3 Ways to Make Citrus Rind Diffusers To Freshen the Air Naturally

Nothing smells quite as good as the holidays. Mulling spices, freshly baked cookies, hot cocoa and pine wreaths all meld to bring the holidays to life and give your house a fresh, festive scent. But thankfully you don’t have to spend all day in the kitchen to make your home smell like it’s straight out of a Christmas movie. With just a few ingredients you already have lying around, you can make these super easy citrus rind diffusers.

Citrus Rind Diffusers 3 Ways

I’m all for a festive and free holiday DIY and these citrus rind diffusers are one of my faves. Not only do they cleanse the air and eliminate bad odors, but they also release the scent of whichever oils, spices, and herbs you choose to put in them. If you want your home to smell like the holidays (and who doesn’t?), just reach for a few common kitchen staples like cloves, cinnamon and thyme, and the oils of your choosing. Mix it all together and you’ll be singing Winter Wonderland in no time.

To make your diffusers for free (or next to nothin’), simply hollow out some citrus rinds, add coarse sea salt and a mix of your choice of warm scents like clove, ginger and thyme. The sea salt does double duty, absorbing bad odors from the environment and removing dust and impurities from the air, while also diffusing the fresh citrus and herb scents. To really bring out the scent of the oils, I like to put mine in the kitchen where it’s naturally warm or on a sunny windowsill. Be sure to sprinkle your diffusers throughout different rooms of the house and replace every couple days to keep your home smelling merry and bright.

Here are three different citrus-y scents to make your home smell like the holidays.

Orange Spice

• 1 whole orange
• 5 drops cinnamon essential oil
• 1 tablespoon whole cloves
• ¾ cup coarse sea salt

Slice the orange in half and hollow out both sides using a paring knife and spoon, being sure to remove as much of the fruit flesh as you can. In a small bowl, mix the sea salt, cinnamon essential oil and cloves. Spoon into the orange rind and place one half in different rooms of the house. Replace every 3-4 days or sooner if you see signs of mold.

Grapefruit with Cedarwood and Sage

• 1 whole grapefruit
• 4 drops cedarwood essential oil
• 3 fresh sage leaves
• 1 cup coarse sea salt

Slice the grapefruit in half and hollow out both sides using a paring knife and spoon. In a small bowl, mix the sea salt, cedarwood essential oil and sage leaves. Spoon into the grapefruit rind and place one half in different rooms of the house. Replace every 3-4 days or sooner if you see signs of mold.

Lemon with Rosemary and Vanilla

• 2 whole lemons
• 4 drops rosemary essential oil
• 2 drops vanilla extract
• ¾ cup coarse sea salt

Hollow out the lemons using a paring knife and spoon. In a small bowl, mix the sea salt, rosemary essential oil and vanilla extract. Spoon into the lemon rinds and place in different rooms of the house. Replace every 3-4 days or sooner if you see signs of mold.