Photography: left Instagram.com/libertineparfumerie, right Mark Roper
In the world of interiors, fragrance plays a poignant role in setting the tone of a room. Much like a curated colour palette or bespoke furniture, the right scent helps you respond to a place – making you feel calm, warm or invigorated, as per the note’s intentions.
But what differs a home scent from a personal one? “I think there’s an opportunity with luxury home scent to be more literal than with personal fragrances,” says Ethan Archer, National Training Manager of Agence de Parfum. “Personal fragrances tend to be more abstract, blending dozens or hundreds of components to create a feeling rather than necessarily an illusion of a place, but home scents can be a photo-realistic copy of a time and place, and it works. You may not want to smell like a herb garden or a bakery yourself, but those scents could fit perfectly into your home.”
One way of curating your space is to think of your home as a particular season – a sensory cue that aligns with the tone of your space. Does your home have a spring hue, draped with lush linens and bright light? Or perhaps your home portrays a moodier signature – think lush, velvet tones and deep jewels.
What should you look for in a high-quality candle, home scent or diffuser?
While a high-quality home scent may feel like it’s just one note, considering everything from ingredients to emotional response can affect the way a scent presents a room.
“You should look for something that instantly hits you with a feeling – calmness, invigoration, perhaps clarity,” says Archer. “Before you think about fragrance notes, consider the emotion it evokes in you, since that’s how most people interact with scent. Beyond that, you want something that smells strong, harmonious, and unique.”
Properties including natural essential oils and soy or beeswax bases are often preferred for their clean burn and eco-friendly ingredients. The craftsmanship of the product, such as the type of wick used in candles, also plays a role in the performance of the scent. “Like with most areas of design, home scents from more artisanal brands like Trudon, Fornasetti, and Carrière Frères tend to be more interesting than those sold in very high volumes,” notes Archer.
Belle’s top home scents, room sprays, and candles for 2025
Whether it be a soft candle, diffuser or room spray, a luxury home scent is all about the details. Below, we’ve curated a list of the best home scents, according to your season.
Winter scents for the moody and cosy home
Winter is all about layering, and scent is no different. Choose a home aroma that evoke warmth and cosiness, like smoky woods, rich spices, or creamy vanilla, can make a room feel inviting. “My favourite cold-weather scent is probably chimney smoke, or maybe cognac,” says Archer. “Laboratorio Olfattivo’s Distillato17 walks a line somewhere between the two. Though it’s not exactly groundbreaking to scent your home with florals in spring, if you lean into Australian native florals like wattle (mimosa) it can work well – Trudon’s Reggio does a beautiful job of combining this note with mandarin and grapefruit.”
“Santa Maria Novella makes a scented terracotta pomegranate called Melograno. A lot of people associate the scent with summer since they see it in Italy while on summer holidays, but I think it smells even better in winter thanks to its ambery and spicy notes.”
Tone: Warm, cosy, comforting, and intimate.
Suggested notes: Cedarwood, sandalwood, cinnamon, clove, amber, vanilla, smoky birch, pine, and spicy nutmeg.
Best for: Living rooms, dens, bedrooms and snug spaces.
Winter home scents
Distillato17 Room Spray,
Libertine Parfumerie, $99
Santa Maria Novella Melograno in
scented terracotta, Libertine Parfumerie, $139
Glasshouse Fragrances Chalet Chic
soy candle, Myer, $59.95
Baies (berries) candle,
Diptyque Paris, $76
- Laboratorio Olfattivo Distillato17 room spray: top notes of rum and orange, middle notes of cognac, candied fruits and powdery notes; base notes of vanilla, cedarwood and amber woods
- Santa Maria Novella Melograno in scented terracotta: top notes of bergamot, bitter orange and fresh spice; middle notes of pomegranate accord, rose and ylang-ylang; base notes of oakmoss, labdanum, patchouli and musk.
- Glasshouse Fragrances Chalet Chic soy candle: top notes of bergamot, lime, clove bud and freesia; middle notes of jasmine, tabac blossoms, caramel and spiced rum; base notes of oud wood, amberwood, patchouli, tonka, vanilla and musk
- Diptyque Paris Baies (berries) candle: notes of red berries (blackcurrant) and rose
Other winter home scents
- Creed Vanisia porcelain candle, $179 at Myer
- Reggio Room Spray, $339 at Libertine Parfumerie
Spring scents for the light and airy home
Spring home scents are all about capturing the fresh, uplifting energy that this season brings into your home. Opt for high-quality, natural ingredients to ensure your spring home scent is as refreshing and welcoming as the season itself.
Tone: Fresh, uplifting, light, and revitalising.
Suggested notes: Jasmine, green tea, lily of the valley, fresh-cut grass, citrus blossoms, hyacinth, peony, magnolia.
