Breathe easy with natural air fresheners

When you don’t have fresh flowers but you wish your house smelled like them, try making your own scented spray.

Here are two recipes to try for yourself. Play around with the scents to your liking. Both of these air fresheners will store for up to a year and you may use them as often as you like.

Rosemary, Sage and Lavender Air Freshener

This is an invigorating and floral air freshener – not sickly or fake smelling, more like your nana’s garden in spring. Rosemary and lavender go together perfectly.

Makes 500ml

• 2 sprigs rosemary
• sprig of sage
• ½ teaspoon lavender
• 1 lemon, sliced
• 500ml water
• a 500ml spray bottle

Put all the ingredients into a small saucepan. Bring to a simmer over a medium heat, cover, and let it simmer for a further 5 minutes. Let it cool, then strain the liquid and pour it into a spray bottle. You can add a fresh sprig of rosemary to infuse in the bottle, if you wish. If the sprig is too tall for the bottle, just break it in half.

This will store for up to a year and you can use it as often as needed.

Lemongrass, Lime and Ginger Air Freshener

This one is a great pick-me-up air freshener that will give your home a clean, energising smell.

Makes 500ml

• 1 lime, sliced
• 1 fresh lemongrass stalk
• 5cm piece of fresh ginger, crushed under a knife
• 500ml water
• a 500ml spray bottle

Put all the ingredients into a small saucepan. Bring to a simmer over a medium heat, cover, and let it simmer for a further 5 minutes. Let it cool, then strain the liquid and pour it into a spray bottle. You can add a fresh lemongrass stalk to infuse in the bottle, if you wish.

Both these recipes come from The Art of the Natural Home, a book perfect for those interested in sustainability, natural products and mindfulness. Part cookbook, part how-to guide, it features natural recipes and products for the entire home, from the kitchen pantry to the cleaning cupboard, from your make-up bag to the medicine cabinet (and even a few treats for the drinks trolley too).

Recipes from The Art of the Natural Home by Rebecca Sullivan. Published by Kyle Books. RRP $39.99. Out now.

Do you have your own natural way to make your room smell great?