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Fill the air with fresh scents |
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Written by Jamila Robinson, McClatchy-Tribune
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Thursday, 15 March 2007 |
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A fragrant atmosphere appeals to more than just noses. It can alter moods, energize and even trigger memories.
Most people use some kind of home fragrance, according to the Home Fragrance Association. Last year, Americans spent nearly $8 billion on scented candles, diffusers, air fresheners and aromatherapy products.
While vanilla and other kitchen scents are the most popular, consumers are now turning to sophisticated aromas made with the essences of pomegranate or citrus, eye-openers such as basil and cucumber, or designer concoctions that smell like warm milk or a summer rain.
"People want their homes to smell good and to be welcoming for their guests," says Mary Ellen Lampansky, executive director of the Fragrance Foundation. She also notes that consumers "want different scents for different rooms and want to create a certain atmosphere."
They also want their candles and sachets to be beautiful decorative accessories. Home fragrance products should "look and smell very natural," says Darek Rensing, spokesman for k. hall designs, a home fragrance manufacturer in University City, Mo.
The company's elegant apothecary jars, simply stamped soaps and curvy glass bottles blend easily into decor while infusing rooms with the spring-like smells of rose-geranium and lilac.
"You have the subtle smell of the essential oils, but you also have the classic design of the line. They work very well together."
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SCENTED CANDLES
When Americans want to add fragrance to a home, they almost always choose a scented candle. "As recently as the late `90s, 75 percent of the candles sold were unscented. Now it is the complete opposite," says Barbara Miller, spokeswoman for the National Candle Association. "As our world becomes more stressful, everyone is looking for relaxation and affordable luxuries. Candles are that affordable luxury."
Soy, what?
Although many consumers prefer the environmentally friendly soy-based scented candles, Miller says soy wax doesn't burn any cleaner than paraffin, beeswax or any other kind of wax. "In a properly formulated candle, wax, wick and fragrance will work together," she says. "It's a little combustion machine." She says a slow, steady burn will ensure strong fragrance and a proper burn pool, where the wax reduces evenly.
Price difference
Scented candles can cost anywhere from 50 cents at a discount store to $100 for an artisan candle. The quality of perfumes or essential oils used in a candle has the most effect on the price. Each of the candles below burns up to 60 hours.
Discount, High Fragrance
Target has developed a line of inexpensive vegetable wax candles blended with essential oils. The fragrances, including Lavender Vanilla and Bamboo Jasmine, are inspired by nature, so the smells are subtle and clean.
Mid-range, Er'go
This Dallas-based company creates hand-poured soy candles. They are blended with premium fragrances, which is how the candles get their true-to-scent names such as Truffle, Cranberry Currant and Mandarin Vanilla. An hour-long burn is enough for the aroma to permeate an entire floor.
High-end, Diptyque
Imported from Paris, Diptyque candles are scented with finely blended perfumes. The results are dramatic aromas such as leather, lily of the valley and fig tree. The perfume is so commanding that the candle doesn't need to be burning for the fragrance to filter into a room.
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DIFFUSERS
Reed stick diffusers delicately scent a home with essential oils. "There is a clarity of scent that you get with a diffuser," says Darek Rensing of k. hall designs. Diffusers have grown in popularity because they are a safe alternative to candles. A room can be permeated with fragrance without the worry of a lit candle. That makes it a great option for dorms or enclosed rooms.
Helpful advice: The exposed ends of diffuser reeds should first be saturated with the oil. The more reeds you use, the more scent, so you may need fewer reeds in a bathroom. You may want to place a coaster under diffuser jars because the oil can leave a ring on tables and bookcases.
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AMBIENT SCENT
"Some companies want you to associate a scent with a shopping experience or a hotel stay," says Mary Ellen Lampansky of the Fragrance Foundation. So those retailers have machines that pump bouquets of jasmine and clover to the customer. Scent Air gives homeowners the same control with its Scent Wave system. The machine delivers waves of fragrances such as Birthday Cake and Eucaluptus Mint sugar cookie in 15-second intervals through cartridges that last up to 300 hours.
www.scentairhome.com
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FRESHENERS, SPRAYS
Most people buy air-freshening sprays to eliminate foul smells. Air sanitizers work best on odors because they kill the bacteria that make the stink. After that, you'll need a splash of fragrance to revitalize the air. Room sprays, which are often offered in the same scents as candles and diffusers, give that boost, while "layering" a room with more fragrance. Linen sprays add another layer, so you can have the calming effects of lavender everywhere from soap to bedsheets.
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CLEANERS
Even basic chores can have aromatherapeutic action.
The Caldrea Company specializes in household products including shower and surface cleaners, detergents and fabric softeners with glorious essential oil-based fragrances. Among them: citrusy ginger pomelo and cozy green tea patchouli. Its products can be found at Sur La Table. | Only registered users can write comments.
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