Follow Your Nose

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.