By J. Black

Add 6-8 drops of your favourite scent to water in a diffuser or place the drops directly into a bowl of boiling water.

Sweet orange, lemon and your favourite spice oil are especially good when diffused during the winter months for a refreshing, warming aroma and atmosphere.

Candles fragranced with essential oil can also be used to give the home a pleasant ambience and aroma.

Other ways essential oils can be used around the home include...

1. Add a few drops of essential oil to water in a spray bottle to freshen linen or spray on garments before ironing.

2. As an air-freshener put 6-8 drops in 600 ml of water in a fine spray bottle and spray into the air and towards carpets and curtains. Do not spray onto velvet or silk and avoid spraying directly onto wood.

3. Place cotton wool balls fragranced with lavender in drawers and linen closet to deter moths.

4. Put 4 drops of oil onto a cotton wool ball and place behind the heater or radiator in winter. Drops can also be used with the humidifier.

5. Clean your fridge with a one drop of orange, mandarin, mint, lavender or lemon oil added to the final rinse water.

6. When washing down surfaces in the kitchen 1 drop of lemon, thyme, cypress, lavender or palma rosa placed directly on a cloth or alternatively 7 drops in water.

7. Put a drop or two of oil onto a cold light bulb in a lamp so the fragrance fills the room as it heats up.

8. Essential oils are used to clean the air rather than mask smells in the home. To rid a room of stale tobacco or cooking smells use cinnamon, eucalyptus, lavender, lemon, orange, tea tree, rosemary or lime for their ability to freshen and cleanse the air of stagnant smells throughout the house.

Saturate cotton wool balls and place in the corners of a room, in cupboards or out-of-the-way places to fragrance kitchens and living areas throughout the house.

9. Hallways are the place where we greet our guests. Use lemon, lime, bergamont or grapefruit. Lavender or geranium can be mixed with any of these. Lavender is uplifting in the morning and geranium has a calming effect and good for afternoons when you may need to wind down at the end of the day

10. Keep tea tree oil in your first aid kit for cuts, burns and head lice.

Copyright © J Black