It’s Day 4 of the “Welcome to Fall” challenge and this may very well be my favorite part of the challenge. Today we are going to make our homes smell like fall!
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WELCOME TO FALL: DAY 4
TODAY’S SENSE: SMELL
David and I have a favorite hotel we love to visit in Oklahoma City. The Skirvin is an elegant, historic hotel with beautifully appointed rooms, exceptional service, a very nice restaurant and a piano bar we greatly enjoy. But you know what else makes it a favorite of mine? The way it smells. I’ve been on the hunt to discover what the scent is that permeates the lobby and you can be sure that if I find out what it is, my house is going to smell like The Skirvin.
But in the meantime I have a variety of ways to make my home smell great. Let’s look at a few ways we can give our homes a special fragrance for fall.
TODAY’S CHALLENGE
1. Let’s start with candles. As the days grow shorter I love to light candles during my morning routine and in the evenings. There are lots of scented candles available and you can find a whole range of scents reminiscent of fall. It’s good to keep in mind that many of these can have an adverse effect on the air quality in your home so use them sparingly with good ventilation or avoid them altogether if anyone in your home has allergies, asthma or other lung conditions. And if you are having guests and aren’t absolutely certain they won’t be bothered by scented candles, avoid burning them during their visit. Fortunately there are safer options such as soy candles scented with essential oils.
2. Another way to scent your home with essential oils is with a diffuser. I have had one in my kitchen for over a year and I love it. I like to turn it on each evening after dinner to dissipate cooking smells. But it’s also great anytime I want a light fragrance in my home. You can select a single oil such as cinnamon or cloves or combine two or more to create your own blend.
3. Long before essential oil diffusers became popular, I would simmer spices and sometimes fruits on the stove. Slice a couple of those wrinkly apples in the back of the produce drawer of the fridge and place in a saucepan of water along with cinnamon sticks, a sprinkle of ground cloves and a dash of vanilla. Simmer gently. I recommend setting a timer to remind you to check the pot. Don’t even ask how many times I’ve let it burn dry.
4. Consider changing out your dish soap and kitchen cleaners for some with a delicious seasonal scent. Mrs. Meyer’s products are absolutely delightful for this purpose. In the springtime I bring out the lilac scented set. But now that it’s fall, you can choose scents such as mum, apple cider, or pumpkin (in addition to other year-round fragrances).
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5. Perhaps best of all, to make your house smell delicious, bake something! I’ll be sharing more about this tomorrow when we cover the sense of taste so be sure to check back.
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IF YOU ARE JUST NOW SEEING THIS CHALLENGE, CHECK OUT THE PREVIOUS DAYS HERE:
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