copyright ©1999-2002
DigsMagazine.com.

delivering the scents
Oil burners, scented candles and incense are some of the easiest and most obvious ways to get a quick fix of scenty goodness.  I like to buy unscented candles, then carefully add a few drops of essential oil around the wick before lighting them. Pure essential oils smell better than the cheaper synthetic ones, and are stronger, which means you can use smaller amounts.  Whatever you end up using, make sure that you never leave anything burning unattended— unless the smell of singed furnishings appeals.

An alternative to the full on blast of oil burners and such is to use some old-fashioned tricks for leaving a subtle fragrance lingering in the air.

1 Try combining 3-5 drops of your favorite essential oils to a cup of baking soda. Mix the oil into the soda and place in a funky container with a wide, open top. This mixture will be good for up to three months – making it perfect for changing with the seasons. Try something light and floral for spring, musky for summer, woody for autumn and spicy for winter.

2 Create hidden wafts of lovely scent throughout your home by cutting some tightly-woven cotton fabric into squares and adding a few drops of essential oil to each.  Let the oils dry, then scatter the squares amongst your bed linens to scent your dreams most pleasantly.  You can also put them inside the lining of curtains, inside cushion covers and under mats. 

3 It’s easy to make your own air freshener sprays.  Mix about 2 teaspoons of essential oil with 1 cup of distilled water and 1/2 cup of pure alcohol. Let stand for 10 days and then decant into a spray bottle. You can also substitute scented waters, like rose water, for the distilled water.

4 Simmer pots are great for special occasions, and smell good enough to eat.  To make a simmer pot of yummy flavours, save up all the peels from your citrus fruits. Put the peels into a pot with enough water to cover. If you wish, add some cinnamon sticks, vanilla pods or lavender buds.  Lovely smells will drift through your home as it simmers.

5 Another way to get your kitchen smelling great is to use a spray made from a few drops of lime oil and lemon oil mixed with 4 cups of pure alcohol and 2 cups of distilled water. This spray will rid your kitchen of less-than-pleasant cooking smells, and will reduce the oil particles left in the air after frying food.

don't stop: there's more!

---------------------------> lounge . nourish . host . laze . home.