This is a traditional home remedy/household trick used in a few different ways, depending on the region:
What it is
A whole onion is pierced with whole cloves (the spice) and left as-is or used in water/tea preparations.
Common purposes
1. Natural air freshener / odor absorber
- The onion is studded with cloves and placed in a room.
- It’s believed to help reduce strong odors and slightly freshen air.
- The strong sulfur compounds in onion and aromatic oils in cloves combine and slowly release scent.
2. Cold & cough home remedy (more traditional use)
- Onion and cloves are both used in folk remedies for colds.
- Some people boil or steep them in water to make a mild infusion.
- It’s thought (traditionally, not strongly medically proven) to help soothe cough or congestion.
3. Insect deterrent (less common belief)
- The smell is sometimes thought to repel certain insects.
How it’s usually done
- Take 1 whole onion (peeled).
- Insert 5–10 whole cloves into it, spaced around the surface.
- Leave it in a bowl or room for several hours or overnight.
Important note
- There’s no strong scientific evidence that this has major medical effects.
- It’s mostly a traditional or cultural home practice, and effects are usually mild (mainly smell-related).
If you meant a different use (like cooking, a specific recipe, or a remedy you saw), tell me and I can narrow it down.