6 Ways to Make a House a Home

Have you ever moved into a new home and you walk in on moving day to this cavernous empty soulless space and think ‘what have I done’?  I have!  Yet once you get your furniture and belongings in, it soon starts to feel more like home.

There are many things that make a house a home.  So what are they?  Here’s 6 ways that I think make a house a home:

1. Hard and soft furnishings that create functionality and comfort!
2. The people living in your house make it a home – be it your family, a share house made up of friends, or even it you live alone!
3. Your haven – surrounding yourself in trinkets and things you love, that reflect you and your life, and that make you feel safe, cosy, uplifted and restored.
4. Pets – this may not be for everyone but it is for me!
5. Books and momento’s (from travels for example)
6. Scent!

And it is No. 6 – Scent that we will be talking about!

What kind of scent do you want to smell when you walk into your home?  Maybe you’d like a different scent for every season or maybe there is just one scent that you want for your home all year around.

Smell is one of the most powerful of the five senses, and there’s a big link between the power of smell and effect on our mood.  So, doesn’t it make sense to have a scent in your home that puts you in a mood of your choosing?  That enhances your sense of home?  Maybe there is a scent that reminds you of a happy childhood or a particular memory, holiday or time in your life or maybe there is a fresh, clean scent that makes you feel happy and uplifted?

I was recently approached to trial some *products from the Life Scents range by Airwick.  Now anyone who has read my blog for some time would know one very important thing about me – I can’t smell!!  (see the ‘smell’ prompt in all my Taking Stock posts)

So why would I review products that require scent when I can’t smell?  Well, because after reviewing the range on the Airwick website – I was impressed!  They were aesthetically pleasing.  There was a broad range of different products.  I loved the message and concept behind the range, and I believe in doing all that we can to make our homes our havens and most favourite place to be!

So, I decided I would accept and put forward a proposal that I would form a little focus group of people with noses that work to help me in my review of the products. I could comment on function and aesthetics and they could comment on the same + scent!  My proposal was accepted!

My focus group comprised of the following: 1) Myself and my daughter 2) Sister 1, and 3) Sister 2 .  We had two products each to trial.  I sent those with noses that work a questionnaire and they have provided me feedback which I have incorporated into this post.  Let’s start with Sister 1.

SISTER 1

Product 1
Reed Diffuser – Paradise Retreat – Coconut Almond Blossom Cherry

Sister 1 found this product to be visually appealing and really enjoyed the scent! Every time she went near or in the room where it had been placed, it made her feel happy as she smelt the lovely fresh scent. She said the diffuser gave just the right strength of scent and was not at all overpowering. She would buy this product again!

Product 2
Room Spray – Mystical Gardens

Sister 1 said this is the best looking room spray she’s ever seen. She likes the lever that you push and the fact that when you do push it, out comes a soft spray rather than a forceful spray. She enjoyed the scent and said it made her feel calm and happy. She would buy this product again!

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General Comments relative to both products: I asked her that if she were to buy either product again, would she change scents and/or does she think she would like different scents for different seasons?

Sister 1 said that she was happy with the scents she trialed and would stick with those and sees no reason to change with the seasons.

SISTER 2

Product 1
Scented Oil Plug In Diffuser – Turquoise Oasis
(Note: we were also sent a refill for this in the scent –
Mystical Garden: Marshmallow Raspberry Rose but it was
not tested for this review)

Sister 2 really liked that this product was white and unobtrusive. She had placed this product in a room that didn’t get a lot of airflow and the product did its job. It really freshened up the room and got rid of any musty smells, but at the same time the scent was not at all overpowering. She would buy this product again and says it would be a good one for a bathroom.

Product 2
Wax Melt Warmer & Wax Melts – Winter Moments –
Baked pear pie crust vanilla

Sister 2 liked the design of this product, however she had placed it on her kitchen bench and found that with the cord it felt a little cluttered. In hindsight it would have been better placed somewhere else. She found the scent ok but a little too sweet for her taste. She’s not sure that she would buy this product again because she prefers the old school oil burners that use a tea light candle.

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General Comments relative to both products: I asked her that if she were to buy either product again, would she change scents and/or does she think she would like different scents for different seasons?

Sister 2 said that she would opt for scents that help to freshen a room rather than ones that try to emulate baking smells for example as they are too sweet for her taste. She would probably go for a lighter smell in summer (like ocean or forest smells) but perhaps something a little heavier in winter. She says that both products were very easy to use and that directions for use were very clear. Both products were effective in changing the smell of a room – even a large room!

MYSELF & MY DAUGHTER

Product 1
Decorative Jar Scented Candle – Summer Delights –
White flowers melon vanilla

My daughter’s feedback: She found the candle to be aesthetically pleasing though she felt that the sticker that details the product could be sleeker. She said the scent was calming, sweet and relaxing and that it definitely made the space more welcoming and pleasant. The scent of this product lasted a long time after the candle had been blown out. She would recommend this product to anyone wanting an aesthetically pleasing way to create a nice environment at home, and yes – she would purchase this product again!

My thoughts: As my daughter used this product in her room, and the fact that I can’t smell, I can only comment on the aesthetics of this product. I love that it is in a glass jar with a silver lid that is easily removed. I do agree with my daughter that the sticker could be a bit more subtle so as not to detract from the calming aesthetics of the candle through the glass and the flickering flame.

Product 2
Freshmatic Automatic Spray – Winter Moments –
Baked pear pie crust vanilla

My daughter’s feedback: She found the aesthetics of this product to be simple, subtle and not too visually overwhelming. She felt that this product had a fresh, clean scent that made the space more warm and welcoming. She would buy this product again, but prefers Product 1 over this one.

My thoughts: This product was placed in my bedroom. I liked the aesthetics of this product – subtle and blends in with the room. The instructions were clear and it was easy to set up. By battery power it automatically sprays into the room around every 25- 30 minutes. I can’t comment on the smell of the scent but I trust my daughter’s opinion above!  It does make a bit of a ‘puff’ noise that can startle you in the quiet of night – so you may not want to place it in your bedroom!  I actually got used to the little ‘puff’ noise and soon it didn’t bother me.  I will definitely buy a refill for this product!

General Comments relative to both products: To answer the same questions of if we were to buy either product again, would we change scents and/or do we think we would like different scents for different seasons, we said:

My daughter: She feels that both products did alter the mood. The influence of the scent is subtle but can make a big impact on creating a happy and homely environment. She liked both scents but would still like to explore the other scents as well. She thinks the scent of these products would suit any season, though she would need to try the other scents first to be sure of what scents she might choose for each season.

Me:  As I can’t smell you would think I wouldn’t bother trying other scents but actually I would like to try other scents with the Freshmatic Automatic Spray – out of curiosity.  I would get my daughter (with her supersonic nose) to let me know what she thinks.  I do think that some scents might suit particular seasons but I also believe that there could be a favourite scent that is suitable year around.

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Overall, all of us were very impressed with the products in the Airwick Life Scents Collection that we were sent and all of us will probably continue using our favourites!  We all agree that scent is indeed an important component in making a house a home!

If you’d like to learn more about the vast array of Airwick products, pop over and visit their website.

Ciao for now,

*I was gifted the products referred to in this post for the purposes of review, though only kept two as I gave the others away to Sisters 1 & 2.  No payment was received for writing this post. 

Linking up with Essentially Jess for #IBOT