Refreshing lime, relaxing lavender - tips for a pleasant atmosphere

By Franziska Baermann Sep 8, 2011, 4:05 GMT

Berlin - Scented candles, incense sticks, aroma lamps and air fresheners are a few of the most popular ways to improve the quality of the air in a home. They can create a pleasing atmosphere while dining, relaxing on the sofa or preparing for sleep. Unpleasant odours like cigarette smoke, cooking fumes or house pet smells can also be eliminated by using a good air freshener.

But air fresheners are not only good at improving air quality, they can also affect your mood. Most of the intensive scents and air sprays on the market contain ingredients that react directly with the brain and alter our disposition. Citrus smells like grapefruit, orange or lime have a refreshing effect.

'Essential oils with a citrus smell are best suited to workroom environments,' says Katharina Zeh, an aroma expert. Lavender, on the other hand, has a relaxing effect on the body, which explains why it's most often used in bedrooms.

When you're buying scents or air fresheners for use in the home make sure you know what ingredients they contain. Only choose products that have no allergy causing contents. However, most sprays do not have precise descriptions of their ingredients, according to Alexandra Borchard-Becker from Berlin's consumer protection office. In most cases the packaging only refers to 'essential oils' without saying exactly which oils they are.

That can be a problem for allergy sufferers who are very sensitive to odours. Scents can irritate breathing passages in the lungs, according to Esther Coors who treats allergy patients at Hamburg's University Clinic. 'Reactions to strong fragrances often come in the form of a runny nose, itchy eyes, asthma and eczema.'

A contact allergy can manifest itself if one spends a prolonged period of time in a room where there is a strong presence of perfume in the air. In cases like that, the fragrances comes to rest on the skin and irritates it.

The tendency to use too much air freshener is the result of a trick of the brain. 'After about 15 minutes our brains turn off their sense of smell,' says Zeh. That explains why many people tend to spray even more freshener into the air as they can no longer detect the smell.

It's not only allergy sufferers who can be negatively affected by fragrances. 'Parents should not use air fresheners in their kids' bedrooms,' recommends Coors. Children are especially prone to developing an allergic reaction to scents and are more susceptible to breathing difficulties.

'Sandalwood oil, oak moss scent, isoeugenol or ylang-ylang oil are among the fragrances that often cause contact allergies,' says Coors.

If you want to keep using air fresheners then use them sparingly and only for short periods of time. 'Two or three drops of essential oil are all you need for an aroma lamp,' says Zeh. You should also make sure the home is well ventilated with plenty of fresh air. Air fresheners should only be sprayed into the air and not onto fabrics or clothing.

An alternative to chemical sprays are homemade potpourris. Dried flower petals, oranges, apples or herbs are suitable ingredients. Their odour is not so powerful but at least you know exactly what you are inhaling.