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Your home is your sanctuary, a place where you can unwind after a long day, entertain friends and more. However, unpleasant smells and odours can quickly turn a cosy living space into an uncomfortable environment. While commercial air fresheners can offer a temporary fix, they often contain harsh chemicals that can be harmful to our health.

Luckily, there are several natural and eco-friendly alternatives. In this blog, we’ll list six natural ways to eliminate odours in your home, from essential oils to reed diffusers, scented soy wax candles and more.

• Essential oils

Essential oils have been used for centuries for their aromatic properties. These concentrated oils are derived from various plants and offer many delightful scents, from citrus to lavender, lemongrass and eucalyptus. Aside from providing a pleasant environment through scent, essential oils also provide therapeutic benefits. For instance, lavender has been known as a natural sleep remedy. Meanwhile, eucalyptus oil can assist with a cold by clearing mucus from the chest.

To use your essential oils, add a few drops to a diffuser or humidifier. The device then disperses the essential oil into the air, creating a lovely fragrance. You can also create a natural air freshener by adding a few drops of essential oil to a spray bottle filled with water. Give it a solid shake before each use, and spray it around your living spaces.

One important thing to remember is that some essential oils are poisonous to pets. Certain oils can cause serious liver damage or failure, respiratory issues, seizures and death if consistently inhaled.

• Reed diffusers

Reed diffusers are a simple and elegant way to disperse natural fragrances throughout your home. They consist of a glass container filled with a blend of essential oils and carrier liquids such as almond or safflower oil. Thin reeds are placed in the mixture, and through their pours, oil travels up and evaporates into the air.

Similar to essential oils, there are a variety of scents to choose from, some of which go outside traditional, natural smells. Scents such as blood orange, vanilla bean, honeysuckle, jasmine and more can create an inviting and enchanting environment.

Setting up your reed diffuser is simple, particularly if you’re using a reed diffuser from Le Desiré! Remove the plug, insert the reed sticks into the jar and let them absorb the oil. The reeds will then shortly emit their scent. Don’t forget to flip them over once a week to keep the scent refreshed!

• Soy wax candles

Candles do more for a home than just emitting a pleasant scent. They make for an excellent decorative piece and enhance the aesthetics of any living space. However, standard candles may not be the best for our respiratory health.

Unlike traditional paraffin candles, soy wax candles are made from natural soybeans, making them a sustainable and eco-friendly choice. They also burn cleaner and produce less soot, ensuring better air quality in your home. Soy wax candles are often infused with essential oils, offering a natural way to distribute delightful scents.

• Baking soda

Baking soda is an excellent and versatile odour repellent that can be used in various ways to neutralise and eliminate unpleasant smells. For instance, combining baking soda and essential oils makes for an excellent carpet or rug deodoriser — just don’t forget to vacuum to remove the baking soda remnants! It can also eliminate smells in your gym bag, rubbish bin, shoes and more. 

• Citrus peels 

Citrus peels are not only delicious and refreshing but, like baking soda, also serve as natural deodorisers that can effectively eliminate unpleasant odours in your home. One easy way to maximise their scent potential is through a simmer pot. Simply fill a saucepan with water and add citrus peels and other aromatic ingredients like cinnamon sticks, cloves or rosemary. Bring the mixture to a simmer on the stovetop, and the heat will release the pleasant citrus aroma.

You can also create a natural air freshener spray by infusing citrus peels in a water-filled spray bottle. Just let the peels steep in the water for a day or two, strain the liquid and transfer it back to the spray bottle.  

• Vodka 

Stay with us for this one! Combining vodka and essential oils can create an excellent, effective, eco-friendly linen spray. Add one tablespoon of vodka and around 30 drops of essential oils — feel free to mix and match to find your perfect scent — into a reusable spray bottle. Shake well to mix the concoction, start spraying and enjoy the smell of fresh linens. 

Discover eco-friendly and natural fragrances with Le Desiré

It’s never been easier to go natural with your home fragrances than with Le Desiré. We are a leading and family-owned business, adored for our extensive range of all-natural and toxin-free home fragrances. Our products are crafted using sustainable materials and ingredients, ensuring you enjoy a fragrant home without chemicals.

Imagine stepping into a serene, beautifully scented space where your senses are immediately delighted and your mood effortlessly shifts towards relaxation. This isn't a luxury spa or an exotic retreat; it's the transformative experience that the ancient practice of aromatherapy, through the use of essential oils, can bring right into your home.

