Skip synthetic air fresheners and make your home smell amazing with a candle warmer, water, and natural ingredients like herbs, citrus, and spices. Safe, non-toxic, and no fire hazard.
If you love a cozy, fresh smelling home but want to avoid the harsh chemicals that store-bought sprays, plug-ins, and candles often emit, here is a simple, natural solution using a candle warmer and ingredients from your garden and spice cupboard.
By placing a bowl of water under the heat lamp, filled with herbs, fruit slices, and spices, you can release beautiful aromas into any room of your house—without synthetic fragrances or toxic chemicals. It’s an eco-friendly, family-safe way to enjoy seasonal scents that feel fresh and real.
What you need
A candle warmer lamp: You can find them on Amazon or home goods stores. I like the ones that come with a dimmer and a timer in case you forget about it
A heat-safe bowl: Glass or ceramic bowls work well here. The bowl will be filled with water and natural ingredients. Once it heats up, you will smell what you put in there. Just make sure this little bowl can handle the heat of the lamp
Water
Spices: Any dried or fresh spices are great. Think cinnamon sticks, whole cloves, star anise, vanilla bean, ginger
Herbs: Fresh or dried herbs like rosemary, thyme, eucalyptus, and lavender all smell differently and will give your home a different vibe
Fruit: Lemon or orange slices, a chunk of apple, and cranberries are a nice addition
Why use a candle warmer?
- No open flame → Unlike stovetop simmer pots or burning candles, candle warmers eliminate the fire hazard, making them safe around kids and pets.
- Long-lasting fragrance → Warmers gently heat ingredients, releasing scents slowly and evenly.
- Energy-efficient → They use very little electricity and can be left on for hours.
- Non-toxic → You control the ingredients, ensuring your home is free from synthetic perfumes and harmful VOCs.
How to use a candle warmer without a candle
- Fill a heat-safe bowl with water
- Add your favourite fresh or dried ingredients from your garden and spice cupboard
- Place it on your candle warmer, set the timer, and let the gentle heat do the work
- Top up with more water as needed to keep it from drying out
Natural fruit and spice combos to try
Here are a few irresistible blends to get you started:
- Cozy Cinnamon & Citrus
- Cinnamon sticks
- Orange slices or peel
- Whole cloves
- Fresh Forest Walk
- Pinecones
- Sprigs of pine, cedar, or rosemary
- Lemon peel
- Calming Spa Vibes
- Fresh eucalyptus leaves
- Lavender buds
- A few slices of lemon
- Sweet & Comforting
- Vanilla bean (or a splash of vanilla extract)
- Apple slices
- A pinch of nutmeg
- Bright & Clean
- Lemon slices
- Fresh thyme or basil
- Bay leaves
Not only do these combinations make your home smell amazing, but many also offer natural benefits for the mind and nervous system: citrus uplifts the mood, cinnamon and vanilla add warmth and grounding, and herbs like rosemary and eucalyptus can help clear the airways.
Pro tip: Rotate your blends with the seasons—citrus and herbs in spring, lavender in summer, cinnamon and pine in winter—to keep your home feeling fresh and inviting year-round.
