According to scientific research, boiling tangerine peels and cinnamon can make people’s moods better. This mix can refresh the environment and also creates a calm and comfortable atmosphere.
Natural scents have been known for centuries as cleaning solutions, and soothing aromes for well-being. This homemade “air freshener” follows that intention in a low-cost, very easy to use, and free of toxins version. The only thing you need to prepare it is: tangerine peels, cinnamon sticks, and water.
Tangerine and cinnamon: the scent of a calm space at home
This technique is all about using the fruit’s essential oils with cinnamon essential oils to create a calming and sweet scent.
According to studies released by the U.S. National Library of Medicine (NLM), citrus fruits, like tangerines, have benefits that cannot be denied and that affect directly a t how an individual can feel:
- It lower levels of anxiety.
- It gives a sense of energy and freshness.
- It provokes a momentary boost in mood (if the scent is pleasant).
Citrus scents does its magic best in the morning. A good place to do this ritual? At home and in places where people work or study, because it improves the mood and the sense of cleanliness and fresh air make it easy to focus, all in calmness.
In addition to producing a feeling of warmth and comfort, studies conducted on animals showed that cinnamon (which contains essential oil and cinnamonaldehyde), could have an indirect anxiolytic effect.
How to prepare the magical infusion
This air freshener is created using the same method as an infusion—extremely easy to do.
The trick to success? Cooking it with the pot uncovered for a longer period of time so that the aroma fills the room.
What ingredients do you need?
- 1 liter of water
- Tangerine peels (how many you need depends on how strong you want the scent)
- 5 sticks of cinnamon
Preparation:
First, start by adding the liter of water to the pot. Then, add the cinnamon sticks and tangerine peels, and heat it. Let it boil for 15 minutes.
The water will turn into a brown-ish color (it’s normal, that’s because of the cinnamon).
Finally, let it settle, strain it and pour it into a spray bottle.
Other uses of tangerine and cinnamon
Tangerine and cinnamon can be used in many other ways at home, besides being used as a DIY air freshener. For example, tangerine peel infusion alone can be used in the kitchen as a natural odor neutralizer, especially after cooking fried meals or fish.
Just like the magic infusion, you can boil the tangerine peels alone, and let the kitchen absorb the smells for a bit.
On the other hand, cinnamon is often used by itself too; in sachets that you can keep in drawers or closets to help maintain a feeling of warmth and purity.
Adding these infusions to your cleaning routines, can be another good way of using the magic infusion. If you strain the liquid and then add a bit of white vinegar, you have a product to clean surfaces, with a very fresh scent, and most importantly: without artificial or chemical compositions.
Effects on people and recommended use
According to a review on the effects of cinnamon essential oil also published by the National Library of Medicine (NLM), this scent is great for creating a pleasant ambiance in the living room or dining area, especially in the evening.
Why? Because when you mix the two main ingredients—the stimulating freshness of tangerine with the reassuring warmth but antibacterial side of cinnamon—creates a unique scent that’s characteristic for uplifting your mood.