Fighting the Hot Summer Odors

Unfortunately, prolonged heat and stagnant air will make any odor that might be lingering in your house- trash can, cat litter, bathroom, etc.- all the more pungent and no amount of cleaning or disinfecting will keep it away. Instead of surrendering to the power of the rank odors (something none of us want to do), you have several ways to fight them. Here are a few obvious- and not so obvious (you’ve probably used candles but never heard of reed diffusers) things to use to make your house, apartment or dorm room to keep them smelling wonderful after a hot, boxed in afternoon.

-Candles- Candles are not a secret; in fact you probably have some in your house right now. And while candles are pretty user friendly, the biggest problem the average consumer will run into is shifting through the sheer volume of candles available. With so many different companies offering candles and accessories, the biggest mistake you can make when purchasing one for your place (besides leaving it unattended while lit- that’s a big no-no) is not taking the time to take a whiff of the product. Seems basic enough, but you have to remember that not all vanilla candles smell the same. With dozens of different companies offering the same scent, chances are there are going to be different nuances in the smell. Sometimes a candle can smell so sickly sweet that just being around it will make you feel sick. If you’re ordering the candle online make you sure trust the company and have some experience with the smell. If you normally hate peaches this might not be the time to experiment.

-Reed Diffusers- Here is something you may have not thought of. When we think of scents and sticks we usually think of incense. The problem with incense, though, is that they can be a little messy and the smell can sometimes be… how to put this… a bit collegiate. Reed diffusers, on the other hand, look elegant, don’t leave a smoky, sooty mess and smell sophisticated. They work like this: there is a bottle (usually colored glass) that is filled with scented oil. A few reed diffusers are then inserted into the bottle and the scent is slowly released into the air. No fire, no smoke, and a good smell to cover up that liter box that has been sitting in the sun all day.

-Room Deodorizers- Chances are you already have one of those sweet smelling deodorizing sprays in your house. But while many of us rely on a scented room deodorizer spray to cover up a smell with something called “Spring Rain” or “Vermont Forest”, why not try a deodorizer that doesn’t just cover up smells but instead actually deodorizes them out of the air? There are a lot of companies offering odor canceling room deodorizers and while they might cost a little more than the typical smelling sprays they can be totally worth it for anyone fighting odor throughout the day.

You can check the internet for more information on these products and they available through most chain stores as well as specialty stores and via the internet. Good luck and remember: pick something that works for you.