Rice, Rosemary & Citrus: A Natural Humidity and Odour Jar

by Joanne Cho

Thanks to my lifelong passion for Esperanto, I am currently travelling through Europe for seven special weeks, spending most of my time in fascinating Italy.

Here in Turin, northern Italy, I don’t have to worry about high level of indoor humidity or fungal problems in the vegetable garden. After all, Italy is known worldwide for its abundant and healthy production of tomatoes, graves, olives, bergamots and herbs. Those produces can be naturally sun dried here. However, that means it is very hot throughout the day in summer and I barely get any respite from the heat, even in the evening.

Turin’s average summer relative humidity is around 65%, but during the afternoons it often drops to 50–60%, so the air generally feels much drier.
Ourimbah in the Central Coast of NSW, on the other hand, can have relative humidity around 70%, with warm, moisture-laden air influenced by the nearby Pacific Ocean. As a result, the humidity persists.

So, while thinking about various ways to deal with moisture back home, two ideas stood out as possible solution:

Rice, Rosemary & Citrus: A Natural Humidity and Odour Jar

Rice is hygroscopic (from the Greek hygro, meaning moisture, and -scopic, relating to observing or sensing). This means it can absorb some water vapour from the air and help buffer humidity in enclosed spaces.
Dried rosemary slowly releases its aromatic oils, naturally freshening the air. It also contains compounds with mild antimicrobial and antifungal properties. Together, rice and rosemary can be useful in small enclosed spaces such as wardrobes and drawers—but they are not a substitute for a room dehumidifier.

How to make it

You need:

• 150 g uncooked, dry rice
• 1–2 tbsp dried rosemary
• 1 × 250 mL glass jar
• A few pieces of thoroughly dried citrus peel (optional)

Mix the rice and rosemary together, or place the rosemary in a small cloth sachet inside the jar.
Add some fully dried lemon, orange, lime or grapefruit peel for a lovely natural fragrance. Make a few tiny holes in the lid so that air can circulate.

Imagine opening your wardrobe or drawer and being greeted by the uplifting fragrance of lemon, orange, lime or grapefruit!!

Best places to use it

• Wardrobes
• Shoe cupboards
• Drawers
• Linen cupboards
• Storage boxes

Replace or thoroughly dry the rice every 1–2 months. Always use completely dried rosemary and citrus peel to reduce the risk of mould.
One of my favourite parts is that the used rice and rosemary don’t have to go to waste:

1. I recycle rice and rosemary by drying in the oven with low temperature.
2. I can feed them to my chooks and make a fresh batch.
3. Even more interesting thing is that rosemary and rice water are very effective ingredients for healthy hair growth. We can boil the two ingredients for 20-30 minutes with plenty of water until we get enough milky liquid, seive and bottle it to apply to the hair 1-2 times a week as a hair conditioner.

As a permie, you must like my recycling ideas. Right?

Another simple moisture-fighting tip

Clean windows and large mirrors with a 1:1 mixture of white vinegar and water. Vinegar is useful for removing grime and has antifungal properties, so regular cleaning can help keep damp surfaces cleaner and less favourable to mould growth.
Finally, while these natural methods can be useful for cupboards, drawers and other small enclosed spaces, remember that they complement rather than replace a dehumidifier.

When indoor humidity is high, a properly sized dehumidifier remains a much more effective way to control the moisture level of an entire room.

See you back home soon!!

Image generated with AI