It’s the first official heatwave of this summer – and it’s starting with a bang! I don’t know about your local weather forecast, but in London the temperature is set to climb as high as 36 degrees. Needless to say, it’s too hot to be burning candles – but if you still want your space to smell lovely, there are other ways to scent a home in a heatwave that won’t add to the heat.

I love the best scented candles as much as the next person - if not more - but there comes a point when anything with a flame emitting heat just won’t do. But don’t worry as there are plenty of ways to make a home smell nice without getting any candles involved – these are the 4 ways that I’m relying on during this heatwave and for all the future heatwaves of this summer.

1. Invest in an electric diffuser

I’ve had my Atomiser Connect from Aromatherapy Associates for a few years now and absolutely love it. But there are plenty of electronic diffusers on the market to choose from.

You’ll need a little 10ml bottle - or two, as the Atomiser Connect, for example, can hold two different bottles - of the essential oil of your choice which you eithr insert inside the diffuser or add a few drops of into the water tank. I’m really enjoying the scent of a geranium essential oil that’s in my Atomiser right now. But there are plenty of fragrances to choose from, below are some of my favourites.

One of the benefits of electric diffusers is that they provide quite a strong fragrance as they run on pure essential oils and can therefore fragrance a big room fairly quickly as well.

2. Spritz some room spray

There’s actually something very refreshing about spritzing a beautiful room spray around your home. Although tomato scented candles are one of the best ways to make your home smell like summer, during the heatwave, I’d recommend switching to a tomato scented home spray like this one from Malin+Goetz, available at Cult Beauty for the best price.

I’m currently using a new launch from Aromatherapy Associates, which is their Revive Morning Mood Mist, available at John Lewis. As the name suggests, it’s designed to be sprayed in the morning and energise you for the day ahead. But it can really be used all day long, and it’s perfect for the summer with its citrusy and herbal notes of grapefruit, rosemary and juniper berry.

3. Use natural scented cleaning products

These days, you can even scent your home simply by cleaning it – well, as long as you’re using natural cleaning products with fragrant essential oils. I personally own the Kinfill kitchen cleaner, available at Healf – I love the design of the spray bottle.

But most of the Ideal Home team is obsessed with Purdy & Figg and many of the editors swear by the brand. And you can get a whole starter kit with three different essential oils included on Amazon right now.

4. Opt for a reed diffuser

The beauty of the best reed diffusers is that once you set it down in your desired spot, you really don’t have to worry about it or do anything else. It does its own thing of fragrancing your home with no help needed and no additional heat required. The only thing you might want to do to maximise the strength of the fragrance is to turn the reeds over every couple of weeks.

If you like the idea of a tomato-scented summer as much as I do, I highly recommend Jo Malone’s Green Tomato Vine diffuser from its limited Veggies Edition which comes in a glazed green ceramic vessel.

How are you making sure your home still smells lovely during the heatwave?

When thinking of summer home fragrance, you’re likely picturing (or smelling rather) citrus or tropical floral scents. But the best way to really make your home smell like summer is going for something that smells authentically of classic summer produce and a summer garden, like a tomato-scented candle, one of these years' breakout scent candle trends.

This once niche and hard-to-find home fragrance is suddenly everywhere – which means there are plenty of the best scented candles to choose from across different price points, brands and aesthetics. Because let’s be honest, we all want our candles (and the best reed diffusers for that matter) to be aesthetically pleasing and make our home look more stylish.

I’ve been a longtime fan of tomato leaf and tomato vine fragrance, I even own a tomato leaf perfume. As I’m writing this, I actually have the Green Tomato Vine candle from Jo Malone burning on my coffee table, and it’s heavenly. I have the Townhouse version of the candle, but I also really like it in the limited Veggies Edition green glazed ceramic vessel available now for this summer only, which I’ve also included in my round-up below.

'Green Tomato Leaf has been part of Jo Malone London’s home repertoire since 2014, a good decade before this burgeoning scent movement, "tomato girl summer" or even Tiktok trends themselves,' says Emma South, fragrance and lifestyle expert at Jo Malone London. 'So when Celine Roux, global head of product development, was working on the latest limited edition Veggie range - all about the joys of growing your own - it made perfect sense to include it. For a limited time, we see the candle encased in the glossiest green glaze, a coveted keepsake vessel for years to come.'

Top tomato scented candle picks

Why are tomato scented candles so popular?

As already mentioned, only a couple of years ago, tomato candles would have been difficult to come by. But that’s no longer the case as it’s one of the biggest home fragrance trends right now. So what’s changed?

‘The popularity of tomato leaf reflects a wider shift towards more natural, botanical fragrances,’ says Mathew Thomas, creative director at Osmology. ‘Consumers are increasingly looking for scents that feel authentic and evocative rather than traditionally sweet or floral. Tomato leaf captures the unmistakable aroma of a greenhouse or garden after watering; fresh, green, and slightly earthy.’

Why should you get a tomato scented candle?

With the arrival of summer, tomato leaf and tomato vine are the best home fragrances to capture the spirit of the season.

'This is a scent that exudes the pure vitality of summer, whilst offering a different angle from sparkling citrus fruits or solar florals. It is the pinnacle of prioritising seasonality whether that is on the plate, on the skin or in the home,' Emma at Jo Malone London says. 

Mathew at Osmology agrees, ‘We love its ability to evoke long summer days, flourishing kitchen gardens and the simple pleasure of being outdoors. It pairs beautifully with open windows, fresh flowers, and lighter interiors, making it a wonderful choice for creating a relaxed summer atmosphere.'

So invite the smell of summer into your home with one of these beautifully green, refreshing, herbal yet slightly sweet tomato scented candles!

Like most people, I don’t want a lot in life. Sure, I wouldn’t say no to an all-expenses-paid trip around the Caribbean, but a home that’s always clean and smells amazing would also put a smile on my face. Mostly because it feels like an impossible feat.

Yes, I may be Ideal Home’s Cleaning Editor with a daily cleaning schedule that keeps me busy, but I’ve become increasingly aware that I’ve grown nose-blind to my own home. I’m probably not alone in this, either, with many people becoming accustomed to the smell of their house - whether it's a nice one or not.

