Home Fragrance- Scented Candles, Fragrance Oils & Room Sprays

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Home Fragrance

Hello IMBB!  I hope 2011 is going great for you so far.  I’m here to blog about fragrance once again, this time not about perfume, but fragrances for your home!  This is one of my little luxuries.  When you want to relax and get a bit of pampering at home but don’t have the time or energy for beauty rituals, I highly recommend filling your room with a nice scent that can give your surroundings a better ambiance and improve your mood.

Scented Candles

These are my favorite, particularly votive candles, which are small candles placed inside clear glass holders or metal tins.  Scented candles also come in bigger sizes and without containers, called pillar candles, and cute little tea light candles.  Some are even made to look like objects, or food. These emit scents for hours as the candles burn.  They look dainty and when lit at night in my bedroom, give the place a wonderfully calming, cozy ambiance.

Scented candles can be made of paraffin wax, soy wax, or a mix of both, but I personally prefer using candles made of soy wax, because they produce less soot, its residue can easily be cleaned, and it’s kinder to the environment by being non-toxic and biodegradable.

When buying scented candles for the first time at a particular store, I suggest buying just one or two, and trying those first to see if the candle has a strong scent when it’s lit.  Some candles may smell good unlit in the container, but give off little to no scent when it’s actually burning.

Home Fragrance Oils

These are oils which can be based on essential oils (oil derived from plants, herbs, fruit, etc.), fragrance oils (oils derived from synthetic sources), or a mix of both.  Home fragrance oils are pretty concentrated and you’d only need a few drops of it or even need to dilute it with water when using an oil burner.

I recommend using an oil burner to better diffuse the scent.  Depending on the amount used in a burner, home fragrance oils can be very strong and can scent a room for many hours.

When purchasing home fragrance oils, it would be better to get ones made of high-grade oils, for a clear, strong scent, and to prevent any allergies which may be caused by low-quality oils.

Soy Wax Tarts and Room Sprays

Soy tarts are basically tiny, fragrance-concentrated candles without wicks.  They look like tarts, hence the name. These are usually the size of a tart or an ice cube, and come in assorted shapes and colors.  They are solid but melt into oil once they’re popped into oil burners or electric tart warmers.  They’re cute and look like candy, and are a lot of fun because they let me change scents often since they’re small, and disperse fragrance into a room pretty quick.  Unfortunately they only seem to be available in the USA and in the UK, where I ordered a small batch online via Ebay, for a reasonable price.  I’m even thinking of making some myself!

Room and Linen Sprays may be moderately scented or strong, and are very convenient to use.  They are also portable and allow for a selection of fragrances, and are usually affordable.  You can try making these too, by diluting your favorite essential oil or fragrance oil.

Scent Recommendations

For my bedroom, I usually choose scents with vanilla in them because I love vanilla and find it very comforting. So my tip is to get a scent that you like and enjoy.  For relaxation, lavender, chamomile, and sandalwood are some examples of scents that usually promote calmness and help people drift off to sleep.
For daytime, I prefer more upbeat, stimulating scents like fruity or floral fragrances, which I use in the bedroom, guestrooms, and the living room.  For the kitchen or dining room, since I enjoy foody scents, I often use candles and soy tarts that smell like cookies and chocolate.  Yum!

Using home fragrances are an easy, quick, and simple way to lessen stress from everyday life and to just make your home feel and smell cozy.  It’s also a great way to relax without having to leave your house.

Always take precautions though—if you burn a candle or use an oil burner during bedtime, always remember to extinguish the flame right before you sleep, or ask someone to do it for you.  Don’t leave a flame unattended, or near flammable surfaces, and keep it from the reach of children and pets.

Also Read:

Avon Senses Divine Time Deo Spray Review
Clinique Happy Solid Fragrance Pencil Review
Types of Perfume: Perfumes, Colognes, Scents & Fragrances