Candles seem to be everyone’s go-to gift item, random purchase, and home décor (among many other things). They’re beautiful as decorations, with vivid colors and classy glass containers. However most importantly, they smell amazing, and come in a variety of different scents, with an equally as epic assortment of uses.

Here’s the catch. Dormitories on university campuses usually don’t allow candles because they are considered fire hazards. So what’s an easy alternative to keep the small amount of personal space you have smelling fresh and clean?

Febreze Oil Warmers are efficient at getting the job done, but they’re expensive to replace, and need to be turned on and off. Similarly, Yankee Candle’s wax warmers are also incredibly expensive, and require cartridges to refill them.

So what to turn to? I’d never thought about it before, until very recently; but my parents bought me something for Christmas that made me realize scented essential oils and aromatherapy are great ways to calm the nerves (and a multitude of other uses) and keep your room smelling fantastic.

To get you started off, invest a good $15 to $25 dollars to get yourself an oil warmer. Amazon.com, Pier 1 Imports, and many other departments stores and home decorating stores carry them in stock. They can be simple and practical, or decorative and cute, it’s entirely up to you!

Finally, invest in a couple bottles of oils. Depending on your preferences and intentions, different essential oils can be used for different purposes. Compiled below is a small list of starter oils and their purposes.

1. Eucalyptus oil.

Eucalyptus oil is great as a decongestant, especially when you’re feeling a little stuffy or clogged. Drop a few drop in to your oil warmer to instantly feel uplifted, cleansed, and refreshed.

2. Peppermint oil.

Peppermint is great for relaxation, especially with a headache or related discomfort. Menthol (contained in peppermint) is a natural anesthetic that dulls the pain receptors that cause headaches!

3. Jasmine oil.

If you’re feeling a little down, jasmine oil is just the thing to give you a little mood boost. Also good to know? Jasmine oil is extremely helpful with focus and attentiveness, great for exam time to efficiently study.

4. Lavender oil.

When you’re stressed out, or just need to wind down before bed, burning lavender oil is just about as close as you can get to total relaxation. The smell of lavender oil calms the nervous system, and is known to reduce anxiety.

Ultimately, it seems to me that burning oils is a great alternative to candles and other more expensive fire-free alternatives. With a relatively effortless initial investment, you can be set with a fragrant room and a multitude of uses for the rest of the semester!