That’s why I started to wonder how I could merge my cleaning checklist with my desire for an incredible-smelling home, and I quickly realised that it’s a lot easier than I thought. There are so many odour-eating and naturally-scented products out there that can be used around the house, and these are the things to clean if you want your house to always smell good, too.

1. Bicarbonate of soda

The first step if you want to use scent for a feel-good home is to banish any lingering odours, and bicarbonate of soda is the perfect product for the job. That’s because most of the things that make a house smell are acidic, and this alkaline is a natural deodoriser - neutralising the acids (and the smells) at the source. The perks don’t end there, though

As well as using bicarbonate of soda to banish smells, there are also so many things you can clean with bicarb - including your oven, washing machine, smelly drains, mattresses, and even your carpets. Just be warned that there are certain things you should never clean with bicarb, too, as its naturally abrasive makeup (which makes it an effective cleaner) can be a little too abrasive at times.

Of course, it’s worth noting that bicarb itself doesn’t have much of a smell, but it’s the perfect starter product to tackle smells and clean a home before you add an extra layer into the mix. This could be adding essential oils to the baking soda, or using the best candles and diffusers to add that amazing scent.

2. Essential oils

Many people buy essential oils to add to their diffusers or even get rid of pests in the house, but very few realise that you can also use essential oils for cleaning. In fact, many essential oils are naturally bacteria-busting and have disinfectant properties that will leave your home spotless and smelling amazing at the same time.

The best way to use these essential oils is to add a few drops to a spray bottle - like these 500ml Glass Spray Bottles for Cleaning (£10.99 at Amazon) - filled with water. I also like to add an essential oil to my white vinegar, as I find the smell way too overpowering.

You can ultimately choose which essential oils to use for cleaning based on the scents you want in your home, but most experts recommend lavender, eucalyptus, citrus, or mint for their natural cleaning properties and fresh scents.

3. Lemons

While it’s always worth stocking up on lemon essential oil, nothing quite beats the power of an actual lemon, and they’re well worth adding to your shopping basket the next time you head to the supermarket. After all, they smell amazing themselves, and their naturally acidic properties can cut through grease, grime, limescale, and odours.

There’s not enough time in the day to go through all of the natural cleaning hacks that involve lemons, but they’re particularly handy for kitchen appliances that can release nasty odours. You can clean a microwave with lemon, and you can even just cut a lemon in half and use it as a makeshift sponge to clean everything from your kitchen worktops to your chopping boards.

This will then work double-time to not only clean your home but also release a fresh, fragrant scent. Just be warned that lemon is very acidic, so it shouldn’t be used on unsealed wood, natural stone, or other delicate materials.

4. Fragrant cleaning products

While I’m a huge proponent for homemade, natural cleaners - like Nancy Birtwhistle’s ‘Pure Magic’ - I also understand the appeal of ready-made cleaning products. This is especially true if you have particular scents that you love, or just prefer the convenience of having bottles ready to go when you need them.

These fragrant cleaning products are a great way to clean your house while also making it smell good, and there are so many amazing options to choose from. Our Digital Editor, Jenny, loves the saffron and oud scent of the limited-edition Method All Purpose Cleaner (£4 at Amazon), while many of the options in my best cleaning products guide also smell incredible.

And while it can be tempting to choose chemical cleaners for their strong scents, I’d advise choosing cleaning products that are as natural as possible. This way, they are gentle on your home, your health and the environment.

5. An air purifier

This may be a little rogue, but many people with incredible-smelling homes also use one of the best air purifiers to keep their homes clean. After all, there are so many unexpected perks of air purifiers, and being able to remove dust and smells is just one of them.

Yes, many air purifiers on the market are equipped with carbon filters that help remove odours, and the HEPA filter can reduce the musty smell that can come from dust and clutter. And with an air purifier in tow, it can make a home feel and smell fresher.

But that’s not all! Some air purifiers - like the Shark NeverChange5 (£249.99 at Argos) - also have a scented Anti-Odour cartridge that releases a scent while it cleans the air. As someone who has tested this model myself, I can vouch that the smell lingers much longer than you’d think. And it smells delicious.

Will you be trying any of these? Your home will thank you for it!

You just can’t beat a fresh-smelling home, but there is more to home fragrance than scattering a few scented candles and diffusers throughout your space.

Fragrance is an art and, when bringing it into our homes, we should treat it with the same careful consideration that we do colour, patterns and accessories. And this might involve stepping outside of your comfort home fragrance rituals.

Scent has a profound effect on the way we feel, and it’s often considered essential for creating a happier home. In fact, research from Mintel indicates that the home fragrance market has grown significantly since the pandemic. And, with people spending a lot more time at home in recent years, creating a calming atmosphere has never been so important.

But, in order to feel the benefits, it’s important to pick the right fragrance to make you happy and use it in a way that works for you. I asked the experts all you need to know.

The importance of scent

‘When used intentionally, fragrance can shape the atmosphere of a home just as much as lighting, colour, or texture,’ says Pippa Jameson, sensory design expert and author of The Sensory Home.

‘It helps signal how a space is meant to feel and function. Something as simple as a familiar candle or diffuser scent can enhance the experience of being at home, making a space feel personal and emotionally comforting.’

And that’s not all. While scent can shift the energy of our homes, it can also transform our mood and mindset. ‘Fragrance is often overlooked as a sensory tool, yet it can be one of the most powerful,’ says Pippa.

‘Our brains respond well to sensory cues and can be trained to associate certain functions with scent. If we regularly burn a candle as we wind down, the brain begins to associate that fragrance with relaxation,’ she explains. ‘When this becomes routine, we can train our bodies to shift into that state of rest. In this way, scent becomes a quiet signal that supports our wellbeing.’

In this sense, scent is personal – what provokes a positive response for some people, might not prompt the same reaction for others. But, once you’ve found the right scent for you, the way you use it is key for lifting your mood.

How to scent your home

Nailing home fragrance isn’t just about picking your favourite scent. Instead, you should consider where you’re going to place it and how you want it to make you feel. Here’s where to start, according to fragrance experts.

1. Find the right scent

‘Scent is the first thing we register when stepping into a space,’ explains Emma South, fragrance and lifestyle expert at Jo Malone London. ‘It shapes our immediate emotional response before we’ve had time to take in the other details around us.’ So get in touch with your emotions and pick something that triggers a positive response for you.

