October 07, 2010

Tranquil Scents Of A Home.

I am ruled by fragrances and scents. To me the ability to smell is one of the most important senses on which I rely heavily each day. It aids in my daily life, as I make my decisions about people and situations I encounter and as I go about my routines.

I use my nose as soon as I awake in the morning, taking great pleasure in the fresh scents of my shower gel and shampoo and deciding what perfume to wear that day. I inhale lavishly the aroma of fresh coffee and bread when I have my breakfast and the scent of the sea in the air outside. I take information from the scents in any room I enter during the day, the fragrances brought in and surrounding people I know or strangers I meet. These all, in concert with the impressions gained by all my other senses help me to form opinions and take decisions.
And later in the evening when I return home, as I am met by its familiar and comforting scent - I know I am safe and can relax.

My home has many aromas, but the main ones comes from two sources. Burning incense, my absolute daily addiction that creates that tranquil atmosphere in the evenings, signaling soothing serenity as soon as the first whiff of its burning fragrance enters my consciousness.

And then there are my Millefiori room diffuser sticks.

A wonderful invention that was introduced to me by my sister this past summer. It consists of  a container filled with a lovely fragrance of ones choice - mine is green tea - and a handful of wooden sticks submerged into the scented liquid. As these get saturated by the fragrance, a lovely subtle scent is spread all around the room creating a delightful, lasting atmosphere.

I have placed the perfumed bottle next to the stairs in the main room. The fragrance of home is immediately palpable as soon as I get in through the door and intensifies as I ascend into my living room.
Once I do, as if by magic, the troubles and worries of the day are slowly left behind in my footsteps.

29 comments:

Unknown said...

Hey, I noticed art as one of your interests, I started a new art blog maybe u'll like it! Thanks and keep up great work.

Elizabeth said...

Great post and I totally agree, smell is VERY important.

Lynne said...

It's amazing how a smell can instantly transport us to some other time and location isn't it?.
That's a lovely photo of the incense smoke. Canon are having a photographic competition and incense is one of the categories.
Your home sounds as though it's a tranquil haven.

Jeannette StG said...

Life would be so boring without the sense of smell. They also say "What you smell, you eat."
I think I've seen those sticks carrying fragrance:)

tony said...

Ah Zuzana ! I Was In A Hotel in Rimini a Couple Of Weeks Ago & They Had Millefiori Sticks.Now I Know Where To Get Them From!My Nose Says Thank You!
Yes, I Like My Smells Too! I Often Put Them in a Steam Room or Sauna. I buy My Supplies from id in Leeds.A Very Good Shop;Good Quality & they do mail order I believe.

Brian Miller said...

ah, i too rely heavily on my sense of smell...so nice how a smell can carry with it so many memories...have seen those sticks, perhaps i will get some for T...

Ash said...

I agree - smells are very important! I love my sandalwood incense which I light most evenings.

Anonymous said...

I used my nose first thing this morning too. For once, Hubby awoke before me and started the coffee. Love the smell of it first thing in the morning... now, about that shampoo smell. I better go take my shower.

Di

Mia Celeste said...

You're like my son. He's really into different scents too. :)

United Studies said...

What an interesting post! I agree that lovely scents really do soothe the soul, especially after a long day.

jean luc said...

i can't smell your fragrances, because i have a big cold since 4 days :-) but i love your pics and your words !
Have a beautiful day
Bisous

Keith said...

I love to have a really nice smell in my home, whether it's from a candle, incense, cooking food, etc. It can transport us to another time or place.

steviewren said...

My son gave me a delicious smelling diffuser for Christmas a couple of years ago. It made my bathroom smell wonderful.

I don't' think my sense of smell is as highly evolved as yours. But, one smell I really love is the smell of the house when I make a curry dish. The smell is almost as good as the food.

Claus said...

Incense was introduced to us by my dad. He used to go to yoga back in the day, and I suppose he learned about it in his classes. Guatemala, on the other hand, especially through Catholic religion, knows about incense (thicker sticks) as well. Around and inside a Church you can find incense in different aromas, which are even more popular around Christmas and Easter. So you could say that these particular way of giving your surrounding aroma has been along my life. And I love it! At the moment, at home, vanilla and apple incense :o) the right scents for the season.
have a lovely day!!

Kath said...

