As humans, our sense of smell is so incredible that it can transport us – in an instant – to a different era, a different country or a different time. A familiar smell can teleport you to be with someone that you loved that is no longer with you. Read the comments on this New York Times article & notice how many people associate smells with their grandparents & parents.
For some people, it is the smell of leather, wood, or roses that make them long for their grandmother or grandfather. For, me the smell of over-ripe bananas mixed with sweet pea flowers remind me of my dear German teacher’s home. Sweet, fresh mango will always remind me of my grandfather. And some sort of a wet smell takes me back to my time in Europe as an exchange student. Then there is my late mother’s amazing smell – Opium perfume mixed with her kindness, love & all the beautiful things that she resembled. The list goes on.
The reason why smell is so closely tied to emotion is that our olfactory bulb, which is the part of the brain that recognizes scent, is part of the limbic system which supports emotion, behaviour & long-term memories. This is not only fascinating but also shows the importance of creating memories & emotions when using certain fragrances in your space.
At the recent launch of the Panier des Sens Home Fragrance & Christmas collection, I was reminded, once more, of the magic of fragrance. There is truly no easier way to set the scene in a home than with fragrance. Certain scents are good for the nerves, some aid with sleeping & the soft light of candles makes a room look instantly quieter & more inviting.
Here are my tips for using fragranced items in your home:
Combine different scented items together
By using the same fragranced item in different applications (ie room spray, diffuser, scented candle & soap) the beautiful smell will linger longer. And don’t forget to layer your body products too – use bath salt, body butter & fragrance to carry your luxury spa feeling further into the day.
Make candles the centrepiece
How about combining two or three of your favourite fragranced candles with various uniquely designed unfragranced candles? For instance, the Panier des Sens Cedar Forest Candle could be combined with different-shaped (unfragranced) candles in shades of green.
Choose fragrance according to your room
When you take a lot of care to curate a space, why leave out the fragrance? Think about your home fragrances as a mood-enhancing decorative choice rather than just something that smells nice.
Don’t know where to start? First consider the purpose (eating, sleeping, washing) of the room & also consider the decor that you already have in the space. Now take it room by room.
Try something subtle in your living room. Rich, dark notes like cedar forest, cardamon, almond, amber or ginger will give your space warmth in winter. For summer months & added freshness, choose herby smells like basil, sage or even green apple, pomegranate or grapefruit.
I don’t enjoy scented candles in my kitchen or dining area, however, if you like fragrance in your kitchen, stick with citrus scents like lemon, lime, lemon verbena or grapefruit.
Sandalwood, lavender or vanilla are great for bedrooms as they can all aid in good sleep. Who else wants their bathroom to smell like a luxury spa? Using purifying plants in the bathroom can help to control the odours, then add some ocean scents like sea salt, sea samphire, seaweed or driftwood for a luxury seaside feeling. The Panier des Sens cherry blossom range is just perfect for my feminine guest toilet. It goes perfectly with my pink tiles & gold finishes.
If you need to be productive in your home office, choose fragrances like lemon (for alertness), peppermint or cinnamon for concentration or rosemary for improved memory.
Choose quality, eco-friendly products
Low-quality scented options that contain, parabens, sulfates, paraffin or other nasty ingredients are a no-no. I love Panier des Sens for their respect for people & the planet. The brand offers curated 100% recycled eco-packaging, vegan-friendly formulas & 95% ingredients of natural origin. This gorgeous brand is designed & conceived in Provence, France.
Use seasonal fragrance
I love to use my fragrance as an add-on to seasonal decorations. Play around with floral fragrances in my home in springtime or how about Christmas-scented items (think berries, forest, cinnamon) in December? Try the Enchanted Forest or Gingerbread Candle from Panier des Sens.
I hope you feel inspired to add (more) fragrance to your home. Let me know when you do!