Your Ultimate Guide to Home Fragrances
Explore the variety of methods to bring fragrance into your home, the key fragrance profiles, types of devices & matching fragrance with rooms with House.
Have you ever had the smell of peppermint drift over you and suddenly you’re 8 years old again at Christmas with a candy cane? Or the smell of woody sandalwood and amber and suddenly you’re being transported back to the bays of Morocco. This is the magic of fragrance. It can ignite your senses with nostalgia or revitalise your body to good health. Fragrance has a place in our lives where it can impact your mood, evoking specific emotions whether it be creating an energy boost or calm. It can also trigger memories taking you back to a place you can’t get to by foot. So, bringing fragrance into your home makes perfect sense (pardon the pun!).
There are several ways you can bring beautiful scents into your home, leaving a lasting impression on guests or creating an oasis for yourself. With so many different scents to choose from, we explore how you can incorporate fragrance into your home, key fragrance profiles, and which fragrance is best suited to rooms in your home.
How to bring fragrance into your home?
Fragrances are housed in many shapes, forms and methods. Your lifestyle, living situation and dependants could determine which is the best method for you. We outline below the ways you can bring fragrance into your home and their benefits.
1. Scented Candles
The most common of the fragrance committee is a candle. Not only do they emit a consistent lingering scent but the vessel they come in also makes a beautiful statement décor piece. Over the recent years, candle makers have discovered that the larger the candle, the more wicks are needed to be added to ensure an even burn, and that the wax melts consistently around to the rim—making it much more efficient and better value for money. The wicks have also evolved from traditional cotton wicks—which are still very effective—to wooden wicks. The benefit of having a wooden wick is that they stay upright throughout the burning process instead of falling into melted wax that needs to pick at after, they burn slower and evenly with a wider lower flame and can create a crackling ambience when burning while also throwing the fragrance.
2. Diffuser
Coming in two different forms, diffusers have exceptional benefits when used in the home. Ideally you want to choose a diffuser that houses natural oils, not synthetic, so it’s best to do a little research before purchasing. Reed diffusers are long wooden stems that sit within a jar of scented oil and carrier oil. The oil is soaked into the stems and releases a consistent lingering scent. To make the smell stronger over time, flip the reeds. The other consideration is the number of reeds the diffuser has. The more reeds there are, the more the scent is emitted but don’t forget to top up the oil. Reed diffusers commonly come in floral or woody scents and are great for high traffic areas like a foyer or entrance as the air movement will help circulate the scent and throw the fragrance. The benefit of a reed diffuser is it can be left unattended and could be a safer option if you have children or pets.
An electric diffuser, also known as an Aroma diffuser, is a great option as you can mix up the scents to how you like and control the intensity of the scent to your specifications. Again, natural or essential oils are very important here as you don’t want to be breathing in harmful chemicals. Diffusers can be used for pretty fragrance purposes; however, you will find electric diffusers are perfect for aromatherapy or natural remedies that promote holistic health and wellbeing solutions. Think lavender in your bedroom to help you sleep at night, and eucalyptus for cold and flus. The electric diffuser is a mixture of scented oil and water. When the diffuser is turned on a mist is formed and dispersed into the air. Opt for a diffuser that has an intensity control and timer, so you don’t have to worry about it running all night so you can sleep with peace of mind.
3. Wax melts
Wax melts are your wick free alternative. To use a wax melt, you place the scented cube of wax over a flameless heat waiting for it to dissolve. Once it starts to melt the fragrance is released into the air filling in a room within minutes. While the fragrance is thrown as much as a candle, and the melt is aesthetically pleasing, though the clean-up is messier than a candle.
4. Room sprays
Room sprays offer an instant effect, last longer and are cost efficient. If you have kids or pets, a spray could be considered a safer option as there is limited chance of them getting into contact with the device and no chance of getting burnt by a flame.
Different fragrance profiles and where to use them
Finding the perfect fragrance can be challenging at the start. Not only are there hundreds of scents to choose from but also a matter of where to put them. Finding the right fragrance adds a sense of connection between you and your home and what your home represents. Below we explore four key fragrance profiles and which room they are best suited to in your home.
Floral
One of the most common among the fragrance families and most often used in women’s fragrances. Typically, resembling a bouquet of fresh cut flowers or a powdery note, floral scents promote a sense of sensuality. For that reason, floral scents are recommended for the bedroom or living room because they are soothing and calming.
Oriental
Known for its rich, exotic, seductive scent, oriental pays homage to herbs and spices or dry powdery notes. With a feeling of opulence and sometimes considered potent, oriental scents can be softened with amber or sweet notes. These are ideal for the living room for a party or the bedroom to add some spice in your life.
Woody
Usually warm and opulent, woody scents convey a message of earthiness being best described as coniferous, woody and bitter. To tone down the warmth woody scents are often blended with fresh notes like citrus and floral. To create a welcoming and a lasting impression on your guests, a woody note resembling warm yet dry is recommended to be used in the foyer or entrance.
Fresh
Bright, invigorating and clean come to mind with fresh scents. They can be broken down into an array of herby green, zesty citrus and oceanic. More often used in men’s fragrances as they are often paired with spicy notes for a more robust fragrance. Using fresh scents around the home promote a sense of alertness and cleanliness making them perfect in the home office, bathroom, dining room and kitchen. Just keep it light in the dining room though as you don’t want to overwhelm your senses when you have a delicious aromatic meal in front of you.
Let your personality shine through fragrance. Just like our fashion choices and home décor, scents emitted reflect your mood and what you want to represent. For those of us new to home fragrance, a small candle or a room spray is a great option that doesn’t involve much commitment. Once you work out your signature scent or your fragrance profile of preference you can shop around for the fitting décor piece to match. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasonal alchemist there is no denying there is a fragrance for everyone. Have fun exploring your options and we hope you find your perfect match.
