7 different versions of air fresheners you can make on your stove

Have you ever walked into your house and thought, “What in the world is that smell?” And even after you take out the trash and scrub every surface, there’s still a lingering odor. You can always spray a store-bought air freshener around the house, but that only lasts for so long. Instead, try making your own air freshener.

Stovetop air fresheners are not only easy to make, but they don’t require much afterthought. Once everything is in the pot, you just leave it to simmer on the stove while you go on about whatever else you need to do around the house. The only extra work required is to add a bit more water every now and then.

1. Lemon parsley air freshener (h/t One Crazy House)
Cut a lemon into large slices, put them in a pot, sprinkle in some parsley leaves and add tap water. Simmer this on the stove for 45 minutes and the gross smells in your kitchen will be replaced by a fresh citrus scent.

2. Tropical air freshener (h/t The Poor Sophisticate)
Cut a lemon, a lime and an orange into large slices and put them into a saucepan. Add 1 can of pineapple juice and 1 ounce of coconut extract. Pour a few cups of water into the pan and let everything simmer on the stove as long as necessary to make your kitchen smell fruity and tropical.

3. Christmas air freshener (h/t North Carolina Charm)
This is perfect for getting your family and friends into the Christmas spirit when the holidays roll around. Cut an orange into large slices and put those slices and 1/2 a cup of cranberries into a pot of simmering water. Add 1 tablespoon of whole cloves, 3 sticks of cinnamon, a few clippings from an evergreen tree, a few drops of vanilla extract and a sprinkle of grated nutmeg. Reduce the heat to the lowest setting and add more water whenever it starts to get low. This mixture will keep its Christmas-inspired smell for more than a week if you don’t let the water evaporate completely!

4. Apple cinnamon air freshener (h/t How Sweet Eats)
Start by simmering 5 cups of water in a pot on the stove. Throw in the slices and peels from 2 oranges and an apple that’s sliced in half. Add 3 cinnamon sticks, 3 star anise, 1 knob fresh ginger, 1 teaspoon cardamom pods, 1 teaspoon whole cloves and 1/4 teaspoon dried orange peel. Let this simmer on the stove for several hours to let the scent work its way through your house.

5. Citrus mint air freshener (h/t Hip2Save)
Cut 4 limes into thin slices and add them to a pot of water. Add in 1 teaspoon of vanilla, a few sprigs of thyme and a few sprigs of mint. Let this simmer on the stove to give your house a clean and fresh smell.

6. Eucalyptus air freshener (h/t Fireflies and Mud Pies)
If you’re trying to avoid cold and flu season, this stovetop air freshener is definitely for you. Combine 1 liter of water, 5 orange slices, 1 tablespoon whole cloves, 1 teaspoon dried rosemary, 2 cinnamon sticks and 3 drops of eucalyptus essential oil. Let this simmer on your stove and breathe in deeply over the pot to help boost your immune system. If you already have a cold, this will help clear out your sinuses and will purify the air in your house.

7. Pine cone air freshener (h/t Oh So Delicioso)
Another great holiday-related item is a pine cone. But how do you incorporate that into your air freshener? Start with 2 diced apples, 3 cinnamon sticks, 1 sliced orange, 1 sprig minced rosemary and 4 cups water. Start this simmering on your stove and add in 3 pine cones. Let this continue to simmer during your holiday party, adding more water as needed.