The Smells of a Home

Written by Mary Beth Tice

I am a huge fan of candles and room fresheners that make my apartment smell like a home (and truth be told not like my two dogs). I have searched high and low to find something that speaks to me and when I smell it in a store, it immediately makes me feel at home. Recently I have become quite found of having a cup of tea to help me unwind after a long day or when I want something warm to drink and coffee feels too heavy. The smell that permeates throughout my kitchen when the boiling water hits the tea bag is just as relaxing and enjoyable as drinking the tea, so you can imagine my surprise when I found a candle that smells like freshly brewed tea and lemon. To me this fragrance smells like my home.

Now if I were to pick out a scent for your home, well it probably wouldn’t be tea and lemon but it would be something that reminds me of your unique home. For some, that smell would be daisies or tulips, for others it would be coffee beans or cinnamon and for some it may even be ginger or sage. If you are the type to give candles during this gift giving season, take a moment and actually sniff the candle. Does it remind you of the recipient or their home? If so, you have a winner, if not, keep sniffing. And if you happen to be lucky enough to have a new home this holiday season and are attempting to make it feel a bit more cozy and yours, pick up a fragrance you wouldn’t normally try for your home but that speaks to you on a more intimate level. After all, despite my love of tea, I never would have thought to have my home smell like a fresh cup if I never picked up that candle.