Today we are going to focus inward and have a look at the scents that compliment the spaces in your home, starting with the kitchen!
Whether you just had a cookout of some fresh baked fish, a simmering stir fry using exotic blends of spices from far off destinations, or the steady bubbling of a slow cooked chili, scents can linger long after you’re done with your meal.
Given the space size you are working with, and proximity to fresh air and ventilation, these smells can creep into your entire home. Today we are going to explore how adding candle scents to your kitchen during and after your meal, or at all times really, can accentuate the enjoyment of your kitchen at home, as we look at the best scents for kitchens.
To begin, let’s look at the quick and easy alternatives to a slow and clean burning candle, gradually releasing its fragrance and essential oils into your living spaces.
Absolutely, heavily scented room sprays might be some peoples go-to for masking cooking smells and kitchen odors. But in the space where you’re cooking food and quite possibly enjoying your meal, it’s unlikely that you want to spray potentially-harmful chemicals and risk contact with your kitchen tools or that duck confit you have been meticulously preparing.
We offer a cleaner burning alternative that also provides a soft flickering glow of candle flame, creating a peaceful ambiance to create your culinary masterpiece, or enjoy the fruits of your labor as you sit to dine with your loved ones.
Let’s explore some of the best scents for kitchens to have as you are cooking away in the kitchen.
The flame of a candle works similar to a thermal reactor: the candle flame burns odor-causing organic molecules. turning them into odorless carbon dioxide. The convection resulting from the combustion process helps to draw more odor causing molecules into the flame. Although this is a slow process it can be effective to eliminate odors during the cooking or dining process in the kitchen.
Natural wax candles release negative ions when they burn, while odor carrying pollutants suspended in our air like pollen, dirt, and dust carry a positive charge. Negative ions released from burning natural wax candles negate the positive (air contaminants) charge, and the neutralized ions are then sucked back into the
burning candle through combustion. This is also a similar process to how our Air purifiers and water filters utilize this effective negative ion technology.
An efficient way of eliminating odors in your kitchen:
Absolutely, heavily scented room sprays might be some peoples go-to for masking cooking smells and kitchen odors. But in the space where you’re cooking food and quite possibly enjoying your meal, it’s unlikely that you want to spray potentially-harmful chemicals and risk contact with your kitchen tools or that duck confit you have been meticulously preparing.
We offer a cleaner burning alternative that also provides a soft flickering glow of candle flame, creating a peaceful ambiance to create your culinary masterpiece, or enjoy the fruits of your labor as you sit to dine with your loved ones.
Let’s explore some of the best scents for kitchens to have as you are cooking away in the kitchen.
The Sojourn Company has you covered for Good Vibes in a jar. Check these out!
Brown Sugar – We love the smell of Brown Sugar in the kitchen while we are baking, or to have a Brown Sugar candle lit in the morning to remind us of cozy warm cereal breakfasts on a cold morning. How nice is the smell of caramelizing brown sugar over a hot bowl on a camping trip as the sun comes up? The Brown Sugar scent blends very well with warm vanillas.
Sage – Here at the Sojourn Company we love the sage fragrance. The clary sage scent has long been used as a natural antidepressant and for stress reduction, which is why it is a focus scent in our Yucca Valley Candle, but how nice is the scent of dried sage added to roasted chicken, or as a garnish to a pasta dish? The scent of sage compliments meat, pasta, and vegetable dishes to name a few, it is a great option to inspire the olfactory senses as you are preparing your meals.
Oatmilk and Honey – Another scent that reminds us of mornings with the doors flung open, allowing the early AM breeze into our home is Oatmilk and Honey. A Deep, Sweet scent that we include in our Al Fresco Candle is a nice counterbalance to perhaps existing sharper scents that may be lingering in your kitchen after cooking from the previous day.
