31 Days to Bless Your Home, and How to Have Fun Doing It Too!
Week 2: The Sensual Home: Learning to Appeal to All Five Senses to Create Warmth and Beauty in our Homes
Day 6: Enhancing the Mood of our Homes with Fragrance
For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. 2 Corinthians 2:15 NIV
Welcome to Week 2! This is my personal favorite week because our focus is on the tangible atmosphere and beauty of our homes, and our challenges for this week are especially fun!
As I prepared for our 31 day challenge, I began by consulting the master, my mom, aka June Cleaver. She gave me a simple tip that has completely transformed my homemaking. She said that if you want to make your home feel especially homey for your family and guests, the trick is to do something special that appeals to each of the five senses. It is really that simple! That is how I create the atmosphere in my home now. I no longer lament about not having expensive furniture or décor, but I simply focus on what appeals to each of the five senses to make my home a welcoming haven to all who enter.
We are beginning with the sense of smell because fragrance is one of the most powerful mood and emotion enhancers. Think about some of your favorite smells and notice how merely thinking about them makes you feel – coffee, cinnamon, apple pie, chili, Sunday’s pot roast, flowers, fruit, pine from a real Christmas tree, the beach, spices, apple cider, freshly baked bread…
Why reserve those wonderful feelings only for special occasions? Why not make every day in your home a special occasion for your loved ones?
What are some other benefits of fragrance?
Fragrance enhances memory, and it can trigger particular feelings and associations. Think about your family suddenly having sweet memories when they smell the familiar aromas of home.
It has also been known to reduce anxiety and help one to relax. As much stress as we encounter on a daily basis, fragrance is a simple way to make our homes a respite from daily pressures.
Fragrance stimulates productivity. I often light candles whenever I do Bible studies and blog because not only do I enjoy the fragrance and mood so much, but I also believe that it stimulates creativity and feelings of well-being. I feel like I am able to think more clearly and get more accomplished. For more information on the use of fragrance, click here.
Subtly is key with fragrance. You do not want to choke your family with “too much of a good thing.” Rather, choose a favorite fragrance and spread it lightly all around. Also, be careful about not combining scents that do not complement each other, such as spiced pumpkin and cucumber or passion fruit and hazelnut. Ewwww!!!
Consider fragrance delivery. The simplest way to spread sweet aroma throughout your home is to light candles, but if you have children or pets, you may want to opt for a safer alternative. Choose from oils, fresh flowers, excellent quality sprays, diffusers, potpourri – dry or liquid, sachets, plug-ins, and even real food cooking. The thing to remember is that we typically get what we pay for. Yankee candles may cost more, but they produce many times the concentrated fragrance as Glade candles, for example. I light candles every afternoon before everyone settles in for the evening, and I keep them lit for hours.
Here are some tips for choosing your home’s signature fragrance:
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For This Mood
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Try These Scents
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Relaxing
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Chamomile, Thyme, French Lavender
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Sensual
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Clove, Musk, Merlot, Fig, Tuberose, Honey
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Revitalizing
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Pomegranate-Citrus, Peppermint, Tangerine
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Fresh
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Cucumber-Mint, Linen, Cranberry, Lime-Basil
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Tropical
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Pineapple-Ginger, Bamboo-Hibiscus, Coconut
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Inviting
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Cappuccino-Nutmeg, pumpkin, Rhubarb-Vanilla
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*Chart from Change Your Home; Change Your Life, by Moll Anderson, p. 114
There are so many more! Choose what makes you and your family feel great. I use apple, spiced pumpkin, and cinnamon often. I love fall and Christmas fragrances especially! Experiment and try something new!
Here are the challenges for the week and today:
Week Two Challenge: Choose one new idea from each of the five senses to enhance the atmosphere of your home.
Today’s Challenge: Light a candle.
Tomorrow, look for a video by me about the peaceful sounds of home!
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Thank you and God bless!
Shari Lewis
