PUT SOME SCENTS IN YOUR HOME

Do you ever walk into someone’s home and just feel comfortable & relaxed? It’s based in large part on how the people make you feel, but it’s also how we interpret the elements that appeal to our five senses. It transcends particular styles (traditional, contemporary, or tropical), as well as types of homes (house, condo, or apartment).

One major contributor is the sense of smell. Here are some of my favorite options for giving your home a warm and welcoming vibe. I tend to choose options that are subtle, not overpowering, and that tend to be more natural or organic.

Candles: One of my top choices is candles. I’m very particular about which candles I select. Right now my favorite brand is Chesapeake Bay Candle. They have a wide range of scents/colors. They smell delicious. Once you start using them, they will give off a light scent even when the aren’t lit. They offer a range of sizes as well – small, medium, large, and coffee table. You can find a range of options by searching for Chesapeake Bay Candles on Amazon. Of course there are many other brands as well, offering a dizzying array of scents, colors, sizes, and designs. 

Reed Diffusers: If you’re not a fan of candles, another great option is reed diffusers. You can find them online or in many retail stores. Reed diffusers will continually give off a subtle scent without any effort on your part. They last for several months, depending on the size and brand. Once the oil evaporates you can easily buy refills or purchase a new diffuser if you’d like to try another scent. You can also buy replacement reeds. I was excited to find that Chesapeake Bay Candles offers reed diffusers for most of their candle scents. You can find Chesapeake Bay Reed Diffusers on Amazon too. Some other retailers offering them include Target, Walmart, Christmas Tree Shops, departments stores, and too many online retailers to list. You do get what you pay for. Sometimes really inexpensive ($5) diffusers have unpleasant or overpowering scents.

Oil diffusers: I enjoy using essential oil diffusers, especially at night. Often the scent lingers into the day. However you can choose different scents for day or night. For sleeping I like lavendar essenital oil. If you have a difficulty breathing, or have a cold or allergies, eucalyptus oil is great for opening up your airways. During the day you might want a more energizing scent, one that encourages concentration, or just one that smells really good to you. There are many online articles, as well as books, that explain the benefits of each oil, as well as tips and tricks for using oil diffusers. You can purchase oils and the diffusers just about anywhere. Prices range greatly, from $25 to well over $100. You don’t need a fancy one, but make sure you look at the ease of use, the types of oils it takes, as well as additional features like colored lights and an automatic turn-off feature. Make sure it’s easy to clean, as you’ll need to rinse it out every few days, depending on how often you use it.

Linen sprays: Sprays have come a long way. I never used to like them because they smelled horrible and all they did was cover up odors. Many newer varieties offer that subtle scent that is pleasantly in the background. Again, there are many brands, and you can find them at many retail stores and online. My latest favorite it Febreze One, Bamboo. They also sell Lavender. I was never a fan of the original Febreze, but this new version is light and airy, and non-aerosol. There are no heavy perfumes, phthalates, dyes, or formaldehyde. Check that your brand is free of these chemicals. Also make sure that the spray is designed for linens if that’s how you plan to use it. You can also just choose an air spray that’s not designed for use on linens or furniture. I use the linen spays on my furniture, and on my sheets and towels after washing them.

Vacuum Beads: If you have a carpet, this is another option for adding that little something to the atmosphere of your home. And it might make vacuuming a little more enjoyable – maybe! Check your vacuum to make sure they are compatible with your model, although most are. These aren’t as abundant in stores as the other options I’ve listed, but you can find them at retail stores like Amazon, Walmart, and Target, as well as at online retailers like Amazon.

NOTE: If you have children or pets, please be careful about using candles, and never light them when you won’t be home, or are asleep.

Hopefully this gave you some ideas for using scents effectively in your home. As you can see, you don’t need to spend a fortune to get that warm, welcoming feeling in your home. What are some of your favorites?