Works for Me: Scented Oil Warmer

I live in a small apartment. When I cook, the food odor likes to stick around. I think that my neighbors can probably guess what we have for dinner every night, as long as thei olfactory sensors are in good working order. On church nights especially, when we eat supper and run out the door, I hate returning to a home that smells like stale supper. I have found something that helps to eliminate the odor quickly and pleasantly: a scented oil warmer. A friend gave me the oil warmer that is pictured below. This one in particular comes from Bath & Body Works. There are several styles, so you can pick one that meshes with the decor and style of your home. I think they are around $10. I'm sure you could find a cheaper one at Wal-Mart, or maybe Pier One Imports or another similar store.

Bath & Body Works sells the bottles of scented oil in the same scents as their lotions and body washes. You are supposed to use a few drops of oil, and then burn a tealight candle underneath. In my experience the scent can be a little strong. A friend shared her secret with me: use only one drop of oil and add a couple drops of water to dilute. It is not necessary to add new drops of scent everytime you want to make the house smell lovely. I only add new oil when the other is visible gone.

Unscented tealights are available in a bag of 50 for around $2 at Wal-Mart. I keep a few tealights with my matches in m kitchen drawer. After a meal, I just light up the candle and leave the oil burner on the table. When I come home...no more yucky food odor! It works for me! Check out more ideas over at Rocks in My Dryer.

This is my scented oil warmer. There are more styles available at the Bath & Body Works website.