Smell is the most underrated of our senses. And yet it is the most powerful, taking us back in time to particular moments and connections with loved ones. A scent in your home offers comfort and we can’t think that we were ever more in need of such reassurance. Good smells don’t just come in candle form. For a quick fix, there is the room spray or you can set up a more intimate scene with some incense.
Frederic Malle has just launched its rather utilitarian-looking range of room spray guns. Of these La Gardenia La Nuit is divine. The same smells come in candle form too and one of the best smells is Country House: think open fire, crumpet, dog by your side. The Perfume Spray Gun £160 from Frederic Malle.
Both the room diffusers and the candles by l’Objet are housed in exquisitely made Portuguese porcelain. Rose Noire Diffuser set £135 from l’Objet
Oh Mon Dieu No 69 was designed to take you back to Paris’ artistic and sexual revolution. It has warm notes of Cognac and sweet caramel with a floral and musky leather base. £80 from l’Objet
Cult US (Brooklyn) brand DS&D Urga plays with fun titles for their eco-friendly candles. Rama Won’t You Please Come Home to name just one with notes of Tuberose, Gardenia and Sandalwood. Based on the legend of Rama, the seventh avatar of Hindu god Vishnu. £60 from Liberty
Lo Studio is a beautiful British brand with a lovely moving story behind its set up. Linger on the website for a perfect web-shopping experience. The candles themselves are beautiful, evoking familiar scents such as To the Sea, Being Little and Open Windows. £49 from Lo Studio
We were so intrigued by the smell – and name – of this 19-69 Female Christ candle that we looked up its origin: a naked performance artist carries a cross through the Copenhagen Stock Exchange in 1969. As you might imagine, the aroma features the heady combination of patchouli, rhubarb and cashmere wood. £55 from Selfridges
Danish company Scandinavisk is the most eco friendly brand with everything recyclable; it uses energy-efficient and earth-friendly ingredients. We particularly love the fresh Skog smell. With impressions of pine and fir, aged leather and woodland lily of the valley. £18 from Hus and Hem
Archipelago is one of the best value brands and is also super eco friendly. We like the standard double wick for extra light. Take me away to Malibu scent. £35 from Selfridges
Spanish super brand Loewe has just launched its new home scent range, featuring peas, beetroot, tomato and many more. All exquisitely packaged. They come in potted candles, sprays and candlestick/candle in one. Beetroot candle £70 from Liberty
Arabian Oud from Australia producer Lumira won the prestigious Butterflies award in 2019. An intoxicatingly glorious smell. £54 from Net-a-Porter
Guaranteed to put a spring in your step, all the Le Bruket range of diffusers and candles are great, including the fab Coriander and Grapefruit (for mornings) and Tabac (in the evening).
Grapefruit Reed Diffuser £61 from The Conran Shop
For the morning we also love Acqua di Parma’s Buongiorno. £54 from Space NK
Astier de Villatte is for the traveller with itchy feet. Take yourself away to Delhi with these incense sticks – so much depth with vanilla wood, herbs and eucalyptus. Box of 125, £35 from Summerill & Bishop
Want to feel like you’re just checked into a high-end spa? Then Bamford’s Rosemary Willow diffuser is just for you. With clove, geranium and Sicilian lemon essential oils. £58 from Bamford
Cire Trudon candles need no introduction but their sprays are less well-known. This is truly a thing of beauty, with its golden pump reminiscent of another era. Madurai (with notes of ylang ylang, jasmine sambac & benzoin), £180 from Amara
