Our sense of smell has to be the most personal and powerful of all the five senses. A certain scent can instantly transport us to a different place, spark some serious nostalgia, and lift our moods or help wind us down. So, it’s little wonder that home fragrances have become such a major player in the self-care and wellness world. Whether you’re searching for relaxing scented candle scents or you want to know the top-rated reed diffusers, we’ve got the lowdown on the ultimate home fragrances, as well as where and when to use them. After all, home is where the scent is.
Best for a sultry scent: Jo Malone London Pomegranate Noir Home Candle, £50 Best for lifting the mood: Neom Happiness Reed Diffuser, £38.25 Best for bathroom scent: SALT AND STONE Santal & Vetiver Candle, £49 Best for cosying up: Maison Margiela Replica By The Fireplace Candle, £55 Best for all-day ambience: Aromatherapy Associates The Atomiser - UK Plug, £130
A: In recent years, home fragrances have almost become an extension of our beauty regimes. Often matching much-loved perfumes or crafted from essential oils, home scents are now so much more than a simple room spray. Whether you keep a reed diffuser in your hallway filling your home with your favourite scent, light a scented candle when you take a relaxing bath, or mist aromatherapy oils into your room of choice with an atomiser, we’re filling our lives with fragrance in so many new ways.
A: Offering an ‘always on’ scent, reed diffusers are constantly doing their thing. If you’re looking for a strong, immediate fragrance then use all the reeds and turn them daily. This will throw more fragrance out. Alternatively, you can elongate the life of your reed diffuser by using fewer reeds and turning them less often for a softer scent with staying power. If you’re using scented candles, then most have a burn time of 45-55 hours and would require being lit for about thirty minutes before you really start to smell that scent. So open up your fave book in the meantime.
By Sephora UK Editorial Team Writers and experts
Updated: 14 November 2024
A cult fragrance, Jo Malone’s much-loved Pomegranate Noir has been poured into a luxurious scented candle. Filling your home with the delicious scent of rich Fruits, White Flowers and spicy Musks, it has a 45-hour burn time, so there's plenty of time to enjoy its soothing powers. Dark and enigmatic, it’s the perfect home fragrance for a bedroom or living room during the winter months.
"A beautiful autumnal scent which really does flush the room." - Hannah, Customer ReviewBest for a sultry scent | Fragrance notes: Amber, Musk, Tobacco, and Spices
Tried and tested:
Need a bit of fresh air? This Santal and Vetiver scent instantly transports you to a fresh forest walk. The Coconut and Soy wax candle is formulated using vegan-friendly ingredients making it a cleaner candle choice with a burn time of up to 55 hours. Just perfect for when you want to transform your bathroom into a spa.
“There are no other candles I've purchased with a fragrance that truly fill the room. You can literally smell these candles as you pass by them even when they aren't lit. I want my whole house to smell like it! Expensive, but worth it.” - Jennifer, Customer Review