With many synthetic products on the market, we believe it is more important than ever to educate our readers about the importance and the processes behind developing and manufacturing natural perfumes.
We hope this article provides something for the beginner perfumer as well as the seasoned enthusiast.
This Connoiseur’s accord opens with the intense aroma of Rum, nuances of Lime & Lemon and a radiant combination of Nutmeg & Pepper. The heart is deep and rich with Tuberose, Iris and Vintage Leather. A fond of Guaiac Wood, Cedarwood, Golden Amber, Vanilla Pod and Musk complete this luxurious fragrance.
A rich, woody and spicy fragrance where the zest of Grapefruit & Bergamot infuse the opening with freshness. The sensual heart of Masculine Leather is enhanced by the rich spicy elements of Black Pepper and Nutmeg. The base is intense and woody with Black Cedar, Patchouli, Tonka Bean and Moss.
In a sentence, Sensehacking allows us to improve our emotional wellbeing (as well as our cognitive and social wellbeing) by stimulating our senses in different and specific ways. The professor is conducting research as to how we might develop our understanding of this phenomenon to create multisensory environments, interfaces, products and even food.
Why Is Sensehacking So Important ?
Just as an unbalanced diet can lead to poor health, an imbalance in our sensory stimulation can also cause us to experience a number of problems such as stress, anxiety and depression. Such problems can cause someone to struggle to get enough sleep, which actually increases your chance of dying from one of the leading causes of mortality.
In today’s world, this imbalance comes from too much visual and auditory stimulation through excessive screen time, ear phones etc, while on the other hand there is a lack of tactile and fragrant stimulation. All of which are our considered to be our more emotional senses. This isn’t a judgement on your personal choices, this is simply the world that we live in.
Life in Lockdown
Unfortunately, due to the pandemic, this sensory imbalance has only been exacerbated. For example, we have all heard very sad stories of care home residents being denied the most basic of pleasures of being embraced by their loved ones.
Even before Covid-19, over 90% of the lives of those living in urban environments were spent indoors, often leading to ‘light hunger’ and even Seasonal Affective Disorder. But, throughout lockdown our environmental stimulation has become even more monotonous. The lack of variety and the abundance of the mundane exposure to screens via Zoom and Netflix are not without consequence.
Fortunately, Sensehacking does bring a solution.
Sensehacking In Practise
The Power Of Touch
Skin makes up just under 20% of your total body mass – making it the largest sensory organ in (or on) the human body. Wherever hair is grown (e.g. excluding palms and soles), there are receptors called ‘C-Tactile Afferents’ that elicit a pleasure response. This response is best encouraged through slow and gentle stroking (e.g. a massage).
Infact, just like a massage, if the touch is warm (in regards to temperature, although emotionally helps as well), and if there is a pleasant fragrance in the air, the wellbeing benefits are further enhanced.
However, unlike massages, research into Sensehacking concludes that multisensory stimulation of our skin is a biological necessity, not a luxury.
The Smells & Experiences Of Nature
One of the key principals of Sensehacking is the benefit that being in and amongst nature can have on our wellbeing. It is paramount that the exposure to nature has an all encompassing impact on your sensory stimulation. For example, Sensehacking explores how ‘Anthropocene Noise’ (such as the noise of traffic) can dramatically reduce the benefits of being in nature.
Ideally, as well as looking and listening to nature, you should look for a tactile experience such as feeling the ground beneath your toes or perhaps gardening and growing your own herbs. In fact, growing your own herbs will expose you to the fifth and most important sensory stimulation that nature provides – smell.
Fortunately, the efficacy of nature’s stimulation through our sense of smell is not impacted by whether or not we are actually amongst nature. While it is best to experience the smells of different grasses and wild flowers, Sensehacking shows that air fresheners or scented candles reflecting the aroma of nature can be just as effective. For example, a lavender fragrance as part of aromatherapy can be framed in terms of ‘smelling nature’ – e.g. the olfactory effect.
