Vanilla Room Spray

This is a wonderful method of creating an affordable, sensuous vanilla room spray. This recipe calls for making your own vanilla extract. You can use your homemade extract in food recipes as well!

Vanilla Extract

   * 8 oz. clean, dark glass bottle and cap
   * 7-8 ounces of vodka (inexpensive varieties do work well)
   * 2-3 fresh, high-quality 6" vanilla beans. They should be dark, and the bean should have consistent coloring on the entire bean.
   * Muslin (available at fabric stores) for straining

Vanilla Extract Directions: Carefully cut the vanilla beans lengthwise. Then, cut them into small pieces, about 1/4" - 1/2" in length (about 2 cm). Put all the vanilla pieces into the bottle. Then pour the vodka into the bottle leaving enough room to shake the bottle well. Cap well. Allow the extract to sit in a dark area for 30 days, shaking the mixture daily. After 30 days, carefully strain the extract through the muslin fabric to remove all vanilla bean pieces and particles. You may need to strain the extract several times. Rebottle into a clean bottle.

Vanilla Room Spray

   * 4 oz. clean spray bottle with a fine mist setting (do not use a bottle that previously contained cleaning products or hair products such as hair spray).
   * 1.5 ounces of distilled water
   * 1.5 ounces of vanilla extract
   * Up to 10 drops of your favorite essential oils if you would like to add to the vanilla aroma.

Be sure and take heed in the safety data for the oil(s) you choose to use since an air freshener, by its nature, will come in contact with all those in your household.

Directions: Fill the spray bottle with 1.5 ounces of vanilla extract and 1.5 ounces of distilled water. (Even though a 4 oz. bottle is suggested, leave about 1 oz. unfilled so you can shake the bottle well between uses.) Then, add up to 10 drops of your essential oils if desired. Shake the bottle prior to each use, and let it sit for about a day before making a conclusion that the aroma is too weak; the aroma can change after the air freshener has had time to sit. Mist lightly in the room. Be especially careful not to allow the air freshener mist fall onto furniture or into open beverages.

Christmas Tree Diffuser Blend

The smell of fresh cut Christmas trees is an aroma that brings happiness and fondness of Christmas to many. This blend is wonderful to enhance that aroma. Enjoy it in rooms that don't have a fresh tree.

The below directions are for creating a diffuser blend, but it can also be used to help revive the aroma of fresh trees, wreaths and garlands. Simply sprinkle on a few drops, paying attention not to let the blend come into contact with furniture, Christmas lights or electrical cords. It is lovely in potpourri. It is also a wonderful blend to use for the Scented Greeting Card & Tissue Paper recipe.

Ingredients:

       * 5 drops Fir Needle Oil
       * 5 drops Spruce Oil
       * 5 drops Cedarwood Oil (optional - to lighten the aroma a bit)
       * 5 drops Juniper Oil (optional)

Directions: Add your oils to a 2 ml dark colored glass bottle and mix well by rollling the bottle in between your hands. If you would like to make a larger quantity, multiply the recipe above and add to a larger bottle. Add the appropriate number of drops from your created blend to your diffuser by following the manufacturer’s instructions.

Sugar and Spice Blend

The aroma of cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger and orange blend to make a sweet, spicy aroma perfect for Thanksgiving and Christmas. The below directions are for creating a diffuser blend, but it is also lovely to use with potpourri. It is also a wonderful blend to use for the Scented Greeting Card & Tissue Paper recipe.

Ingredients:

       * 10 drops Orange
       * 5 drops Ginger
       * 8 drops Cinnamon
       * 1 drop Nutmeg

Directions: Add your oils to a 2 ml dark colored glass bottle and mix well by rollling the bottle in between your hands. If you would like to make a larger quantity, multiply the recipe above and add to a larger bottle. Add the appropriate number of drops from your created blend to your diffuser by following the manufacturer’s instructions.

Frankincense and Myrrh Holiday Blend

The blend of Frankincense and Myrrh have a warm, rich, spicey aroma. The below directions are for creating a diffuser blend, but it is also lovely to use with potpourri. It is also a wonderful blend to use for the Scented Greeting Card & Tissue Paper recipe.

Ingredients:

       * 5 drops Frankincense
       * 5 drops Myrrh
       * 5 drops Cedarwood Oil (optional - to lighten the aroma a bit)
       * 5-10 drops Orange (optional - to add a sweet, fruity aroma to the blend)

Directions: Add your oils to a 2 ml dark colored glass bottle and mix well by rollling the bottle in between your hands. If you would like to make a larger quantity, multiply the recipe above and add to a larger bottle. Add the appropriate number of drops from your created blend to your diffuser by following the manufacturer’s instructions.

Scented Greeting Cards & Tissue Paper

Scenting your wrapping paper and greeting cards adds a wonderful touch to the holidays or any gift-giving occassion.

Directions: Allow an extra day before writing out your greeting card(s) or wrapping presents. Choose a blend such as the Christmas Tree blend, Frankincense & Myrrh Blend, Sugar & Spice blend, your own creation, or a single essential oil. Put a few drops of the blend onto a cotton ball. Put up to 15 cards and the cotton ball in a large ziplock bag, close and let it sit for at least 24 hours. Take care not to let the oil come in direct contact with cards or envelopes as the fresh oil could stain them. For boxes of cards, you may also have enough room to just put the cotton ball right in with the box.

For tissue paper, follow the same procedure, but place the cotton ball into the plastic package of tissue paper. Be careful not to let the oil come into contact with the paper. Close the bag up so the aroma can properly scent the tissue.

Refrain from giving a scented card or scented tissue-wrapped gift to anyone who has allergies or sensitivities that may be affected by the oils.