‘So nostalgic’ woman shares how to make festive air fresheners without chemicals for pennies – & they’ll last for years
A FRESH pine, oranges, mulled wine, gingerbread and chocolate – nothing beats the festive scents.
But what if your home could smell like Christmas all year round without spending a fortune? Or using pricey air fresheners that are filled with nasty chemicals?
Well, one thrifty cleaning whizz, Clare Hoops, recently took to TikTok to reveal a simple recipe that will achieve just that – and it’s all thanks to a few kitchen essentials.
According to her, the answer is simple – homemade pomanders, which, if looked after carefully, can last you for years on end.
To achieve that ”nostalgic” festive aroma, you will need as many oranges as you like, as well as a good amount of cloves – the more, the better.
”Pierce the orange with loads of patterns that you fancy,” Clare instructed in her video, adding that you could first use something else to make the piercing process easier.
”I love having a go at things that I know that somebody else has done, like, for centuries before me.”
She went on: ”In a world where there’s so many things that you can buy, so underrated making things yourself.”
Going in with a cute swirl pattern, the cleaning whizz, who posts under the username @mrsclarehoops, couldn’t get over the zesty aroma.
”The smell is making me feel so happy. It’s gorgeous and fragrant.”
Advising fellow Christmas super fans to not sleep on this hack, Claire said: ”Please give this one a go. It’s so good, it’s so easy and you can house smell amazing.”
According to the pro, whose page has won her close to 80k followers, these mini scent balls can last for years if you dry them properly.
She instructed: ”You’re supposed to dry them slowly and keep turning them or hang them, then they should dry nicely.”
Inspired by Claire’s video, dozens raced to comments, where one said: ”Ohhh we did this when I was a child, I completely forgot I can smell them through the phone! Oh memories, going to have to do this now.”
Someone else advised: ”Definitely easier if you make a little hole 1st with cocktail stick – the top of the cloves can be really sharp on the fingers!”
Another added that these also come with an extra bonus: ”I make these every year. Cloves also deter spiders and flies.”
”Some bright red ribbon tied in a bow to hang them up would finish them a treat,” a fourth chimed in.
Speaking of lovely scents, did you know there is a special store when you can bag the iconic Yankees Candles for half price?
The cult classic brand offers great savings when shopping on the Outlet Candles section online – and there is plenty of choice.
If you’re after something more sweet and fruity? Then we reckon the Large Hourglass Candle in Currant is your best bet – and it’s going for a little over £23 (RRP £32.99).
Other options include Pumpkin Praline (£26.24) – perfect for all the Pumpkin Spice Latte lovers -, Smoked Jasmine (£26.24) and Yuzu Bloom (£24.74), which is a must if you’re a floral fanatic.
There are also other cult favourite scents that are even cheaper, such as Wild Orchid, which has been slashed from £32.99 to £19.19, Autumn Daydream which is now selling for £19.19 after retailing for £31.99, as well as Love For All (£29.99 to £17.99).
With Christmas around the corner, it’s also worth checking out their festive aromas, including as Peppermint Pinwheels (£29.99 to £17.99), Spin Sugar Flurries (£29.99 to £17.99) and Letters to Santa.
The latter, which is going for £13.79 after retailing for £22.99, features notes of cinnamon, sugared musk, as well as coconut.