A Mother’s Journal

Ever go into a nice antique store or bath and body store or candle store and think it smells SO good in here! 

 The way I achieve that effect in my own home is by layering scents, and I do not like artificial chemical scents.  They give me a headache.  I like using natural products to make my home smell wonderful!

Natural Cleaning Products…

The first thing I do in my effort to make my home smell great is clean with natural-based cleaners that use essential oils.  The line I use is called Mrs. Meyer’s and you will fall in love with Mrs. Meyer’s products if you begin to use them! 

For the holiday season, I bought a gift pack of her gingerbread-scented home cleaners.

This 4-pack of cleaners (in the gingerbread-colored box) cost me about 15 dollars.  I also took the opportunity to get my surface scrub and my dryer sheets, both in a lavender scent. 

Now, if 15 dollars seems like a lot, it’s not.  Each product is made with essential oils and they smell so good, they are absolutely worth it to me.  When the countertop spray is empty, I simply add — according to Mrs. Meyer’s own instructions — one tablespoon of her All-Purpose Cleaner and water and then my bottle is full again!  It is very thrifty.

Amazon sells Mrs. Meyer’s products at a good price if you are not near a store that carries them.

Mrs. Meyer’s Countertop Spray in Geranium

Homemade Potpourri…

Another thing I do is make my own potpourri from herbs in the garden.   This morning I went out and gathered a fresh batch of rosemary, lavendar, gardenia petals, rose petals and hips, and just a bit of sage and mint.  It is spread out to dry on a tray on our heating stove even now.

I will add to it some lavender blooms I have had drying in my home.  Once dried and mixed up, I will place scoops of the potpourri in little baskets throughout the house.  I will also place some potpourri in pretty pouches to hang from door handles or hooks throughout my home.  When I walk by, I just give the bag a squeeze, and I have instant air freshener!

Scented Candles…

Scented candles also go a long way in making a home smell good, whether you burn them or not.  I am always on the lookout for candles on sale, especially expensive soy candles that I can get at a deep discount.  I keep a drawer full of them so that I always have candles ready to burn and place throughout my home for holiday displays, etc. 

If you have small children or if you are simply not good at keeping track of burning candles, you can sit candles around your home just as a source of home scent.  You don’t have to burn them!

Essential oils…

Last of all, I keep a supply of essential oils in my herbal medicine cabinet. 

Essential oils are good for many things.  Aside from their uses in herbal medicine, they make great natural cleaners and disinfectants.  I often make mop water with just hot water and a few drops each of rosemary, anise, and lavender.  I keep spray bottles — one in each bathroom and one in the kitchen – filled with water and a few drops essential oils for cleaning counter tops and spills. 

I also add a few drops to the water we keep on our heating stoves to moisturize the air.  This water might as well serve more than one purpose and add to my mission to keep my home smelling great!

I wish there were some way to let you smell all of these wonderful things over the internet.  You’ll just have to take my word for it!!

Lynn