apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

Arugula diffuser from Archipelago. Pricey ($60?) but the scent is so pleasant without being overpowering. A nice green smell. I want my house to smell nice but I don't want that to be the first thing someone notices when they walk in. I've also used Bath & Body Works plug-in diffusers, but I don't really love any of the scents that much. I'm interested to try the Mrs. Meyers ones.

Used to do candles, but started to notice soot-like deposits on the walls and it freaked me out to think that we were breathing that stuff in!

Vases full of Eucalyptus

We keep a can of Method eucalyptus mint spray handy for when the boy provides a little room fragrance of his own, but don't have an always-on room fragrance. I'd love to find something subtle-but-effective, though.

I love candles. It's more in my head than anything. I imagine it "burning up" any unpleasant odors in the house. And the warm, flickering glow soothes and refreshes me.

Also, Trader Joe's "Trader Zen" natural air freshener gets the job done when the need arises.

Man, chemical or not, Glade's Hawaiian Breeze is so incredibley awesome. It smells like PIXIE STICKS!!!! Been using this since I discovered it in high school.

Soy candles after the kids are asleep.

I just got the Henri Bendel Scentport with the "Fresh Linen" fragrance. It smells so nice. I love it.

We use an Aura Cacia vaporizer and essential oils. The diffuser is pricey (around $60 I think) but will last a long time, as do the essential oils since you only need a few drops. Our favorite combo is lemongrass and lavender.

essential oil, distilled water, vodka and a water spritzer. I put it on my curtains and other spaces that don't get regular walking or sitting use.

Right now it's Lily scented essential oil. I also have a spritzer full of a citrus blend essential oil. They don't last FOREVER, but that's the sacrafice with something without chemical. And at least the mellow undertones of the home are fragrent. I can handle hitting the spritzer every other day.

That an OPEN WINDOWS!

I won a reed diffuser from a company called Stick Scents from Domino magazine. I wouldn't have bought it, but it does smell nice. It's the Orange Blossom scent.

Lampe Berger is the best kept secret for freshening air. It's French & looks like an oil lamp or perfume bottle, but it actually purifies the air and adds fragrance. They remove bacteria & mold from the air too, which is a big plus (the history is they were invented for French hospitals over 100yrs ago). Ideal after stinky diapers, burnt food, smelly pets or whatever else-we've tried it out on them all & it really does remove it smell not temporarily cover it like candles or fresheners. Just need to keep it out of reach of kids since they are ceramic or glass, but are cool because they are works of art too, so they look pretty and do the job.

Clean house, open windows and whatever's cooking... fresh bread, fresh coffee, sunday roast... our guests love it :)

My mom had a reed diffuser and it was accidentally knocked over. The scent that spilled RUINED a lacquered cabinet upon contact, and also did some damage to the hardwood floors. I wouldn't use one in a home with kids, pets, or near a fault line.

I put a little essential oil on my floor lamp light bulb. A cheap diffuser, though I would never leave the light on when I am not at home. That and I open the windows when ever I can. I love the fresh air in the winter. Oregon is not so cold that we freeze with a window open for a few hours once a week.