Soft furnishings, houseplants and decor are one thing, but if you really want to create a beautiful mood it’s all about choosing the right home fragrance.
Bedrooms can become a tranquil haven if scented with relaxing aromatherapy oils, bathrooms can feel like a 5-star spa, living rooms can feel just a little more comfortable and hallways all the more inviting. 'Decorate your house with scent to match a mood, occasion or compliment the season,' explains Debbie Wild, Global Lifestyle Director Jo Malone London.
'When scenting your kitchen, for example, you should choose clean uplifting, invigorating scents. The scent of grapefruit is the ideal way to cut through cooking smells and refresh the air whilst uplifting the senses.'
Whatever mood you’re trying to create, these are some of the best ways to scent your home...
Light a candleThink of the comforting combination of rose and violets and you’ve got the instant ‘hit’ of scent that Byredo Loose Lips Scented Candle, £54, delivers. But there’s a richness to this thanks to morello cherry and orris butters that permeates living rooms making them feel even more homely. Yankee Autumn Glow Medium Jar Candle, £15.99, will olfactivly transport your home into the new season, by filling the air with the warming aroma of autumn blossom, patchouli, golden amber and sparkling citrus.
If green scents are more your thing, Bella Freud Ginsberg Is God, £45, will fill any room with the most uplifting fresh aroma, thanks to notes of fig leaf, vine leaves and tomato, while frankincense and leather add a glorious depth.
Spritz a room sprayThe juicy combination of fresh pears, amber, patchouli and white flowers in Jo Malone London English Pear & Freesia Room Spray, £44, delivers the crispness so associated with autumn mornings and lingers with a warming, welcoming fragrance in the home. M&S Lavender & Chamomile Room Spray, £5, is a herbaceous bouquet of lavender and calming chamomile with sensual jasmine, creating the perfect scent to fill your bedroom pre-snooze.
Opt for a DiffuserNeom Happiness Reed Diffuser, £38, is the kind of scent you need around you in the morning as it’s jam-packed with mood-lifting neroli, mimosa and lemon and can wake you up better than a double-shot latte. If it's a good mood you're looking to create, Rituals Goji Berry Fragrance Sticks, £39.50, is also a dreamy go-to. Goji berries are called ‘smiley berries’ in China, which is the basis of this diffuser as the goji berry rich scent delivers just that. The clean, fresh scent it distils is delicious in bathrooms and entry halls.
Line your drawersScenting your wardrobes, drawers and cupboards can make such a difference and it’s easier than you think with scented cards like Zara Home White Jasmine Scented Card (Set of 3), £11.99, which can be slipped over a hanger, slitted between underwear and placed between bed linen in airing cupboards.
For an uber luxury upliftWhile the price tag is pretty hefty, the potency of the scent that transforms the atmosphere of a room in such an elegant way makes it worth it. Fornasetti Fior di Bacio Candle, £140, is homeware and home fragrance in one thanks to the pretty decorative vessel that pays tribute to Fornasetti’s muse Lina Cavalieri. A floral combination of jasmine, tuberose and lily of the valley sit at the top of this fresh scented candle, while sandalwood at the base adds grounding and richness - a perfect autumnal home fragrance.
One of all-time favourites is Frederic Malle Une Gardenia La Nuit candle, £90, which while just sheer of £100, perfectly recreates the scent of the gardenia flower in such a way that we're continuously saving up to buy another. Appointing Dominique Ropion to help create the scent, this candle gently captures the fragrance of the flowers thick petals in a way that no other candle has before.
