Home fragrances

by Crystal Paine

I was very inspired by this post on Homeliving Helper on home scents. I've been working on this area recently. Our current home is not very well ventilated and it has been a challenge for me to keep it smelling clean and fresh.

One thing I've been doing this past week is putting a few drops of lavender essential oil on a small towel or washcloth and throwing it in with each load of clothes in the dryer. It has really made our laundry room smell wonderfully and the clothes that come out of the dryer smell much fresher.

I also like to use candles - especially soy candles like the ones from CaptivateU.com or Mia Bella. They just add such a warm, homey feeling to your abode, plus they smell delicious.

What other smell can beat the fragrance of freshly baked bread? With bread machines, you don't even have to spend half an hour to produce it, either (though I do hope you learn how to make bread from scratch and do it at least a few times per year! It's a dying art!).

Here's a very quick, simple, and delicious bread machine recipe that's one of our favorites:

7-Grain Bread

3/4 cup and 2 T. water
2 T. butter
2 1/3 cups flour (whole-wheat and/or white)
1/4 cup 7-grain cereal
1 1/2 t. salt
2 1/2 t. yeast

Bake on whole wheat setting. If you don't like whole wheat flour, you can just use white flour. Or half and half. I also sometimes substitute cracked wheat cereal for the 7-grain cereal.

How do you keep your home smelling clean and fresh? I'd love to hear any suggestions or ideas.

In the mean time, I think I'll go light some candles and bake some bread and maybe I will even go and scrub down all my trash cans! Want to join me? :)

Crystal Paine is a 24-year-old homeschool graduate from Topeka, Kansas. She is the blessed wife of Jesse and joyful mother of Kathrynne. Visit her site, Biblical Womanhood, for books, articles, encouragement, and inspiration!

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