Scent and Creating Sacred Space at Home
A fall potpourri with spice and apple notes sets the autumnal tone.
In the first article in this series on using the senses to create sacred space at home, I explored using sound to enhance the atmosphere of your home. I started with sound because as a musician, sound always feels like the most important consideration in any space. However, as I researched for this article on using scent to shape the environment of your home, I realized that the sense of smell is far more fundamental to the human experience. It started with a fabulous article this Sunday in the New York Times Magazine by Gretchen Reynolds that explored the connection between scent and its effects on memory:
“Given the fact that breathing has been used to change mental states for thousands of years, we still know next to nothing about respiration and brain function in humans.”
The Importance of Scent
Let’s take a few examples and see how they make you feel:
Freshly brewed coffee.
Your favorite cookies, right out of the oven.
Your lover’s aftershave or perfume.
Most likely, these scents evoke strong memories and emotions. Because of this powerful connection, scents are a potent tool to use when crafting the sacred space of your home.
Let’s understand why this is true so that we can use scent most effectively.
Scents and the Brain
The Fifth Sense, a British organization devoted to increasing knowledge about the sense of smell and disorders that affect it, has loads of useful information about our noses and how they work. Tracing the path of smell, the nose takes in molecules of scent and they pass over the olfactory bulb. This receptor translates the information of the molecules into impulses that travel along the olfactory nerve to the area of the brain called the limbic system:
“The limbic system comprises a set of structures within the brain that are regarded by scientists as playing a major role in controlling mood, memory, behaviour and emotion. It is often regarded as being the old, or primitive, part of the brain, because these same structures were present within the brains of the very first mammals. Knowing this helps us to understand why smell plays such an important role in memory, mood and emotion.” (click here to read the full article.)
Scent information travels to the part of the brain associated with mood and memory. It is no wonder that we have such powerful emotions connected to particular scents! Scents transport us to another time or place and we relive the feelings of the old experience.
The Scent of Homecoming
One day not long ago, I had been out doing errands for most of the day. My kitchen trash contained meat wrappers from days earlier. I walked through the door and immediately smelled nasty trash. My good mood evaporated instantly, and I stayed grumpy until the smell of yucky trash had dissipated.
When returning to your sacred space, it is important that the first impression of scent be a conscious choice. It should be something welcoming and familiar.
Essential oils are a wonderful way to set the tone of your home. There are lots of options available, and I’d like to clarify the benefits and drawbacks of each.
Whatever delivery method you choose to use, it is important to choose high-quality essential oils. I am a particular fan of doTERRA oils. My favorite is Lavender, for its soothing, calming properties. Another great choice is Young Living essential oils.
Different ways to Diffuse
Essential oil diffusers are a wonderful choice, allowing for a vast array of scents that can shift with the season or your mood. Please note that some essential oils are toxic to cats and dogs, but some can be beneficial. Read this helpful guide for more information.
There are two types of oil diffusers – passive and active.
Reed diffusers are a simple way to add scent to your home.
Passive diffusers work by allowing the oil to evaporate into the air, releasing the fragrance. Fan diffusers contain a small fan that blows air past a pad that is infused with the oil. Personal diffusers are worn on the body or hung to scent a small area. They work by holding a small pad or piece of cotton soaked in oil. Heated diffusers plugin or warm over a candle to release the fragrance. Reed or stick diffusers draw the oil up from a reservoir and allow it to evaporate.
I suggest passive diffusers in households with pets. Passive diffusers release only the fragrance of the oils. Never use the toxic oils listed in the above guide in households with pets. The greatest danger to pets (and children) is the accidental ingesting of oils. Keep essential oils out of the reach of kids and pets at all times. Passive diffusers are also cleaner to operate, leaving behind less dust or residue.
Active diffusers work by releasing the oil into the air in microdroplets. There are two types of active diffusers: ultrasonic and nebulizing. The ultrasonic diffusers mix the essential oil with water to create a cool mist imbued with scent. The nebulizing diffusers create a mist of the straight-up oil.
Active diffusers release the oil into the air, not just the fragrance. For this reason, do not use active diffusers in households with pets. Pets can breathe or ingest oil from fur licking. However, if you are wanting to experience the full therapeutic value of the oils, this is the way to go.
Incense – Not Just For Church and Hippies
Stick incense is one of the easiest forms of incense to use.
Burning incense is the traditional way to incorporate scent into sacred space. Sandalwood reminds me of eastern traditions. Frankincense and myrrh transport me to high feast days at church. Cedar and balsam incense take me back to memories of campfires past in the Maine woods.
There are three ways you can burn incense – sticks, cones, and loose incense. Sticks are the most convenient form. All that is required is an incense holder to hold the end of the stick and catch the ash. Cone incense is a more compact version of stick incense. Because it is more compressed, it gets hotter and requires a burner that won’t crack or scorch under the heat.
Loose incense is the hottest burning of them all, as the incense is placed on top of a special type of charcoal. Keep unused charcoal tightly wrapped to prevent moisture from degrading the magnesium starter. The charcoal is placed in a bowl filled with sand or a specially designed censer. Light the charcoal – it’s very cool to watch the sparks rush over the surface of the coal! Wait until the coal is mostly gray before sprinkling a small amount (start with a pinch) over the live coal. If you put the cover over your live coal DO NOT touch the cover again with your bare hand! Yes, it gets this hot.
There are lots of incense blends available, but the best part about this method is that you can make your own! Two of my favorite resources for techniques and recipes are Incense: Crafting & Use of Magickal Scents by Carl F. Neal and Wylundt’s Book of Incense by Red Wheel Weiser. Purchase ingredients from online retailers or your local new age shop. The only necessary equipment required is a mortar and pestle and/or an electric spice grinder (I use a coffee grinder that is not used for anything else).
Other Ways to Use Scent
Create a simple holiday-themed potpourri
Making your own potpourri and changing it up with the seasons can be a wonderful way to scent your home without flame or electricity. Here’s a great recipe for a holiday potpourri that would be a comforting welcome to any home. If you heat with a wood stove, try a handful of potpourri in a pot of water on the stove. This will add both scent and moisture to your air.
Scented soaps can also work well in small spaces like closets and bathrooms.
Scented candles (burning or not) are a nice addition as well. I’m a particular fan of Woodwick candles with the lovely crackling sound made by the burning wick that emulates a fireplace.
The sacred space of your home can be a multi-sensory experience that helps you be more mindful of the sacredness of rest, refreshment, and family. Use scent to your advantage and feel the peace of your sanctuary embrace you from the first breath across your threshold.
Clear your Space – Recharge your Self – Direct your Life
As an Amazon Affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Latest posts by Christina Laberge (see all)
- Scent and Creating Sacred Space at Home - November 28, 2018
- Sacred Sound – Enhance Your Home - November 21, 2018
- Moving Cross-Country with Less Stress - October 4, 2018