by Lisa H Warren

Created on: February 20, 2008

Today we have a vast array (should I say, "potpourri"?) of home-scenting products available, and the most welcoming homes are those in which delightful pockets of pleasant olfactory surprises make the home come to life.

START BY CHOOSING CLEANING PRODUCTS FOR THEIR SCENT

The foundation for this welcoming environment is, of course, a clean home; and the products used to clean the home can make their own contribution to it. Earth friendly products, like other products, offer an array of scents from which to use, so scenting isn't just for chemicals any more.

Freshly waxed woodwork, freshly cleaned mirrors, and a freshly washed floor are a great start. Laundry detergent, fabric softener, or dryer sheets make a folded stack of clean towels. Super-clean bedclothes, washed in the right detergent, help a bedroom smell really nice. When kitchen surfaces have been freshly cleaned with spray cleaner that has an appealing scent the whole kitchen smells fresh. Freshly opened bars of deodorant soaps can help scent the bathroom, and even unopened boxes of some soaps can make their contribution. In the right weather windows left open a crack let in the scent of fresh air, and there's something particularly appealing about the scent of fresh air mixed with the right soaps and other scent products in the bathroom. Carpet deodorants are another source of pleasant scent. So are toilet bowl fresheners and toilet tissue roll-holders that come with scents in the them.

When it comes to cleaning products, smell before you buy - and don't buy unless it will make a pleasant contribution to the scent of your home.

Against this backdrop of pleasant scents, products aimed specifically at scenting the home can add yet more warmth and appeal.

AND AS FOR THE REAL BUSINESS OF SCENT:

Before shopping for products that will help spread scent through your home you need to know your own scent preferences. Today's scents come in florals, spices, fruits, baked goods, candies, evergreens, mints, and any number of combinations thereof. Knowing if your scent personality leans toward the citrus/spice direction or, instead, leans toward sugar cookies and cinnamon will offer you some direction. Most people have their favorite scents, but many also select scents based on the seasons. (For some reason, "Peppermint Snow" just doesn't seem right in August.)

Spray air fresheners are the least long-lasting, although they have their place. Sprays come in aerosol cans, cologne-like sprays, and pump-spray bottles. Generally,

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