In this blog, we'll explore the art of aromatherapy, introducing essential oils that are perfect for any user and delving into the multitude of their benefits. We'll discuss scents that evoke feelings of calm, help you drift into a peaceful slumber, uplift your mood, resonate with seasons and bring the refreshing vibe of fruits to your surroundings. Moreover, we'll lay out some vital dos and don'ts for using essential oils and show you different ways to indulge in these fragrant wonders.

Choosing the right essential oils for you 

When choosing essential oils, think about what you want to bring to your day. Are you looking for a scent to lift your spirits, something to soothe a tired mind or perhaps a fragrance to keep you sharp during your workday? Each oil has a unique character and unique benefits to offer.

Let's say you want to unwind after a long day — oils like ylang-ylang and patchouli can help encourage peace and relaxation. After a robust workout, eucalyptus might be your go-to remedy, as its soothing properties can gently ease muscle tension. When winter comes, warm notes like cinnamon or clove can create a snug and comforting atmosphere. And when summer comes around, refreshing citrus oils, like lemon or grapefruit, can make your home feel just as bright as a sunny day.

When it's time to call it a day, serene companions like lavender and jasmine can transform your bedroom into a tranquil sanctuary, welcoming restful sleep. However, when you need to stay on point, rosemary or peppermint can keep you alert and focused.

Remember, the world of essential oils is diverse and beautifully complex. The journey to discover what works best for you is personal and based on your unique needs, preferences and experiences. As you delve deeper into aromatherapy, you might even start creating your own blends, adding a personal touch to your aromatic repertoire.

Navigating the do’s and don’t of aromatherapy

Using essential oils is an art of balance. Due to their high concentration, a drop or two goes a long way. Storing them in a cool, dark place preserves their therapeutic qualities and extends their longevity.

Avoid applying them directly onto the skin. Instead, mix them with a carrier oil first to create a safe and skin-friendly blend. While their aroma is inviting, avoid inhaling directly from the bottle to prevent discomfort. Instead, allow their scent to permeate gently into your surroundings for a more balanced sensory experience.

Treating essential oils with mindfulness enhances their benefits for your well-being.

Ways to unlock the benefits of aromatherapy 

Immerse yourself in the aromatic world of essential oils through a variety of delightful experiences. High-quality diffusers such as reed diffusers disperse your chosen fragrance into your space, offering a flame-free and long-lasting aromatic experience. The scents rise naturally via capillary action, gradually filling the room with a subtle yet persistent fragrance.

For a more tangible experience, turn to soy candles. Infused with essential oils, they offer a cleaner and more enduring burn compared to traditional paraffin wax candles. As they burn, they gently heat the essential oils, releasing their full aromatic potential, setting the stage for a comforting and immersive encounter.

The versatility of essential oils also extends to personal use products. When safely diluted with carrier oils, they can be used in roll-ons, providing a personal aromatherapy experience you can carry wherever you go. Alternatively, essential oils can enhance your massage experience when mixed with suitable carrier oils, adding fragrance and potential wellness benefits.

Embark on an aromatic journey with Le Desiré

If you’re curious about aromatherapy and what natural essential oils work best for you and your lifestyle, we have collections that could make the choice easier. 

A garden of enchanting florals and stimulating fruit scents could start your aromatic trip. The Aromathérapie Florale Collection's five vivid smells capture nature's refreshing scent in beautiful glass jars. With a delightful blend of Camilla honeysuckle, black orchid, purple lotus, rosewater lychee and lavender lemon, aromatherapy comes alive.

The Aromathérapie Maison Collection brings us home. Six luxurious scents calm any area, with natural fruit and plant ingredients effortlessly transporting you to sensory delight.

The Aromatherapy Collection is ideal for essential oil therapy. This series includes seven natural smells to help with stress, sleep and energy. Each scent, from calming bergamot lime to wellness-promoting lemongrass mint, invites total sensorial delight.

Transform your space into a dreamy haven with our exclusive Dream Fragrance Collection. Choose from the warm tropical essence of papaya mango, the sweet, fruity notes of apricot peach or the romantic floral symphony of rose lychee, jasmine magnolia and sea salt freesia.

Discover the Le Desiré difference

Whether you're just starting your aromatic journey or you're a seasoned explorer of fragrances, finding the right essential oils can add moments of sensory delight and wellness to your day-to-day life. 

And remember, the perfect place to start your journey or expand your collection is with Le Desiré in Australia. With our carefully curated selection, choosing essential oils becomes more than a decision — it's an adventure of discovery.