apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

I am not an expert, but I would imagine that you would want a calming scent for your bedroom. One which can help you to relax and let the day fade away. I think Lavender is a scent that is used for relaxation. I personally love the smell of fresh laundry, so sometimes I hide "bounce sheets" around the house.

What's the right smell for each room?

Clean.

I suspect that your obsession is based in the onslaught of commercial advertising for the exploding market in the "new generation" of home air fresheners.

I agree with Miranda, aim for "clean."

I have completely changed my tune about this... I used to love perfume, incense, etc. And then I got pregnant and my sense of smell became incredibly acute. I began to do a little reseach on fragrance and what's actually in it. They are beginning to find links between sterility in male babies and the ingredients in artificial fragrance. Now I equate much of that stuff with toxins. Especially air fresheners. So I guess I would agree with the first two posters also but maybe in a different way.

method home products should do the trick! I love them! Not only are all the products great for the environment, but they make a wonderful line of air care. I'm big on the lavender lemongrass, which I've sort of decided is my "signature home scent" throughout. They've also got eucalyptus mint, apple vanilla, gingerbread and spice, sweetwater, and grapefruit pear. And they're all scented with essential oils, not that crazy fake stuff you find in most air care products! Look at me, a walking advertisement (if only they'd pay me!) When people come over, they do often say how nice my house smells, so I guess it's working. Enjoy!
www.methodhome.com

i love, love, LOVE Downy's lavender vanilla fabric softener for my bedsheets/duvet. it's clean, relaxing, and homey-smelling.

kitchens are always a cinnamon/spice scent to me. throwing a lemon in the garbage disposal is a great smell too.

and bathrooms should be a clean linen/laundry sort of scent, i guess.

Be careful not to get caught up in the billion dollar industry of "smells for the home" The thing is that once you've been in the room longer than 5 minutes, your nose will get used to the smell and neutralize it. so this is a waste of money. I have a friend who insists on buying those plug in things. the thing is she is not big on cleaning. If you clean your home, wiping the surfaces with some type of cleaner, do your laundry, and clean your bathroom, and open the windows to let the place air out, your house should smell pretty good.

amanda, I completely agree. When I said "clean" I mean a genuinely clean home, not a clean "scented" home. To me, my home smells best when it is fresh and clean - dusted, vacuumed, etc. I have an incredibly acute sense of smell and am also a migraine sufferer. I am so sensitive to smell that many manufactured fragrances, perfumes and home air fresheners in particular, can instantly give me a headache.

shauna - I adore the lemon in the garbage disposal trick. I use lemon wedges in ice water and hot tea almost daily. Rather than chucking my lemon wedges in the garbage I always put them in the disposal and then run the disposal. Not only does it smell nice but it keeps the disposal clean and helps to sanitize it.

I agree that a clean home always smells good. But that said, I am also a fan of candles for ambiance. On a recent trip to Columbus, Ohio, I came upon a wonderful candle store that makes their own candles that are supposed to be "aromatherapy." I don't know about the aromatherapy part but I do know that they smell wonderful and that there are many flavors to choose from. Check them out at http://www.paulrobinett.com/candles.php. The candles are little pricy if you order online but I have found that if you call the store directly and submit your order you get the instore pricing which is 4 candles for $36 and 10 for $86 or something like that. I am a huge fan of the "Amber" scent (No. 29).

I agree with the posts that are wary of too many scents (due to toxins etc...).

Even burning candles in your home (paraffin is petroleum based) releases stuff that lowers indoor air quality. Soy or beeswax are less toxic, supposedly.

But, I burn a candle every now and then (esp during the holidays) and also have an essential oil burner and have a few aromatherapy oil blends to use in the burner.

But if you're looking for scent all the time, maybe some freshly-dried herbs in a room might achieve the same effect...

I am more of a fan of different smells for different moods. Or occasions. And a big fan of using the actual ingredients rather than a fake candle etc. (Although that is also necessary when need be and then I agree with the more natural of the fragrances out there!)

Like the smell of pine all over the house over the holidays (I did not have a tree, but pine branches on the mantles, over the windows, and a wreath with pine berries on the door - quick, cheap, and adds decoration too.

