Having a sweet smelling home is a goal of mine and one that’s a constant challenge, due to living in a place that was poorly built and is not very well ventilated. Neither of the bathrooms have windows and there seems to be a bad air flow throughout the entire floor plan.

The best thing, obviously, is to have fresh air coming in. When the weather is nice, I try to keep the windows open for at least a few hours a day. That helps some, but since the weather here in New England can be so unpredictable, I can’t count on it. I also suffer from allergies and humidity/pollen/heat can be a problem for me.

One thing I’ve been doing this past week is putting a few drops of essential oils on dryer balls and throwing it in with each load of laundry. It has really made our laundry area smell wonderful and the clothes/towels that come out of the dryer smell much fresher, too.

Another option is to use candles. Since I got so many Glade candles for free last winter with coupons, I’ve been slowly using them up.  They just add such a warm, homey feeling and also aid in relaxation. 

My third strategy has been to simmer a pot filled with water, lemon slices, and cinnamon on the stove. This works best when I’m in the kitchen for an extended period of time, like a bulk cooking day, because it’s not safe to leave the stove unattended.

And, my most favorite idea of all is to incorporate fresh flowers. I don’t regularly buy them, but when roses go on sale for less than $10/dozen, it’s a splurge that’s worth every penny to me. I’m also a huge fan of tulip bouquets in the springtime. Look for deals at the grocery store and avoid florists to cut down on cost.

How do you keep your home smelling fresh?