Setting a Mood in Your Apartment with Scent
Herbal – Chamomile is used primarily in teas but the oil from the plant can also be used to scent the home. It’s a mild fragrance that reacts well when mixed and is known for its calming effects. This is a good fragrance to mix with Vanilla and Lavender before bedtime to help with a good night’s sleep. Peppermint and spearmint are used in stress reduction and meditation and can help energize and improve clarity in thinking.
Floral - Rose, Ylang Ylang, Jasmine, Lilac, and Lavender. Floral notes are used primarily for feelings of comfort and relaxation. Be wary, however, of these fragrances as they can irritate individuals with allergies and other sensitivities.
Resinous – The most popular scents in this category are frankincense and myrrh, most commonly associated with the holiday season and religious experiences. Emotionally, frankincense is said to aid in dispelling grief. Amber is a resinous fragrance commonly found in popular fragrances. It is used for soothing, calming and romance.
Spicy – Cinnamon, allspice, black pepper, ginger, clary sage, basil and clove. Spicy notes are used traditionally for calming, relaxing and romance. However, depending on how you mix the scents, they may also be used to revitalize and energize. Spicy notes are great to mix with florals.
Citrus – Lemon, lime, bergamot and grapefruit are examples of scents within this category. Citrus notes are commonly used to awaken and refresh and are great to use in the mornings when you’re dragging yourself out of bed. They are uplifting, stimulating and support alertness and concentration. High concentrations of citrus smells can significantly open the sinuses.
Fruity – Apple, berry, apricot, banana, melon, coconut and grape are fruit scents that are playful and sweet. Generally used to evoke a joyful atmosphere, these fragrances can bring about vivid emotional responses.
Woody – Vetiver, a smoky woody fragrance, has calming, protective, soothing and uplifting qualities. Fir and pine create an association with the holiday season. During this time, if you choose not to put up a live Christmas tree, diffusing fir essential oil or burning a fir scented candle will leave your apartment full of the holiday spirit. Cedar is a natural bug repellant and also has calming properties. Eucalyptus can be used to alleviate symptoms of the common cold and help with breathing.
Sweet – Perhaps the most universally favored smell falls into this category; vanilla. Scientific studies have shown that this aroma brings to mind positive and happy memories. Vanilla is also used as the base note in many popular perfumes and colognes and mixes well with practically all other fragrances. Other scents that fall into this category may include sugar, cotton candy, chocolate, caramel and other bakery fragrances.
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