Furthermore, the positive impact of natural fragrances within the home becomes more pronounced in times of stress and uncertainty – which as we discussed previously, are often caused by an imbalanced sensory diet in the first place.
Taking The First Steps
We would suggest that you might find our large bell reed diffuser to be effective in bringing the outdoors indoors.
Our natural product is perfect for your home and provides your living space with a continuous fragrance. This will allow you to take full advantage of the perks that Sensehacking has to offer.
We understand that you may prefer some fragrances over, so we invite you to have a look at our full range here to find a diffuser that suits your tastes.
If you are unsure as to which fragrance suits your style, many of our customers have found the perfume experience box to be very useful.
This woody and aromatic accord opens with Bergamot, Lime, Green Leaves and spicy Basil. The heart is fresh with Lily, Freesia, Violet Leaf, Rose and Geranium. The note rests on a beautifully rich woody base of Patchouli, Vetiver, Sandalwood, Cedar and Amber.
Why Should You Create Your Own Scented Drawer Liner ?
Creating your own scented drawer liner is the perfect remedy when you are tired of your clothes smelling the same as the drawers where they came from. Not only will it give your drawers a whole new look, but your clothes will carry the wonderful fragrance of being freshly laundered for longer.
To see more reasons why you should use drawer liners, we refer you to an excellent article written by JAM Organising which details the many benefits.
Make Your Own Scented Drawer Liner – A Step by Step Guide
Below we have outlined the key steps to make your own scented drawer liners.
Step 1: Ensure You Have All Of The Required Materials
Wall Paper / Wrapping Paper / Decorative Copy Paper
One Small Glass Dish
Cotton Balls / Scent Bottle
Scissors
Ruler
Essential Oil (of your choice)
The fragrance you choose is completely up to you.
We do caveat this by recommending the following:
only buy high quality, pure and concentrated essential oils to ensure you have an enjoyable and long-lasting perfume.
equally, please steer away from oils that may stain your clothes. Examples of such oils are vanilla, cinnamon and other spices, all types of citrus oils (lemon, mandarine, …). Before using any oil, we advise testing whether the oil discolours using an old piece of fabric, e.g. cotton. Simply apply a little oil to the fabric and leave this sitting in the sun. Within a relatively short time you should be able to see any discolouration.
for the same reason, we advise not to buy mixtures of essential oils, e.g. a ‘Christmas Scent’, as these might contain ingredients that will stain without explicitly mentioning them, e.g. cinnamon oil.
Step 2: Choose Your Scented Drawer Liner Paper
Choose the paper you would like to use in your dresser. The key criteria must be that the paper is absorbent or porous. This is to ensure that the fragrance you use is being absorb and then released slowly. Coated, lacquered or painted papers are typically not porous enough.
Wallpaper is normally a good starting point, as it tends to be relatively thick and very absorbent. Alternatively, a nice wrapping paper or decorative copy paper can be ideal.
Step 3: Measure The Dimensions of Your Drawers
Measure both the width and length of the inside of the drawer bottom you would like to be lined and then cut your chosen paper according to these dimensions.
Step 4: Mix Your Essential Oils
Create a mixture of essential oil and water. The ratio you should aim for is 50ml of water to every 1 – 2ml of the essential oils.Â
We know this can be difficult to measure but an easy solution is to count your drops: for every 50 drops of water you add 1 or 2 drops of essential oil. Alternatively, use kitchens scales.
Step 5: Add Your Mixture To A Clean Spray Bottle
Pour the mixture into a clean spray bottle.
Please note: be sure that the spray bottle is clear of debris or you may spray additional and unwanted particles onto your paper.
If you don’t have a spray bottle to hand, add the mixture to a small dish. Then dip and slightly drain with a cotton ball.
Step 6: Apply The Mixture To The Drawer Lining Paper
Spray a mist of the mixture over the paper until it is completely damp but not yet wet, i.e. not liquid or droplets sitting on the surface.
