By Swain Thorne
Most of us like to have a home that smells nice and fresh. We want the same from our bodies and especially our feet, which can become smelly from time to time. But while you could use a shoe deodorizer from a company like ShoeFresh to keep your shoes odor free, there are other things you can try too. Although they might not provide you with the same long-lasting odor fighting properties, there are natural products that can deodorize your shoes as well as your home and body. Here are a few examples:
Essential Oils
If you want to move away from commercial air fresheners for the home, you could try using a few drops of essential oil in a diffuser or oil burner. If using a diffuser, you should follow the manufacturer’s guidelines regarding the amount of water to use and then add a few drops of your favorite oil, depending on how strong you would like the smell to be. An oil burner works in much the same way but uses candles to heat the water and oil mix instead of electricity.
You can also use essential oils to make your shoes smell nicer. However, do not just try to mask nasty smells with nicer ones. If you want to use essential oils in your shoes, make sure you wash them first. You can then place cotton balls inside the shoes with a few drops of essential oils.
Fresh Flowers
If you want your home to smell nice, then placing some fresh flowers or herbs in various rooms can do the trick. Many plants give off a wonderful aroma and can fill your home with a lovely scent. Try scented geranium that can be bought in a variety of aromas such as lime, rose, lemon, and ginger. Arabian jasmine flowers all year round and gives off a soft yet pleasant aroma. Some indoor trees, such as bay or eucalyptus, can also emit a warm, inviting smell and will look great in the home, too.
Stovetop Simmers
Some people like to simmer fruits and other natural ingredients in a pot on top of their stove as it releases warm and inviting scents. You can have great fun mixing and matching different ingredients to create your favorite aroma. For example, a few slices of orange mixed with some fresh cloves and cinnamon sticks will give off a lovely fall-type smell. Place the ingredients in a pot of water and bring it to boiling point. Then reduce the heat down low and allow the contents of the pot to simmer, giving off that wonderful smell. The liquid can be placed in a mason jar at night and then reused the next day. You may need to add more water when you use it again. Other ingredients that can be simmered like this include lemon or lime slices, peppermint extract, vanilla extract, and sprigs of rosemary.
Make Your Own Deodorant
As well as using natural products to make your home smell nice and fresh, you can do the same for your body. Try mixing arrowroot and baking soda with coconut oil and some of your favorite essential oils. You can find the instructions on how to create this natural deodorant here. However, remember that before you use a natural deodorant, make sure to wash and dry your body, especially your armpits.
To conclude, there are many different products that you can use to make your home, shoes, and body smell nicer. However, if you would prefer to use natural products, you have plenty of choice too.
