Scented oils can brighten your day

Dear Readers: Did you know your sense of smell has a lot to do with how you feel every day? You can raise your spirits or calm your soul and psyche with just the scent of a few drops of fragrant essential oils around your home. Here are a few sweet-smelling suggestions to get you started:
Put a drop of oil of peppermint or cinnamon on some used dryer sheets and tuck them into athletic shoes or work boots.
Keep eucalyptus oil in your shower and add just a drop on top of the shower knob when you turn on the spray.
Keep a small bottle of essential oil of lemon by the kitchen sink. Put a drop on your sponge or dishcloth to wipe the sink and faucet after cleaning -- lemony fresh!
In a small spray bottle, add distilled water (your tap water might have fluoride, chlorine, etc.) and about 10 drops of lavender or lemon essential oil. Shake well and use this to lightly mist your linens for a gently relaxing lavender scent or a cleansing and uplifting lemon aroma.
Don't be afraid to experiment with essential oils. Most essential oils cost only pennies per drop, and you'll notice the savings as soon as you cut back on those commercially made "fresheners." Heloise
Note: Here's a Heloise homemade air freshener: In a spray bottle, add several drops of orange or lemon essential oil (depends on how strong you want the scent) to 16 ounces of cheap rubbing alcohol. Shake to mix, then mist the air -- don't spray directly on fabric, etc. -- and the alcohol pretty much dissipates, leaving behind a nice smell.
Dear Heloise: Because of the frequency with which I used to travel, I kept two sets of makeup, one at home and one in my travel bag, which eliminated a lot of the possibility of forgetting something. Evelyn Brown, via e-mail
Dear Heloise: I've been reading your column for some time and have used your hints even more since being away at college. I always used to get irritated when dining at restaurants that used napkins as coasters, because my glass would stick to the napkin. But then one of my friends showed me that shaking a little salt on the napkin first eliminates the problem. Now I can enjoy my favorite beverage without worrying about the napkin sticking. Emily from Indiana, via e-mail
Emily, this is a good hint.
Calling all college students: Send in your hints to share with other college students. From doing laundry and decorating a dorm room to juggling a full class load, send to HeloiseCollege@Heloise.com Heloise
Send a money-saving or timesaving hint to Heloise, P.O. Box 795000, San Antonio, TX 78279-5000, or you can fax it to (210) HELOISE or e-mail it to Heloise@Heloise.com.
King Features Syndicate