You should also keep placement in mind when choosing a scent, as the fragrance you choose for a bedroom will likely differ to the one you have in your kitchen. ‘Place scents where they make the most sense: something relaxing in the bedroom or something fresh in the living room, for example,’ says Hetan Soni, founder of Perfume Essence. And remember, no placement is final. You can experiment and layer until you find what feels right for each space.

2. Establish a signature scent

‘Thoughtful fragrance choices help balance familiarity with variety,’ explains Emma. So, once you’ve found the scent that is right for you, you can use this as your base scent.

‘A signature home scent anchors a space and gives it identity,’ she adds. Plus, an established base scent will make it easier to find complementary fragrances. For instance, if your base is fresh, a rich scent with deeper notes might work well as an accent on top.

3. Shift with the seasons

‘Seasonal scent changes create a natural rhythm, connecting our home to the world outside while maintaining a sense of continuity. Much like seasonal fashion, rotating fragrances allows us to rediscover them with renewed appreciation,’ says Emma. Woody and amber undertones are perfect for winter, while natural fragrance, such as tomato scented candles, comes alive in the spring and summer months.

‘Natural elements like fresh bouquets, potted plants, or dried flowers will naturally perfume your home,’ explains Lucy Hook, floral expert at Bloom & Wild. ‘They also bring the outdoors in, creating a strong connection to nature which can boost overall wellbeing.’ Hyacinths are one of the most fragrant bulbs, perfect for the early summer months, while dried flowers are a good option during the winter.

4. Let emotions lead

‘Over time, fragrance becomes part of our personal emotional architecture. A familiar home scent brings feelings of comfort and contentment, deepening our emotional bond with our home,’ explains Emma.

But, to keep the experience fresh and dynamic, layer different notes by room. To do this, take some time to live with your freshly scented space before reassessing your emotions and deciding if anything else should be added.

Mood-boosting scents to shop

Not sure where to start? Try some of these fresh summer scents.

That’s right, Diptyque is adding 5 new and rather unusual candles to its core collection, available now. It's not often Diptyque launches a new addition to its collection, so I could hardly contain my excitement when I heard the news. Naturally, when the opportunity to test the candles arose, I jumped on it and recruited four other Ideal Home editors to test the new scents out in each of our homes.

Diptyque makes some of the best scented candles, loved both for their beautiful and long-lasting fragrance and for the stylish, aesthetically pleasing candle jars, which people tend to keep and reuse in various ways. And I’m sure that will become even more of a standard practice as the jars are getting a redesign for the first time since the brand’s very beginnings in the 1960s as part of this launch.

And that’s not all! This is one of the biggest Diptyque launches in the history of the company, as not only are there 5 new candles, a redesign of the candle jar, but most of the core collection candles will soon become refillable.

As of this September, Diptyque will be one of the best places to shop for refillable candles. This will affect the pricing of the candles a little – the classic candles used to sell for £58 a pop. Going forward, the new design will retail for £63, and a refill will cost £50.

But with all that out of the way, let’s talk about the five new candle scents and what the Ideal Home editors and I thought of them.

1. Shiso

I’ve tested and completely finished the Shiso candle myself, getting 50 hours of burn time from the standard-sized 190-gram candle. In case you’re not familiar with shiso, also known as beefsteak plant, it’s a leaf from the mint family originally grown in China and India. When searching about it online, someone stated that it ‘tastes like summer’ – and I’d say it smells like it, too. At least the Diptyque Shiso candle certainly does.

In some ways, it reminds me of tomato leaf candles such as the Osmology by Aery tomato leaf candle, available at John Lewis, as it, too, has a green scent with some sweetness to it. In the Shiso candle’s case, this might be attributed to the added note of almond.

Despite the candle’s lighter, more delicate scent, it really filled my entire studio flat with a gorgeous fragrance that I frankly couldn’t get enough of.

2. Cafe (Coffee)

If you want your home to smell like a high-end cafe then the Cafe candle from Diptyque is for you. Tested by Rebecca Knight, Ideal Home’s Digital Editor, the Cafe candle blends notes of coffee (of course) and light wood and its fragrance is more subtle compared to the very intense Roasted Coffee candle from Wick Guru, available at Not On The High Street, which I’ve tried myself before.

‘The Cafe candle smells identical to a good cup of coffee before it's lit,’ Rebecca says. ‘I was worried about it being overwhelming to burn at home, but I was pleasantly surprised by the much more subtle gourmand fragrance it gave off. For the first few hours, it acted like a scent reset in my home, cancelling out other smells. But once the scent built up, my living room smelled like the poshest coffee shop you've ever been to. By hour four, the smell had reached out into my hallway and started to fill my whole flat with a subtle earthy scent.’

She adds, ‘This is a sophisticated, cosy scent for those who want something warm and comforting, but not sweet. I'm not sold enough on the scent to replace my favourite Baies or Figuier, but I think it's the perfect hosting candle for setting the scene for a coffee and cake hangout.’

3. Ortie (Nettle)

Who better to test out the Diptyque Nettle candle, in French called Ortie, than our Garden Editor, Sophie King?! I thought it was very on brand – and luckily, Sophie loved it. Nettle is another very unusual ingredient rarely used in home fragrance. The only alternative that I’ve found is St. Eval’s Bergamot and Nettle candle, available at Amazon, which is more citrusy and fresh compared to the herbal and almost floral Diptyque Ortie candle.

‘Straight out of the box, the scent is incredibly moreish – fresh, herbal and clean, almost as if linen had a green twist,’ Sophie describes. ‘Only around 40 minutes in, the room was filled with a light fragrance – but it became a lot stronger after an hour of burning, and reached its strongest around three hours in. While burning, the candle’s fragrance is slightly mellower – still very herbal, but with notes that can almost be described as floral. The scent kept most of its initial profile, though, and it remained in the air for a good while after blowing the candle out.’

4. Sesame Noir (Black Sesame)

Ideal Home’s Editor in Chief, Heather Young is a self-professed ‘Diptyque girl’ when it comes to her home fragrance and scented candles of choice. So I, of course, had to get her involved in our testing. And the Sesame Noir candle, translated as black sesame, is the perfect example of how subjective smell can be. Even though I really like the Black Sesame candle from Loewe, available at John Lewis, I personally wasn’t the biggest fan when I smelled Diptyque’s Sesame Noir straight out of the box. But it was to Heather’s liking straight away – so it was clear she should be the one to try it out at home.

