Wednesday, December 8, 2010

Your house smells like……..

Today we are going to discuss house perfume.

Most perfume gives me a headache.

I can’t even get within a mile of Bath & Body.

The store that is.

I promise I bathe my body on at least a semi-regular basis.

Candles aren’t much better. Their smell, that is. I don’t ever bathe my candles. Am I supposed to? No one ever tells me these things!!! I am filled with shame and deep confusion….okay..moving on…(Obviously we have been doing a little fine tuning of my medication lately)

There are a few candles I like and keep around the house to use for when I run out of ingredients for this favorite:

12 07 09_0382boutwell

It is so easy and so forgiving and so YUMMY smelling!

Ingredients:

Orange

Lemon

Cloves

Bay leaves

Cinnamon Sticks

*I have an old pot that I have used for years but because it is all edible, you can use any pot.

*I use:

2 oranges

2 lemons

6 cinnamon sticks

3 or 4 bay leaves

1/3 jar cloves

Because I like an intense smell that fills the house quickly—most people use less.

*I have even used dried oranges and lemons and bought my spices in bulk so I always have the stuff on hand. (Call me Suzy Woodland Homemaker and I’ll shoot you between the eyes—go on—I dare you)

Then you just simmer to your nose and hearts content.

And when someone comes to visit they don’t ever say, “My what a lovely candle smell”

They say, “Mmmm, your house smells just like Christmas”

Merry Christmas!

15 comments:

Susan Anderson said...

That concoction LOOKS beautiful, too.

I wish I could come and smell your house in person...

;)

The Three Stokers said...

Oh I so remember being at your house when you would make this. I love you with all my heart!!!!

LKP said...

lol, hey "Suzy Woodland Homemaker" you are phenomenal!!!! =) i LOVE this and have been searching for a really good Christmas simmer recipe. had a good one for fall, but there wasn't nearly enough holly OR jolly to it! so, thank you my friend. ::hugs::

LKP said...

lol, i'll duck and hope you're not an annie oakley of a shot! ;)

DesertHen said...

Gonna have to give this a try. The Scentsy stuff I have been using lately has been giving me headaches or maybe life is just giving me headaches, regardless, I'm going to simmer up a pot of this...soon!

tammy said...

Mmmm....that's one of my favorite scents. I am not a perfume lover either. I like it on others, but not myself. Kind of gives me that morning sickness feeling. I do burn candles, however. Pretty much all the time. And I do have my favorite scents for different times of the year, mulled cider being one of my favorites with a little evergreen wreath thrown in.

Jess said...

Your simmer is way better, and prettier, than mine- I just do orange peels, cinnamon and clove. and now I'll steal the recipe- and occasionally give you credit. thankyouverymuch

Welcome to the Garden of Egan said...

We must be twins, cuz I am the same with perfumes and candles. Puts me flat in bed with a migraine.

I do love your simmering Christmasy concoction. I can almost smell it from here.

Mikki said...

I'm fine with some perfumes, but if I smell most of them on an empty stomach, I feel like I need to puke. Or I'll get a headache.

I bet THAT concoction smells amazing. I'll have to give it a try. Usually I just open a bottle fo pinesol and inhale. Love me some pinesol.

annie said...

My sister introduced me to this a few years back and it is hands down the BEST smell!! It totally smells like Christmas.

On a side note, I had a dream that you were giving me a tour of your new house last night and you had like 3 pianos on the main floor- one in the kitchen even! :o) It was totally draped everywhere in rich, amazing colors and was so lush. It was fantabulous for sure! HAHA!! (I might be a little crazy... a little)

Merry SMELLY Christmas!

Cheeseboy said...

My house usually smells like cow urine mixed with shower mildew. Anything would help. I think I shall show my wife this recipe.

Karen Sue said...

Just needing some lemons...
ummm...can you cook it up, then put it in the frig and cook it again another day?? I know that might be a gross thing, but just wondering if it is a one=time use thing.

karen said...

Citrus and cinnamon - it doesn't get any better than that! I'm going to try this for sure. Thanks for the recipe!

Ari said...

It sounds so good! I need to try it.

Carla said...

Hey Suzy Woodland Homemaker, errr, I mean Lisa, how do you dry your oranges and lemons???? hmmmmmm...