How to use aromatherapy at home: Home scents and fragrances to buy to make your home feel luxurious and smell great
It’s no secret that a nice-smelling home adds cosy vibes to your space, whether it’s with candles and diffusers, or fragrances so your home smells like shopping malls such as ION Orchard and five-star hotels such as Raffles Hotel.
But aromatherapy is not just about ambience. The use of aromatherapy has been around for centuries, and the age-old wellness tradition offers various therapeutic benefits for both your physical and emotional well-being through the use of different essential oils and their scents.
To relax and calm the mind, consider using essential oils such as lavender, chamomile and rose. To boost energy levels, citrus and herbal scents such as coriander seed, ginger and sandalwood help. For those dealing with sinus congestion or headache, eucalyptus, tea tree and peppermint oils could offer a non-medicated way out.
Want to dive deeper into aromatherapy and expand your collection?
Once you’ve settled on the essential oils and the effects you would like to have, keep reading for how you can incorporate aromatherapy at home to reap the physical and emotional benefits — and make your home smell luxurious too.
Candles
Candles are most likely everyone’s gateway into introducing scents into the house. They are ubiquitous and are available in a range of price points that suit everybody’s budget — plus, they make great home décor display pieces too.
To Be Calm Singapore Shoppe Houses - Mini Candle Trio ($55). Buy it here 
Paddywax Impressions Artisan Hand-Poured Scented Candle in White - Pinky Promise (Wild Fig & Cedar) ($29.47). Buy it here 
Aromantic Soy Wax Essential Oil Candle ($6.80 - $29.70). Buy it here
When choosing candles, a larger candle will naturally have a longer burn time than a smaller one. More wicks will release a greater amount of fragrance, making it more suitable for larger spaces, though at the expense of the candle’s lifespan. Candles made with soy wax instead of paraffin are generally preferred as they burn longer and cleaner. Finally, to prevent candle pitting, ensure that an entire layer of candle has melted before extinguishing.
The only possible downside of candles is that they cannot be left unattended since there is an open flame involved. But you can circumvent that by buying a flameless candle warmer that uses a lightbulb to melt the candle slowly. It usually results in a weaker scent released, but it’s a great alternative if you may be occupied around the house and are unable to keep an eye on a burning candle.
Reed diffusers
Reed diffusers use thin, porous sticks to diffuse the scented oil they are dipped into through evaporation. They’re best for small spaces, such as the bedroom or bathroom. It would also be wise to place a coaster underneath to catch any oil drippage.
Lovspa Essential Oil Reed Diffuser Set in Revive Eucalyptus Essential ($39.53). Buy it here 
Neal's Yard Remedies Organic Aromatherapy Reed Diffuser Uplifting 200ml ($111). Buy it here 
Jo Malone London Lime Basil & Mandarin Diffuser ($170). Buy it here
The reeds do need to be flipped from time to time to maintain a level of scent; otherwise, they emit fragrance all the time and don’t require any heat or electricity to operate. Depending on its size and how often you flip the reeds, a reed diffuser can generally last a long time and is a low-maintenance way to incorporate aromatherapy into your living spaces.
Electric diffusers
There are two categories of electric diffusers, both requiring essential oils. The first kind uses water with a couple of drops of essential oils of your choice doubles up as a humidifier and is perfect for air-conditioned spaces with dry, cold air. Meanwhile, the second type of electric diffuser doesn’t need water as it nebulises the essential oil into tiny airborne droplets — it also packs a heftier scent punch as the essential oils aren’t diluted by water. As such, you would need to adjust the use time in accordance with the size of the space and your personal preference.
Asakuki 300ml Essential Oil Diffuser ($26.64). Buy it here 
Jack & Rose 500ml Diffuser for Essential Oils in Green ($40.99). Buy it here 
Flo Diffuser Go Single Oil Bundle ($118). Buy it here
Oil burners
Oil burners use a tea candle to heat up a saucer of water and essential oil, allowing the latter to slowly evaporate and scent the air. Each use doesn’t last very long and they have to be topped up prior. Oil burners come in a myriad of designs, which makes for a romantic bedroom decor piece as the flickering candlelight leaves patterned shadows on the walls.
Singeek 100ML Ceramic Tea Light Holder ($21.00). Buy it here 
Ceramic Oil Burner ($20.33). Buy it here 
Hooga Izac Oil Burner ($13.11). Buy it here
Shower steamers
Shower steamers are a small yet growing niche within the world of aromatherapy products. Don’t have space for a bathtub at home? You can still elevate your bathtime experience with these.
To use them, place them on the floor of your shower area near but not directly along the path where water flows. Take a warm shower and allow the occasional water to melt the shower steamer, thereby releasing the scent. Shower steamers are usually made of sodium bicarbonate so they will just disintegrate fully when it is done.
Cleverfy Aromatherapy Shower Steamer Variety Pack of 6 ($27.44). Buy it here 
Lynk Fragrances Shower Steamer ($13.90 - $36.90). Buy it here
Innerfyre Co You've Got This Shower Steamer ($28). Buy it here
Room and pillow sprays
Think of room and pillow sprays as perfumes for well, the room and pillows. As such, just spray them into the air or onto bedsheets and curtains. These are best used in small spaces and for short amounts of time — perfect if you just want a whiff of fragrance in your bedroom, for instance. Room sprays are also great to refresh the smell of the space after cooking or entertaining guests.
Drmtlgy Natural Lavender Linen and Room Spray in Lavender ($24.62). Buy it here 
Arorah Air Freshener Spray ($9.90 - $19.90). Buy it here 
This Works Sleep Plus Pillow Spray 50ml ($43). Buy it here