‘I absolutely love Diptyque candles, but I often find even my favourite scents get overwhelming (I have quite a high sensitivity to smell) so I don't have them burning that long,’ Heather explains. ‘However, Sesame Noir is much more subtle, and I've had this candle burning for at least 10 hours straight without it getting too overpowering. It gives a gentle scent that's quite warm and comforting – it's one I'd recommend!’

5. Rhubarbe (Rhubarb)

I’d say that rhubarb is not as unusual of an ingredient in home fragrance as the other scents on this list. And for that reason, I believe the Diptyque Rhubarbe candle’s going to be the bestseller from this range. Given the crowd-pleasing fragrance of rhubarb - fruity, a little sweet with a hint of sourness - I was surprised to find there are not many other rhubarb-scented candles. There’s the Jo Malone White Lilac and Rhubarb charity candle, but it’s more of a lilac candle than it is a rhubarb one. All the more reason why I think this candle will do really well, as it did with our Editorial Assistant, Maddie Balcombe.

‘I am usually drawn to scents that feel fresh, light and uplifting, but I sometimes find that there's a fine line between this and scents that are overwhelmingly sweet. I think Rhubarbe nailed the balance between the two,’ Maddie says. ‘The fragrance is sweet, but it has a tart edge (like you'd expect from a rhubarb), and I think that this helps it feel crisp rather than cloying, which is what I like in a candle.’

She continues, ‘I had it lit in my home office while working there. You can definitely smell it in the room, even when it's unlit. While burning, the scent subtly filled the room – I could definitely notice it while I was working, but it wasn't so strong that it became overpowering, which I liked.’

Which one of the new candles are you adding to your basket?

With the start of this month, England’s recycling rules have changed which among other things means that candle jars are no longer accepted in kerbside recycling pickups. While my first reaction to the news was outrage, I then turned to solutions to this issue – one of which is to invest in refillable candles going forward. In fact, a few of the candles I already own are refillable – so if you’re not sure where to buy refillable candles for yourself, I’ve rounded up some of my top picks.

The new recycling rules are likely to leave you with several candle vessels that you’re not quite sure what to do with – but there are several ways to reuse old candle jars, whether that’s to store pens (like I’ve done with my pretty Cire Trudon candle jar) or you can buy candle refills from the below listed brands and use them for your existing candle jars.

Alternatively, you can create your own best scented candles and reuse your existing candle jars that way – all you need is soy wax, candle wicks and some essential oils like this Nikura sandalwood and vanilla oil, all available at Amazon. It will also make a lovely activity for the long weekend.

But if you prefer your candles already made - which is fair enough - then these are the refillable candle brands that I recommend.

1. M&S Apothecary

I recently wrote about Marks & Spencer’s Apothecary range as the fragrance of the Apothecary bestsellers is now twice as strong as before. And not only that, the collection’s scented candles are also all refillable. You can either buy a bundle of an already filled candle with one extra refill included or you can buy the refills separately once your candle runs out.

My top pick:

2. Rituals

Rituals is one of the nation’s most loved home fragrance brands. So I’m sure you’ll be glad to hear that it offers a range of 17 refillable candles, selling separate refills for all of the 17 scents, also known as the Private Collection. Personally, I’m partial to the Royal Tea candle which pairs green tea with fig, moss, citrus and woody notes.

My top pick:

3. Pott

Pott is a sustainable candle brand built on the concept of refillable candles. That’s also why the candle jars themselves are extremely well made, crafted from ceramic by UK potters. I own a Pott candle myself and absolutely love it. Its scent is a bit more subtle compared to some of my other candles but sometimes that’s exactly what you want. And I’m a big fan of the slightly rustic look and handmade finish of the jar.

My top pick:

4. Dunelm

In all honesty, I was as surprised as anyone when I found out that Dunelm makes refillable candles. They’re part of the brand’s Edited Life range which focuses on a pared-back, minimalist style and the basics of building a lovely home. The range focuses on soothing, spa-like scents and are named accordingly, featuring names like Calm and Restore – similarly to the M&S Apothecary range.

My top pick:

5. Buhn

Similarly to Pott, Buhn is also a UK-based brand of candles centred around sustainability and a refillable model. And it’s also a candle brand I own and love. The candle jars are made from lovely amber-coloured glass, and there are five different candle scents to choose from. I’m currently burning the Rooted candle, which starts off quite light and fresh with ginger, bergamot and juniper berry, but throughout the burn turns more earthy with vetiver and sandalwood.

My top pick:

6. Cire Trudon

Cire Trudon candles are among my favourites. But the entire range is not refillable. However, similarly to Rituals, the brand offers a range of refillable candles named The Alabasters. They are pricier compared to the already high-end core range, which is largely due to the refillable vessel sculpted by hand from single blocks of Spanish alabaster. This is definitely a luxury product – but if you’re looking for a special present or want to treat yourself, I recommend it.

My top pick:

7. Diptyque

Much like Cire Trudon, Diptyque also offers a collection of refillable candles – a very exclusive one, as it’s called the Exclusives and that title is reflected in the price. Each of the 270g candles, which is a bigger size than its regular 190g candles, will set you back £208, and refills cost £90. Each of the candles comes in an oval-shaped coloured glass jar with a matching lid, engraved with Diptyque’s branding. They look stunning.

My top pick:

8. True Grace

True Grace is a truly British brand, with many of the company’s scents boasting a very local inspiration. Take English Garden, for example, which would be my scent of choice, blending notes of basil, bergamot, spices and oregano with earthy patchouli, amber and cedarwood. The English Garden candle is also one of the brand’s classic candles, all of which are refillable and you can purchase separate refills for in order to replenish them.

My top pick:

9. MUJI

There are very few things you can’t get at MUJI, the Japanese brand that seemingly has everything you might need. Which includes refillable candles! I’ve never tried MUJI’s refillable candles but I have tried the brand’s home fragrance. I currently use the MUJI geranium essential oil in my Aromatherapy electric diffuser, the Atomiser Connect, and it’s heavenly. So I trust the brand’s candles will be just as great – and they’re really affordable, too.

My top pick:

Which of these are you tempted by?

