Fragrance curation in the home is a worldwide trend, and is becoming an essential support in enhancing our sense of wellbeing and happiness.

But many perfumes, cosmetics and household products use synthetic fragrances to create their trademark scents. These can contain harmful phthalates – which are known to cause a range of chronic ailments including cancer, human reproductive and developmental toxicity, endocrine disruption, birth defects and respiratory problems.

I believe in making sure we surround ourselves with the best and healthiest choices out there, and so when it comes to fragrances – pure essential oils are a great way to go. Be sure to use quality, organic pure essential oils. You can make your own blend, or buy proprietary blends from doTERRA. Their Smart & Sassy is one of my go-to oils when I’m travelling, and I also love burning Wild Orange in my home to uplift mood, and Lavender for my daughter to promote sleep.

Here are a few ways you can bring aromatherapy into your home:

• It’s best to use a diffuser, instead of candles or burners – to find out more, read my interview with Ana below.
• Before you choose a fragrance, pause and see how you’re feeling in that moment, and decide on how you’d like to feel. For example, perhaps you’re stressed, and you’d like to feel calm, or you’re tired and you’d like to feel alert.
• You can swap favourite scents in and out of a certain space, or you can layer scents throughout your home by creating different scented choices to experience in different rooms – this will require investing in more than one diffuser.

Talking essential oils with Ana Cunya

Ana Cunya of Nuua Holistica is a good friend and fellow fragrance fan. She’s also an expert on essential oils and fragrances, and how they affect our wellbeing and health. She makes custom blends, whether it’s to use in your home, or on your body, and has created a unique fragrance blend for me which I absolutely love!

Here are some key points from Ana which I think you may find really interesting:

What are the benefits of moving from commercial fragrances to essential oils?
Because so many companies cut corners, they can often sell oils that may be contaminated or unstable (and synthetic). It’s so important to make sure you are buying from a reputable company that offers transparency with regards their sourcing practices and testing methods. I would only recommend using CPTG (Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade) oils if taking it internally. doTERRA is the only company I use.

Can you tell us what fragrances we can use to boost mood and health in the home?
Different aromas and chemicals in essential oils have an effect on our emotions as well as our physiology. Our olfactory nerves trigger memories and emotional responses – they are so valuable in improving our everyday life.
I alternate what I put on my diffuser everyday based on my current mood and what I’m trying to achieve. I often suggest to take a minute to check in with yourself and see how you are feeling and envision how you want to feel.

• Uplifting Citrus oils like Wild Orange, Grapefruit, Tangerine as well as Pink pepper, Blue Tansy can assist in lifting our mood
• Focus and energy Rosemary, Clary Sage, Peppermint
• Soothing and grounding Cedar Wood, Copaiba, Tea Tree, Lemongrass
• Calming and managing stress Lavender, Roman Chamomile, Vetiver, Basil
• Calming and restorative, relaxing the mind and sleep  Lavender, Roman Chamomile, Cedarwood, Frankincense, Bergamot, Rosemary
• Immune support Oregano, Copaiba, Frankincense, Melissa

Diffusers, burners or candles?
I don’t recommend ‘burners’ because they may negatively affect the molecule structure of the oil and its original properties when released into the air.

I honestly have doubts whether pure essential oils can be used in candles since heating or burning certain oils can negatively affect its aromatherapy properties, so currently I’m more on the cautious side and avoid using candles scented with essential oils.

Diffusing essential oils provides us with a pleasant aroma plus an array of benefits. The tiny particles of oil cleanse the air, and they can help open our airways, lift our mood, support our immune system and lots more. It’s an efficient and amazing way to benefit the entire household, office or space.

Which is the best diffuser to use? 
The most commonly recommended diffuser types are:

• Ultrasonic diffuser
  Ultrasonic vibrations combine essential oils and water into a mist and which is dispersed into the air.
• Atomising diffuser
  Nebulising technology uses air to atomise essential oils into a micro-fine vapor which is dispersed into the air.
• Fan diffusers
  Not as commonly used, but especially useful in cars using the air vents. They use cotton pads and air to impart aroma.

For more essential oil information, connect with Ana on Instagram or via her doTERRA South Africa web page.

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