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A Plug-in Room Freshener for People who HATE Plug-ins.

By
Real Estate Agent with Better Properties Seattle

If you've ever walked into a house with those nasty "odorous" commercial plug-in room fresheners, you know what I'm talking about.

Sometimes the stench is so overpowering you have to rush outside for some fresh air between floors!

I've been in this business over 20 years and have tried it all. 

1) Baked cookies during the Open House, only to burn them when someone comes in and I start talking and forget about them. Burnt cookie smell...not good.

2) Boiled apples and cinnamon before the Open House, but find myself running in and out of the rooms trying to get the sweet smelling steam to go futher than the kitchen.

3) Lighting candles works well, but once in awhile I wake up at 2 a.m. in a cold sweat wondering if I blew the candles out before I left.

4) Diffusers. I really do like these, but they are prone to mishaps if someone knocks it over and the oil in the bottle spills all over the place.

Well I've finally found something I think is wonderful and worth sharing!

It's a "do it yourself" plug in that you can use over and over and fill with all kinds of wonderful food oriented scents, or others that are much more natural and appealing than the standard commercial brands.

The Product is called "Scent Ball Aromatherapy" and is sold by Green Feet, The Planet's Home Store.

It's a simple plug in with a felt oblong square that you saturate with your oil of choice!

I'm using Fragrance Oils from Zenith Supplies that come in all kinds of natural scents.

I'm using Coffee, Hazlenut and Pumpkin Cream...all smell yummy!

Who complains when you open a door and it smells like fresh brewed coffee? No one in Seattle, for sure! ;)

Earl Grey Tea was lovely, but a bit pricier. Same with Fresh Linen, but I bet that's nice up in the Master Bedroom.

I don't recommend mixing too many scents in one house, of course. But Coffee in the Kitchen and Fresh Linen on the 2nd floor shouldn't "clash". Not sure what I would use in a baement. I'm still experimenting.

If you have used these and have a favorite scent, let us know. So far I am liking them MUCH better than the standard "plug-ins" that make you want to run outside!

Janet McCarthy
San Diego Homes Guide - San Diego, CA
Broker Associate

I've baked bread and it was a big problem.  Mess in the oven and ended up hard as a rock.  I 've made cookies - too much work.  Love the plug in idea.

Apr 18, 2011 04:36 PM
ARDELL DellaLoggia
Better Properties Seattle - Kirkland, WA

...and unlike other plug ins there is no danger of fire according to the information from Green Feet. That makes it safer to use in vacant houses.

It's basically a mildly heated diffuser without the mess!

Janet...glad to hear I'm not the only one who has had mishaps with baking and cooking stuff. :) I'm fine until I get distracted by someone. Then I'm focusing on the people and forget what's in the oven. LOL!

Apr 18, 2011 04:46 PM
Gayle Rich-Boxman Fishhawk Lake Real Estate
John L Scott Market Center - Birkenfeld, OR
"Your Local Expert!" 503-739-3843

Love the "choice" aspect. Because I'm PARTICULAR. It'd be fun to try at home first. Although, I LOVE my Pier 1 Imports scented candles THE BEST of any. I am a candleaholic (hello,my name is Gayle), so I'll never give that up myself, but it's nice not to have to remember (oh, my God, I JUST REMEMBERED I HAVE SOME BURNING RIGHT NOW IN THE FRONT ENTRY--OOPS!) to blow them out.

Gotta go blow out my candles!

Apr 18, 2011 06:01 PM
ARDELL DellaLoggia
Better Properties Seattle - Kirkland, WA

Gayle, 

I love candles too, but don't find them very useful in listings when I can't be around all the time, especially vacant ones. 

You'll love all the available scents. Many more than candles. Mango, Cantaloupe... I'm alergic to a lot of floral scents, so this was a great find for me.

Apr 18, 2011 06:18 PM
Debbie Gartner
The Flooring Girl - White Plains, NY
The Flooring Girl & Blog Stylist -Dynamo Marketers

That sounds so great. I will need to check that out.  Thx.

Apr 18, 2011 11:15 PM
Gail Robinson
William Raveis Real Estate - Southport, CT
CRS, GRI, e-PRO Fairfield County, CT

Ardell - I like this idea.  I do hate the strong, disgusting smell of plug-ins and air fresheners and I am fearful of candles in rooms that I'm not in.  I'm going to look into this.  Fresh Linen sounds like the right scent.  Thanks for sharing.

Apr 19, 2011 02:59 PM
ARDELL DellaLoggia
Better Properties Seattle - Kirkland, WA

Gail,

The worst for me, though I haven't "run into it" for awhile, is when someone cleans with Pine Sol just before a showing. I'm allergic to it and always get sick.

Natural oils are not as "in your face" and a pleasant "background" smell vs one that knocks you off your feet...or out of the house.

Apr 19, 2011 03:07 PM
Sharon Alters
Coldwell Banker Vanguard Realty - 904-673-2308 - Fleming Island, FL
Realtor - Homes for Sale Fleming Island FL

Ardell, this is a great idea. Those Glade things make me almost sick they are so strong. Will definnitely check this out.

Sharon

May 09, 2011 05:41 PM
ARDELL DellaLoggia
Better Properties Seattle - Kirkland, WA

Sharon,

Hazlenut turned out to be my favorite. My sister likes Apple. Smells like real apples vs apple pie. The Coffee smelled like it had cream in it vs "fresh brewed". :)

May 09, 2011 05:49 PM