No doubt, summer in the city can assault the senses–all of them. Sometimes, a good scent can put you right. Aromatherapy uses plant oils to enhance both physical and psychological well-being. Lots of people use lavender, for example, to hasten and encourage relaxation. Think of the scent as an offering in a crowded subway, as long as it’s not something nose-tickling or overly floral/synthetic. Essential oils are incredibly fragrant and rarely bother the allergy-challenged. What’s your favorite scent? At some places, you can reminisce about your childhood and come out with a customized perfume. Crayons? You can wear it.

Some of my favorites:

above: From CB I Hate Perfume

Jo Malone: I would snort this, were it socially acceptable or medically advisable.

My favorite is the cucumber oil.

What’s your favorite scent?

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When it comes to the fine form/function balance, candles should receive high marks in both categories. Our favorite candles are gorgeous to look at and to inhale. Nothing puts me in the mood for writing, romance, or cleaning like a good candle. Aside from the olfactory pleasure, lighting a candle to mark the beginning of a different part of the day affords a psychological shift.

Highest marks go to the Diptyque candles, which come from a Parisian perfumier serious about wax, wicks, and fragrance. The wax is made from vegetables and the wicks are all-cotton and lead free. Each candle burns between 50 to 60 hours.

Jo Malone candles are a favorite, too.

Think of it as a natural high.

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Taxidermy seems all right, in the eyes of many young artists and even vegetarians who wouldn’t be caught dead in fur coats.

Two sisters were featured prominently in the New York Times about their aesthetic largely based on dead animals and other stuff Edward Gorey would love.

We’ve seen taxidermy photographers.

But the most arresting taxidermy I’ve seen made a brief appearance on Bravo’s Work of Art, last week: Peregrine Honig’s double fawns.

Urban taxidermist, Melissa Dixon makes objets d’artes:

You can read more about the in’s and out’s of taxidermy, here:

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Little needs to be said about the beauty of the library ladder, but here are some new photos to drool over. Though most people think they need oodles of space to justify such a purchase, DesignSponge featured a small-scale use of built-in bookshelves with a ladder, today. As the photos attest, library ladders are not just for libraries anymore. Good for the kitchen, too!

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It’s hard to say what makes a plant a “summer plant,” aside from the season in which it thrives. These plants can be grown all year long, but still read to us as summer plants, reminding us that all is verdant. A few favorites include: angel vine, baby tears, air plants, maidenhair ferns, and oxalis. What are your favorite summer plants?

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We’re longtime fans of a product called homosote, but I’m often met with blank stares when requesting it at hardware and lumber stores. That’s slowly changing, partly because the material is green–made from 100% percent recycled waste paper–and partly because it’s been touted by trusted arbiters of good taste. Apartment Therapy paid homage to the material. So did Martha Stewart. The material, aside from providing the perfect space to tack up your newest project, or inspirations, or book pages, also makes for good sound proofing.

some like it raw [above]. other variations, below:

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Despite occasional rumors of bans on cursive in elementary schools, cursive is still thriving as a design staple. I have lost the source information for this beautiful script, which is the handiwork of a high-end design firm. Anyone recognize this beauty?

Remember these beautiful worksheets?

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Maxwell Gillingham-Ryan, of Apartment Therapy, has a new book out: Apartment Therapy’s Big Book of Small, Cool Spaces. Looks great, based on a few web-previews!

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In another life, I’d like to be a window designer. I think many people may share this daydream when walking past the Anthropologie windows. Recently, they did a number of windows with bent books and paper.

As it turns out, applications to be a window designer at Anthropologie are quite rigorous. Roxy Marj auditioned last March. We loved her ideas, though she didn’t get the job. Here are some of her pieces:

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Once upon a time, before these logos were ubiquitous, a man or woman sat alone in his/her room, hunched over a computer or drafting board, moving colors and shapes around. Ever wondered who was behind these famed logos?

Click here to read about the designers and their inspiration.

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