These DIY Room Scents Make Your Home Smell Amazing

Walking into a room that smells incredible can instantly lift your spirits—depending on the scent, it can make you feel energized, relaxed, cozy or refreshed. But instead of spending loads of money on pricey candles or chemical-laden sprays, it’s so easy to make your own intoxicating room scents using ingredients you may already have in your kitchen.

Here are three different room scent recipes you can whip up on your stovetop in just minutes:

Spring Lemon

What you’ll need:

• 1 lemon, sliced and seeded
• 2 to 3 stems of dried lavender
• 2 to 3 sprigs of fresh rosemary

Directions:

Place lemon slices in a small saucepan. Add lavender and rosemary to pan and pour in enough water to cover the contents by 1 inch. Heat to boiling; reduce heat to low and simmer, adding more water as needed, for 1-2 hours.

Dreamsicle

What you’ll need:

• 1 blood orange, halved, seeded and sliced
• 1 vanilla bean, split, or 1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
• 5 to 6 leaves of fresh mint

Directions:

Place orange slices in a small saucepan. Add vanilla and mint to pan and pour in enough water to cover the contents by 1 inch. Heat to boiling; reduce heat to low and simmer, adding more water as needed, for 1-2 hours.

Fresh Cucumber

What you’ll need:

• 1/2 medium cucumber, sliced
• 1 1/2 inch piece of fresh ginger, peeled and thinly sliced
• 5 leaves of fresh basil

Directions

Place cucumber slices in a small saucepan. Add ginger and basil to pan and pour in enough water to cover the contents by 1 inch. Heat to boiling; reduce heat to low and simmer, adding more water as needed, for 1-2 hours.

Turn them into a homemade gift

The scents make great gifts, too. Just add your ingredients to a mason jar, fill with water, screw on the lid tightly, and gift wrap for a friend. Include a tag with written or printed instructions for how to simmer on the stovetop to make your pal’s home smell instantly invigorating.