How to choose the perfect scent for your home, room by room: A Buyer's Guide

How to choose the perfect scent for your home | Fragrance by room: A Buyer's Guide

Scenting a room completely changes the atmosphere. Scent is the first thing you notice when walking into any space, and leaves a lasting impression. If you need to freshen your hallway, want to boost productivity, or just want a calmer environment, then using home fragrances can help set the mood.

Scent is linked to emotion and important to consider when enhancing your home. This is because of the olfactory bulb, a part of your brain which through scent, triggers memories and feelings. Have you ever smelt a candle that reminds you of the house you grew up in, or the scent of your favorite holiday? That’s the olfactory bulb in action.

People often ask me for advice when choosing a home fragrance, so I've put together this guide on how to scent each room of your house, using a collection of what customers love, what I recommend, and universally loved fragrances.

Luxury scent for your Hallway

The hallway is the first place you or your visitors enter, which is why I recommend scents which are not too overpowering, such as softer florals, citrus or fresh and clean aromas, which can lift the mood and make the hallway feel lighter and more spacious. Scents like lime, apple, fresh linen, peony and jasmine help create a feeling of tranquility and freshness in your home. 

Our Reed Diffusers work well in hallways to create a gentle, effortless scent. For an extra burst of fragrance, flip the reeds half an hour before guests arrive. 

I recommend these BAHLOO & YHI reed diffusers: Soul gives a soft, fresh linen scent, Happy Days creates an uplifting, citrus boost of lime and mango, and Bloom creates a tranquil, fresh vibe.

Room Sprays are also great for a quick burst of luxury fragrance and sit beautifully next to shelf decor.

Wax melts are good for a strong scent in your hallway, however they should always be kept in sight when using a tea light wax melt burner.

  Fragrances your living room / lounge

For living spaces it depends on the time of day, fresh or fruity scents like blackcurrant, orange, pomegranate and plum are ideal in the morning/midday for that uplifting boost of energy. Our fresh and fruity, best selling scents are: After the Storm, Wanderlust, Daydream and my Husband's personal favourite, Forest Berries.

Rich, oriental and woody scents like patchouli, tonka, amber, musk and sandalwood are ideal for the evening. These warm and cosy scents create that perfect night in, whilst snuggled on the sofa.

Popular oriental and woody scents are Bear Hugs, Sweetheart, One Love, Exotic Amber, North Star and Serendipity, these are some of my personal favourites because of the cosy atmosphere they create.

Creating the ambient aroma we all love, BAHLOO & YHI luxury candles give you a long burn-time, so you can enjoy 3-4 hours of candlelight and that beautiful aroma which will last hours after the candle is put out. Our Amber candles are designed for smaller rooms, giving you the same great scent, but with a shorter burn time of 2-3 hours. 

Wax melts are good for open plan homes as the aroma will distribute further, which can suit larger living rooms and come in a large variety of scents. 

The best scents for your bedroom

Your bedroom is a place of rest and tranquility, where light fragrances can help de-stress, unwind, and relax after a long day. I recommend Room Sprays and Reed Diffusers in your bedroom, though candles are a popular choice. Remember to always put candles out before you sleep, and never leave unattended or place them near fabric/curtains.

Scent notes such as cucumber, lavender, vanilla or delicate florals work well in a bedroom environment, where avoiding heavy scents will keep the room light. Our scents Namaste, Vanilla Orchid and Precious work well in bedrooms.

For a more romantic setting, oriental, woody and earthy aromas like amber, patchouli and cedar wood, or rich fruit notes of black current, honey, or pomegranate are sensual and voluptuous options.  

BAHLOO & YHI scents such as Nordic Pine, Dark Honey, Havana, Eclipse and Nirvana are best sellers for the bedroom.

Wax Hangers are designed for wardrobes and will add a constant scent in small closed spaces.

Luxury bathroom scents

Want to get that spa vibe at home? Fresh scents reminiscent of the seaside like Waves + Wonder are popular in bathrooms. Fresh, clean aromas like pine, eucalyptus, cucumber, sweet orange and lemongrass, will make your bathroom feel light and uplifting. Customers love Wild Heart, Wanderlust, Nordic Pine and Namaste.

Small candles are good for scenting your bathroom and designed for shorter burn times, perfect for a relaxing bath. I suggest lighting a candle half an hour before a bath to let the scent fill the room. For a quick burst of fragrance to cover unpleasant smells, Room Sprays are perfect, and for a continual effortless scent Reed Diffusers work great, however you may need replacement reeds more often due to moisture.

How to make your kitchen smell fresh

To help keep your kitchen smelling fresh, bright citrus aromas like lemon, lime or pineapple are fresh and uplifting. Citrus is also great for neutralising smells, so i'd recommend Wild Heart, Happy Days and Paradise.

Gourmet scents are popular in the kitchen like cherry almond, and bakery aromas that are inviting for guests. These are good if you like stronger scents.

If your kitchen is open plan, then clean and fresh scents work well to flow throughout your home. Candles and Wax melts are ideal in kitchens because they’re stronger in scent for covering smells and will fill a room, Reed Diffusers will work well for scenting smaller kitchens and give a more gentle continual scent, but will not mask scents or flow through large open plan kitchens.

Things to consider and final conclusion

As you can see, fragrance plays a different role in each room of your home. Before choosing a home fragrance, ask yourself which room you want to scent, when you plan to use it, not forgetting what your own preference is. Here's a short re-cap of what fragrance works well going room to room:

For hallways use softer floral or citrus, clean scents.

Living rooms / lounges suit fresh and fruity scents in the morning, and rich, oriental and woody aromas in the afternoon/evening.

In your kitchen use uplifting citrus aromas or enjoy house warming gourmet scents.

Bathrooms suit fresh, clean spa type fragrances.

In bedrooms, either light floral fragrances work well, or oriental, woody and earthy scents for a romantic setting.

Home fragrance needs vary from room to room, and whilst this guide is here to help you, It's important to consider your own individuality and choose fragrances that you will enjoy in your own environment.

Thank you for reading, I hope this blog has helped to inspire you when  choosing your home fragrance. Let me know in the comments and what your favorite scent is.

Emma