Last week Havilah (just turned 4) was coming over to prepare her birthday treat with Grammy. This is a new tradition that I began last year. I look forward to having each birthday child choose his or her favorite desert which we cook together and they get to take home to share (or not) with their family. This started out with what was supposed to be a one-time event after I saw sugar cookies decorated to look like daisies. I remember thinking, “What a cute idea for Adara Daisy…” and another custom was born. 

Part of the preparation is brewing a pot of coffee. No, not for the kids; I will have a cup after the mess is cleaned up. But my main objective is to combine the aroma of fresh-brewed coffee with the featured dessert to produce a lovely pastry shop scent in my kitchen. 

While Havilah and I stirred the ingredients over medium heat (she chose chocolate oatmeal/coconut cookies), a few of the other youngsters stopped by to say hello. “Um…what smells so good?” Ira queried. “I love the way your house smells,” chimed in Kylo.

Mission accomplished.

However, after the cookies were “setting up” on the island, and Havilah had joined the other kids upstairs, I recalled I had planned to prepare another dish – one you would not find at a pastry shop. Junior’s Marinated Cabbage (named for our family’s favorite restaurant in Brooklyn) has become a staple in the fridge. It is easy to prepare, keeps well, is healthy, and makes a good replacement for chips when I am craving something crunchy. But its preparation produces a pungent odor!

Realizing the change in aroma that would occur, I decided to go ahead anduse the fresh cabbage while it was still fresh. I chopped the bright green head of this cruciferous veggie (known to help prevent cancer) into a large bowl; tossed in strips of yellow, orange, and red peppers; and dumped in a jar of diced pimentos. Now, to make the dressing. It is vinegar-based, so you know that when I add the spices and heat the mixture to boiling before simmering for 20 minutes, it is going to eclipse any lingering coffee/cookie aroma. And it did.

I had stepped to the back door to talk with my daughter Amy who was burning a pile of brush in her backyard (next door). Isaac came running down the stairs, coughing, and blurted out, “It smells stinky in here!” 

He was followed by the other kids, gasping and jockeying for a passageway outside to “get some fresh air.” Even the smoky air from the flaming cedar branches provided relief.

So much for Grammy’s aromatic kitchen.

This occasion reminded me of the importance of smell in a caregiving home. Unpleasant odors can literally make you want to run for fresh air. Pleasing scents not only contribute greatly to a pleasant atmosphere but can actually invoke good memories and improve your attitude.

One of the first things I always noticed when entering a nursing facility was the smell. Strong, offensive odors is an indicator that someone is not doing his or her job correctly. Because of the nature of nursing homes, one would be hard-pressed to meet with a lovely fragrance throughout, but with proper care and maintenance, you should be able to spend time visiting without feeling the need to run out for fresh air.  

The same is true for a caregiving home. 

Smell is an indicator of cleanliness, so keeping your home clean, tidy and uncluttered is the first step toward preventing unpleasant odors. If you do find a source of stinky odors, your first recourse should be to clean and remove, not cover-up. Although there is a myriad of products advertised to get rid of odors, make sure the one you choose does not just mask the culprit.

Have you ever walked into your house after being away for a few days and think, “Uh…why does my house smell like this?” It may be that you just need to open the windows and let out the stale air; or you may have become used to unpleasant odors in your own home and no longer detect them. Daily, give your surroundings a “sniff test” so you can discover and remedy offensive orders. 

If your recipient is incontinent or wears disposable underwear, you must be vigilant in two areas: proper disposal of used products and personal cleanliness. Left inside in trash containers, these items can quickly become a source of foul odors. Always use a plastic liner in the waste basket, clean it regularly, and if possible, remove the contents to an outside garbage container every day.

Good personal hygiene for your recipient – including “freshening up” with each incontinent episode and regular showers or baths – will go a long way toward preventing unpleasant body odors. Drying off completely is also helpful, especially in body crevices and between toes. 

Another possible source of odor in the home is dirty laundry. Store soiled items in an appropriate container and out-of-way area and wash clothes regularly. Make sure the clothes your loved one wears are clean. Even if care recipients are not physically active, perspiration and other body fluids can give clothes an unpleasant smell. Wash bed linens and towels at least weekly.

Kitchen garbage, such as peelings of fruits and veggies, meat trimmings and discarded dairy products or empty containers can give your home an unsavory smell, especially in warmer weather. Empty frequently and clean containers thoroughly. Did you know that bad odors can lessen appetites? Sitting in a stinky kitchen while trying to eat a meal can take away the desire for food. Pleasant kitchen odors serve to increase appetites. 

Regrettably, fresh breezes through open windows are almost a thing of the past because of central heating and cooling systems. Even though open windows may allow dust and pollen, consider if exchanging a little air with the outside would improve your overall “air conditioning.” Fresh air combined with sunlight is an effective natural air freshener. Because humidity makes smells worse, consider using a dehumidifier or odor absorber if needed.

Is there a time and place for artificial fragrances in our homes? Personally, I do not care for any kind of aerosol spray (and have seen some cause severe allergic reactions). Candles can be dangerous and the printed warnings I read on the last one I was considering caused me to put it back on the shelf. Read all instructions and warning labels and use with care.There are essential oils, incense, linen sprays etc. which I have used and enjoy (especially anything sandalwood!). 

Which reminds me. Did you know odors are processed by the olfactory bulb in the brain which sends information to other areas of the body including regions related to emotion and memory?  There is scientific evidence that scents we consider pleasant evoke positive memories and emotions. That is why you can smell a particular fragrance and it takes you back to your grandma’s house, your first vacation to the beach, your first date with your future spouse…ahh.

Fresh flowers can provide a lovely smell, but I must admit that sometimes their fragrance reminds me of funeral homes. Many caregivers swear by baking soda as a safe alternative to chemical-laden odor controllers. 

I love to embrace an elderly person and inhale the faint fragrance of a delightful cologne or after-shave (or body lotion/powder). Faint is the key word here. Many seniors have an aversion to strong odors of any kind – especially artificial – so choose carefully.

Research has shown that having clean and fragrant surroundings can induce better health and even hasten recovery from sickness. Making sure your home smells clean and fresh is just one more good thing you can do to show your loved one how much you care.