Smile! A scent stone to combat kitchen smells
1.12.2022
Translation: Jessica Johnson-Ferguson
Pictures: Pia Seidel
Heated vinegar or lemon water seems to be the number one home remedy to neutralise unpleasant food odours. But it’s not a particularly elegant one. That’s why I’ve been on the lookout for a simple and stylish solution.
In my kitchen, three factors are going for gold in the unpleasant smell department: my organic waste container, the rubbish bin and various bouquets of smells after cooking. As this stink battle sometimes continues even when the extractor fan’s been on or after several airing sessions, I’m looking for a way to put an end to it once and for all. Several online platforms recommend neutralising odours by entering other smells into the race. For example, a bowl of vinegar or lemon water is considered unbeatable.
Cinnamon%20%2D%200%20votes-,To%20get%20rid%20of%20the%20smell%20of%20burned%20food%20in,still%20warm%20but%20not%20hot) is also said to put up a particularly good fight when you heat it in the oven. What’s more, this contender is also a great match for the festive season. Then again, I don’t want to be firing up the oven every other day, so I opt for that nice smell of Christmas in the form of essential oil. Put a few drops onto a scent stone and the scent should spread throughout the room by cold evaporation. To find out if this actually works, I have one delivered to my home. The model «Smile» by Aromalife immediately cheers me up.
I like its shape and colour. It’s part of a set with a matching yellow saucer and it’s small enough to be discreetly placed pretty much anywhere. But whenever it does occasionally catch my eye, it makes me smile. Let’s see if the cinnamon scent has the same effect.
Source: Pia Seidel
First impressions
As recommended by the manufacturer, I only drizzle the essential oil on the underside of the stone. This way I’m preventing the top from discolouring. To protect my furniture, I always place the fragrance stone on its little plate.
Source: Pia Seidel
After just three drops, a Christmassy fragrance is wafting out of the smiley face. The smell is pretty intense on day one. Day two is subtler but still noticeable. After preparing a meal involving onions or garlic, all it takes is one airing, a few drops onto the stone and you’d never know your home had every smelled any different. The oil evaporates without my intervention or any source of heat because it’s made of absorbent clay. When the scent wears off, I add a few drops again.
The only thing I can still smell each time I open the door is the rubbish bin located in a cupboard under the sink. To see how the fragrance stone fares when it’s closer to the source of the odour, I place it there for a few days. Indeed, the winner has a smile on its face as it triumphs in the battle against evil kitchen pongs.
Two weeks in
Even after a longer period of use, my first impression’s confirmed. Cinnamon puts a smile on my face and kicks nasty smells wafting out of the bin and other stinky sources to the kerb. Even if the scent isn’t on par with cinnamon you use for baking, it’s pleasant and definitely better than the stench of a full rubbish bag. The best way to defeat the latter is by placing a «Smile» in its vicinity. However, the stone won’t cut it for particularly pungent smells conjured up when you cook with a cast-iron pan, for example.
I want to find out if other fragrances have the same effect or are even more powerful. So I add another essential oil that smells of bergamot. Turns out, it’s not even half as good as cinnamon. Not even 10 drops of bergamot stand a chance against a smelly kitchen.
Source: Pia Seidel
Verdict: an elegant solution but possibly not the best one
This type of aromatherapy appeals to me. It’s handy, doesn’t take up much space and doesn’t rely on candles or electricity. Unlike an electric fragrance diffuser, it’s silent and only grabs your attention because of its design.
The «Smile» Aromalife fragrance stone is irresistible because of its face alone. It’s decorative, can be placed anywhere and is great if you’re worried about leaving a lit candle unattended. And if you’re not a fan of the design, you can just place it out of sight. When you drizzle on some aromatic oil, the fragrance will overpower other kitchen stenches for several days depending on the scent and location. For larger rooms I’d recommend two «Smiles». In my small kitchen, cinnamon came out on top in eliminated the stink of rubbish and standard cooking odours. However, the stone can’t compete with very intense odours such as fish fried in a cast-iron pan
I’m aware that my preference for certain fragrances and a smiley face might not be everyone’s cup of tea, I’m up for exploring other unknown territories of smell. To find out how else you can neutralise kitchen odours, I’ll be testing other methods.
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Pia Seidel
Senior Editor
Pia.Seidel@digitecgalaxus.chLike a cheerleader, I love celebrating good design and bringing you closer to everything furniture- and interior design- related. I regularly curate simple yet sophisticated interior ideas, report on trends and interview creative minds about their work.