I’ve heard so many good things about the bestselling Marks & Spencer Apothecary range. When I finally smelled the scents for myself, I understood the hype – and I can say I’m a big fan now. So I was excited to hear that the collection just had an upgrade; the most popular fragrances from the collection (including my favourites) are now twice as strong as before, meaning the scent will last even longer.

The budget-friendly Apothecary home fragrance and bath and body offering spans everything from the best scented candles to room sprays, hand washes and lotions, as well as the best reed diffusers, among other things – and the prices start as low as £7. And that’s even after the reformulation that made the fragrances up to 50% more intense, which has introduced a small price increase, but a very minimal one.

Between the beautiful, relaxing, spa-worthy scents and the extremely affordable price points, it’s no surprise that during some of the busier times of the year, one product from the collection gets sold every 8 seconds.

Not to mention the fact that some of the fragrances are well-known to be very good alternatives for more expensive, high-end brands – especially the Warmth scent which is the perfect alternative for Le Labo’s popular Santal 33, available at John Lewis. I can tell you that you’d be hard pressed to find a candle of such quality and lovely soothing scent for £10 as you can here.

And with the increased strength of the bestselling Calm, Warmth, Restore, Sleep and Revitalise fragrances, the Apothecary range is a great budget swap for high-end candles as it can now rival how well it fills a room with scent, which often also affects how long it lingers afterwards.

My personal favourites are the Calm scent, as well as Restore and Sleep, all of which offer soothing, herbal scents with notes of lavender included in each one, with eucalyptus being another prominent ingredient.

These are some of the pieces from the M&S Apothecary range that are currently on my wish list and that are likely going to end up in my shopping basket.

My top picks

Have you tried the M&S Apothecary range? What did you think of it?

Marks & Spencer just dropped a range of four scented candles that look and smell much like the retailer’s iconic cocktail tinnies we all know and love, each selling for £10 a pop. And yes, the widely favoured gin & tonic is included – and I predict the Gin & Tonic Tinny Scented Candle is set to be the bestseller, too.

Nearly everyone has a favourite M&S cocktail tinny. Mine’s the gin & tonic, but I also wouldn’t say no to the mojito – the famous M&S cocktail in a tin that MP Diane Abbott got into trouble for drinking on a London Overground train. But you certainly won’t get into trouble for indulging in their best scented candle counterparts.

Apart from the Gin & Tonic and Mojito candles, the new collection also includes a Pina Colada Tinny Scented Candle and a Pink Passion Star Martini Tinny Scented Candle. They’re the cutest, most playful scented candles I’ve seen in a long time – and their cocktail tin-inspired glass jars make for the perfect decor for al fresco hosting season this spring and summer, which is just around the corner. Or so I keep telling myself.

Of course, each candle’s gourmand fragrance is inspired by the respective cocktails’ flavours. The Gin & Tonic opens with citrusy notes and follows with juniper and botanical scent. Mojito is similarly fresh with lime top notes, paired with mint and a hint of rum.

The other two lean sweeter – the Pina Colada candle combines notes of coconut, pineapple and vanilla, while Pink Passion Star Martini is all about the fruity notes of passion fruit topped with vanilla, too.

Each candle has an impressive burn time of up to 100 hours and comes with a tin-inspired pop-on lid.

Given their adorable, nostalgic design, I’m sure these candles will be a hit with M&S customers and will be quickly going out of stock, as many M&S candles do – whether it’s the viral ceramic candle range that debuted this year or the M&S light-up candles that sell out in a matter of a few days every Christmas season.

So grab your favourite cocktail tinny or two for your home while you still can!

Kelly Hoppen’s ongoing collaboration with Marks & Spencer keeps producing some serious gems for our homes – and the just dropped Kelly No. 1 Decorative Scented Candle is my latest top pick as it’s the perfect budget-friendly alternative for one of my favourite high-end candle brands, Cire Trudon.

Selling for only £25 and providing up to 40 hours of burn time, this is one of the best scented candles in terms of value for money – so it’s no surprise it’s already selling fast on the M&S website, despite its very recent release. It comes in a white ceramic jar with a matching lid, decorated only with a gold-coloured coat of arms sticker bearing Kelly’s name.

It’s the best-looking dead ringer for Cire Trudon’s Alabaster range I’ve seen – which is the brand’s refillable scented candle range with each candle coming in a white alabaster jar with a coordinating lid. And the large golden coat of arms sticker is the instantly recognisable signature of all Cire Trudon candles.

While the core range of Cire Trudon candles sells for £95 for a regular 270g size, the Alabaster collection retails for £175 a pop. That makes the M&S x Kelly Hoppen alternative 1/7 of the price, and £150 cheaper.

Similarly to Diptyque, Jo Malone or the now very trendy Loewe scented candles (available at Selfridges), Cire Trudon’s candles can also be found mostly in stylish people’s homes. But unlike the aforementioned brands, Cire Trudon is one reserved for those ‘in the know’ since it’s not as widely recognised a brand. Which personally makes me love it even more.

But the best home fragrance is not just about the looks but also the scent itself, of course. The Kelly No. 1 candle is a woody fragrance, featuring notes of patchouli, clove and bergamot – it’s an ingredients list very similar to Cire Trudon’s bestselling Ernesto candle, sold at Selfridges, which blends these notes with leather, tobacco and oak wood among others.

Between the stylish look of the Cire Trudon candles and their beautiful and strong fragrance, it’s obvious that I’m a big fan of the brand, and it’s clear why. But the one downside of Cire Trudon is the high price point – which is why I approve of this affordable alternative from M&S and Kelly Hoppen. Just like most pieces from this partnership, this candle does not disappoint.

A new year provides the perfect opportunity to switch things up when it comes to our interiors. And this is especially true when it comes to the fragrances that we use in our homes. Whether you’ve been thinking about trying something different for a while now, or are wondering which fragrances are particularly popular as we move into 2025, a number of home fragrances have actually started to fall out of favour or evolved into new and interesting blends.

While fragrance is obviously a very personal choice, when it comes to the best reed diffusers and scented candles, certain scents aren’t quite as well-liked as they once were.

Sometimes it’s as simple as a specific scent or fragrance profile feeling a bit overdone, but ‘people also want uniqueness, and to discover new scent experiences,’ suggests Melissa Harris, Founder of Harris of London who points out that fragrance tends to be cyclical, so will likely come back around possibly in a reimagined or novel way.

