FRAGRANCE ZONING

HOW IT WORKS THE RULES

ur homes are working harder than ever for us, and as those old dividing lines dissolve and our routines blend into one, it’s little wonder that many of us are feeling a bit fatigued. If that sounds like you, it might be time to try fragrance zoning.

“Fragrance zoning is exactly as the term suggests,” explains Andrew O’keefe, director of Scent Australia Home. “Assuming you have a different scent in each zone, it can work really well when executed properly.”

The reason fragrance zoning is so effective is all down to our brain. “The nose is linked directly to a part of the brain that the other four senses are detached from,” Andrew explains. “The other senses are fed directly through the logical part of the brain, [while] smell leads to the amygdala and hippocampus where we formulate emotions and memory.”

Scents can also be used to create associations. That’s where fragrance zoning can help transform the spaces in your home. “Zoning can curate differing environments, decided by you,” says Andrew.

The key to fragrance zoning is to match each smell to how you want to feel. “The scent of a room dictates the mood of the room, directly affecting behaviour, frame of mind and overall disposition,” Andrew explains.

It could mean using a fresh, invigorating scent like bergamot for your home office, and a soothing fragrance like sandalwood in the living room. If your room doubles as both, switch scents depending on time of day.

Remember to keep each fragrance light, so they don’t blend into an overpowering cloud that could ruin the mood you’ve set out to create.