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Smell is one of the crucial elements makes a house a home. Besides masking odors, fragrance can influence mood or create a specific ambiance and atmosphere, depending on inclination or the occasion.

Methods and materials for home scenting are various, offering options for every pocket and inclination. Here's just a few of the ways you can make a home through scent.

Air Fresheners. One of the most readily available forms of home scenting, commercial air fresheners come in a variety of forms: sprays, gels or plug ins. They aim to neutralize bad odors whilst scenting the home. The ranges on offer are infinite: from plain floral fragrances, to mood blends and spicy seasonal varieties that evoke Christmas or autumn. With no preparation required other than opening, spraying or plugging into a light socket, they are straightforward and discrete.

Their main drawback lies in the fact these products are synthetic and chemical based. Not only harmful to the environment, they can be harmful to and general health, with a prov en link to exaggerating asthma.

Oils. Either essential or fragrance, oils are an alternative option to commercial products. A more creative, do it yourself approach, it possible to experiment with different mixes or blends to come up with an aroma that suits the individual and occasion.

Oil scenting works by releasing vapors through evaporation. There are a variety of techniques:

Oil burners. Several drops of oil are added to a small reservoir of water which is then heated by a night light. However, candles are a potential danger, especially in the presence of small children or if left unattended. As an alternative, use a light ring attachment to a light bulb? Or rub a few drops of oil into the bulb itself.

Alternatives: set a saucer of water with a few drops of oil on a radiator to scent your room without clutter. Or soak a sponge in hot water and adding a few drops of oil. Re warm the sponge and replenish the oil regularly and you have a neat and safe method of diffusing scented oils.

Because they are natural plant extracts, essential oils have a more pure, natural scent and can act as mood enhancers. Be careful of the amounts used however, as they can be overpowering! Fragranced oils are generally partial or total chemical constructs which will simply offer fragrance. As with air fresheners, be aware of the possibility of allergies.

Incense. An ancient method of evoking mood and scenting, incense is completely natural and now widely available in stick, cone or resin form. If you have the skills and desire, you can even make your own from dried plants, woods and spices.

An ambient way of using loose incense is to add to an open fire. However, the more usual way is to use a charcoal briquette. Light the briquette and leave in a heat proof contained to burn through. When white, add a pinch or two the required incense.

The drawback of this method, as with incense cones and sticks is that the fragrance of the incense is often overwhelmed by smoke.

Potpourri. Requiring nothing more than dried flowers and woods and a hint of oil, potpourri can be bought or home made, natural or enhanced with essential oils. If the clutter of bowls gathering duct is not for you, why not make into sachets? Add to drawers or even place amongst books or cushions to endower your home with a discrete, risk free, smoke free fragrance.

Learn more about this author, Natasha Sheldon.
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