Inviting is the word we'd most like our guests to use about our house. One of our fail safe tricks to achieving this around the holidays is to fill the air with the smells of the season. No toxic plug-in for us, however, we go the old fashioned route and simmer a simple (and cheap) mix of spices on the stove.
The mix is an art, not a science, but we usually include a cinnamon stick, ground nutmeg, cloves, and cardamom. Sometimes we'll toss in some pieces of lemon peel to give the mix a slight citrusy zing. Throw all the spices into a small pot filled with water and leave to simmer on the stove until the house is filled with a wonderful and welcoming aroma.
Related Link:
• Fall Scents: DIY Air Fresheners
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YUM!
view venus_thames's profile
Add some apple cider or red wine then you get a great smelling home and a great hot drink.
view Sassy in SF's profile
Cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and some apple juice (or a cut up apple) in a teapot simmering on the stove. Bake some bread at the same time (hurrah for bread machines) and your house couldn't smell better!
view kuroneko's profile
Actually I use my fondue pot to do this. One small candle with the same ingredients listed above and in just a few minutes the whole house (all 400sqft) smells like something's really cooking.....that, and the fondue pot gets used much more frequently than normal.
view IslanDdan's profile
I usually toss in my orange peels too. I go through loads of lil cuties this time of year and they smell great tossed in the pot.
view mgn's profile
I keep crystallized ginger on hand for this, too. And throw it on in any season when you've got a sad (just got dumped, fired, grieving) friend coming over. Smells like these make people feel instantly more comfortable and taken care of.
view beckerjess's profile