Moving home can be such a stressful event. For weeks and even months before the big day you have to plan every aspect of the move - the legalities, the removal company, the estate agents and a whole host of other things besides - with detailed precision.
Buying a gift for someone who has just moved home doesn't compare in terms of difficulty but, even then, it can prove to be tricky, especially if you are not sure exactly what you friends or loved ones need for their new home. A decorative present - something which will look good in a newly decorated and painted room - is most often appreciated and for many the perfect housewarming gift is a bouquet of flowers or ornate potted plant? While these gifts are certain to be appreciated they do tend to have a limited life span. That beautiful flower arrangement you gave to your friend will not be looking quite so good a week or so after your visit.
So if you are looking for something decorative but which will also last longer than a flower or potted plant, why not consider a beautifully designed scented candle or perhaps a fragrance diffuser? Like a flower arrangement or potted plant, both will look good and smell great, but they have the advantage over flowers and plants in that, with proper attention, they will continue to provide your friend's home with a decorative focal point for months to come.
Scented candles and diffusers can be found nowadays in an ever-expanding range of colours, fragrances and designs meaning you are always sure to be able to find something which you can be reasonably confident your recipient will like.
So, if you decide to go for a gift of a scented candle, which type do you choose? Would your friends prefer an artistically decorated pillar candle, a hand- poured candle in an etched glass jar, or perhaps a gift set of votive candles in a variety of different fragrances which they can try out at their leisure? Scented candles can even be found in tins which allow them to be used with the minimum of fuss. The lid of the tin keeps the candle free of dust when not in use and can be used as a handy coaster to sit the lit candle upon, ensuring no mess or dripping wax on furniture.
Then there is the question of which fragrance to choose. Your friends might prefer something floral such as the ever-popular rose, freesia or honeysuckle, or perhaps the musky scent of sandalwood or patchouli. But the range of fragrances available doesn't end there - you have the option of sweet refreshing fragrances such as vanilla or pomegranate or invigorating spicy scents like clove or ginger. The list is endless!
Fragrance diffusers also make a great housewarming gift. Like scented candles, they are available in a huge range of fragrances and are just as attractive to look at as scented candles. The best quality reed diffusers come in beautifully decorated glass jars which look elegant sitting on a mantelpiece, console or coffee table Certainly they do not have the enduring appeal of a lit flame but they are often a safer bet than scented candles, particularly if your friends have children or pets, where a naked flame may not be ideal. They offer a different, more contemporary - almost oriental - look than scented candles and as such may be better suited to a more modern home than a scented candle. The major advantage of a reed diffuser over a candle is that it gives off its scent continuously without the need for a flame. You can also vary the intensity of the fragrance either by flipping the reeds at more regular intervals or simply by changing the number of reeds you use.
Whichever option you go for you are unlikely to be stuck for choice. Just think - months after your friends have moved into their new home, long after the stress of moving has been forgotten - they will be able to light the beautiful scented candle you gave them, or drink in the subtle fragrance from their reed diffuser, sit back and relax in the beautiful ambiance created by a truly thoughtful gift.
