Scents, Spaces and Everyday Rituals

Thoughts on scent, space and everyday rituals, inspired by travel, yoga and slow living.
This blog explores how small sensory details influence the way we experience everyday spaces. From incense and essential oils to movement and breath. Based on personal experience and everyday life.

When I first arrived in Bali, incense immediately caught my attention.
It was everywhere — on the streets, in front of houses, during daily offerings. I noticed it right away, and I liked it instantly. The scents felt warm, grounding, and somehow comforting, even though everything around me was new.

From the very beginning, it affected how I felt.
Life seemed slower. Mornings calmer. Even busy streets felt less overwhelming. There was a sense of presence that I hadn’t experienced in the same way before.

I knew that once I left Bali, I would miss that feeling.
So I brought incense sticks home with me — almost as a way of making sure I wouldn’t lose that sense of calm completely.

Since then, whenever I return to Europe, I still carry incense with me. Lighting one at home helps me reconnect with that feeling — not because I want to recreate Bali, but because I want to recreate how I felt there.

Right now, I’m in Thailand.

Living here, close to nature, practicing yoga regularly, and being surrounded by small daily rituals has made me even more aware of how much atmosphere matters. Not in a dramatic way — but in subtle, quiet moments.

Scent is one of those things.

It doesn’t demand attention, but it influences how we experience our surroundings. A space can feel grounding, energizing, or calming — often without us consciously noticing why.

Over time, I’ve naturally started using scents in different forms, depending on the moment.

Sometimes it’s a small roll-on essential oil, applied to my wrists or neck. I like these because they’re simple and personal. Each scent serves a slightly different purpose for me — relaxation, stress relief, or just a short pause during the day.

At home, I often use essential oils in a diffuser. Not constantly, but intentionally. I see it as a way to support the mood of a space rather than to overpower it.

Incense is still something I come back to as well. I don’t light it every day, but when I do, it usually marks a transition — arriving home, slowing down in the evening, or creating a quieter atmosphere.

Here in Thailand, there’s also another scent-related habit that’s part of everyday life: herbal inhalers.

They’re everywhere. People use them throughout the day — for focus, freshness, or simply to reset for a moment. I’ve grown quite fond of them myself. I use them regularly and often bring them back home for my family. They absolutely love them.

It’s such a simple thing, but it shows how scent can be woven into daily life in a very practical, accessible way.

Scent, for me, is closely connected to how a space feels — and how I feel within it.

This also extends into yoga and movement. Your yoga mat, for example, becomes a very personal space over time. I think it’s a nice idea to refresh or gently cleanse it occasionally using water with a drop of essential oil — especially with suede mats, where less and gentler care often feels better.

It doesn’t have to be a ritual. Just a simple way of keeping your practice space feeling fresh and intentional.

What Resonates With You

When it comes to scents, I believe quality matters — but intention matters even more.

You don’t need many products or strong fragrances. Often, one scent that truly resonates with you is enough to shift the way a space feels.

Creating a pleasant environment doesn’t have to be complicated.
Sometimes it’s simply about noticing what makes you feel more at ease — and allowing yourself to bring more of that into your everyday life.

For a glimpse of the spaces, scents and little rituals I talk about here, head over to my Instagram: @aurayogamat