How to Use Anise Oil for Odors in Wood

Anise seeds contain compounds that kill mold and eliminate odors.

Unwanted odors in wood can affect the pleasantness of spaces in and around your home as well as the cleanliness of cooking. The sanitation of cooking implements is necessary for safe cooking and quality culinary practices. Wood posts, fences, children's toys and decorative trees can all host odors that you would rather not smell. Anise oil is a non-toxic remedy for wood odors that can kill molds that spread illness. Anise oil is derived from the seeds of the plant Pimpinella anisum, a herbaceous annual native to the Mediterranean region and Egypt. Available in health markets, anise oil is inexpensive and effective when used properly.

Things You'll Need

• Anise essential oil
• Anise seeds
• Mortar and pestle or coffee grinder
• Mineral water
• Glass container with airtight top
• Cheesecloth
• Clean cloth or rags

Instructions

1. Anise essential oil has a pleasant licorice smell. It is more concentrated than water based infusions, and, therefore, more effective. If you have a problem with using anise essential oil's smell on wood cooking implements, make your own water based infusion. Use one ounce of crushed seed per pint of water when measuring the amount of seed to use. Grind the seed in a mortar and pestle or a coffee grinder and stir into boiling water. Pour the mixture into the glass container and leave with top sealed for 24 hours. Strain infusion through cheesecloth before use on wood.

2. Apply the anise essential oil or anise water infusion to the clean rag. Odors stay on wood surfaces because the surface of the wood is porous and can harbor lingering food, animal, or plant remains that rot or grow mold. Anise is a natural antiseptic, which means it can prevent or arrest the growth of microorganisms.

3. Rub the essential oil or water infusion into the surface of the wood. Use a liberal amount of liquid to coat the wood. The more you use, the better it will seep into the wood's pores and react with the odor causing material. The University of Tennessee has published a study showing that anise oil is effective against molds. If you can see mold on the wood that has the disagreeable odor, use anise essential oil instead of anise water solution.

4. Allow the oil or water infusion to react for 12 to 24 hours. The Environmental Protection Agency confirms that anise oil acts as a safe repellent to cats and dogs. If your odor problem is from pets or wild animals you can apply the essential oil every few weeks to keep the animals off of your wood furniture, fences or house objects.

5. Wipe off the excess liquid and dry the wood's surface with a clean cloth.

6. Repeat the process as necessary until the odor is removed.

Tips & Warnings

• Anise oil is harmful to the body's internal organs when large amounts are ingested. Keep children and pets away from open bottles to be safe.

References

• Purdue University Horticulture: Anise
• Merriam-Webster Dictionary: Antiseptic
• The University of Tennessee: Spice Marinades Can Kill Dangerous Microbes
• Environmental Protection Agency: Plant Oils Fact Sheet

Resources

• Ray Sahelian, M.D.: Anise Plant Medical Uses and Benefit