Over the holidays when friends/family were over, I made either mulled wine or spiced apple cider or cookies just as guests were coming in - very festive, inviting, and when you are done, you have something good to eat/drink!!

My kitchen always smells like the fresh herbs I have growing on the sill behind the sink. I also keep a used lemon half by the sink to rub it down after a particularly greasy washing, or to throw pieces down into the disposal (watch out if they are too big!!).

I do love the archipelago candles with essential oils and soy only wax (no toxins or smoky burning here!) for long soaks in the tub. Again b/c of mood.

for everyday, I agree, I love a clean smelling place.
But clean can mean diff smells to diff people, same as colors.

the other nice thing about soy candles is that they are water soluble so you can clean any drips easily. If you get soy candles that come in nice glass or ceramic containers they can be easily cleaned and reused - I'm a big fan.

I love the idea of picking a signature method scent!!

Anything by Agraria but especially their bitter orange potpourri is heavenly. They sell it at Gumps and Bergdorf Goodman. It's expensive but the scent lasts a long time.

Jo Malone, who now has an online store in the States, does the most amazing range of room fragrances. Now you will be shocked at the price but I have had a bottle in my kitchen/conservatory and use it twice a day and it's been there for 11 months and is still not used up.
I asked for a fragrance that would eliminate smoke smells and cooking smells and was advised by them to buy one that contained grapefruit. It works and it only takes a couple of sprays to make the room smell wonderful.

My mom uses eucalyptus leaves hanging from a ribbon in the shower--when dampened, the leaves give off a subtle scent that is quite lovely.

I live in a aptmt. building with 64 apartments. When we cook the smell lingers out into the hallway and many times not everyone will welcome the smell. This also applies to those tenants who begin to cook something and forget. The smell can linger for days. Instead of masking the smell I simply fill a small pot on the top burner of my stove fill half with water add a couple of cinnamon sticks, vanilla sticks, and cloves about 5 and let it come to a boil then simmer. I can add in orange peel, lemmon peel, apples, or pears to this mix and the scent is sweet and spicy and lingers. I'm sure there are other things you can mix or come up with but this is my all time favorite. Also, it doesn't compete with the smell of my food when I cook and this mixture can last up to 3-4 days before you add fresh ingredients. One word of caution the water (while boiling) even simmering needs to be watched because it tends to evaporate quickly. So, you may need to continue to add water to the pot.

Demeter makes a line of single note fragrances that are perfect for this application. I like Grapefruit Tea and Tomato (smells like a fresh tomato stem). http://www.fashion-planet.com/shopping/demeter/demeterhome.html

Clean.

That and the smell of once slept in sheets. They smell like 'comfortable'. :)

Essential oils in a light bulb diffuser will scent your home without lowering the air quality. Lavender is relaxing, citrus and eucalyptus are stimulating and tea tree oil is cleansing, for example.

RT ~ this site is no longer in service. Maybe they changed their address?

What gets me is the bathroom odor spray that smells like fruit! The last thing I want to associate with fruity smells is the smell of a "freshly used" bathroom...if you know what I mean.

My favorite scent is the scent of bed linens that have dried outside on the line. There is nothing better.

I like to use fragrance free Oust to keep the smell of the rood fresh. Oust, unlike other air fresheners, actually kills the odor causing bacteria so it doesn't need a scent to mask foul odors. I keep a can of the fragrance free aerosol in the kitchen, bathroom and hidden away in the living room

I am also a migraine sufferer and truly suffer when someone sprays air freshener or has those plug in smelly things. But my favorite way to scent my place is putting is a cinnamon stick & some cloves in a pan of water on the stove & leave it simmer on low heat. It is an amazing smell AND is a great trick for getting rid of less desirable food smells after cooking (fish, etc). Realtors use this trick when they show houses to make them seem more home-y. Just don't forget about it -- on occasion, I have let the water boil away and the smell of smoke & burnt cinnamon stick is a little rough.

