Create your own bathroom scents

If you've ever experienced a room you thought was absolutely beautiful, it's highly likely that it wasn't just your eyes that drew you to that conclusion.

Whilst sight is very powerful (I mean, no one says “love at first taste”, do they?), we tend to use all our senses combined to make a judgement on whether we like something or not.

In a bathroom, in particular, smell is a major consideration, as, not only can you detect all those lovely aromas emanating from soaps, lotions and potions, but you may also have some potentially nasty niffs to contend with.

One great way to enhance your bathroom experience, and turn a visually stunning design into something that smells great too, is to create your own bathroom scents. With a choice of ingredients and methods, your bathroom will soon possess an aroma that is both pleasant and personal to you.

Different scents for different moods

If you've ever dabbled with aromatherapy, you'll no doubt understand that different types of aroma help to bring about a different mood. Your bathroom is no different.

Different scents can be used at different times of the day to complement and enhance your emotional state. For example, in the morning, you may wish to feel particularly alive and invigorated, especially if you are preparing for an important event. Whereas, in the evening, you may wish to feel calmer and more relaxed, helping you to drift off into a peaceful night's sleep.

Your choice of aroma can also enhance the type of style you're trying to achieve. Whilst scents like Sandalwood, Vanilla and Linen are quite contemporary, something more earthy or spiced would certainly suit a traditional style bathroom. If you are looking to achieve a French Floral bathroom, something with a fresh floral smell will certainly appeal. For those with young children, fun smells like bubble gum or candy floss could help to make bath time a much more joyous occasion, giving "bathroom sweets" a whole new meaning.

How to make your own bathroom scents

Find out below, how to create 3 different bathroom scents using 3 different methods.

1. Homemade diffusers

Neat, tidy and ideal for contemporary bathrooms, diffusers are great. There's no need to apply heat to them, making them the perfect choice for family bathrooms. Diffusers can cost a pretty penny from High Street furniture stores, but you can save money and add a personal touch by making your own.

Equipment:

• Glass containers with a narrow opening & top
• Diffuser reeds (Between 6 and 10 per container)
• Glass mixing jug
• Paper Funnel
• Mixing bowl
• Spoon
• Funnel

Ingredients:

• Sunflower or Olive oil
• A selection of your favourite essential oils (from any good healthcare/toiletries shop)
• A selection of your favourite herbs (add to preference)

Instructions:

1. Add sunflower or olive oil into your mixing bowl (add enough to fill the number of glass containers you have)
2. Add drops of your favourite essential oils, making sure the amount of essential oil to olive/sunflower oil doesn't exceed a ratio of 1:3
3. Stir with your spoon
4. Drop a pinch of herbs into your glass containers using a paper funnel (to preference)
5. Decant oil mixture into your glass containers using a funnel
6. Put the lid on and give it a quick shake to infuse the mixture
7. Decorate and personalise your glass containers
8. Place between 6 and 10 diffuser reeds into the opening at the top of your container
9. Enjoy an invigorating and enlivening aroma

Handy hint: You could even turn your diffuser reeds into colourful flags, for a nautical style bathroom or a family friendly bathroom

2. Floral scent sachets

For a bathroom that is fresh, fragrant and wonderfully effervescent, sachet bags are a great option. Fitting in perfectly with the French Floral theme that we featured recently, you can enjoy the fragrance of flowers at any time. Use them in your drawers and cupboards to keep things smelling great. You can even use them in your car if you find “pine fresh” a little overbearing.

Equipment:

• Mixing bowl
• Spoon
• Paper funnel
• Sachets. Organza bags are perfect for this purpose, but you could always make your own.

Ingredients:

• Rice
• Dried flowers of your choice
• Spices of your choice
• Essential oils of your choice

Instructions:

1. Add rice to your mixing bowl and mix in your spices
2. Add 6-10 drops of your favourite essential oils until it is at the right level of fragrance
3. Mix in with your spoon
4. Using a paper funnel, fill your sachets with the mixture of rice, spices and essential oils, leaving room for dried flowers
5. Fill the remaining space in your sachet with dried flowers
6. Tie the top of the sachet closed with ribbon
7. Enjoy the fragrant aroma of flowers right around your home

3. Calming lavender room spray

Perfect for those evening soaks in the bath, to put you in a relaxing mood before bedtime, lavender is a calming and soothing essence. In this instance, we've created our very own room spray, so you can simply infuse the air with a couple of pumps as and when you need it, or spray onto your towels for a welcoming smell when you get out of the bath.

Equipment:

• Plastic pump spray bottle
• Spoon
• Glass mixing jug
• Mixing bowl
• Funnel

Ingredients:

• Between 6 and 10 drops of Lavender essential oil (from any good healthcare/toiletries shop)
• 1 tsp Baking soda
• Purified water

Instructions:

1. Drop a teaspoonful of baking soda into your mixing bowl
2. Add enough purified water to fill your pump spray bottle
3. Add between 6 and 10 drops of lavender oil (depending on your personal preference)
4. Mix with your spoon
5. Transfer to your pump spray bottle via a jug and funnel
6. Add a label to personalise
7. Spray into the air or onto towels for a relaxing lavender-infused aroma whenever you like

Handy hint: Try spraying onto your pillow to help you sleep.

Share your scents on social media

If you're tempted to create your own scents, or know someone who would love to try their hand at this, why not share our article via Facebook or Twitter? Or let us know how you got on, by using the hashtag #BathroomScents.