But when it comes to how to make a home smell good, these are the home fragrances that are going out of fashion in 2025, as well as how they might be evolving or being updated for the new year.

1. Single note fragrances

This year, gone are the days when you buy the best-scented candle with a single-note fragrance, such as vanilla on its own, the experts reveal. ‘While vanilla itself remains beloved, expect it to appear in more complex, gourmand blends with tonka bean, cardamom, or tobacco for an elevated feel,’ explains Valerie Sadoh, Founder of House of Mahogany.

The same is true of something like lavender. ‘Lavender remains a cornerstone scent, but traditional one-note lavender is being replaced by more nuanced pairings, such as lavender and sage or lavender and citrus,’ Valerie adds.

As the popularity of complex, layered scents increases, this gives shoppers the chance to play around with different notes without overwhelming a space.

2. Synthetic florals

While many of us are fans of floral fragrances, synthetic florals that don’t quite give the same impression as a fresh bouquet of blooms are also falling out of favour, according to the experts.

‘Overly synthetic floral scents often lack the nuanced complexity and authenticity that modern consumers seek,’ says Rodrigo Nikaido, Co-Owner and Global Growth Director at AROMARIA. ‘These artificial interpretations can feel one-dimensional or overwhelming, making them less compatible with the natural, calming environments people now prioritise in their homes.’

Instead, there’s a growing preference for florals that are soft, balanced, and layered, evoking the organic essence of real blossoms. ‘This shift reflects a desire for fragrances that resonate emotionally, enhancing the space without overpowering it,’ Rodrigo continues.

3. Super sweet aromas

Many of us might be fans of sweet smells, however, candy-sweet fragrances like candy floss, sugary pastries and bubblegum-style scents ‘often feel juvenile and are falling out of favour in home fragrance,’ Valerie admits.

Rodrigo suggests that this could be because ‘overly sugary or cloying scents can feel heavy and intrusive in contemporary settings, which favor lighter, more versatile aromas. This evolution mirrors the shift toward fragrances that offer indulgence without overwhelming the senses.’

And consumers are gravitating toward more mature gourmand notes like honey, amber, and caramel, as we move into 2025 and beyond when scenting a living room or hallway. And these notes offer a more sophisticated and layered approach to all things sweet.

4. Powdery scents

While powdery scents remain a firm favourite in the world of perfumes, we’re seeing a switch from powdery to deeper notes when it comes to home fragrance this year, Melissa says.

‘Overly powdery scents remind people of fragrances like Chanel No.5 and while some will still go for this classic, the powerhouses like oud (which has been around for a long time but only really popular in the West in recent times) and woody, smokey scents are much more desirable. You'll see all the big players delivering oud, woody and tobacco notes to keep up with this trend, instead of focusing on the more vintage powdery accords,’ she affirms.

5. Sharp citrus

‘Citrus is always a safe bet, but the sharp, punchy varieties – like lemon zest – are taking a backseat,’ declares Karl Neale, Founder of Rebel Aromas. ‘Softer options like bergamot and mandarin are stepping in instead, as they’ve got a brightness that’s clean and refreshing, but they’re not in your face.

These scents are among some of the best home fragrances for kitchens where you want that light, inviting vibe without feeling overly sterile.

FAQs

What is the future of home fragrances in 2025?

It’s probably not surprising that an increasing number of shoppers are interested in being more sustainable and ethical with what they buy and this is also true of home fragrance. According to Melissa, ‘demand for refillable home fragrances and sustainable, natural materials will continue to rise,’ as we move into 2025.

‘Environmental consciousness is also influencing purchasing decisions,’ Sam affirms, ‘with a growing demand for products that are handmade with the best social and environmental intentions, using authentic, natural oils, woods and resins rather than chemically produced alternatives.’

While Valerie expects that ‘custom scent-blending kits and workshops will rise in popularity,’ this year. From home fragrance blending and candle making, this also gives shoppers the opportunity to give their home a signature scent and truly customise and personalise the fragrances that they use.

What are set to be the most popular home fragrances in 2025?

Wondering what the most popular home fragrances of 2025 are set to be? Well, we got the scoop from the experts.

Firstly, food-related fragrances are set to be some of the most popular this year. For those who like sweet scents, ‘gourmand fragrances with milky notes are set to have a glow up, with us heading to the coffee shop for warm inviting scents of cappuccino, vanilla, and milk – seen in perfumes as early a 2019 – which are now popping up in scented home products,’ explains Chloe Furze, Founder of CocoLuxe.

‘On the other end of the fragrance scale, fruits like cherry are set to continue growing this year alongside other stone fruits like plum, mango, peach, and apricots, which all bring playful, uplifting aromas to home environments,’ she continues.

‘Scents that bring the outdoors in are also gaining significant traction, such as the earthy scent of petrichor, citrusy vetiver and resinous frankincense that evoke the scent of nature,’ reveals Sam Aydee, Temple of Incense's Co-Founder. And Rodrigo concurs. ‘Earthy and grounding notes like moss, cedar, and amber are experiencing a resurgence, offering a sense of stability and connection to nature,’ he agrees.

So, on those days when we don’t feel like venturing outside, whether because of the weather or simply because we’d prefer to stay cosy and relax, introducing these sorts of home fragrances can certainly bring the outside in.

Magical as the run-up to Christmas can be, there are times when it can all get a bit much – especially if you’re the ‘Santa’s little helper’ behind the scenes making all that magic happen. The gifts, the food, the get-togethers, the decorating… your Christmas ‘to do’ list can become a joy-sapping burden unless you break out some stress-busting tricks to boost your resilience.

Using smell is a powerful one. Smells are processed by the olfactory bulb at the front of the brain that is a direct line to all its key ‘command centres’ – including the amygdala and the hippocampus, which are linked to emotion and memory. So, if you need a quick anti-stress fix, use your nose.

When it comes to choosing the best Christmas scents, memory is key. Neuroscientist Dr Rachel Herz, a world-renowned expert on the psychological science of smell, wrote in her 2016 study, The Role of Odor-Evoked Memory in Psychological and Physiological Health, ‘Odours that evoke positive autobiographical memories have the potential to increase positive emotions, decrease negative mood states, disrupt cravings, and reduce physiological indices of stress.’

