The refreshing and aromatic properties of herbs and flowers can be used in many different ways to keep your home fragrant and fresh.
They will not only remove stale and unwanted odours and make your surroundings pleasant, but their natural disinfectant properties will help to control airborne bacteria and viruses.
This is especially important during winter when homes are kept shut for long periods.
In my home a favourite way of maintaining fresh and aromatic surroundings is to burn homemade herbal incense. Incense is not only simple and easy to make, but it can be customised to suit your personal circumstance.
Herb mixtures such as rosemary and lavender, mint and lavender or sage and rosemary and southernwood or thyme is suitable. Reduce one tablespoon of dried, fragrant herb, or herb mixture, of your choice to a powder by rubbing it through a fine wire sieve.
Thoroughly mix the powdered herb with one tablespoon of very fine sawdust, then add 20 millilitres of water in which has been dissolved one teaspoon of Gum Arabic - available from artists' suppliers, craft shops and some chemists. When all the ingredients are mixed together shape it into small cones and allow it to dry.
Place the incense cones on small metal or ceramic dishes, or other suitable objects, and light - the incense will slowly smoulder, filling the room with its fragrance.
To make a fragrant and antiseptic air-freshener spray, which will help combat airborne winter nasties, choose from any of the following essential oils, listed in descending order of their antiseptic powers: thyme, bergamot, clove, lavender, peppermint, rosemary or eucalyptus. Dissolve 40 drops (two millilitres) of your chosen oil in five millilitres of methylated spirits and then blend this with half a litre of distilled water. Store in a pump-spray bottle.
Shake well to mix and use on a fine mist setting.
You can add a delicious fragrance to your wash by putting three to five drops of lemongrass or lavender oil on a face cloth and then dropping it into the washing machine with your laundry.
Make a small bag, from natural fibres, stuff it with dried, fragrant herbs and slip it inside your pillow case.