Scented candles may be a way to entice a potential buyer at a showing. After all, there's nothing better than “walking to a room and smelling a beautiful aroma that enhances the aesthetics of the space,” Sue Phillips, a fragrance expert with Scenterprises, told realtor.com®.
But you need to choose the right scent and be careful where you use it. A recent article at realtor.com® includes some of the following candle mistakes:
Using a scented candle to mask odors.
Don’t try to mask an odor with a candle, because it won’t work. “When you light a scented candle to hide an unpleasant aroma, you’ll just end up with both odors competing in your room,” says AC Brown, owner of Goodnight Darling, a beauty and wellness company. Instead, open a window in the room to let some fresh air ventilate through.
Failing to consider the room’s purpose.
Certain areas of a home lend itself to certain scents. For example, Phillips says the kitchen often doesn’t require a fragrance, but if you want one, she suggests a vanilla or apple pie scent. In the living room, the smell of warm, smooth sandalwood can complement a crackling fireplace, she says. In the bedroom, lavender-scented candles can help encourage relaxation.
Don’t forget the season.
“Match your scent to the season, especially when entertaining,” says Cynthia O’Hara, known as the Harried Housewife. For example, in the fall, you might use maple or cinnamon in the kitchen and dining room, but in the winter then swap out for bayberry and gingerbread. During the colder months, balsam and pine aromas may make more sense in family and living rooms. In the spring and summer, opt for floral scents.
Lighting more than two candles in a room.
“Too much fragrance can literally make people feel sick,” Brown warns. You may be quick to go “nose blind”—no longer detecting the scent after awhile being in the same place—and then feel the need to light more candles. But avoid that impulse because others who walk into the room may be overwhelmed by the smell. Scent travels, so be sure to light just one or two candles to fill a space.
Also, for fire safety, never leave a house with a candle still lit. “Keep them away from drapes, bedding, and tablecloths, and put them on coasters, not directly on the table’s surface,” advises Julie Coracciao, a home organizing professional with Reawaken Your Brilliance.
Source: “Fragrance Flubs: 6 Mistakes You Should Never Make With Scented Candles,” realtor.com® (Dec. 19, 2017)