Aim for smelling clean. Nicole, you are right about the smell of line-dried linen - heavenly. Air your home every day even in cold weather. Artificial scents are pretty icky and even natural essential oils can be overdone. I find that scents are more enjoyable for specific occasions (smell of evergreen boughs, smell of fresh flowers, etc.) rather than all the time. Sometimes I float a couple of drops of rosewood oil in hot water for a wonderful scent (geranium is also nice). I am going to try the new Fresh2 in the bathroom where we keep the laundry hamper and diaper pail: "a revolutionary [CFL] light bulb that safely breaks down odors, while providing energy-efficient light".

my house is clean and i love that smell (as long as it comes from natural cleansers and not lysol & their ilk) and the smell of fresh flowers and plants but i also love playing with fragrance for my home. warm ones in the winter like vanilla and amber and archipelago makes a scent called grove and another called havana can make the house feel warm even if the thermostat's at 65. in the summer, i like crispy green scents for the same reason. i like soy candles and natural room sprays are great and i recently discovered archipelago's scent beads. i have a small container in my office where i'm not allowed to burn candles and everyone loves to visit me in my cubicle because "it smells so good". i love my environment being a treat for all my senses: nasal, visual, tactile, aural and edible.

I started to obsess on this very topic about a year ago. My goal was to find one scent for the apartment as opposed to one for each room. My problem with everything I tried (room sprays, candles, cleaners, etc...) is that the scents really didn't seem to last and were difficult to modulate. My next effort will be to try one of those commercial scent diffusers that department stores use that have been modified for the home. I found one on the Westin Hotel online store - they sell their signature hotel scent (white tea) and the electric diffuser. The company that makes these units for Westin and other commercial venues also has a line of diffusers and scents for the home. Check scentairhome.com. It seems kinda pricey but is really not more than all the scent products (candles, etc..) that I buy in a month anyway. I am definitely intrigued. Has anyone tried this and does it work well?

I don't use home fragrances, and can't abide those ones from the grocer store (we once rented a house on Cape Cod that had scented plug-ins, and we walked in and gagged...it was overwhelming! Had to air the house out!).

However, I love the scents of L'Artisan parfeumeur, which I wear (La chasse aux papillons is my spring favourite). They have amazing home scents, which I would love to try one day, starting with the Scent of Leaves. And in Europe, they have a case of "childhood memories", evoked by the scents of Baby Says, Goodnight Kiss, In the Laundry, Afternoon break, Back to School, Summer Holidays, Up in the Attic, Around the Fireplace. Mmm, would love to try them!

You can put some vanilla extract in the oven and heat it slightly. you home will smell like something is baking in the oven. i learned this trick from a real estate agent.

also, spraying designer perfumes can be an interesting way to evoke a more sophisticated mood rather than your simpler candles and aromatherapy products.

I'm surprised noones mentioned diffusers. I have a vanilla diffuser in the bathroom. That room is always a bit warmer than our other rooms b/c its smaller and I love walking in and feeling warm and smelling the constant but subtle scent of vanilla.
About the toxins, anyone know if theyre present in diffusers?

I've read these comments with interest as I am always in search of scents as well. My apartment is so small that any scent will carry throughout the place. I didn't find very much that was helpful, though. The comments about clean go without saying.

I believe you were asking for specifics. Whether you use natural or synthetic sources is up to you. The kitchen - lemon. Lemon cuts the smell of onions and most greases. It's also great to wash your hands with after cutting an onion.

In the bathroom - minty eucalyptus or citrus mint is very invigorating in the morning. In the evening, jasmine is the best to soak with and will relax you. For the bedroom - lavender. Lavender on the pills is absolutely heavenly. For my living room I like the combination of grapefruit and jasmine. Both refreshing and relaxing at the same time.

Hope this helps. I do love the method cleaning supplies, but find them a little pricey. And febreeze is absolutely a godsend.

Mrs. Meyers' cleaning products are the BOMB!!!

I am a big fan of Pacifica's soy candles. I get them at Whole Foods, where there is usually a pretty good selection of fragrances. I'm partial to the English Clary Sage and Mediterranean Fig scents. I get the votives in glass containers, I think they are about $6, and they last forever. I don't even burn them very often, but they give off just a hint of scent. I can't stand really smelly stuff. I travel a lot for work, and I always tuck one in my suitcase with a pack of matches and light it when I get to my hotel room for a few minutes. Its a great way for me to get the home feeling away from home.

