Thursday, June 21, 2012

A Clean Fresh Fragrance for Your Home

To boost my mood while cleaning,  I have a simple ritual that I follow.  I open the windows to let some fresh air in, I play happy music to sing along to and I simmer a pot of potpourri.

Homemade potpourri will freshen your house!

It makes my house smell so clean.

A handful of dried lavender buds
A few sprigs of fresh rosemary
A few star anise pods
Two teaspoons of lemon extract
and Two cups of water

Toss it all in a saucepan and let it simmer on the stove.  Be sure to add more water as the water boils down.  Once I'm through cleaning, I refrigerate the leftovers and reuse it the next day.

How do you happily clean your house?  It's best to try and enjoy it since it's something that we have to do!




I am linking this post to: Kelly's Korner

37 comments:

  1. Love this idea! I have always done cinnamon sticks and cloves in the fall/winter but never thought to do a
    spring /summer combo!

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  2. Brandi,

    It must smell amazing in your home.

    I like to play music while I clean.
    I pretend to dance with the vacuum :)

    Dee

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  3. This sounds like fun!!! Perfect after heavy cooking in the kitchen! :)

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  4. I'll bet that smells wonderful, I'll have to try it. When I clean I mostly scowl and mumble bad words under my breath LOL. Your way sounds a lot happier.

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  5. These are great tips Brandi! I usually light scented candles when I'm cleaning or just want the house to smell fresh but this is a more natural way to do it! plus what smells better than lavender:)

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  6. Love this idea! So stealing it. I bet your house smells amazing.

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  7. Brandi, I will have to try your 'recipe'! I like all of the 'ingredients' you used. I just tried the one all over Pinterest for the Williams-Sonoma fragrance. I love using natural elements!

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  8. whoa, that sounds amazing! I will have to give this a try. I'm not a fan of the chemical laced room deodorizers, nor scented candles. this will be perfect.

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  9. When I clean, I too like "happy" music! Lately I have
    been playing "The Essential Dean Martin" and I put some Aromatique's Cinnamon Cider oil on a cotton ball and vacuum it up. It makes vacuuming smell wonderful!!

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  10. That is so cool! I have to admit that my house is always more enjoyable when something smells good from the kitchen that is baking or simmering on the stove. I'm going to start doing your homemade good-smell potion when I clean, I think it would make it more fun for sure. :), Miriam@Meatless Meals For Meat Eaters

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  11. I play music. There is a station that plays some older songs (80-90's sometimes) and it makes time go by fast because I am usually thinking back to some good times.

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  12. Love this! I want to do this soon! Thanks for sharing!

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  13. I can't wait to try this! I've been wasting money on glade plugins! :)

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  14. I need to do this!!I guess it will help me get get in the cleaning mood faster!;)

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  15. I bet it smells great! I can't wait to try it.

    Thanks for the recipe and inspiration!

    Pam

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  16. I planted 16 lavender plants this summer and having been looking for different ways to use it. I am excited to try this. Thanks for sharing!

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  17. i can smell the goodness all ready -- i don't know though -- with the rosemary in there i will probably be wanting focaccia bread all day : ) LOL!!!! all kidding aside -- i am trying it tomorrow -- fresh rosemary right on the deck...yeah!!! : ) hugs!

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  18. Wow! It just looks like it would smell amazing. Almost like I can already smell it.

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  19. Blessings
    Better late than never. I trust you are well. The cashew fruit is wonderful, its a family to the pair though the taste is very different. It there is a china town or South Asian stores were you are then you should be able to get it from there.

    I don't happily clean. I clean because i hate the alternative. If i could afford to pay someone to come and do it . I would.

    Have a blessed and fun filled week.
    stay blessed.
    Rhapsody

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  20. Pinned it and love it!! Will be making it very soon - all my favorite scents in one pot ;)

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  21. What a great idea! I'll have to see if my lavender is still alive, but I have all the rest of the ingredients~

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  22. Just the ticket. I loved these scents and can't wait to use your method to infuse the house. Jo @ Let's Face the Music

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  23. What a wonderful idea! Can not wait to try....thank you!

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  24. Hi Brandi,
    Thanks for a great tip to use my lavender. I've always loved it and was so happy when I was able to rescue a bush of it under some overgrown bushes, when I moved here at my rental. It is doing really well with many blooms and smells lovely but couldn't think of what to do with it. lol Thanks for sharing; will definitely be drying up bundles now.

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  25. great recipe - I'll definitely have to try this!

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  26. I play music while i clean as well. Where can I get the lavender from?

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  27. What a lovely idea!

    And speaking of potpourri, I'm back from a long blog break and hope you will join us for Potpourri Friday this week!

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  28. Great idea Brandi! I love the smell of star anise.

    I love it that you play music while you do your jobs too. You have some great songs on your pin board!

    Best wishes and happy cleaning!
    Natasha in Oz

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  29. This is a great idea! I like the items that you chose to create your scent. I LOVE lavendar. I will have to try this sometime.

    Thanks for stopping by my blog recently. I am your newest follower!

    Julie
    www.jamscorner.com

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  30. This sounds like a wonderful combination with the rosemary and lavendar. I am going to try it :)

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  31. Where do you get these herbs from or are you growing them in your garden? Believe it or not a friend taught me a trick of putting a few drops of fabric softener in a pot & boiling on stove. Makes house smell very clean. I'd really like to try this though.

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  32. Hi Brandi--So happy to have found your blog! This post is such a great idea and I am going to try it next time I clean--anything to make it less tedious. Can't wait to read through more of your posts...

    -Lane
    www.urbanorchardinteriors.com

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  33. Oh I have to try this! WE are selling our home and making it smell WONDERFUL just might help!!! Thanks for the "recipe"!!! XO, Pinky Where can I buy lavender?

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  34. Oh I have to try this! WE are selling our home and making it smell WONDERFUL just might help!!! Thanks for the "recipe"!!! XO, Pinky Where can I buy lavender?

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  35. I always turn on happy music and usually light candles; but, I like the idea of simmering potpourri even better.

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  36. I've never done a simmering potpourri for spring time, but this one sounds really nice. I'm pinning it so I'll remember it later!
    Debbie

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