How to Add a Summer Scent to Your Home
Fall and winter have their own unique scents – think cinnamon, pine, nutmeg, and other rich fragrances – but you don’t have to give up the bright, crisp smells of summer just because the weather is getting cooler. Instead, recall long, sunny days, fresh fruit and vegetables from the garden, and the relaxed vibe of summertime by recreating its scents at home with these easy recipes and ideas.
Scents on the Stove
This DIY trick will keep your home summer-fresh with items you likely already have in your pantry. Fill a small pot about 2/3 of the way with water, then add one sliced lemon and a sprig of fresh rosemary. Bring to a simmer, and add 1 to 2 tablespoons of vanilla. You can reuse this mix for about two days by bringing it back to a simmer whenever you want your home to smell crisp and sunny.
Fresh Flowers
During the summer months, bring the outdoors in and cut some fresh flowers from your garden (or ask your neighbor with the green thumb to clip a few) to display throughout your home. Put a low arrangement in the center of the kitchen or dining room table, or pack blooms tightly in vases for bedrooms. If you're looking for summer scents in other seasons, try your local greenhouses -- but be prepared to spend a little extra for imported flowers.
Oven Scented
This tip is unbelievably simple, but your guests will never guess how you got your whole home smelling so fresh: Just add a few drops of a citrus essential oil to water in an oven-safe mug and put it in the oven at 300 degrees for up to an hour. Your house will smell fantastic all day.
Slow Cooker Scents
Too hot for the oven? Put your slow cooker on simmer, fill it halfway with water and toss in a mix of sliced oranges and lemons with a single sliced apple and some fresh mint. The bright, crisp scent will drift throughout your home as the water simmers (just keep an eye on this to make sure the mix doesn't cook down and burn).
Scented Rice
This DIY project will leave you with brightly colored and scented rice you can use in a candle dish, pour into a potpourri dish, or display in a decorative bag. You’ll need plain bulk white rice, food coloring and powdered drink mix in the flavor of your choice. Place about a pound of rice into a zip-seal bag with a packet of powdered drink mix and just enough water to make the rice moist. Add food coloring – red for watermelon, blue for blueberry, etc. - and shake the bag until all the rice is coated. Lay out in a baking pan in a thin layer to dry, and then fill jars around your home to let the sweet, fruity scents brighten every room.