December 28, 2009

Remodeling the Office

posted by OrganicScents

Making the office a comfortable environment for employees can increase productivity and ensure they’ll stay at their desks longer, and work more. One idea to consider is to bring in plants or small trees. This not only makes the office more aesthetically pleasing, but increases the production of oxygen, allowing for more oxygen to reach the brain, and increasing mental productivity. Another idea is to replace your existing lighting panels with sky-scapes, which have colored prints of the sky, ocean, or popular characters like Dilbert. While having no scientific benefit, these add an artistic appeal to the office.

I also invested in some wholesale fragrance oil so that the office always smells great. In addition, simple changes like free coffee a couple days of the week or doughnuts from the bakery on Mondays never hurt.


December 14, 2009

Decorating for the Holidays

posted by OrganicScents

Whether you’re intending to entertain a horde of guests or just dressing up the house for your family, holiday decorating is a fun process which allows for creativity and showing off all your holiday keepsakes. Candles are a central part of any holiday display, and should be placed in various locations. In addition, if you have unique items like blown glass or spiral candle holders, these can become a focal point for an arrangement.  I always put out some Spice 99 potpourri to create a fruity aroma throughout the house. Snow scenes featuring miniature figurines and houses should be grouped together, and fake snow made from reflective plastic adds character and life.

Family keepsakes should be displayed on a mantle or in a place visible throughout the space; these objects are the heart of the holiday season.


November 25, 2009

Possible Purposes for Potpourri

posted by OrganicScents

Potpourri could be viewed as a surprisingly complex creation, both in terms of its contents and its potential purposes. While potpourri might create some visual impact depending on the way it’s displayed, that aspect should be viewed as a bonus at best and negligible at worst. The true goal of potpourri is to create a pleasing aromatic atmosphere.

In some cases, Diamond Dove is utilized to cover up or overpower a less pleasant odor. That’s why some people position potpourri strategically in the bathroom or near the garbage in the kitchen. Other times, the purpose is less pointed. It’s nice to add a few fragrance notes to a room without necessarily overpowering the nostrils. The best potpourri is as subtle as it is distinctive.


November 11, 2009

Come for the Tea, Stay for the Smell

posted by OrganicScents

After doing some research in my neighborhood, I realized that there was a market for tea that was going untapped. Coffee shops were a dime a dozen with Starbucks and Dunkin Donuts fighting for retail space on every main street. Still, the needs of dedicated tea connoisseurs were left unmet. I borrowed some seed money and opened a tea house in the middle of the business district.

In order to set myself apart from other specialty drink businesses, I wanted to give the main dining room area a distinct atmosphere. Of course I took some pains to select proper furniture, décor and art for the walls. Something was missing, however. I called to mind a few of the Far Eastern tea houses I had visited on trips to China. Suddenly it became clear – I could purchase some wholesale spices online and fill the room with fresh, subtle potpourri aroma.


October 27, 2009

Potpourri Placement Is Key

posted by OrganicScents

We’re always singing the praises of potpourri in this blog – whether it’s a traditional mix of dried floral pieces or a newer blend of spices and essential oil. Now it’s time to focus on the many uses of this fragrant household favorite. Living rooms, dens and bathrooms are perhaps the most popular areas where the smelly stuff might be found, and for good reason. In the living room, potpourri is out in the open – inviting guests to partake of its pleasant odor. In the bathroom, it might be used to mask less pleasant smells.

Whenever possible, potpourri should be kept away from dining areas. Pungent smells – no matter how delectable they might be – can detract from the taste and odor of freshly cooked food. Especially if you’re hosting a dinner party, avoid the temptation to place potpourri on the table. Let your guests enjoy its wafting scent notes before dinner, as they mill around the house or sit sipping cocktails.


October 13, 2009

A Fragrant Arts and Crafts Project

posted by OrganicScents

As an elementary school art teacher, I’m always on the lookout for arts and crafts projects that would appeal to the younger crowd. Some of my sources for inspiration include family, friends, and coworkers, but lately I draw many of my best ideas from the Internet. On one of the arts-and-crafts listservs to which I subscribe, some other teachers were talking about making potpourri in the classroom.

In my experience, I’ve found that kids are most engaged when they can use several of their senses at once during a project. This one would allow them to use their hands to combine dried flowers and other fragrant elements, and it goes without saying that they would use their noses as well. I’m saving that particular project until spring, when nearby farmers begin spreading manure on their crops.


October 2, 2009

Potpourri

posted by mike

In earlier times, fresh herbs and fresh flowers were used in Potpourri. While fresh herbs and flowers are still used, today’s potpourri is more of a mixture of pre-dried material and essential oils which provide a gentle scent in homes and offices.  

Potpourri is put in special pots with perforated lids to perfume rooms. It can also be tied in small bags made from sheer fabric and hung throughout the house.


September 28, 2009

Enjoy the Complexity of Potpourri

posted by OrganicScents

In a way, potpourri is like a fine wine. Just as a high-class red or white reveals its character over time as the taste buds notice each distinct flavor note, so does effective potpourri require time and patience to savor. There’s nothing wrong with overtly simple potpourri. Dried botanicals can have a pleasing effect when set out in a bowl, but they don’t exactly thrill the olfactory sensors.

It turns out that the best potpourri supplies include a number of complementary elements that work well as a whole. While a few dried botanicals and essential oils are less than impressive on their own, they achieve a divine new aroma when combined. Before you put the time and effort into creating your own potpourri, consider all of the enticing blends of fragrances that are already available.


September 14, 2009

The Fragrance of a Real Country Home

posted by OrganicScents

Ever since I moved to the Midwest a few months ago, I’ve embraced the new lifestyle and the slower pace it allows. I’ve taken special care to decorate my home with a country motif, and the kitchen is a constant thrum of activity. Since my husband and I are always welcoming company into our home, we wanted to make it feel even more warm and inviting. It struck me that the house didn’t really smell like a home. In fact, it didn’t smell like much of anything.

That’s when I began searching online for sweet-smelling potpourri with floral accents. As an added bonus, I found high-quality potpourri that features fragrance oils. I’ve noticed that these oils have a soothing effect that makes our living room feel even more comfortable than it did before. Guests and neighbors are constantly commenting on the pleasant odors emanating from the potpourri, and we’ve done well to ingratiate ourselves to the neighborhood.


September 7, 2009

The Sum of Potpourri’s Parts

posted by OrganicScents

When we describe a winning sports team or even a particularly delicious recipe, we often say that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. This is also true in the fragrance world, where potpourri reigns supreme. The smell of potpourri could be compared to the taste of a fine wine – the more time you spend getting to know it, the more distinct aromatic notes you begin to perceive.

After cracking open some aromatic potpourri, your senses will be overwhelmed with a unique fragrance – that of the whole. But given time, you’ll likely pick up a number of separate aromas that weren’t detectable at first sniff. These fruit and floral extracts make their presence felt over a period of days, and they come together in such a way that everyone in the household will enjoy the olfactory atmosphere.