Spring has finally arrived with its sweet fragrance. It's that lovely time of the year when trees blossom, flowers begin to bloom, their aromas wafting through the air, and everything changes colour in addition to the warm weather brightening up the days. Instead of the harsh artificial scents provided by chemical air fresheners, try customising your home this spring with your preferred natural scent and make it smell as wonderful as if you were walking through a garden. Here are some ways to bring a natural spring breeze to your home: Floral and herbal room spray: Fill a spray bottle with distilled water and pop in some rosemary, lemon balm, and lavender. You can also use other citrus fruit or scented plants according to your choice. Let sit for a few hours, and then mist into the air to create a beautiful, fresh aroma in your home. This spray should stay fresh for at least a few days. For maximum freshness, store in the refrigerator. Rosemary and lavender carpet powder: To freshen up the carpet in a small to medium-sized room, mix half a cup of baking soda, one teaspoon of rosemary and a teaspoon of lavender oil. You can use any dried herbs or flowers of your choice. Sprinkle the mixture on the carpet and then let it sit for 15 to 20 minutes before vacuuming it up for a fresh-smelling room. Lemon air spray: Dissolve an eighth of a cup of baking soda into two cups of hot water. Add half a cup of lemon juice. Pour into a spray bottle, shake it well, and spray the freshness into the air. Other scented sprays: To make any of the following scents you'll need a two-cup jar to keep the scented mixture in and a container to combine the scented water. Combine the fragrant ingredients in a pot on the stove, cover with hot water, bring to a boil, and then lower the heat to a simmer. You can then use a fondue pot, an electric mug warmer, or something similar to keep the mixture warm. As the water evaporates, top it up with hot water to keep the temperature as high as possible. For a stronger scent, simply double or triple the recipe in a large pot on the stove. Then pour the scented water into the jar. Oranges, cinnamon and cloves (allspice and anise are optional): This scent has a wonderful staying power. It carries into multiple rooms better, and it can be reheated to scent rooms for several days. All you need is one orange (sliced), two cinnamon sticks or two teaspoons of ground cinnamon, half a tablespoon of whole cloves or an eighth of a teaspoon ground cloves, half a tablespoon of whole allspice or a quarter of a teaspoon of ground allspice and one anise star (optional). Lemon, rosemary and vanilla: To get this lovely fresh scent, mix together three sprigs of fresh rosemary, two lemons (sliced), and one teaspoon of vanilla extract. Orange, ginger (fresh or powdered) and almond extract: This combination gives a sweet, delicious aroma. Mix one orange (sliced) or the peel from two oranges, one teaspoon of ground ginger or one quarter of a finger of ginger (sliced) and half a teaspoon of almond extract. Scented water may be refrigerated between uses. Reuse for two to three days or as long as the water still has a pleasant fragrance.
