Candles are great - they're very cozy. But scented candles often give me headaches. Instead, I like to make my home smell cozy and fresh by using alternative scenting methods. Here are a few natural ways you can fall-ify your home.
1. Make a simmer pot
To be honest, I thought this idea originated with my parents. I didn't know there was even a name for it! But I guess quite a lot of people do this? If you're not in the simmer pot club, now you can be!
Gather any spices, herbs, or fruit that remind you of fall. Some examples: cinnamon sticks, whole cloves, allspice, bay leaves, rosemary, orange slices, apple slices, vanilla, ginger. Stick them in a boiling pot of water, turn the heat down to a simmer and ta-da! You've got yourself a simmer pot. Keep an eye on it, but you can let it go until the water is almost gone.
2. DIY essential oil room spray
Get a glass spray bottle (find a wide variety to purchase here) and fill it with 2 or 3 of your most fall-like essential oils. For this 2 oz. bottle, I used ~12 drops of Wild Orange oil and ~12 drops Siberian Fir oil, then filled the rest with water. You can play around with the ratio based on your preferences.
Gather some pinecones from outside. Stick them in a sealable plastic bag, then spray a few spritzes of the above spray in the bag. I also added a few extra drops of oils into the bag to strengthen the scent. Leave the bag sitting overnight to soak up the scent, then lay them out in a pretty container for a nicely-scented centerpiece. This method produces a much lighter scent than options 1 and 2.
4. Buy fresh eucalyptus
This isn't a traditional fall scent, but Trader Joe's sells fresh eucalyptus for ~$4/bunch. It's so cheap! You don't even need to put it in water, just arrange it in your favorite vase and it will last usually for over a month (though the scent lessens with time).