Alternatively, gently brush the cotton ball over the BACK side of the paper. The more of the paper you cover the stronger your scent will be.
Step 7: Leave your Scented Drawer Liner To Dry
Hang your paper to dry on a clothesline or drying rack. If for any reason neither are available, then place a towel on a flat surface and lay the papers on top.
Drying times vary dependent on the amount of solution that you have applied.
Bonus Tips
Traditionally drawer liners are used where you store clothes: drawers, wardrobes or shelves in the bedroom. There is, however, no reason why scented drawer liners shouldn’t be added to drawers, cabinets or cupboards in the kitchen, bathroom, living room or any other suitable room.
During your research you may hear about fabric liners being an alternative to paper. The are certainly suitable true but we do caveat this recommendation by saying that is is important that you use a natural, tightly-woven and absorbent fabric, such as cotton or linen.
Other substrates such as cork and leather are also excellent alternative options, as long as they are uncoated, uncoloured and absorbent. Unpainted, unvarnished or uncoated wood is another very good solution.
We advise against the use of plastics or plastic lined fabrics due to the likely interactions between the essential oils and the synthetic plastic.
Bonus Tips:
If you want to be without the hassle of making your own mixture, might we recommend spraying your drawer lining paper with our Linen Spray. As well as lavender (featured above), we offer a wide-range of fragrances in our linen sprays such as ‘Blush Rose and Amber’ & ‘Magnolias in Bloom’.
The great advantage of using Pairfum London’s Linen Spray to freshen up your drawer lining paper is that you can refresh them at any time and you are not limited to the choice of perfume or paper that the manufacturer of the drawer liner has selected.
Alternatively, you may wish to spray your favourite perfume on a suitable drawer lining paper. Please be careful, however, as some of the ingredients they contain might stain your clothes, e.g. vanilla, citrus, cinnamon and other spices.
Scented Sachets
If you are looking for an even more convenient solution, we recommend our Luxury Natural Scented Sachets. Simply hang one in a drawer, wardrobe, cabinet, cupboard or similar location and it will perfume every day for up to 9 months.
A vibrant, floral fragrance where the top notes of Sparkling Lemon and Lime are enhanced by the fruity nuances of Peach. The feminine, floral heart is a radiant blend of Pink Rose, Magnolia and Frangipani. The dark seductive base of Sensuous Musk, Amber and Precious Woods brings this fragrance to life.
This fragrance opens with the sparkling interplay of the aromas of Black Cherry, Bergamot, Red Berries and Nutty Almond. The heart is a most elegant fusion of Oolong Tea, Bulgarian & Turkish Roses and Liquorice. The sensuous base rests on Aniseed, Tonka, Iris and Patchouli.
An elegantly floral Chypre accord opening with the freshness of Mandarin Blossom, Apricot and White Hyacinth as Top notes. It’s romantic heart reveals a floral bouquet of Sweet Pea, Jasmin and Ylang Ylang, while the fond of Sandalwood, Patchouli, Amber and Musk create a magnetic trail.
A surprising fusion of spices and freshness, it opens with notes of Bergamot, Grapefruit and hint of Lavender, combined with Ginger, Elemi, Nutmeg & Cinnamon. The heart is Geranium, Rose, Freesia, Gardenia, Jasmin and Orange Blossom, with fruity hints of Coconut and Rasberry. A base of Vetiver, Guaiacwood, Cedar, Amber, Cashmere Musks, Vanilla & Moss supports this note.
Get a Full Refund when you later buy a full-sized bottle. Special Offer: Free Gift-Wrap (luxury bag & tissue paper) with every Perfume Experience Box.
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CRYSTALLINE in the UAE
We are honoured & proud that Pairfum London is available for you to enjoy at CRYSTALLINE in Dubai & Abu Dhabi.
CRYSTALLINE LG-110- LOWER GROUND THE DUBAI MALL, DUBAI, UAE Tel +971 4 3398 897