The Scent of Home

Last month I shared that I was reading a book called, “The French Beauty Solution“. I have shared a few ideas and solutions from the book (see here and here if you missed it). I have really enjoyed this book.

I am learning a lot about my skin and how to take care of it. The book discusses different creams that you should use at different stages in your life. She gives recipes on how to make your own facial scrubs and home scents.

Now I loved the paragraph about creating a relaxing spa atmosphere at home.  I wrote about some of my favorite home scents, see here if you missed it. The section about “scents” was wonderful. Here is what Mathilde discussed about scents……

“The easiest way to create a relaxing spa atmosphere at home is by stimulating the most potent of your senses. It’s all about scent. Burning a delectably fragranced candle is the quickest way to transport you out of the everyday. This has been proven by more than thirty years of studies undertaken by International Flavors & Fragrances, Inc. (IFF), one of the largest suppliers of raw fragrances to perfumers in the world.

Find a scent or scents that evoke strong memories of something pleasurable or wonderful in your life. It would be a vanilla that reminds you of your grandmother’s sugar cookies. Or lavender-for that trip you took to the south of France where you wandered through acres of ripening plants waving gently in the wind. Or sandalwood- for the time you went to Chinatown in San Francisco and got caught in the rain only to discover that the little sandalwood fan you’d just bought smelled even more delicious when it was wet. I love lighting candles that smell like the vine flower- yes, it grows on grapevines!- because the scent reminds me of our vineyard in Bordeaux at the end of spring, when you can feel that summer is soon to arrive.”

text Mathilde Thomas