Using Aromatherapy in Home Decor

It's a fact that our sense of smell triggers emotional responses. Just yesterday at work someone heated something in the microwave for lunch and I instantly thought of the canned dog food that we feed our dog. When I smell coffee, my mind wanders back to childhood summers spent with my Aunt Nora and Uncle Jim, and their warm kitchen filled with the strong aroma of fresh ground coffee beans and warm toast ready for butter and jam. The smell of fresh-baked banana bread makes me think of grandma, while the subtle bouquet of Heaven Sent perfume has me thinking of my mother.

I use aromatherapy not only at home, but also at work. My office desk has a tart burner and each morning when I arrive, I light a tart to evoke a feeling of wellbeing. Sometimes the scent might be that of warm apple pie. Other times, a slight floral scent lingers in the air. At home, I often burn cinnamon candles in the living room and study, while infused oil sticks of vanilla in the bathrooms lends a calming and pleasant air.

Here are some specific scents that you can use to alter your mood within your home decor, using aromatherapy:

• Energy. If you've had a long day, but you've miles to go before you sleep, then use mandarin oil to energize a room. Find a mandarin orange candle, tart, or spray and allow the revitalizing scent to energize you to conquer the next hurdle of the day.
• Stress. To relieve stress, use spearmint-scented products to envelope a room. Bedrooms and a home office or study will benefit from the smell of spearmint to help allay stress, as will the scent of eucalyptus.
• Sleep. Vanilla and lavender are two of the best scents to make a room conducive to sleep. Place a bamboo diffuser of vanilla infused oil into your bedroom and allow the stresses of the day to melt away as you fall into a restful sleep.
• Sensual. If you want to spice things up in the bedroom with your partner, light a candle or tart of jasmine. The heavy scent of jasmine will lift your mood and turn an otherwise boring evening into a memorable one.

Play around with different scents in different rooms, and use several types of vehicles for the scents. Use candles that match the decor of your living room, tart burners in your kitchen and dining room, and bamboo oil diffusers in your bathrooms and bedrooms. Choose containers that match the colors and themes of each room.