Best for: Kitchens, sunrooms, bathrooms. Think clarity, brightness and fresh air.
Kinfill room spray Tangerine,
Hommey, $79
Creed Toscana porcelain candle,
Myer, $179
Jo Malone London peony & blush
suede diffuser, Myer, $169
Tubéreuse large candle,
Diptyque Paris, $230
- Kinfill room spray Tangerine: notes of neroli, bergamot, orange blossom, ylang-ylang and floral musk.
- Creed Toscana porcelain candle: notes of powdery iris petals with heady tuberose.
- Jo Malone London peony & blush suede diffuser: notes of red apple, jasmine, rose and gillyflower.
- Diptyque Paris Tubéreuse large candle: fresh and green, with subtle notes of fruity, milky notes.
Summer scents for the colourful and bright home
Summer scents should feel bright and energising. Think long, summer days or dreamy Italian adventures. “Summer is good for citruses, dry woods, and aromatics: Fornasetti Giardino Segreto is a personal favourite of mine when the weather is warm,” notes Archer. Welcome guests into a cheerful, inviting environment with a summer scent.
Tone: Bright, energising, breezy, refreshing.
Suggested notes: Citrus (bergamot, lemon, grapefruit), sea salt, coconut, jasmine, wood, neroli, fresh herbs (basil, mint), light musk.
Best for: Outdoor patios, bathrooms, living rooms.
DedCool Taunt room + linen spray,
Revolve, $67.73
Trudon Gabriel candle,
Myer, $169
Fornasetti Giadino Segreto extrait de parfum, Libertine Parfumerie, $819
Tom Dixon fog incense cones royalty, Net-A-Porter, $66.35 $39.95
- DedCool Taunt room + linen spray: top notes of bergamot and fresh dew; middle notes of floral and cassis; base notes of vanilla and amber
- Trudon Gabriel candle: top notes of birch wood and glace chestnut; middle notes of cashmere wood and moss; base notes of cedarwood, musk and patchouli
- Fornasetti Giadino Segreto extrait de parfum: top notes of black raspberry, blackcurrant berries, rhubarb and tomato leaves; middle notes of petitgrain, carnation, galbanum and geranium; base notes of oud (oudh or agar or aloeswood), sandalwood, myrrh, opopanax, ebony
- Tom Dixon fog incense cones royalty: top notes of cologne, bergamot and lemon; middle notes of earl grey tea, verbena and mint; base notes of cedar wood.
Autumn scents for the warm and textural home
Autumn invites you to embrace the shift from summer’s lightness to the earthy comfort of cooler days. Since autumn often inspires both nostalgia for summer and anticipation for winter, choosing scents that balance crisp citrus top notes with grounding bases like oakwood or leather can truly enhance your home’s ambiance. “I suggest something like Creed Toscana or Trudon Ernesto, two very different scents that both work really well as the weather cools,” adds Archer.
Tone: Warm, earthy, and comforting.
Suggested notes: Spice, cinnamon, clove, smoked wood, leather, maple, toasted nuts, and warm amber.
Best for: Living rooms, dining areas, libraries.
Creed Toscana room spray,
Libertine Parfumerie, $189
Lime, basil and mandarin diffuser, Jo Malone London, $169
Loewe home fragrance, honeysuckle, Net-A-Porter, $225
Trudon Ernesto room spray,
Libertine Parfumerie, $339
- Creed Toscana room spray: notes of powdery iris petals with heady tuberose.
- Jo Malone London lime, basil and mandarin diffuser: Top notes of mandarin and lime; middle notes of basil and thyme; base notes of amberwood
- Loewe home fragrance, honeysuckle: crisp floral aroma with citrus top notes and a rich buttery base
- Trudon Ernesto room spray: top notes of bergamot, grapefruit and rhum; middle notes of oak wood, clove, labdanum and patchouli; base notes of tobacco, amber, leather and moss
How do I make my house smell nice all the time?
Keeping your home smelling beautifully inviting all day long is both a ritual and an art. While a cleaning ritual is the key ingredient, we also recommend to keep fresh air flowing through open windows and to use gentle, natural cleaning products that cleanse without the overwhelming chemical smell.
With this foundation, you can begin to layer in your favourite scents: whether that be candles, diffusers, or delicate room sprays, that can the season and the atmosphere you want to create.
It’s also nice to rotate your fragrances regularly. Our noses are surprisingly quick to acclimatise, so a changing scent keeps your home feeling fresh and alive. Consider high-traffic locations, such as entryways and living areas. For a quietly luxurious touch, tuck scented sachets into wardrobes, mist upholstery with fabric sprays, and bring subtle essential oil diffusers into bathrooms.
