How to use scent at home
What to use and when to use them
Scent creates an indelible first impression in the home, but to stress, I’m not referring to deodorising sprays of any sort, and especially not those designed to plug in and poof out a spritz of synthetic pong at all hours of the day. You quickly become immune to something used so consistently, which can lead to inadvertent fragrance overload, especially for guests. Not to forget that these are generally chemical cocktails of unhealthy provenance.
The holy grail is that the air inside your home is naturally fresh and clean before you add anything to it. And thus, when you do add a fragrance, it is a deliberate act with a defined objective. So how do we do that?
My preferred way to introduce scent is with essential oils, used for millennia to purify and heal. And aromatherapy — with an essential-oil burner and non-paraffin wax tea-lights — is the best way to experience the positive effects of such oils at home, as our noses are full of highly sensitive nerve endings all primed to pick up the positive olfactory messages and send calming (or energising) thoughts direct to your brain.
I’ve listed below some of my favourite oils with their individual qualities, from balancing to cleansing. Together they make a great scent starter kit as they can be happily combined to enhance their effects. And below that, I share my four recommended ways, and times, to use them.