How To Make Your House Smell Like Fall Without Toxic Chemicals

From cinnamon sticks and gingerbread to vanilla and pumpkin pie the smells of fall are perfect to make your home feel cozy and warm. The only problem is that synthetic fragrances are toxic – not something you want to fill your home with. Instead, you will want to try these natural ways to make your house smell like fall.

Fall Home Scents Are Filled with Toxic Chemicals

One feel of the crisp autumn air in the morning and I am ready for all things fall; pumpkin spice lattes, wrap sweaters and all of the yummy scents of the season.

But before you go rushing out to stock up on fall-scented candles there is something that you need to know:

Those popular products you use to make your house smell good are actually toxic chemicals.

source: NRDC.org

It’s true, and here are the most common culprits:

• candles
• room sprays
• plug-in style air fresheners
• potpourri

Bummer right? These are all the things we use to make our homes smell yummy and fresh in the fall.

Unfortunately almost any product that includes “fragrance” is probably not good for you.

In fact, most ingredients listed as “fragrance” are actually endocrine disruptors that have been linked to everything from asthma and diabetes to Parkinson’s.

You definitely don’t want to be filling your home with chemicals, especially if you have young children.

The good news is that once you know better you can do better.

Ready to fill your home with the aromas of pumpkin spice, chai, cinnamon and apples?

Below you’ll find five different ways to make your house smell delicious. You’ll get all of the fall cozy vibes without the nasty chemicals.

5 Favorite All-Natural Ways to Make Your Home Smell Like Fall

The simple household swap you need to make is natural fragrance in place of synthetic fragrance.

All those yummy aromas of autumn can easily be recreated with simple ingredients that you can find in your grocery store.

Here are a few of my favorites:

1. All-Natural Simmer Pot Recipes for Fall

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Simmer pots are a natural way to add delicious smells and humidify dry air at the same time.

Just like it sounds, it’s a small pot of heated (simmering) water to which you add fragrant ingredients like extracts, oils, herbs and peels.

Growing up, our home did not have central heat and our only warmth in the winter came from our wood-burning stove.

My mom always kept a cast iron pot on the stove filled with water to which she would add kitchen scraps and spices to make the house smell delicious.

I’m carrying on the tradition in our home so my kids will have the same cozy fall memories whenever they smell a cinnamon based simmer pot.

My Favorite Fall Simmer Pot Recipes:

(add ingredients to 4 cups of water)

• 1 lemon peel, 1 orange peel, 3 cinnamon sticks, 2 tablespoons cloves
• 3 apple slices, 3 orange slices, 3 cinnamon sticks
• 1 sliced apple, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, 2 cinnamon sticks

You can also double the amount of each recipe and place the ingredients in your crockpot on low.

2. Non-Toxic Fall Scented Candles

It was shocking to me when I learned that candles can make the air in our homes toxic.

When choosing candles you have to be careful about everything including lead in the wick, petroleum-based paraffin and chemically created fragrances.

After quite a bit of searching, I was able to find two brands of candles that are phthalate-free and soy based.

Natural Soy Wax Candles for Fall

• Non-Toxic Pumpkin Spice Candle
• Non-Toxic Fall Leaves Candle – scented with apples, orange, cinnamon, cloves and white musk nectar 
• Cinnamon Roll – Naturally Scented Soy Candle

Related Post: How to Make Your Laundry Smell Really Good, Naturally

3. Cinnamon Scented Pinecones

These scented pine cones are perfect for fall decor and are made with my favorite brand of essential oils.

This is a quick and easy Fall DIY that anyone can do.

All you need are:

• Pinecones (If you live near pine trees, then get them for free outside!)
• Cinnamon Essential Oil
• A large ziplock bag

Place a few pine cones in a large ziplock bag with a few drops of the oil.

Let them sit overnight to allow the oil to soak in, then place them in a bowl and enjoy the yummy fragrance of fall.

4. Fall Essential Oil Blends for your Diffuser

Because essential oils obtain their pleasant aroma directly from plants and herbs, they do not contain synthetic fragrance. This means they are safe to use to make your home smell delicious.

Here are a few blends for you to try in your home:

Pumpkin Pie

• 5 drops cinnamon, 1 drop clove, 1 drop nutmeg

Spiced Chai

• 3 drops cassia, 3 drops clove, 3 drops ginger

Fresh Fall Home

• 2 drops lemon, 4 drops wild orange, 3 drops cinnamon, 3 drops clove

5. Fall Scented Carpet Refresher

This makes for a great Thanksgiving hostess gift as well.

Simply combine

• 1/2 cup Borax
• 1/2 cup Baking Soda
• 1 teaspoon ground cloves and cinnamon (or 30 drops of essential oils)

Related Post: How To Clean Berber Carpet: Tips and Tricks That Work

There you have it mama! Non-toxic fall fragrance ideas that are safe for your home and family.