Anything that masks the aroma of wet dogs works for me LOL

Sumandebray said...

Smell is one of the most dominating primary senses ....
It is interesting the way you blended it into the daily life and your way of life!

Anonymous said...

I'm sure your home has a wonderful welcoming fragrance. And especially autumn has its inviting scent. Have a wonderful day... its
nice and sunny here in Hoosierland.
:)The Bach

sprinkles said...

I never thought about it but the way things smell can definitely make you feel better or worse about a situation.

I love the smell of shower gels, lotions, perfumes, candles, etc. Those make me smile.

I don't like the smell of fish, kitty litter, body odor, etc. If I were to go to someone's home or a store and smelled one of these scents, I might not be so anxious to return.

Rustique Gal said...

Zuzana, in the last 6 or 7 years I have taken on the responsibility for creating my own happiness (a good idea, yes?) I try to surround myself with delights to the senses. Colors I love, music, food and scents I love. We should all be more open to our surroundings. I love the smells of the autumn leaves and the fresh wind. We are alike!
Sherry

Stickhorsecowgirls said...

Well, I totally agree. Fragrance and scent are powerful influences on my mood. Isn't it amazing how a smell can evoke a memory that has been buried for many years?! One whif of Shalimar or Estee Lauder's Youth Dew and I remember my paternal grandmother. White Shoulders reminds me of my grandfather who gave it to me on my birthday when I was 11 or 12. Now I love Jadore and Elizabeth Arden's Fifth Avenue. It sets my mood for the day and relieves any anxiety!
This was a enjoyable post!

S. Susan Deborah said...

Dear Zuzana:

How close your topics are to my being. I am a great sucker for fragrances. Smells mean a lot to me and I end up smelling everything. Sometimes people joke that I should have been born a dog! So much so for my smells.

Hope the last working day is opening out wonders for you.

Joy always,
Susan

Anonymous said...

I love scents too! Fresh coffee, baking bread or cookies (yummmmmm), and whenever possible - that fresh sweet mountain air!
I hope you have a lovely weekend, Zuzana!
Hugs,
Zuzu

Sniffles and Smiles said...

What lovely photos and thoughts...thank you for making me more aware of the scents around me today...sometimes I get so busy I miss them...I wish I could smell some of these lovely items through your blog...but I can imagine, and so I do!!!! Have a wonderful weekend, dear Zuzana!!! Love you, Janine XO

Hilary said...

I love my incense too and burn it just about daily. Last year, Frank's sisters had a diffuser up at the cottage. Unfortunately for me, I didn't like the particular scent they chose and I found it permeated everything. When they weren't there, we'd put it out in the open porch and went with the incense. I'm hoping to find a diffuser scent that I can like because they certainly do fill a room. The photos are lovely.

Rajesh said...

Wonderful. Looks like every inch of your home is filled with different fragrance.

Unknown said...

Zuzana: I enjoyed this journey about smells. My favorite is morning breakfast. I was lucky to grow iuo with European parents who baked bread! But my Grandmother's bread with butter was like a small luxury meal in itself! lol!!!- :)

LG said...

I love delightful smells myself, but my mom staying with us has a very sensitive nose and dislikes most smells especially those I like. It's tough for me! So I am with you and 'imagine' smelling those smells as you enter your house.

I do though put some smells with incense sticks around my house, I actually use them as air freshners in the toilets they work amazingly instead of using those canned sprays which smell so artificial!!!

Plus I only buy Jasmine and Lavender and Roses that have a nice smell, no roses in my garden that don't smell wonderful...

Enjoy your smells of Autumn...

SandyCarlson said...

Your post reminds me to light a candle and relax.

Zuzana said...

Makavetis (welcome), Elizabeth, Lynne, jeannette, tony, Brian, Ash (welcome), Di, Brenda (welcome), Jacki, jean luc, Keith, Stevie, Claudia, Kath, Sumandebray, The Bach, Radka, sprinkles, Sherry, C or V, Susan, Zuzu, Janine, Hilary, cindy lee (welcome), Rajesh, Michael, LG and Sandy; I was delighted to learn that so many of you too enjoy the burning of incense and that you too find scents and fragrances important. I always find all your comments very interesting and enjoyable to read and am endlessly flattered by your compliments.;)

Thank you for your never ending kindness in words and visits.;)

Xoxo
Zuzana