Sea Salt – We love this briny, oceanside scent in moany rooms of our home, but it pairs very nicely while cooking all seafood dishes, boils, and mediterranean inspired meals. Transport your senses to a sleep seaside town as you tinker away in the kitchen
Pear – The crisp, clean notes of the pear scent are often tied with cleanliness and freshness. When compared to other fruit scents, your brain might associate the pear as greener and more subtle than its boisterous fruity counterparts. You may also associate pear with the subtle and powdery blossoms as these trees bloom in the spring. We recommend this as one of the best candle scents for kitchens looking to mask odors from last night’s dinners.
Bergamot – A scent so complex we dedicated an entire article to it, The small but mighty bergamot’s scent is best described as a hybrid of bitter orange and zest lemon, with the tartness of fresh picked lime. Like other citrus scents, companies have been using it in cleaning products as its sharp top notes can mask food and refuse scents, and invoke the thought of fresh, bright and clean images in our minds. We use this rigid but lovely fruits essential oil in our Tahitian Bungalow Candle to help offset the deeper, rich Vanilla and Sandalwood fragrances
Fig – The scent of Fig has been described as a mixture of opposing milky/creamy sweet elements and hints of bitter green, but perhaps understated, the deep ripeness of the fig scent gives a complexity that works well in many kitchens. Not as obvious as a bright citrus scent, fig fruit reminds me of the outdoors, and fresh market produce, which is why we recommend it not only as a best candle scent for kitchens, but at the flagship fragrance in our Aegean Coast Candle, which is like a Grecian farmers market in a jar.
Apple – What could be better than a kitchen that exudes the scent of fresh, crisp, slightly sweet & pungent, and who exemplifies that better than our fruity friend the apple? Mix this scent with berries, lime or pepper to really spice up your kitchen space.
Lemongrass – This attractive aroma blends with many other scent profiles as it is lemony, sweet grassy and earthy. Lemongrass is thought to help prevent growth of some bacteria and yeasts so it is not uncommon to think of this scent as a cleansing one. The Lemongrass scent brings the outdoors in, and pairs really well with florals like Rose and Ylang Ylang, or most citrus scents like lime, bergamot, grapefruit and orange. Which brings us to…
Citrus – Not only do citrus scents aid with digestion and nausea, making them a perfect addition to any kitchen/eating space, most citrus essential oils include the component d-limonene, which studies supports the nervous system that is responsible for relaxing in us human beings.
Citrus scents like Lime, which we use in our Aegean Coast Candle, are closely associated with zesty and freshness, summer climates and warm weather which is not only inviting, but harkens the thoughts of things anew.
Ginger – The scent of Ginger is a tricky one to nail down, as it offers almost two profiles at one. On one hand, we have a strong lemony sparkling & fresh palette, But your olfactory senses might also pick up hints of soapy, sharp pepper heat. It;s that heat & cool duality that has me associating ginger fragrance oils and essential oils with being in a spa.
Ginger fragrance founds a happy home in the kitchen as it stimulates the appetite, additionally relieving inflammation throughout the body, making it a handy scent to have wafting around the dining table.
For some noses, the sharpness and intensity of ginger can be a little overpowering, but when trying to combat kitchen odors and strong food scents, keep this candle scent in your arsenal.
Vanilla – Ahhh what is more comforting than the simple softness, warmth and creamy softness of Vanilla? This smooth scent evokes a purity & simplicity as it releases hints of nutty, sweet, syrupy richness that is both versatile, but not too overpowering to be able to pair well with other scent profiles.
While it is commonly found as a pairing partner to clove and cinnamon, or strawberry & orange, we’ve used it in our Tahitian Bungalow candle to round out the woodsy cedar and sandalwood, while reigning in the vibrance of Bergamot. Smooth, subtle, yet present.
We hope you have enjoyed our scent suggestions for best candle scents for kitchens, and eliminating strong kitchen odors, but you can also use these scents in other areas of your home, such as the living room, dining room, and bedrooms.
If you are looking for an expertly crafted, hand poured candle, made with the very best ingredient we could find, our Sojourn Company candles offer a clean burn that will be a welcome addition to liven up any room in your home. We would love for you to join us on this journey.
