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DIY Natural Scents for Your Home

DIY Natural Scents for Your Home
DIY Natural Scents for Your Home

From:


Body+Soul

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Reacquaint yourself with plant fragrances by incorporating these health-enhancing essential oils into your life. At natural-foods stores, look for personal-care products that contain them (not their artificial counterparts), or buy the oils themselves and try our do-it-yourself suggestions. When working directly with essential oils, remember that a little goes a long way, and don’t apply them directly to the skin.


Lavender(Lavandula angustifolia)


calms, relaxes, and balances emotions


DIY


In a mister, add 5 to 10 drops of essential oil to 1 ounce of water and spray pillows and sheets for a good night’s sleep.



Neroli (Citrus aurantium)


the sweet scent of the orange blossom; helps mitigate stress, anxiety, and insomnia


DIY


Add 5 to 10 drops of essential oil to 1 ounce of unscented body lotion.



Palmarosa (Cymbopogon martini)


a warm floral scent that acts to gently strengthen the nervous system.


DIY


For a soothing soak, add 5 to 10 drops essential oil to 1 ounce of almond oil and add to a warm bath.



Geranium (Pelargonium graveolens)


an earthy scent that’s said to soothe the emotions and focus the mind


DIY


Make an uplifting massage oil by adding 5 to 10 drops essential oil to 1 ounce of grape seed oil.



Bergamot (Citrus bergamia)


most famous for flavoring Earl Grey tea; balances and gently uplifts the mind and emotions


DIY


In your morning shower, add 1 or 2 drops of essential oil to a hot, wet washcloth. Inhale the aroma for an energy boost.



Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis)


an invigorating, woodsy scent.


DIY


Mix a few drops of this energizing scent with grapefruit essential oils for a fresh-smelling room mister.


Read how to get smart about the scents in your life in

Making Sense of Scents

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Sniffing for alternatives to health-hazardous artificial fragrances? Read

Overhaul Your Scents

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First Published: March 2008