. Sometimes I’ll also add some Himalayan pink salt as well to boost the deodorizing power (more about Himalayan pink salt here).
3. Reed Diffusers – These are perfect for providing a light continuous scent in an area you don’t want a cord, such as a bathroom. You’ll need a glass jar, vodka, essential oils and reed sticks. See full recipe here. Make sure to turn over the reeds daily to refresh your scent.
4. Wax Melts – Making your own wax melts with essential oils is a great way to get rid of the nasty toxins lurking in those. Candles and Wax Melts contain things such as paraffin wax (a byproduct of the oil industry) which can release chemicals like acetaldehyde, formaldehyde, toluene, benzene and acrolein and artificial fragrances which can contain asamines, ethers, ketones, lactones, terpenes. All of these have been linked to things like birth defects, allergies and cancer. Luckily, they are super easy to make your own. The Hippy Homemaker has a great tutorial on making wax melts.
5. Sponges – Probably the lease effective on the list, but still worth mentioning since this method doesn’t require purchasing any extra items. Simply cut up an extra sponge, drop a few drops of essential oil onto it, and place strategically in your house. I like this method for adding a ‘tree’ scent to our house when our fake Christmas tree goes up, and for placing peppermint oil around the kitchen to prevent ants. Remember to keep these out of reach of pets and children.
How do you use essential oils to scent your home?
I’d like to get a diffuser to scent my home.
Great. This article reveals the best ways to make home smell beautiful with the scent of essential oils. Thanks for sharing this Stephanie. I think diffusing essential oils around home is the best way to take advantage of their incredible properties while also making home smell heavenly.