Posts Tagged ‘fragrance’
Aromatherapy for Mood
Your environment is a reflection of yourself and vice versa. On top of a clean home, the scents that surround you influence both your own mood and the impression left on your guests. Aromatherapy can be used to treat depression and stress, and has even shown to be effective on dogs! Pamper yourself, your family, and even your pet with the aromas below.
Chamomile & Lavender are good for treating stress/anxiety, and for sleep or relaxation. Chamomile is slightly fruity, and I prefer the scent to the taste of chamomile tea. Lavender is floral, and great for bedtime. A quality lavender candle will fill an entire room with scent. Light near your bed half an hour before it’s time to sleep (but don’t leave unattended). Lavender has been linked to lowered blood pressure and decreased muscle tension.
The above scents are also great for treating depression, as is Sandalwood. I recently discovered sandalwood when my mom gave me a set of sandalwood tea candles as part of a gift. Woody and fruity, it’s now one of my favorite scents. Sandalwood and Jasmine are said to be romantic scents.
Citrus and Minty scents are ideal for energy and mental clarity. They also provide your home with a ‘clean‘ feeling, which is why many cleaning products are scented and marketed as Orange or Minty Fresh. (When it comes to choosing cleaning products, I suggest Citra Solv, which I’m sure I’ll post more on later. It gets through anything, and I don’t mind getting it on my bare hands or using around my pup!)
Citrus scents Peppermint, Lemon, Orange, and especially Grapefruit are all stimulating scents. One of my favorite smells of all time is simply Gap Scents So Pink. Orange Spice Black Tea is great for a mood boost on hot or cold days.
I find that minty smells can provide a boost of energy or a gateway to sleep, depending on when applied. I’m pretty obsessed with Tiger Balm and everything like it. Camphor gels or pain patches on the back of my neck are the perfect pick-me-up when I’m sitting at the computer for long hours, while I’m also a fan of menthol and lavender nasal sprays before bed.
More on Candles…
Some candles seem really pricey, but good ones can burn as long as 40+ hours, and the best candles require less burning time to put off a lingering scent. Yankee Candles are famous for their potency, and sometimes you can find them at outlet stores such as Ross or TJ Maxx for as much as half off. Otherwise, they sell for around $20 each. Bed, Bath and Beyond has a great selection.
The Kardashian sisters at Dash are working on a candle collab with For Every Body that will include soy-based, eco-friendly candles and soy sprays.
Easy Tips for a Clean Home
Cleaning your home doesn’t have to be something you dread. If you keep on top of messes as they happen, most homes can survive on a thorough cleaning just once or twice a month, giving you more time to enjoy your living space. A few tips can make cleaning easier and more satisfying.
1. Do it when the mood strikes. My husband gets really annoyed when I clean at 2am, but I know it’s better to get it all handled when I feel like doing it than to force it later. Clean everything in sight when you truly want to do it, and just lightly maintain and pick up after yourself the rest of the time.
2. Clean just before your shower. This works sort of like magic, where you clean and clean, hop into the shower exhausted, and pop out into a freshly cleaned home. You’ll do a better job tackling messes when you aren’t concerned with messing up your looks, and your hot shower will feel like a steamy reward. For extra satisfaction, throw in a workout before or after the clean fest.
3. Reuse cleaning wipes. I used to feel guilty using pre-moistened wipes for cleaning, as it seemed really wasteful, but I found that even the store brand cleaning wipes can be rinsed and used several times. One wipe can be folded over a few times to clean your counters, and then rinsed under the faucet and used to wipe down your sink. Disposable cleaning wipes are also the best way to clean inside microwaves. For extra cleaning power, use wipes with a citrus or vinegar cleaning spray.
4. Rearrange your space. Not only will this expose hidden messes under furniture, it serves as a huge motivator. When you are excited about your space, you’ll enjoy taking care of it, and chores will seem less monotonous.
5. Reward yourself with scents & ambiance. When you’re finally finished getting everything clean, light a few candles or oils for aromatherapy. Your favorite scents can chase away cleaning smells and signal your brain to relax.
Fave Fragrance: Kate
When Marsadie blogged about patchouli scents, I was instantly interested in Kate Moss’ Kate fragrance. It took me until August to finally get my hands on it, and I actually think it’s a more appropriate scent for a summer-to-fall transition than a spring-to-summer one. I love patchouli, but this fragrance is equally floral, with a rosy musk ideal for summer rain or the first day of autumn. The bottle is simple and grown up, and sells for just under $35 (for 1.7oz). Sample this scent at Walgreens or wherever perfumes are sold.
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