The Insider’s Guide to Scent Designing Your Home
by Pia Velasco
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Image courtesy of Goop |
When designing a home, most people focus on furniture, colors, and decor—but there’s one element that can instantly transform a space that’s often overlooked: scent. Especially during the holidays, the right fragrance can turn an ordinary room into a cozy, magical retreat.
Some think of home scents the way others may think about feng shui: they balance the flow of energy in your space. The theory makes sense: a thoughtful arrangement of fragrances can cultivate a sense of serenity and equilibrium. It’s no secret, after all, that scents have a profound impact on our emotions. So, as you curate your home, consider the influence scent can have on your and your guests’ mood—especially in the lead up to the holidays.
“When scent is considered intentionally, it becomes part of how a space supports wellbeing,” explains Lisa Sternfeld, an interior designer and founder of the Well Life, Lived Well platform. “Studies show that natural aromas can calm the nervous system, sharpen focus, and influence mood and cognition.”
Winter marks a particularly interesting time to think about olfactive harmony, whether you orchestrate it or not. As the air begins to fill itself with the essence of pine, peppermint, and warm cinnamon, it’s the perfect moment to reimagine your home’s scent profile and curate a seasonal scent palette.
“When scent is considered intentionally, it becomes part of how a space supports wellbeing.”
Lisa Sternfeld, interior designer
Crafting a welcoming holiday ambiance is an art form, where scent plays a starring role. Lev Glazman, a fragrance architect and co-founder of lifestyle brand The Maker, believes the key to achieving this olfactory harmony lies in selecting a unifying scent family and layering complementary fragrances.
During the holiday season, woody notes are his scents of choice. Their rich, earthy, and grounding foundation allows you to layer complementary scents, such as lived-in leather and warm spices, creating a harmonious symphony of aromas. Plus, Glazman says that the warmth and coziness of these woody notes contrast the cold winter winds outside and envelop your home, creating a cocooning atmosphere. Kudzi Chikumbu, author of Let It Burn: Illuminate Your Life with Candles and Fragrance and creator popularly known as Sir Candle Man, agrees: “[It] creates a soft foundation that plays well with everything—pine, peppermint, hot chocolate—without overwhelming the senses.”
Beyond the flickering warmth of candles, room sprays, incense, and other fragrant formats offer endless opportunities to craft an olfactive narrative throughout your home. This is where you get to play—experiment with different formats, mix and match, or stick to a trusted favorite, then experiment with quantity. The true art lies in curating a scent experience that resonates with your unique style and preferences. For some, like Glazman, the thrill lies in creating distinct olfactory experiences from room to room. Others may prefer a more subtle approach, with just a candle or two throughout the home. Regardless of where you lie on the pendulum, Sternfeld notes that every room carries its own rhythm and purpose, and scent can subtly reinforce that.
That said, we’ve got some formulas to get you started on crafting a holiday scent scheme that’ll make your space feel both cozy and festive.