The Chronicle (South Tyneside and Durham)
Scents & reason
GET TACTICAL WITH FRAGRANCES ROOM BY ROOM TO CREATE A WELCOMING HOME SAYS, SAM WYLIE-HARRIS
ONE of the highlights of this time of year is sensing a change in the air... the feeling of new beginnings and the scent of bouquets.
“Spring provides the perfect opportunity for rejuvenation, breathing a new lease of life into the home, with fragrance playing a vital role,” says Jennifer Genson, R&D director of fragrance and sensory science at Newell Brands, home to Woodwick and Yankee Candles.
“As the days grow warmer and lighter, it’s important for this to be echoed throughout the home using fresh, floral and bright fragrances that reflect the season’s beauty – and evoke a feeling of tranquillity.”
For the entrance hall and kitchen
Jennifer says it works well to fill the home’s entryway with bold scents to welcome guests – and announce the long-awaited arrival of spring.
To set the tone, she suggests a fruitforward fragrance with notes of fresh peach, warm vanilla and soft florals.
Robin Fisher, ARRAN Sense of Scotland’s head of fragrance says brightening up the kitchen with fruity scents can not only mask [cooking] smells, but also reinvent forgotten areas of the home with a subtle aroma.
“Fruity citrus scents of lime and orange blossom are great for keeping an area fresh. These scents are often used in home fragrance collections, particularly this time of year,” adds Robin.
For the dining area
Moving to the heart of the home, Jennifer suggests focussing efforts on the dining table.
“Here, candles not only illuminate gatherings, but also infuse the air with fragrances that harmonise with the spring sunshine.”
For this, she suggests the scent of lavender and cypress. Jennifer says vibrant scents are the perfect way to elevate any space, “while creating a harmonious connection between the inside and outside”.
For the living area
Robin says: “Spring has lighter and longer days, and bringing the outdoors in can help mirror this – filling your home with a mix of fresh and floral fragrances brings an air of calm, ready for the new season.
“Remove strong winter scents and replace with delightful floral fragrances of jasmine and rose, which are perfect to brighten up living areas, without the need for fresh flowers.
“Combining citrus, fruity and herbaceous notes such as grapefruit, fig and philadelphus can also help refresh your home as the temperature warms up,” he adds.
For the bedroom
“Fragrance can be a powerful factor in your everyday life, having positive impacts on mood, stress and even sleep,” says Robin. “And it’s important to consider this when choosing which fragrances you put in which rooms.”
In terms of perfect scents for the bedroom, he says: “Being able to push the reset button after a long day is vital in improving other areas of your life, from mood to sleep. And this can be easily implemented by placing selected scents in particular areas.”
Robin says the best fragrances for the bedroom include lavender, chamomile and jasmine. “Because they are all synonymous with their sleep aiding qualities, creating a peaceful and tranquil space to unwind.”