There are myriad Christmas scents out there – shops’ shelves are heaving with all manner of candles, diffusers and sprays. Experts use all kinds of tricks to make their houses smell great at Christmas, but what about the scents they use to create calm? Yes, you can have the benefits of both with these ideas for scents, how to layer them and where to use them.

1. Cinnamon

Warm but upbeat, cinnamon is one of the best fragrances to scent your hallway, where holistic aromatherapist Jo Kellett recommends using an essential oil with a diffuser.

‘For a welcoming atmosphere combine woody, spicy and citrus essential oils. They will provide a gently uplifting, yet calming aroma. You could try Cinnamon and or Nutmeg, as these are perfect Christmas aromas.’

If you like to layer your scents, she suggests, ‘Combine with Frankincense, and then finish off with your favourite citrus essential oil.

2. Vetiver

Woody, earthy and complex, vetiver is the ideal way to fragrance your living room when you need to relax and take time out from the festive frantic-ness.

Jo Kellett suggests, ‘Reach for some calming, soothing essential oils like vetiver, Roman chamomile or lavender, Roman chamomile or vetiver. Add these to your diffuser, adding your favourite citrus essential oil if you feel like brightening the blend.’

3. Citrus

‘Use oils such as lemon to refresh and invigorate,’ advises Kim Lahiri, a fragrance formulation expert. To layer them, she suggests, ‘Bergamot, which is a known mood enhancer, exotic Ylang Ylang, known for its stress-busting therapeutic properties, with sandalwood and cedarwood to ground and centre.’

Such a refreshing but soothing blend would be perfect in the kitchen when it gets hectic. Kim explains, ‘Mixing a blend of citrus, floral and wood oils like this makes a perfect synergy to support busy, fraught people, allowing an air of calm. In a chaotic kitchen, a fresh, supportive yet calming and grounding scent is vital to maintaining a level of focus and clarity for the tasks in hand.’

‘Be adventurous and make up your own “Kitchen on Christmas Day” blend for a diffuser, mixing 5-10 drops of essential oils in the water reservoir.

Find a blend you love and it’ll do double-duty after Christmas cooking as an odour-neutralising scent for your kitchen.

4. Vanilla

Go for this in the living room if you’re not keen on traditional Christmas aromas. Kim Lahiri explains, ‘The usual yuletide fragrances are cinnamon, cloves and pine, which can create a cosy environment but can also overpower with their spiciness.

‘Alternatively, the aroma of vanilla can create a warm and inviting environment, perfect for family gatherings. Look for candles that have a gentle, inviting aroma without being overpowering, ensuring they enhance rather than overwhelm the space. Natural soy or beeswax are excellent choices as they burn cleanly and have a very subtle scent.’

5. Sweet marjoram

Sweet marjoram has a warm and spicy aroma with a woody undertone that’s delicious for Christmas. It’s also one of the best essential oils for sleep. Kim Lahiri says, ‘Sweet marjoram, bergamot and clary sage all help to reduce anxiety and foster a peaceful environment conducive to sleep.

‘To promote relaxation and sleepiness after a long day of Christmas preparation, consider using fragrances like high-altitude lavender, Roman chamomile or ‘the oil of tranquillity, vetiver.’

‘Safety is key in the bedroom, so use a diffuser or put a few drops of essential oils on a tissue and tuck it in your pillowcase so the scents gently diffuse into the air around your head.’

FAQ

What are the best scents for Christmas candles?

Roberta Ion, bespoke perfumer at Floris, says, ‘Scent and emotion are deeply connected, this is why sometimes, the most calming scents are the ones which bring up happy memories. Cinnamon and tangerine beautifully combine the warmth of spice and the sparkle of citrus, very reminiscent of Christmas. I also believe woody scents can evoke a cosy, snowy night in a warm wooden cabin, so I always light a patchouli and sandalwood candle in the festive season for a deep, smooth and creamy scent.

‘Rather than layering, I suggest playing with scent and having every room smell different. This creates a very dynamic olfactory environment, reflecting the individuality of each space.’

How big a diffuser do you need for a Christmas scent that will only last through December?

Roberta Ion advises, ‘A 200ml bottle reed diffuser should be more than enough to scent a room for the whole month of December.’

Which scent will be keeping you calm through December?

There’s nothing that inspires happy memories and creates cosy atmospheres quicker than the perfect home fragrance, and that’s never more true than over the Christmas season. From fir trees to oranges and cloves, mulled spices to peppermint, the joyous moments of festivities are wrapped up in scent.

Whether you want to create a welcoming atmosphere to emotionally signal the return of Noel, or are looking for a gift to bring comfort and joy to others, the Christmas collection from Yankee Candle has what you need to 'Make It More Magical'.

Turn moments into memories

However you mark the season, be it through traditions handed down over generations or by finding new ways to celebrate each year, the time can seem to pass all too quickly. Yankee Candle wants to turn these fleeting moments into memories that will last a lifetime through the power of fragrance.

Even the gentlest hint of a familiar smell can instantly transport you to another time or place. By filling your home with festive scents this Christmas, precious moments with family and friends will be intrinsically linked with those fragrances, which you’ll relive time and time again, whenever you come across these iconic holiday scents

A Christmas for everyone

Yankee Candle has a much loved core collection of festive fragrances that many of us already light and love each festive season. The classic aromas are everything you expect of Christmas, and no doubt already are able to transport you to cosy Christmasses with the family, or lively holiday parties with close friends.

For 2024, the brand has also crafted a brand new Christmas collection, aptly named Passport to the Holidays, as it’s inspired by classic scents from around the world. So whether you once experienced a German Christmas market or had childhood dreams of waking up in the North Pole, these magical fragrances will transport you as far as your imagination.

The colours, too, will help immerse you in the celebrations of the season, with holly reds, wintery whites and icy blues adding visual cues whether you’re using the iconic jars, filled votives or wax melts.

Your passport to the holidays

The new range of Christmas home fragrances from Yankee Candle are on hand to help you add a new dimension to your holiday traditions, whether that’s by recollecting holidays abroad, thinking of family and friends in far-flung locales, or bringing the spirit of another land into your home to craft new memories.

