Simplicity is the New Black: cloves

Tuesday, 1 November 2011

A Fragrant Home

I live in a modern 1960's house, with no fire place and poor ventilation, so keeping the house fresh is pretty important to me. A few weeks ago Nina wrote a fascinating post about the scent she uses in her home, do follow the link to read her inspiring post. I found the post was full of great ideas, and of course, super photographs. At the end of the post she asked for ideas and I replied that I use sliced lemons with cloves and cinnamon.

Many years ago, I read about this simple idea in the Good Things column of Martha Stewart's Living Magazine, and I have found a link for you here. Of all the inspiration I have taken from magazines, I find that this is the one I use most often.

It's simple, it's inexpensive and it works!

Chop up a couple of lemons, they don't have to be the freshest, ones that have been at the bottom of the fruit bowl will do. Put them in a saucepan half filled with water and add a good handful of cloves. I sometimes add a cinnamon stick as well.

Pop the pan on the stove top, once boiling turn to a simmer and leave for about 20 minutes. You will find the scent permeates throughout the house, and it is delightful, clean and fresh.

It's especially good if you have been doing a lot of stove top cooking, and there are any lingering kitchen smells. I also find it perfect on those very wet and very cold winter days, when I can't face chilling the house by opening the windows to allow a through breeze!

Nina's suggestions inspired me to try the Yankee Candle range. I found them in my local department store in Kingston, and bought a few mini candles. I stuck the labels on the base of the candle holders, so I knew which candle I was burning. I have lit them several times and they certainly add a lovely mellow scent to the rooms. With the bonus, that there is still a faint pleasant smell in the morning. So Thank you Nina, for inspiring me, I will certainly be buying more.