10 home fragrances to boost your mood
Filling your home with nature-inspired scents is a great way to lift your spirits and calm your mind. TAMARA HINSON reveals how to choose the aroma to best suit you
NEVER before has the nation spent so much time at home, but you can bring the outside in with the use of fresh fragrances. Whether you want to feel energised, uplifted or relaxed, there is a scent to help. With sprays, diffusers, candles and crystals to suit every budget, simply choose your favourite, take a deep breath and relax.
CALMING JASMINE
Floral scents are believed to promote a sense of wellbeing due to their connotations of warmer weather.A study conducted by German scientists revealed that smelling jasmine enhanced the effects of GABA, an amino acid that decreases the nervous system’s “fight or flight” response, helping you to feel calmer and more relaxed. Save: Wax Lyrical Jasmine & OudWood Room Mist, £5, (wax-lyrical.com). A soothing mix of jasmine and sandalwood. Splurge: Bamford Jasmine Room
Fragrance, £28, (bamford.com). A heady blend of jasmine, cut grass and white musk.
HAPPY FLORALS
Researchers at Philadelphia’s La Salle University found that floral scents increased happiness levels, while scientists at the Sleep Disorders Centre of the University of Heidelberg found those who smelled floral fragrances before bedtime had better dreams.
Save: Yankee CandleWater Garden Fragrance Spheres, £4.99, (yankeecandle.
co.uk) Ideal for scenting small spaces, with lily, lotus, orchid and grass notes. Splurge: Ortigia Sicilia Florio Scented Crystals, £25, (ortigiasicilia.com). These jewel-like crystals are infused with the fragrance of Sicilian spring blooms.
SOOTHING SWEETNESS
If your usual method of coping with anxiety or stress involves a chocolate bar or glass of wine, consider a calorie-free fragrance with a sweet scent instead. “Sweet tastes reduce pain by activating opioid systems in the brain. Sweet odours activate the same systems,” says Australian psychologist John Prescott, an expert in scent and taste perception.
Save: Yankee Candles Red Raspberry Candle, £8.99, (yankeecandle. co.uk). Fill your home with the scent of crystallized sugar, sweet mandarin and juicy orange. Splurge: Hello Kitty x Flamingo Candles Sugar Berry Candle, £16, (flamingocandles. co.uk).This cute candle is packed with notes of sugar, cranberry and orange.
LAIDBACK LAVENDER
Lavender has been used for aromatherapy purposes for decades. Scientists say the scent makes people less anxious and more relaxed because it activates GABA receptors, which in turn inhibits certain anxiety-producing brain signals. Save: Sainsbury’s Home Lavender and Geranium Candle, £6.50, (sainsburys.co.uk). The heady burst of lavender is paired with delicate notes of sweet geranium and vanilla.
Splurge: La Montana Siesta Candle £36, (lamontana.co.uk). Brimming with feel-good factor, plus La Montana vow to donate £5 from every candle sold to the National Emergencies Trust’s coronavirus appeal.
HEALING ORANGE
Studies have shown the aroma of orange can reduce anxiety levels, while the colour is thought to have healing energies, so match the scent with decor for extra impact.
Save: Wax Lyrical Mediterranean Orange Diffuser, £10, (waxlyrical.com). This will transport you to a far-flung orange grove.
Splurge: Ashleigh and Burwood Wild Things Crouching Tiger Reed Diffuser, £38, (ashleigh-burwood.co.uk).
Channel your wild side with notes of orange, bergamot and mandarin.
GALVANISING GRASS
Green fragrance notes such as grass or pine lift our moods by reminding us of the great outdoors. “Smells evoke memory in a powerful way,” says Nathan Urban, an expert on the olfactory system. “This may be because of the strong connections between the parts of the brain responsible for sense of smell and those linked to memory and emotion, while smelling outside scents is a powerful reminder of experiences we’ve had outdoors.”
Save: Lily Flame Freshly Cut Grass Scented Candle, £8.95, (lily-flame.co.uk). This fresh, crisp fragrance brings to mind grassy meadows and long summer days.
Splurge: Goutal Une Forêt d’Or Scented Candle, £49, (johnlewis.com).
The next best thing to a long forest walk.
BUOYING BERGAMOT
Countless studies show that citrus scents have a powerful, positive impact on our moods. “With any citrus smell, lessened anxiety always seems to emerge as a benefit,” says Barbara Thomley, former lead coordinator of the Mayo Clinic’s Complementary and Integrative Medicine Program.
Save: Bergamot single candle, £4, (marksandspencer.co. uk) Bergamot gives a great citrus
fix – it’s fresh and spicy, with subtle floral notes. Splurge: Seletti Candle, £44.50,
(selfridges.com) Fill your room with the scent of bergamot with a quirky edge.
COMFORTING VANILLA
A study by scientists at Germany’s University of Tübingen found that smelling vanilla reduced people’s so-called startle reflexes and made them feel calmer. Save: Marks & SpencerVanilla Diffuser, £7.50, (marksandspencer.com). A rich hit of vanilla, offset with notes of caramel and ylang ylang. Splurge: Rabot 1745 Cacao andVanilla Room Diffuser, £34.95, (rabot1745beauty. com). Inspired by St Lucia, this diffuser’s scent combines vanilla and cocoa.
ENERGISING MANDARIN
Mandarin’s citrusy scent can boost flagging energy levels. It’s also seen as a symbol of fortune and prosperity in some cultures.
Save: Sweet Lime and Mandarin room spray, £5, (matalan.co.uk). Spray daily for energising sweetness.
Splurge: Lime Basil & Mandarin Scent Surround Room Spray, £46, (jomalone. co.uk). Just a few spritzes will lift your body and mind.
DREAMY ROSE
Not only can this romantic scent create pleasant dreams, scientists found it also helps reduce anxiety levels. Save: Marks & Spencer Rose Candle, £4, (marksandspencer.com). A perfect excuse to take the time to smell the roses. Splurge: Wicks and Stones Infinity Collection Rose Quartz Scented Candle,
£39, (johnlewis.com). Double up on the benefits with a beautiful scent and a chunk of rose quartz, which will fill your home with love and warmth.