To keep your home smelling fresh:

Gel Fragrance in a jar: Make your own gel air freshener with a few simple ingredients. 1 cup water (divided), 1 envelope Knox gelatin, 1/8 tsp rubbing alcohol or vodka, 1/2 tsp essential oil or fragrance oil. Boil 1/2 cup water, then dissolve the Knox gel in it. Add the other half of the water (cold) and stir until blended. Add the alcohol and essential oil and stir until well blended. Pour into jars of your choice. Set out to fragrance a room. Don't place on a very warm spot like the top of the TV or it will liquefy some. If this happens, you can restore it by popping it into the refrigerator for awhile.

If you have silk flower arrangements in the house, then you can "hide" a drop of fragrant oil somewhere in the centers of the silk flowers. This will effectively scent a room for a long time. The same can be done with straw wreaths and dried arrangements. Refresh as necessary. This works especially well in the bathroom and it's worth keeping a small decorative arrangement in there.

Another method is to place a drop or two of essential or fragrance oil on a cotton ball and tuck it in back of the radiator or under the end flaps of a baseboard heater. This needs to be repeated more often.

A really lovely air freshener is to place a few slices of some citrus fruit like lemon, orange or grapefruit into a pot of water on the stove. Simmer gently till you're satisfied with the fragrance. (This is a good use for the leftover rinds after eating).

Yet another method is to combine 1 tsp baking soda, 1 tsp lemon juice (or a few drops of essential oil of orange or lemon) and 2 cups of hot water in a spray bottle then shake and use like any other air freshener.

To eliminate odors in the air (including tobacco odors), set out a bowl of vinegar.