How to Make an All Natural Air Freshener
Commercial air fresheners just make your home smell like a public restroom, but there is a simple—and natural—way to keep your house smelling sweet for weeks.
Instructions
- Step 1: Make bundle Tie the cinnamon sticks and cloves together in the cheesecloth to create a spice bundle.
- TIP: If you like, add whole spices like cardamom or star anise to your bundle.
- Step 2: Put bundle in pot Drop the bundle into a saucepan containing four cups of water.
- Step 3: Simmer Bring the water to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer gently for an hour and a half. Your home will fill with fragrance as the steam dissipates.
- TIP: Be sure to check the water level periodically. Add more water if it threatens to dry up--you don't want a scorched smell.
- Step 4: Remove bundle Carefully remove the hot spice bundle from the saucepan, and allow it to cool.
- Step 5: Put spices in bowl Turn the spices out of the cheesecloth into a decorative bowl.
- Step 6: Add peels and petals Add dried fruit peels and flower petals to the bowl and mix them in with the spices.
- TIP: Dry your own peels and petals by leaving a thin layer of them in a sunny spot for several weeks.
- Step 7: Enjoy fragrance Place the bowl in your bedroom, bath, or living room--and enjoy the natural fragrance for weeks!
- FACT: Commercial air fresheners can be made with any of more than 3,000 manufactured chemicals, some off which have been shown to be endocrine disruptors and possible carcinogens.
You Will Need
- 2 cinnamon sticks
- 2 tbsp. ground cloves
- Piece of cheesecloth at least 6" square
- Some string
- A small saucepan
- 4 c. water
- A decorative bowl
- And dried fruit peels and flower petals such as rose or lavender
- Whole spices like cardamom and star anise