We know a thing or two about what makes a home beautiful and functional. Whether it is organized desks that can improve your mental health or having systems that make life more efficient, your space truly impacts your life. But did you know that fragrances can take your home to the next level? They add depth and character and also allow you to give each room a different vibe. Whether you are bringing in fresh flowers or adding essential oils, it is important to know how different scents can impact your mind, body and home. So based on aromatherapy and scent research, we’ve put together a list of ‘scentspirations’ to help you choose the perfect smell for your home.

Aromatherapy For Your Living Room

Women sitting on couch using essential oils

Your living room is probably the space that you spend the most time in. Plus, it is often the first thing guests see when they come in. So having a hospitable space, both visually (through organization and interior design) and aromatically is super important. The good thing is that this is your playground to experiment in! Just like some people like bookshelves while others prefer art, in the living room you can choose whatever scent you like. The main principles are to not have an overwhelming potent smell as it can be distracting.

Some of our favourites for a clean and fresh feel include scents featuring herbs like basil or sage, or fruits such as green apple, grapefruit or pomegranate. Or you can add deeper and richer notes such as ginger, blackberry, and amber for a warmer atmosphere. What’s more, just like you reorganize and tidy your space every season, you can also change up the scent!

Finally, if you are looking for something that both looks and smells great - grab some flowers. With spring finally here, you have tons to choose from! Some of our favourites include lilies, peonies and roses.

Aromatherapy For Your Dining Room

A dining room is a space where you should focus on the act of eating, so it needs to be free of clutter, including aromatic clutter. You don’t want the scents to be competing with your food as the sense of smell plays a significant role in tasting and enjoying your meal. So, avoid strong aromas or candles especially floral or fruity ones.

But, if you want to neutralize the pesky garlic and onion smell you can use something citrus-based or herbaceous. You could also use something like a taper beeswax candle as they have natural air-purifying properties that neutralize the bad smells and emit a light honey aroma that wouldn't compete with your food.

Aromatherapy For Your Bedroom

Lavender next to essential oil bottle — home organizer bedroom

Your bedroom should be a peaceful and calming space where you can relax and unwind after a long day. While a tidy bedroom goes a LONG way in helping you feel relaxed and ready for bed, research also suggests that certain aromas can help improve your health, boost your energy and promote good sleep, among others. To spread these scents, you can use essential oils in a diffuser, or try a scented pillow spray.

The classic bedroom scent, Lavender, is known for its calming and soothing properties. It has been shown to help reduce anxiety and promote restful sleep. In fact, a meta analysis found that of the single inhalation methods, the lavender inhalation effect was the greatest. Another option is Jasmine, as it has a sweet and exotic scent that can help reduce anxiety and improve mood. It has also been shown to help improve sleep quality. Other aromas recommended are chamomile, vanilla, and sandalwood.

When choosing fragrances and aromas for your bedroom, it's important to consider your personal preferences and any sensitivities you may have. Stick to natural fragrances and avoid synthetic fragrances, which can be irritating and disruptive to sleep. With the right fragrances and aromas, you can create a peaceful and relaxing environment that promotes restful sleep and rejuvenation.

Aromatherapy For Your Bathroom

Who doesn’t love a nice spa? What if we told you, you can recreate the experience with something as easy as scents? Aromatherapy not only adds an element of relaxation and luxury to your bathroom experience but certain scents can also help you get energized and ready for the day, while also cancelling the stinkies!

Eucalyptus is a refreshing and invigorating scent that can help open up your airways and promote respiratory health. It also looks great when hung in the shower. Another scent is lemongrass which is fresh and citrusy. It can help boost your mood and promote relaxation. Plus - has also been shown to have antibacterial and antifungal properties, making it an excellent addition to your bathroom cleaning routine. Other options include peppermint, which can help soothe sore muscles and relieve tension headaches, rose which has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties, and, cedarwood which can help repel bugs and pests.

Or, if these are too intense for you and you prefer a breezier feel in your bathroom, you can’t go wrong with sea salt, seaweed and driftwood which help evoke feelings of the ocean.

Aromatherapy For Your Kitchen

Kitchens are often filled with clutter - both physical and aromatic. Finding peace in the kitchen, therefore, requires a two-pronged approach. Start with creating systems of organization to help manage the mess that comes with cooking. Next, find scents that help create a fresh, clean aroma, cutting through the yummy but sometimes overwhelming aromas in the kitchen. We’re talking about you, garlic.

The most common option is a citrus-based scent like lemon, lime, grapefruit, or tangerine which are bright and fresh, with the added benefit of neutralizing unsavory smells. And it doesn’t need to be complicated - you can even just leave a half-cut lemon on the kitchen counter. If you enjoy it, Mint can also be a great scent. It is refreshing and invigorating and can help neutralize cooking odors and improve focus. It's also known to have digestive and respiratory benefits.

Or if you’re someone who loves coming home to a house that smells like there’s been cooking happening, cinnamon and basil are great alternatives. For a freshly baked smell, opt for cinnamon. It has a warm and comforting scent that can create a cozy and inviting atmosphere in your kitchen. It also has antibacterial properties and can help mask unpleasant cooking odors. For a more earthy feel, basil has a fresh and herbaceous scent that can help mask cooking smells and promote relaxation. It's also known to have antifungal and antibacterial properties.

Aromatherapy For Your Study

Did you know that scents can not only influence your mood but actually have cognitive benefits? So why not choose an aroma for your office that can help increase productivity while ALSO boosting your mood?

The most well-known is Rosemary. It has been found to increase productivity levels as it helps clear thinking, improves memory, and energizes the mind. Not a fan of the scent of rosemary? Try Jasmine or Peppermint. Jasmine can ease tension and nerves, while Peppermint is energizing and refreshing. In an office setting, Peppermint is a refreshing and invigorating scent that will aid in concentration and help to stimulate the mind. It's also known to have calming properties and can help relieve tension headaches.

Another option is lemon, which is proven to increase alertness, resulting in higher productivity rates when diffused through an office. And you probably already know this but coffee, and its association with alertness is enough to promote wakefulness. It’s a great scent for tackling analytical reasoning tasks.

Aromatherapy For Your Children’s Room

The children’s room is perhaps the toughest to tackle, as it can range from a four-year-old’s napping needs to a ten-year-old’s study needs, to a teenager's puberty smells. First things first, no candles as they can be a fire hazard. Plus, be sure to keep windows open as much as possible to help air out the room as needed.

You can mix and match the scents above to find which one has the best application to your situation. In general, you can’t go wrong with lavender for relaxation, peppermint for alertness, and citrus for a clean scent, but for a different vibe, you can check out ylang-ylang or clary sage. Ylang-ylang is a sweet scent, and it has long been used for its ability to relieve stress and promote a positive mood. Clary sage, a less intense version of the sage you use in your kitchen, has also been found to be useful for easing tensions and lowering cortisol levels.

Aromatherapy is just a small part of creating a happy place. If you are looking to truly transform your home space through home organization, schedule a call with us today.

Aromas to Elevate Every Room According to a Home Organizer