Here in the south we love for our homes to smell welcoming and inviting. Especially in the fall when the house can smell stale from being closed up all summer against the hot, moist southern air.
When we can we open the windows and let all of natures smells and feelings come in. Fall has its own set of aroma’s. The colored leaves, hay being cut, pumpkins ripe on the vine. All of these are the smells of fall.
I would like to share a couple of air freshening recipes that have been around for years, that are easy to do. They will leave your home smelling clean and wonderful.
The great thing about this is that there is no right or wrong way!
Whatever you like will work. This is just what I have always enjoyed personally.
Ingredients:
1. 6-8 cups water
2.chopped up peeling from 1 orange (you can use the entire fruit also, this is a great use for fruit that has gotten over ripened.)
3. chopped up peeling from 1 apple
4. either a chopped up cinnamon stick or a good bit of cinnamon flavoring either powder or liquid.
5. splash or 1 tsp. Vanilla flavoring
6. 2 tea bags or 1 spoon of loose tea (I love the way tea makes this smell richer). I have a friend who prefers 1 spoon of coffee (she puts her used grounds in hers)
Mix all ingredients in a boiler or skillet and bring to a heavy boil. Reduce heat and put on lowest heat setting, with it on the back eye of your stove. Let slowly simmer, releasing the wonderful aromas of fall into your home. When liquid is low add more water.
For variation:
Add:
chopped lemon peel from 1 lemon
Add 1/2 tsp of sage
Add 1 tbsp of pumpkin or all spice.
Add a sprinkle of brown sugar
Add a few pieces of rosemary
Add a few pieces of jasmine or lavender
While this may sound easy enough, you will find the results amazing!!
Experiment with your own combinations and let us know what they are.
