Stick scents give a room a gentle smell with no flame. They are easy to use, but a few small habits keep them pleasant. Stick scents work by drawing scented oil up thin reeds, which release it into the air. Here is where to put them, how many you need, and what to keep in mind with children and pets.

Where To Put Stick Scents In Your Home

Pick a spot with a little air movement but no strong draught. A hallway table, a bathroom bench or a bookshelf all work well. Keep the bottle out of full sun, because heat makes the oil fade faster.

Stand it on a flat surface that wipes clean. Scented oil can mark timber and polish, so a small tray underneath is a smart idea.

How many reeds does one room need?

Start with all the reeds that come in the bottle and see how the room smells after a day. If it is faint, add a few more. If it feels heavy, take some out. Small rooms need fewer than a big living area.

A Scent Stick Holder And Safe Habits

A good scent stick holder keeps the bottle steady and the reeds upright. Choose one with a wide base so a pet or child cannot tip it over easily. Even so, put it up high, out of reach.

Scented oils are strong. The Tisserand Institute, a group that teaches essential oil safety, says a bottled essential oil is about 50 to 100 times stronger than its plant. Its guidelines also ask people to store oils away from young children and to let some fresh air in when diffusing.

• Keep bottles out of reach of children and pets.
• Wipe spills off timber straight away.
• Open a window for a while each day.
• Move the bottle if anyone dislikes the smell.
• If someone has asthma, check with their doctor first.

Match Your Candle Fragrance To Your Stick Scents

If you already burn a candle in the lounge, pick a stick in the same scent family. Two different smells in one room can compete. A warm vanilla candle sits nicely beside a warm vanilla stick. The Indulgent range is the place to start for sweet, cosy scents.

Quick answers

Are stick scents safe around pets?

Keep them out of reach, because a pet could knock one over or lick spilled oil. Let fresh air in each day. If you have any worry about a particular pet, ask your vet.

How long do stick scents last?

It depends on the bottle size, the room and the number of reeds. Fewer reeds make the scent last longer. A warm room uses the oil up faster than a cool one.

If you want a flame-free option, have a look at the reed diffusers. They sit well beside a candle in the same scent family.

Related reading

• Natural Fragrance Candles And Cats: Keep Scent Light: more on scent and pets at home.
• Scented Candles Australia: Pick One Scent For Each Room: how to choose a scent for every room.
• Candle Scent Oil: Why Fruit Smells Are Built, Not Pressed: what scent oil is made of.