When most people think of fall scents, they envision earthy autumn leaves, spiced cinnamon, smoky bonfires, and baked apples. It’s easy to replicate these scents with a fall-scented candle, but creating these aromas directly from the source is much more enjoyable. There are plenty of ways to produce the natural fragrances of fall using ingredients from around your home and garden.
Start a Simmer Pot
Skip scented candles in favor of a simmering pot of spices and herbs. Try combining oranges, apples, cloves, cinnamon sticks, and vanilla extract in a pot with just enough water to cover the ingredients. Allow the pot to simmer, not boil, and add water as needed as the ingredients start to cook down. This autumn simmer pot will quickly fill your home with pleasant fall aromas.
Make Autumn Potpourri
Potpourri is an easy way to make your home smell like fall. There’s no real wrong way to create an autumn potpourri: Simply add in dried ingredients that you enjoy. Some great options include dried apple, cinnamon sticks, whole cloves, whole nutmeg, orange peel, and dried sweet woodruff leaves. You can also choose to add drops of scented oils, such as vanilla or cinnamon. Put your potpourri ingredients in a decorative dish and set it out on a table or counter. If you’re not ready to use it yet, you can also store it in a sealed jar.
Bake an Apple or Pumpkin Pie
There’s nothing quite like the scent of a fresh-baked pie. Apple and pumpkin pies are fall staples and release an intoxicating aroma that will quickly fill your home. You can choose to make your pie homemade or simply buy a frozen one and bake it at home. There are also many other apple- and pumpkin-based desserts that will create a similar effect, such as pie bars, scones, fritters, breads, and strudels that can be made with fresh apples or pumpkin. And when you scent the house this way, you get to eat the results, too!
Create a DIY Autumn Spray
A few spritzes of a homemade autumn air spray is all it will take to get you in the mood for apple-picking, hayrides, corn mazes, and other fall activities. Creating a room spray is easy and requires just a small amount of distilled water, the same amount of witch hazel, and the essential oils of your choice. Choose your favorite fall scents to add to your room spray, such as cinnamon, orange, clove, ginger, and cardamom. Shake the oils with the water and witch hazel in a spray bottle and your spray will be ready for use.
Add Scented Fall Decor
Decorate your home for fall while also making it smell amazing using simple scented fall décor. Pine cones hold onto scents well and can be used as décor in a decorative bowl or vase. Start by baking the pine cones in an oven on low heat to dry them out, and then spritz them with a mixture of water and essential oils. Scented pine cones make a great centerpiece for your patio table, and the warmth from your patio heater will help to bring out the aroma for a cozy ambiance.