Here’s a range of decorative home fragrances for freshening up the home, writes Meera Murugesan
WOULDN’T we all like to have homes that not only look but smell heavenly?
The scent that a house exudes can do wonders for a person’s mood and wellbeing. The whiff of freshness that hits us when we step into certain homes for example makes us feel instantly relaxed.
It’s no longer about just having a beautiful home but a sweet smelling one too as musty smelling houses can put anyone off.
HOME SWEET HOME
There’s a great demand for home fragrancing products because people today appreciate how scents can affect us and they want to come home to a house that smells and feels inviting, says Datuk Julie CC Lim, managing director of Jubilant Prestige Sdn Bhd, the country’s sole distributor for Lampe Berger Paris, which is known for its fragrance lamps that can purify indoor air and perfume it at the same time.
FUSS-FREE
The brand has recently come up with a new line called Parfum Berger, a collection of 10 fragrances including Precious Jasmine, Vanilla Gourmet, Orange Cinnamon, Zest of Verbena, Ocean Breeze and Virginia Cedarwood.
But unlike the Lampe Berger range which both purifies and perfumes the air, Parfum Berger is strictly for fragrancing only.
VARIED OPTIONS
It offers a fuss-free way to scent the home and the perfumes can be diffused in a variety of ways using accessories that come with the collection.
One option is the Cube Scented Bouquet, a cube shaped bottle topped with a silver ring. Just fill the bottle with perfume and insert a bouquet of black reeds (also available in the range) into the bottle to soak up the perfume and slowly release it into the air.
For Rose Scented Bouquet, a finely crafted ceramic rose absorbs the fragrance through capillary action and gradually diffuses it. The fragrance is first poured into an elegant grey lacquered vase topped with a silver coloured galvanised ring. The rose rests on the ring as it absorbs the perfume and releases it.
“This works well in any part of the house as the rose and lacquered glass vase look very decorative and the fragrance will last for almost a month,” says Lim.
There are also fragrances in the form of sprays in the Parfum Berger range and these too can be used with accessories that are functional yet decorative.
For example, the Hanging Rose comes attached to a grey satin ribbon and to perfume it, one just has to spray onto the rose.
It can then be left hanging in the car or wardrobe and users just have to spray regularly to top up the fragrance.
Another alternative is placing the ceramic rose on an elegant grey cup and place on any flat surface. To perfume, just spray onto the rose.
A limited edition set of four plaster roses presented on a silver coloured tray is also available. The set comes with one fragrance - Orange Cinnamon, to be used on the roses. The tray can be placed on the coffee table or any other surface and it releases an inviting scent into the home.
SMOKE-FREE OPTIONS
When it comes to scenting the home, Lim says many people like to use scented candles or incense sticks. She explains that scented candles may smell nice but they release carcinogens into the air when lit. Incense sticks can be messy given their ash droppings and they also make the air smoky.
As a result, they are not necessarily the best choice for scenting the home, especially if one is sensitive to airborne pollutants.
Air fresheners in the form of sprays also tend to consist of a variety of chemicals and these can irritate the nose and eyes when the particles linger in the air.
“When sourcing for home fragrancing products, consumers should ensure that the products are safe, effective, long lasting and from a reliable or trusted brand,” she says.
PERSONAL PREFERENCES
When choosing a scent for the home, people are naturally inclined to reach for something that appeals to them on a very personal level.
“I may like something fruity or citrusy but other people may prefer something floral. It’s really personal and that’s why Lampe Berger always creates a wide range of fragrances,” says Lim.
Different times of the day may also call for different home fragrances. For example, one shouldn’t use stimulating and invigorating scent in the bedroom at night. Something more relaxing and therapeutic would be better.
Different parts of the house also call for different scents. The living room for example will benefit from a fragrance that’s fresh, warm or inviting as it’s where we relax and entertain.
“It’s good to play with different fragrances in different rooms and also important to keep changing the scents because long term use of the same fragrance will make us immune to it,” says Lim, adding that Parfum Berger complements the existing and already popular Lampe Berger line.
Lampe Berger fragrance lamps in eye-catching colours and designs are easy to use and keep the air at home clean, fresh and fragrant, removing odours like cooking smells, tobacco smoke as well as chemical pollutants.
The lamps make use of fragrances called Parfums de Maison which also contribute to general wellbeing. For example, some fragrances when diffused through the lamps, are beneficial for sinus and other respiratory problems while others help instill calmness and relaxation, eliminate anxiety or create a mellowing effect.
Details at www.lampebergerparis.com.my
