I put basic air fresheners (which I personally don't care for) in the house a couple of months ago and they've obviously played out. At the time I was concerned about the smell that might come up in a vacant house and I had looked online to see possible solutions. Back in July I never found much of a solution.
This time I asked the realtor what she recommeded. She said she likes reed diffusers. She uses them in her house and gets compliments on them all the time. How have I missed these?
Apparently, a group of reeds are set down in a bottle that has an essential oil mixture. The fragrance soaks up through the hollow reed and wafts out into the room. No flames. No electricity. Perfect. While looking online I found a couple of sites with ideas of how to make your own for much less than they sell for.
Here's the recipe I plan to try :
You will need:
* Willow or rattan reeds (which can be purchased at your local craft store)
* A small vase or jar with a narrow opening
* Essential oil
* Inexpensive Vodka
* A light vegetable-based oil such as safflower or sunflower
* Glass Beads (optional)
Fill the vase about halfway with the vegetable oil, and add 15-20 drops of your favorite essential oil. Add a teaspoon of inexpensive vodka. (The high-proof alcohol content in the vodka will help emulsify the oil and water together, and will help with rapid evaporation. Rubbing alcohol is not a good choice because the alcohol content is not high enough for this purpose). Shake gently to mix. Stand the reeds in the vase (as shown in the picture above).
You can adjust the amount of essential oil to your liking, but remember a small amount usually goes a long way. If you use a clear vase, you can add small glass beads for a bit of color. Remember to flip the reeds occasionally to recharge the scent.
Recipe and picture found at: Big Big Forums