We all lead stressful lives, balancing work, relationships, and parenting. There’s a lot on everyone’s plate. Your home should be a place where you can relax, and using scents and aromatherapy can help you do just that.
Different scents have different emotional effects, so experiment until you find the blend that works for you and think about where each scent fits in.
For example, lavender and spearmint can help relieve stress and anxiety, while eucalyptus can lift your mood, says Robin Fisher, fragrance expert at ARRAN.
What scents are best for each room?
Robin says: “Incorporating essential oils into your sleep routine can help you sleep better. Having essential oils like lavender or spearmint in your bedroom can help reduce stress and anxiety before bed, promote deeper sleep and bring a sense of zen to the space.”Yes, please.
For bedrooms
Neal’s Yard Remedies Calming Aromatherapy Blend
Aromatherapy Associates Deep Relax Candle
ThisWorks Sleep Plus Pillow Spray
The White Company Calm Fragrance Oil
M&S Apothecary Calm Diffuser
This also applies to your living room, which is likely to be where you unwind at the end of a long day, so creating a calming atmosphere is important, although you may prefer a more refreshing option.
“Fresh, floral scents are great for everyday use. Eucalyptus is fresh, uplifting and has sinus-clearing properties. Jasmine is also a great choice as it has mood-boosting properties.”
For residential spaces
Hammam Ritual Mini Fragrance Stick
Rohini Floral Lavender Eucalyptus Candle
White Company Flowers Signature Candle
Get 68% off now
NEOM Organic Happiness Pod Starter Pack
Get 19% off now
Your office, on the other hand, should be focused on maximising productivity, especially as many of us spend a significant amount of our time in the office these days. “Lemon in particular is great for office spaces as it helps improve focus, while grapefruit is great for combating fatigue,” says Robin.
For office use
NEOM Organic Grapefruit, Mandarin and Eucalyptus Candle
ESPA Energizing Atmosphere Mist
Get 20% off now
Oliver Bonas Lemon and Grapefruit Scented Candle
Airy Happy Space Reed Diffuser
The White Company Grapefruit & Mandarin Home Spray
Get 22% off now
Finally, you want your kitchen or bathroom to feel fresh, clean, and bright, so try an uplifting scent like lemon. “Incorporating bright citrus scents into places like bathrooms, kitchens, and office spaces is a great way to add a long-lasting fragrance to areas that may have unpleasant odors,” says Robin.
For kitchen and bathroom
Diptyque Deodorizing Candle
Amalfi Lemon Fragrance Oil
Get 68% off now
Aromatherapy Company Therapy Kitchen Candle
Get 47% off now
Air Repair Essential Oil Toilet Drops
Oliver Bonas Pomegranate and Amber Fragrance Oil
You’ll then have to choose whether you prefer a reed diffuser, candles, oils or room spray, which may vary depending on the room: “If you like a stronger scent, choose a reed diffuser or candle, or if you prefer a more subtle scent, opt for a room spray,” advises Robin.
Electric diffusers distribute the oils into the air along with the steam. All you have to do is plug the diffuser in, fill it with water, add a few drops of your favorite blend, and let it do its thing. While you’ll need to buy the diffuser and oils in advance, essential oils have other uses too: you can add a few drops to your bath, inhale them on a tissue when you have a cold, or use them as a compress when you have a headache. Plus, peppermint oil is a great spider repellent.
Habitat Electric Diffuser
Ritual Spirit of Perfume
White Company Electronic Diffuser
Dunelm Tortoiseshell Glass Electronic Diffuser
MADE BY ZEN Plug-in Essential Oil Diffuser
Get 15% off now
The flickering glow of scented candles adds ambiance to dark, chilly evenings, and they come in both natural and synthetic waxes and at all price points.
If candles give you headaches or could be dangerous to small children or pets, reed diffusers are a good alternative. Unlike oil diffusers, they don’t use electricity and are therefore more environmentally friendly.
Hannah Fox is Good Housekeeping UK’s E-commerce Editor, testing and reviewing products across a range of categories including home, gardening, fashion and travel, as well as reporting on great deals during sales periods like Amazon Prime Day and Black Friday.
Since 2014, Hannah has written articles on home, wellness, women’s health and lifestyle for a number of UK publications, including Country Living, House Beautiful, Cosmopolitan and Harper’s Bazaar, and published a book in 2019.
Before becoming a journalist, Hannah worked in SEO for five years, creating optimized content and conducting technical audits, and even spoke on the main stage at BrightonSEO in 2021.
Outside of work, Hannah enjoys listening to podcasts, reading and enjoying London’s great food and non-alcoholic cocktails. You can find Hannah on Instagram at @hannahefoxy.
