Genius House Hacks · a GopherCentral & PulseTV publication
Kitchen & Seasonal · September 10, 2026 edition

Stop Buying Fall Candles!

From Anisa's Genius House Hacks newsletter.

Anisa in her kitchen, stirring a small pot of cinnamon sticks and orange peel simmering on the stove.

I know people are candle crazy. Me, not so much, but I do love this hack that fills my home with wonderful, safe, smells! All in about 10 minutes... a candle can't do that.

Best part? It costs next to nothing. Below is what/how I do it.

Be Well,
Anisa

The Two-Ingredient Fix

Fill a small pot about two-thirds with water, drop in three or four cinnamon sticks, and set it on the lowest simmer you have. That is genuinely all you need.

If you want more depth, add a few slices of orange or apple peel, or a couple of whole cloves. Skip anything artificial, since the real thing smells far better.

Keep It Safe and Make It Stretch

Never leave the stove unattended, and check the water level every so often so the pot doesn't run dry. Top it off with more water as needed.

The same batch can simmer for hours across a day, and you can refrigerate the leftover liquid and reheat it the next time you want the scent back.

Got a handy tip of your own?

Reply back to Anisa, she loves reading your emails.

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