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When you consume an orange, make sure not to discard its peel. Orange peels are loaded with natural essential oils like limonene and are capable of emitting a citrusy fragrance that can help refresh your house naturally, sans any artificial air freshener. Orange peels are environmentally friendly and also serve as an alternative to reduce kitchen waste, providing a good fragrance to various parts of your house at once. Here are a few easy methods to use orange peels as natural home fragrances.

Simmer orange peels in the kitchen

If you want to emit the fresh smell of citrus across your house, just boil orange peels. Add a few orange peels along with cinnamon, cloves, star anise, fresh rosemary or even ginger pieces in boiling water and let it simmer. The steam from the boiling water will carry the natural aroma of orange across your house.

Create natural potpourri

Sun dry or bake the orange peels in an oven at a low temperature until they become crispy. Mix the dried orange peels along with cinnamon sticks, dried flowers, cloves, bay leaves or dried lavender flowers in a decorative bowl. This homemade potpourri serves very well for living rooms, bedrooms or front doors and can be refreshed after a few weeks by adding some drops of orange oil to it.

Refresh clothes storage areas

The completely dried orange peels can be kept in muslin/cotton sachets and placed in wardrobes, drawers, shoe racks, or linen closets. The orange peels serve to leave behind a light citrus smell in enclosed areas and can neutralize musty smells in enclosed areas.

Room spray

Add boiling water to orange peels and let it boil for 15–20 minutes, after which you should strain the liquid and pour it into a spray bottle. Add 1 teaspoon of rubbing alcohol or a few drops of vodka to the mixture for preservation purposes. Orange essential oils may be added as well. Use this spray lightly for a quick fix of freshness. It is advisable to store this concoction in the fridge and use it within a week.

Get rid of bad smells

Add fresh or dried orange peels to the bottom of the bins before inserting a bag, as the smell will be greatly reduced this way. Orange peels may also be rubbed into sinks or garbage disposals (if there is any) to ensure that they give off a fresh citrus smell when cleaned up.


Use in hand-made candles

Small pieces of dried orange peel can be mixed with homemade soy or beeswax candles for both aesthetic purposes and adding the aroma of orange peel. Although the peel adds the aesthetic component, the mixture with orange essential oil makes it even more effective as the candle burns. Make sure the peels are completely dried before the process of making the candle starts.

Airing of your vacuum cleaner

To use orange peel in a simple way, dry completely the orange peels and cut them into small pieces. Then put a few pieces of the peel into the dust chamber or vacuum cleaner bag. As you start cleaning with the help of a vacuum cleaner, the flow of air releases the nice citrus scent instead of dusty air. Again, make sure the orange peels are completely dried.

Do not forget to dry completely the orange peels before you store them in a closed space. Do not forget that handmade sprays and simmering pot are effective when used freshly made. But the dried orange peels can be used again after they lost their aroma. The orange peels are a good replacement for expensive chemical air fresheners.