Good Scents

Of all the senses, smell is the most evolved, a direct link between our nose and our emotions. Even the thought of a pleasant smell can make us happy, triggering a rush of well-being that raises our spirits and sends bad moods packing. Whether you’re looking to tease and titillate, relax or invigorate, pick your potion and create your own scents of style.
 

• The oldest — and simplest — way to add fragrance to a room is with fresh flowers or herbs. An elegant vase filled with sweet roses, a wreath of eucalyptus branches hung over the mantel, sprigs of lavender tied with raffia and tucked in a drawer or closet, all look as lovely as they smell.
   
• If you don’t have the real plant, essential oil is the next best thing. Put a few drops on a lit bulb or in the hot wax of a burning candle to diffuse scent throughout the room. (Oils are flammable, so drip the oil down the side of the candle, avoiding contact with the wick.) Add a few drops to potpourri to freshen it up and extend its life. Stir a drop or two into your bath to intensify the experience. Add a drop to a pot of steaming water, lean your face over it and cover with a towel to enjoy a day-brightening facial.
   
• Store-bought room sprays only come in a few scents and can be overdone and cloying, but you can mix your own aromatherapy mist to suit your personality or mood. To make, fill a two-ounce spray bottle or atomizer ¾ full of distilled water or inexpensive vodka, add one teaspoon of essential oil, cap and shake. Spritz furniture, bed linens, pillows, curtains — anywhere you want to add a whiff of fragrance. Store in a cool, dry place.
   
• Layering one scent with another creates a sophisticated fragrance cocktail that’s yours alone. Energize a room by surrounding a lime pillar candle with a ring of orange blossoms. Pair scented rose petals with sticks of cinnamon and cloves for a powerful, spicy scent with a sweet note. Summon a romantic ambiance by slipping a potted gardenia into a larger glass cylinder vase and filling in the gap between containers with vanilla beans or scented rocks.
   
• Each scent generates its own unique aura. Chamomile is calming and sleep-inducing, eucalyptus balances mind, body and spirit, orange is happy and courage-bolstering, peppermint is cool and euphoric, sandalwood is warm and exotic. Build a whole wardrobe of scents and mix and match them to make a mood — or change it!