by Kate Johns

Created on: February 24, 2008   Last Updated: December 30, 2008

Something smells fishy in your home, or is it moldy, gross, disgusting, or just plain awful? You've done everything but stick the diaper pail in the backyard. You clean the house but you can't do a thorough cleaning every week. Household odors just happen and sometimes with the best of intentions there is nothing you can do to stem the flow of unwanted, unpleasant smells.

What can you do to overcome strong odors in your home? Try these home scenting methods:

NATURAL METHODS

Attach decorative sachets to lighting fixtures, such as in the dining room, or in hallways. When people enter the hallway or a room, it will smell very pretty, instead of like old shoes. Boil a pot of water in the kitchen with a few drops of lavender oil in the water. Boil for as long as you like to envelope your kitchen as well as your home with the soothing scent of lavender.

Mix essential oils in with your cleaning solution to create a wonderful soothing aroma throughout the entire home. Oils such as tea tree, lavender, or vanilla will create a soothing pleasant aroma that will make everyone feel good about being in your home. When unexpected guests drop by or you don't have enough time to do a major cleaning, just put a pot of water on to boil with a few drops of vanilla, or lavender.

BRING OUTDOORS INSIDE

Another home scenting method is to bring the great outdoors into the house. In the springtime, let as much air in as possible and let in the glorious smells of the outdoors such as tulips growing, leaves sprouting, and that new scent springtime offers. In the springtime, cut some of the lilacs off a nearby lilac bush and display them prominently in your home. Consider planting a lilac bush near one of the windows, so that in the spring when it blossoms, just open a window and let that pretty spring scent inside. A wreath with a sachet hideen behind it, will give your home a lovely scent that will last for weeks.

SCENTING ENHANCEMENTS

Reed diffusers are sold in major department stores and offer wonderful scenting enhancements throughout the home for months to come. Pretty smelling perfume sprayed through the home can also liven up the inside air from time to time. Spritzing a very small amount of perfume on a light bulb will cause the scent to be naturally aerated through a room. Try spraying pillows on couches and chairs with pretty cologne, so that when people sit down they will get a pleasant scent, instead of scent o' dog.

Potpourri placed in potpourri warmers in several rooms of the house will diffuse a pleasant aroma that will welcome everyone in and make them feel comfortable. Scented candles, plug ins, air freshening sprays, oil lamps, aroma warmers, and candles that are run by batteries, are all wonderful ways to spread beautiful aromas throughout the home. Candles that have certain smells to entice your guests to stay for long periods of time such as, vanilla, cookie, Christmas tree, cranberries, apple pie, pumpkin pie, even the smell of strawberries will create a warm atmosphere.

Overcoming strong odors in your home is as easy as spraying, spritzing, lighting a candle or placing some essential oils into a pot of water. You can overcome those nasty smells and create a warm, soothing home for guests to relax at. You can make your home smell so wonderful, you will never want to leave!

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