Scents of Style

There I go again! The English major playing word games, or just showing that yet again spell check doesn't catch homonyms. Anyway, all games aside I do have a point. When you go to style a space, even your own home, the finishing touch comes from the scent of the place. Your home can be designed impeccably, but if you have animals (like we do) and your home smells like cat litter and wet dog the style will be lost on the guests as soon as they enter your home. I've blogged about my love of Yankee Candles and how the right candle can totally change your day!
Any good company that understand this principle will carry a line of candles with scents reflecting the type of environment their furniture and decor would fit in. Obviously you will not have modern clean lines surrounded by scents that remind you of walking into your grandma's house (think ceder, sugar cookies, and heavy perfume). Even if you think I'm wrong on that one, and that's OK you're allowed, no matter what scent defines your space please for the love of design pick something better than wet dog!
People say that smell is the sense connected to memory the most. For me, I can remember my grandfather because he smelled warm. Not just any kind of warm, but warm leather rubbed in machine oil. Not exactly Santa kind of warm. This particular grandpa passed away when I was seven, and still when I see a picture of him that's what I smell. His scent would be the perfect addition to a man cave, or to a garage hang out. Your signature smell becomes part of your personality!
If I'm stressed my home starts to smell like baked goods because inevitably when I've had a bad day I either make brownies or banana bread. If I'm in a cleaning/purging mood I break out the fresh flower smells. Highly successful day? Lavender and lemon (or just the lavender!) I think that's why that particular candle is my favorite. The more lavender lemon candles I go through, the more successful I've been!
Let's play a little game. I've chosen some fantastically styled rooms and I want you to pick the smells that go along with them. What's the perk? You'll receive a $50 Visa Gift Card to indulge in some extra Scents of Style! Over the next few days I will share with you some of my favorite design elements, including some great candle lines! Ready? Let's go!

Living Area

Picture from Coastal Living

Living area off of a kitchen

Picture from Traditional Home

This is a sitting area off of a bedroom 

Picture from Traditional Home

Bedroom

Picture from House Beautiful

Kitchen

Picture from HGTV

To enter the Scents of Style challenge simply post a comment here with your first name and email address and the smell (or combination) you would use to finish the design of each of these rooms. Please number 1 through 5! I cannot wait to see what you come up with!

Until next time!

Dabble