Over the last few years, people have really been getting into essential oils, and there are several benefits (we’ll get to those in a second), of using essential oils, but even if you don’t necessarily care about the benefits, essential oils are a great way to smell up your home (in a good way) without using a lot of chemicals. If you aren’t really sure how to use them, we’ve got you covered! We’ve come up with a list of ways you can make your home smell like your favorite essential oils, subtly of course. Let’s get started!
First things first, here are some benefits of using essential oils:
- Essential oils have been known to boost your mood. This is done simply by inhaling them, and from your nose, they go to your brain and enter your limbic system, which is the part of the brain that is responsible for emotions, behavior, memory, etc.
- When you use just the right essential oil, a certain component known as cedrol can help improve your quality of sleep.
- Certain oils, lavender specifically, are said to calm anxiety.
- Reduce inflammation.
- Reduce nausea.
- Reduce headaches.
(image via: very well health)
Okay, let’s take a look at the many ways essential oils can be used around the home.
Freshen the Air
Okay, duh, a no-brainer. But who wouldn’t love walking into a room that smelled subtly of cedarwood, clove, or geranium? All you have to do to make an essential oil air freshener is combine 10-20 drops of essential oils in a spray bottle with ½ tsp. of alcohol and purified water, and there you have it. Just a little tip: make sure to give your bottle a little shake before you use it.
Stain Remover of the Permanent Marker Type
(image via: glenn avenue soap company)
If you find permanent marker notes or illustrations on the surfaces of your home, don’t panic. Apply a few drops of lemon essential oil to a rag and wipe it down. You may have to use a little elbow grease, but then you have a stain-free surface that smells like lemon.
Say Goodbye to Bugs and Rodents
If you have some pesky visitors, peppermint oil is a natural way to get them out of there. There are a couple of ways you can do this; one way is to spray a peppermint air freshener mixture around windows, doors, spooky, dark corners, etc. The other option is to drop several drops of peppermint oil onto a cotton ball and set those cotton balls where you’ve seen pesky visitors.
To the Flo’
(image via: the spruce)
One of our most favorite ways to use essential oils in the home is to drop a few oils onto the filter of your vacuum cleaner, so this way every time you vacuum your floors, couch cushions, etc., you will smell whichever essential oil you chose. (We recommend clove!) Another great way to make your floors smell great with essential oils is to mix a few drops with baking soda, sprinkle the mixture onto your carpets, then vacuum it up. Quite the double whammy (of amazing aroma) if you use both of these hacks together.