Scent is a very important factor in how we perceive our surroundings. High-end shopping centers, hotels and restaurants all use different aromas to influence our behaviors, to make us feel comfortable and wanting to stay longer or to associate them with a specific fragrance.

Why not use this technique at home, to the benefit of its residents and guests? Here are some criteria for choosing your home’s perfume:

• introduce an elegant, luxurious fragrance (sandalwood, patchouli) into the formal areas of your house
• the casual, family-only spaces could get a perk-up, energetic, perhaps fruity fragrance
• take special care when selecting a fragrance for your bedroom and bath; be prepared to experiment with scents to find the one that suits you the most;
  I found the calming effects of lavender and chamomile to work the best
• don’t forget about the kitchen and informal dining areas: vanilla and fruit scents improve your digestion and harmonize with any kitchen smells.

The points to consider:

1. Air freshener sprays are a waste of your health and money: they last for a short time, and you don’t want to inhale this harmful chemicals with the air you breathe.
2. Do not use the plug-in version of room fragrances; they waste electrical energy, produce harmful electromagnetic radiation (EMR) and increase the risk of fire.
3. Use candles wisely; they’re great for creating mood, but constant use might worsen the quality of the air inside your home (smoke and oxygen depletion), also pose a fire risk.
   NEVER LEAVE A BURNING CANDLE UNATTENDED!
4. My favorite method for adding fragrance to a space is through reed infusers (some of them come in very attractive bottles or bottle covers). Be selective, pick only the highest quality ones – they provide more coverage and last longer.

Beware of powder carpet fresheners. Some cleaning companies and housekeepers love to use them for a quick odor-masking effect. They add a lot of harmful particles to your indoor air, which might introduce asthma and allergies. Stay away.

Interested in more? The text above is a chapter from “10 Steps to a Healthier, Happier Home” special report by Bozena Studio. You can download it by clicking on the link below:
10 Steps to a Healthier, Happier Home. How to Find a Perfect Balance of Comfort, Luxury and Wellness for the Space You Live In.

Recently I was asked to define the meaning of “green”. The generation for which this concept will be as obvious as, for example, “cloud computing” or “vook”, is probably still to young to read this. We hear it everywhere and often wonder if everyone has the same thing in mind when they say “green”.

So, for all of us in doubt, here it comes:

I know, I know, it says “ecology” and not “green”, but what’s the difference? What really matters is the approach: “WE” instead of “ME”. I try to make all my everyday actions responsible. Before acting, I ask myself: will this hurt someone or something? Will my children be able to show this to their children? Will the next generations’ lives be as long and beautiful as ours? Where will this product I’m buying end its life?
Those are very simple questions, coming straight from the heart. Does it matter if you know EXACTLY what “green” means? Stick around – I’ll try to show you here on this site. I don’t know all the answers, but I do know a lot. I don’t think there are many “green purists” out in the world. I’m not one of them. But I know how to teach my children how to respect the Earth and future life. Would this be a definition of “green”?

P.S. Please show this cartoon to your children and grandchildren. I’m sure they will enjoy it. Mine did!