Scent is extremely important to our lives, but we often forget to make our homes smell delicious. Some scents can relieve stress and anxiety, make us calmer, boost our energy and help us sleep. Our sense of smell is one of the most delicate of our senses, it can trigger emotions and also bring back memories.
Let’s explore ways to scent it naturally and add the vital last touch to our space. We can of course use candles and reed diffusers, but I would like to look at alternative ways to do so.
Home - made “potions”
These are little concoctions you can make easily make in just a few minutes using items from your weekly shop.
1. “Cinnamon delight”
- Orange slices
- Cinnamon sticks
- Pot of boiling water
Cut the orange in slices, add to a saucepan with a cinnamon stick (or powder) and gently simmer for a few minutes on your aga or stove. Then let it rest in the saucepan - your kitchen will smell delicious and fresh. If you have some kind of hot plate you can leave it there all the… the warmth will.
This an uplifting combination which can help alleviate anxiety and depression bringing a bit of that summer fell into our homes.
You can also do the same with:
- Lemon and rosemary - This duo can promote concentration and calm.
- Lime and thyme - This pair purifies the air making your home feel clean and fresh and positively affect your mood.
2. Flowers and plants
Having flowers and plants in your home adds colour and texture to your home but also has many benefits. Have fresh flowers if you can but some flowers dry very well too and smell delicious too.
- Hyacinths - It’s sweet scent gets stronger and stronger as the flower opens and can scent a large room.
- Lavender - It is so well known to promote calmness and wellness and to help with sleep.
- Lilac - calming and eases anxiety
- Tuberose - known as the “Mistress of the night” and helps with relaxation
- Jasmine - eases depression and uplifts moods
- Gardenia - often used in perfumes can incite relaxation and relieve stress
- Lemon Balm - uplifting and calming
- Peppermint - will make you feel focus and alert
3. Tealights in a bowl of dried herbs
Add a tealight to the centre of a little bowl containing dried herbs. You can also do it with pot pourri. It also looks really pretty on your dining table too
4. Eucalyptus in the shower
A lovely way to use eucalyptus apart from using it in a vase is to hang a few branches tied together in the shower. The steam of the shower will release essential oils and help clear nasal congestion. You should be able to keep it there for a couple of months before changing it.
5. Sage water for your iron
Bunch of freshly picked sage leaves - 500 ml of water
-
Bring a pot of water to boil and add the finely chopped herbs.
-
Take off the stove and cover- let it infuse for an hour.
-
Use a fine sieve or muslin to filter the water and put in a bottle.
-
Use a tablespoon of the mixture with your normal iron water to gently perfume your clothes
6. Add essential oils
There is so much written about the benefits of aromatherapy. Add in a few drops to the following:
- Pinecones
- To a diffuser
- To your bath water
- Cotton wool ball (and place in your cupboards)
- Use a few drops in a pan of hot water to mask kitchen odours and smells
- You can also add essential oils to gemstones like in this beautiful diffuser.
7. Aumônières
So good looking to add to your wardrobe, bookshelves, coffee table, bedside table – these aumônières (scented purse) are filled with volcanic stones that have been scented with natural essences made up from ancient recipies.
Aumônières would have been worn in the 14th Century in France handing from a cord around the waist by both men and women and contained everyday items such as money, prayer beads and a book of hours.
It's so very easy to scent our home naturally don't you think?