I am currently using a linen spray that my sister makes with lavender and peppermint. It is such a soft fresh smell, relaxing and clean at the same time. I spritz the bed when I change the sheets and occasionally refresh it in between. Love it.

I agree with those who said "clean".

If you're in an apartment building, please keep in mind those of us with allergies, for whom other peoples' love of fragrance causes us real difficulty. My previous across-the-hall neighbor used to use a vanilla fragrance that would have been nice had there just been a slight whiff of it once in a while (I do like the smell of vanilla when I open the bottle when I'm baking), but the chemical version of the vanilla air scent she used (and other fragrances, it's not just vanilla) causes me headaches, congestion, and pain. I fantasize about being rich enough to purchase an apartment building and set it up as fragrance free!

I think Tocca candles have the best frangrances. they are all based on various travel destinations - I guess intented to invoke memories. Some are a little sweeter than otehrs - my favorite is 007 because it s alittle more masculine. Sorry to plug my firend's website shamelessly, but he's got a nice selection of Tocca and he's a nice guy so give him your business!

http://www.vigamassi.com

method products are definitely more expensive than other similar products you'll find on store shelves. But what you have to remember is they're all natural, nothing artifical. They're great for the environment, and all the packaging is recyclable. It does cost slightly more, but it's what you're doing for the environment, the earth, and future generations that will make it worth while in the long run (hopefully!) And their products just smell heavenly if you ask me! Also, to the person that mentioned diffusers, method put out holiday diffusers this past year; so I'm hoping they sold well, and they start making "everyday" diffuser scents to go along with their air care line. Time will tell!

I'm a natural perfumer, I've worked with natural-derived materials for about ten years now, because I'm violently allergic to synthetics. On the one hand, it's in my best interest to advocate you go out and try whatever perfume yanks your yo-yo. On the OTHER hand, other posters have already made some excellent points.

1. Your nose gets fatique easily. While aromatherapy relies on subtle fragrance to influence mood and outcome once in awhile, constant exposure just turns it into more background "noise" that your brain will just filter out the longer you're in a given environment.

2. Soy candles are optimal; I love candles, but I don't know what their environmental/air quality impact is, to be honest. I'm sure someone can tell me where to look.

3. Demeter oils are fascinating and some of the coolest stuff I've ever seen in perfuming, but they are not natural/organic.

4. The synthetics argument: we are surrounded by synthetics all the time, and it's probably not a huge issue to people that run a home decoration and design blog -- synthetics have made some life-simplifying tools miraculously possible.

That said, people who describe themselves as allergic to perfumes and room fragrancing are often allergic to synthetics, but have less of or no allergic response to organically-originated fragrances. However, there are no guarantees.

If you do decide you want to establish room fragrances for your home, consider:
1. Who do you live with? What are these people allergic to?
2. Do you really want to smell x all the time?
3. How often do you entertain? While a nice smell my impress visitors, it may also cause allergic reactions ranging from headaches to anaphylactic shock.
4. If you cook, wear perfume, or even like sniffing your laundry, will your room fragrances conflict?

That said, if you're looking for some suggestions, consider reviewing this chart to help you establish a mood in each room:
http://www.tiferet.co.il/apchart.html

Keep in mind that while prolonged exposure to synthetic essences can be damaging, so can prolonged exposure to natural essences depending on the chemical makeup of the plant used. Also, overharvesting is a huge problem; popular plants like sandalwood, rosewood, and frankincense are endangered as of now because of overharvesting, and my bets are on lavender following just because it's so heavily overused in fragrancing.

a few ideas:
The organic market near my apt. adds a bit of peppermint essential oil to the water when washing their floor & it smells very nice. Don't quote me on this, but I think I read somewhere that roaches don't like the scent of peppermint.

I personally am a fan of the Eucalyptus Spearmint plug-in from the aromatherapy line at Bath & Body Works. They call it their "relax" fragrance - I find that it does have a relaxing effect but is awakening at the same time.