Making Scents: Enhance Your Atmosphere with Aroma
Would you like to feel 40% better? Research shows pleasant aromas can improve our moods. Our sense of smell is the strongest of the five senses, and the one most closely linked to mood and memory. Seventy-five percent of all emotions generated every day are due to scent, and we are 100% more likely to remember something we smell, rather than something we see, hear or touch according to Mood Media North America.
Given those sensory stats, it makes sense to make use of scents for a happier home. Here are some ideas to get you started:
Employ the Essentials
Essential oils are an increasingly popular option for home and personal fragrance. Whether or not you believe in their supposed medicinal properties, they are a great way to scent your home without chemicals. And because they’re so concentrated, a little goes a long way. Try a few drops in an oil diffuser of your choice, or make your own room spray by filling a 4-ounce spritzer bottle with distilled water, 2-3 teaspoons of alcohol-free witch hazel and up to 40 drops of your favorite oils.
Bring the Outside In
Indoor plants are not only lovely to look at, they actually remove pollutants from the air by absorbing the gasses through their leaves and roots. Choose plants with clean, fresh fragrances such as geraniums, Arabian jasmine, gardenias and eucalyptus.
Don’t Disguise: Neutralize
When strong odors (think pets) are present, don’t try to mask them with an even stronger scent (unless you happen to like the combo of disinfectant and wet dog). It’s much more effective to neutralize the source of the smell. For an easy, all-natural deodorizer, fill a spray bottle with plain vinegar, ¼ cup baking soda and 5-10 drops of lemon, lavender or vanilla essential oils (optional). Shake well and spray liberally.
Conceal Your Candles
Scented candles are a great way to make your home smell sweet, but some clever placement will up their efficiency. Put a few candles where you’d least expect them to be – but don’t light them. Linen closets (or anywhere fabrics are stored) are ideal. You’ll not only get a nice surprise whenever you open the door, the linens will also carry the aroma with them.
Eliminate “Sink Stink”
Everyone remembers to take out the garbage before it gets funky. But the garbage disposal is often to blame for unpleasant odors. Squeeze a generous dollop of lemon-scented dish soap down the disposal, run the water for a moment, then turn it on. You can also run lemon or lime rinds through the disposal, followed by lots of water. If the smell persists, pour in ½ cup of baking soda while running warm water.