De-Stinking: Homemade Natural Fragrance Spray

'Tis the season for lots of company to visit.  At my house, the main housekeeping priority when company comes (aside from cleaning the guest/kids' bathroom where a sweet 4-year-old boy wreaks havoc) is our living room rug.  Our whole home has hard floors, but we have a huge rug in the living room where the kids can wrestle with dad, roll around, snuggle with their teddy bears, etc.

It is also, unfortunately, the dog's favorite hang-out.  And he is huge and stinky, especially this time of year, when it's always wet out.  We vacuum the rug several times a week, which helps a lot, and we sometimes leave a sprinkle of baking soda on it overnight, which helps even more.  But it still tends to have a little lingering "eau de dog" aroma.  Not exactly what I want my guests to notice when they walk through our front door!

Stinky.  But cute.

But commercial fragrance sprays are not the way to go.  Not only do they cost an arm and a leg, they are also usually full of synthetic ingredients and fragrances.  In fact, fragrance sprays and candles have been implicated as contributors of "indoor air pollution," which can cause nasty symptoms like asthma irritation, headaches, even hyperactivity disorders.

Also stinky.  And possibly toxic.

I've recently been making a great alternative fragrance spray that is natural (and cheaper, too, if you make it several times!).  I save money, our indoor air quality, and possibly our health as well.  The best part is, you can customize it so it has exactly the fragrance you want, instead of being stuck with "Tahiti Dream" or whatever nasty scents you have to choose from in the "air care aisle" at the store.

Try this easy substitute the next time you want to give your home a nice, natural fragrance!

All-Natural Homemade Fragrance Spray

Materials:
Vodka (cheap is fine...you won't be drinking it)
Essential Fragrance Oil (like lavender, peppermint, bergamot, eucalyptus, etc., or a combination of several types)
Water
A spray bottle

Instructions:
Mix 1 part vodka with 2 parts water in spray bottle.  Add 15 drops of essential oil.  Secure lid on spray bottle and shake to combine.  Use as a bathroom spray, linen spray, or general household fragrance spray.  If you desire a more intense scent, add a few more drops of essential oil.

If you're interested in further freshening your home, make sure you check out De-Stinking (Part 2)!

How do you keep your home smelling good?  I'd love to hear your strategies - leave a comment and let me know what works for you!

Posted at Frugal Days, Sustainable Ways, WFMW, Waste Not, Want Not Wednesday, and Heart and Home