As often happens this time of year, things can start smelling a bit funky in the house (and in the car if you want to know the truth). The windows have been closed for well over a month, the dry furnace air has been working its magic, cooking smells are clinging to the appliances, pets haven't spent much time outside in awhile, and how long has it actually been since the cat litter boxes or the trash receptacles have actually been washed out? Yeah, that smell.
It's going to be awhile until its warm enough to do all this washing and cleaning, so what can we do in the meantime to refresh the air in the house and car? After all, smell is the first thing we notice when we enter a space so it is definitely impacting our chi every time we come through the front door or hop in the car.
The answer: aromatherapy. With the purchase of three or four bottles of pure essential oil (available at health food stores and organic grocery stores), you can shift the energy in your home or vehicle so that you actually look forward to being in those spaces. Simply mix the essential oils together (see recipes below) and put a few drops in a tea-light ceramic diffuser, put a couple drops on a cold light bulb and then turn it on, or put several drops in a plant sprayer filled with water and spray away.
Here are a couple of essential oil recipes from Valerie Ann Worwood's excellent book "The Complete Book of Essential Oils and Aromatherapy" (highly recommended by me) to help you get through the rest of the winter without having to hold your nose:
For the house:
Orange 8 drops
Frankincense 3 drops
Benzoin 3 drops
Geranium 4 drops
Mix in these proportions, then put 6 drops in a diffuser or plant sprayer mixed with water.
For the car:
Grapefruit 8 drops
Lavender 4 drops
Lime 4 drops
Basil 2 drops
Mix together in these proportions, then put a few drops on cotton balls and tuck them in around your car (glove compartment, under the seats, etc.) Feel happy while you drive.
If you don't have all the oils available in your local shop, don't worry. Use what you have--there is no wrong way to create a recipe. You'll just like some better than others. So, even in mid-winter we can have an excellent olfactory experience without too much trouble.
Enjoy!
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