Scentscaping: How to make your home smell fab and festive

Scentscaping the home is the new layer of interior design and Christmas lends itself to the trend

Fresh scented candles are an alternative to the traditional Christmas fragrances. Max Benjamin's Grapefruit Shore is a light citrus choice and a reminder of spring ahead (€28).

Fri, 08 Dec, 2023 - 07:19

Carol O’Callaghan

Random scented candle selection has taken on a scientific approach. If you’re tempted and have the budget, you can even hire your own "scentscaper" to create a combination to fragrance the air at a wedding or at home that guests will always associate with you should they get a waft of it again.

But we can have the DIY version, too, experimenting with diffusers and scented candles, especially this time of year when we’re cosied up at home with throws and cushions but the atmosphere isn’t right without lighting candles.

Margaret Urbanowicz, who runs Irish home fragrance studio Sómas, has a nose for a seasonally appropriate scent and cites its ability to evoke memories and traditions.

“I love the magical natural scent of evergreen trees like pine or fir,” she says. “Whether it’s wreaths, the tree, or my new favourite Burren Pine candle.

The Winter candle from Field Day, €24.95.

"To me, it is the scent of Christmas. I also adore anything orange and cinnamon for the festive season. I find these super nostalgic, reminding me of my grandma’s baking and drying out oranges for her Christmas punch.”

Burren Pine is the new Somas candle for Christmas, scented with a blend of musk, cedarwood and pine to capture the aroma of a freshly cut tree (€33).

If visitors are expected over the Christmas holidays, scenting the hallway makes a welcoming and often lasting impression.

“My go-to for making that moment extra special are herbal, calming scents such as vetiver, lavender or sage,” Margaret says. “They really can create a relaxed and peaceful atmosphere making guests feel at ease and welcome.”

But there’s something about early January when the more sultry notes of cinnamon and clove just don’t seem appropriate anymore even though we’re often heading into the worst of winter weather.

All is Calm from Field Day blends cool eucalyptus, fresh spearmint and the warmth of orange (€24.95).

Margaret suggests opting for floral scents.

“Ground-breaking, I know, but after the cold and dark season where we tend to go for the darker, deeper notes, florals can truly feel like a breath of fresh air and can help you beat the winter blues," she says.

In the meantime, Mark Van den Bergh, creative director at Max Benjamin, says he loves wintery pine fragrance.

“The time of year when you bring the Christmas tree into the home for the first time, this evokes that family feeling, drinking mulled wine; that cloves and cinnamon smell in the home which gave us the inspiration for one of our original classics.”

He appreciates, though, how scents are always a personal thing, so, he says, “If you enjoy citrus scents in the wintertime, then go ahead and fill your home with those.

"I personally like to get the home scented with those fresh spring and summer scents that want to get you on a plane off to a holiday destination.”

For Alix Mulholland, owner of Field Day, nostalgia plays its part in her scentscaping.

“Definitely the classic cinnamon and clove scents,” she says. “They immediately transport me back to happy Christmas memories in my mum’s warm kitchen with the Aga baking mince pies and cosy family times. I also love the scent of a real Christmas tree — such a beautiful natural scent.”

One of the bugbears of Christmas entertaining, however, can be lingering cooking smells, made worse by not wanting to fling windows open for a blast of fresh air without losing a lovely build-up of heat inside.

"A scented candle can be especially useful but it’s essential to avoid fragrances which will clash with food you’re serving, according to Alix.

“I’d probably stick with a cinnamon-type scent as it’s a spice and so much festive cooking has cinnamon and clove already in it.

Come January, though, she’s not quite ready to dispense with wintery aromas.

“It’s still a chilly time of the year, so something with a little warmth. Smoky or woody type scents are ideal. It’s hard to beat the soft glow of candlelight in the dark wintery months ahead. It’s one of life’s simple pleasures.”

For a post-Christmas promise of springtime ahead, the Somas Velvet, Peony & Oud reed diffuser has light floral notes (€33).

What’s less simple some of us find is dealing with candles not burning evenly and some even losing their fragrance before they’re spent.

Alix says, “Keep the candle out of direct sunlight and try to keep covered to retain the scent. To keep your candle burning evenly, make sure the candle melts right to the edge.

"This will take a couple of hours but will prevent your candle tunnelling. Also, trim the wick if it gets too long, otherwise the flame will be huge and blacken the candle jar.”