Take a trip to New York with the vibrancy of Big Apple Christmas, full of fresh apples, festive spices and sweet sugarcane. Or perhaps you’re thinking of the buttery croissants, raspberry preserves, fig and brown sugar of a Parisian Holiday Brunch. For a traditional holiday experience Munich Christmas Market, packed with orange, star anise and dark chocolate. If you’re reminiscing about afternoon teas, the warmth of ginger, black tea and cinnamon from London Christmas Tea is just the thing. Or why not take a magical trip to a North Pole Hideaway thanks to notes of icy air, arctic mint and snow powder.

Whatever fragrance fits best with your holiday traditions, get ready to Make It More Magical this Christmas with memories that will last a lifetime.

Visit Yankee Candle to find out more about the festive fragrances and explore the full range of candles that Yankee Candle has to offer.

Two of our faves have come together as Fearne Cotton has teamed up with Marks and Spencer to launch an exclusive collection of home fragrances to give your happiness a boost.

Her Happy Place home fragrance range launches in-store and online exclusively at M&S this October. It consists of 18 beautifully scented and giftable pieces, all designed with the intent of transporting you to your very own happy place.

Fearne Cotton knows what she’s talking about when it comes to utilising the power of scent in your home. The presenter launched her wellbeing brand Happy Place in 2017 after the release of her first book and has since gone on to create a festival, podcast and now this dreamy home fragrance collection.

Here's what you can expect from the M&S range...

The Happy Place home fragrances collection

The Happy Place collection consists of votive, single wick and three wick candles as well diffusers. But why stop there? Fearne's also added in eye masks, bath salts, pillow sprays, hand creams and body washes so you can recreate that spa experience for all the senses.

When it comes to finding the best home scents, you ideally want to find a scent that brings you joy, and this range has been designed to bring happiness straight to you.

While I haven't had a chance to have a whiff of the Happy Place scents myself just yet (although it's top of my list!), I've always been a fan of M&S candles thanks to their perfect balance of affordability and quality. In fact, M&S is a bit of a go to for the whole Ideal Home team when it comes to shopping for quiet luxury homeware on a budget.

The four scents which make up the range are inspired by Fearne's own happy places. ‘Poppies’ is described as smelling like spring, while ‘Paddling In The Surf’ is reminiscent by the sea. A pleasant mix of sea salt, seaweed and citrus, I have this one on my radar for my bathroom.

‘Marshmallows’ is said to smell like - you guessed it - marshmallows. And, finally, ‘Bubble’ is designed to help you unwind thanks to calming notes of lavender, geranium, rose and eucalyptus.

The candles come in three sizes - a dainty 60g votive candle, 180g single wick and a solid 500g three wicker, but nothing costs more than £20, so you can go bigger without breaking the budget.

However, what I love most about the collection is its positivity. It's deliberately made with relaxation in mind and who doesn’t love to unwind after a long day?

Now, off to dream of my happy place...

Diffusers, candles and room sprays are brilliant ways to scent a home, but there is another way that fragrance experts swear by that we recently discovered and it involves using ceramic discs that you can pick up for £1 in craft shops.

Recently when we were chatting about the best home fragrances and how to scent your home with award-winning fragrance writer, and co-host of @onthescentpodcast,  Suzy Nightingale as part of a campaign with toilet cleaning expert, Bloo, she revealed that she loved to use ceramic discs to scent her home. It's a method we've heard many fragrance experts recommend, so it's definitely one to add to your home scenting tool kit.

How to use ceramic discs to scent your home

'What I like doing is using ceramic discs which you can often get from craft shops, or buy them cheaply online, and hanging those on little ribbons around the house,' explains Suzy. 

'So you can hang those from curtain poles, or radiators is a great spot, and you can change up the scent, and some of them are really pretty as well. I love it because it's sort of invisible, but even if you do notice it's still pretty.' 

Suzy points out that it is also a great method to scent your outdoor dining space. 'If you're having a dinner party or you're you know you're going to be sitting in the garden for a while it's quite nice to hang those ceramic discs off the back of chairs or you can dot them around the fence if you've got fairy lights,' she explains.

Like Suzy says you can pick up ceramic discs from craft shops, or you can pick up 10-piece sets from £13 on Amazon. You can then scent these with a couple of drops of fragrance oils and essential oils or even a spritz of perfume. In fact it's a smart way to get more expensive scents into your home in an affordable way, for example, you can pick up three of The White Company's signature fragrance oil scents for £30, which will last you for months compared to one of the candles.

Some brands even sell ceramic discs in sets with fragrance oils or already pre-infused with the scent in large sizes. However, these will cost a little bit more and usually only come with one larger ceramic disc. 

It's a lovely discreet way to scent your home, which is a key part of turning your home into a wellbeing haven. But it's not the only method Suzy uses to scent her home. 

Of course, she is a fan of candles in the living room and a diffuser in the entranceway. In trickier spaces to scent like the bathroom she also relies on scented cleaning products. 'Cleaning products are really important in your bathroom,' she explains. 'I like to have a lovely smelling shower spray.' 

Method and Bloo spa moments are her top scented cleaning picks for the bathroom. But overall her advice is to opt for citrus notes or things like eucalyptus. ' It projects well so it will fill the space And yet it doesn't feel too dominant.'

The best way to scent your home is in layers, ceramic discs and a cleaning spray are the perfect invisible base layer upon which to build an incredible-smelling home. So follow the expert's lead and start stocking up.

You may already have a personal scent ritual – the 'give me confidence' perfume you dab on your wrists before a job interview, the fragrant body lotion you rub into your skin before a date, the spritz of sleep spray on your pillow before bed…

But we can create a fragrance ritual for our homes, too, whether it's with the best reed diffuser in our hallway or the candle in our living room. 

'We can use fragrance to help us differentiate between work, social and relaxation spaces. So switching your fragrances can help you close the door on work or difficult situations and establish a more relaxing environment,' explains Sheena Moxom from fragrance experts, Melt.

What is a home fragrance ritual?

A home fragrance ritual is any regular way of using scent that elevates it from thoughtless habit to wellbeing essential. It could be a single act, like lighting a scented candle when you have your bath, to a series of scent moments throughout your day that help to ease stress, home scents that make you feel happy, and that boost mood and create a welcoming atmosphere.

Using the same scents for specific fragrance rituals can strengthen their effects even more.

'Building the same fragrance notes into your daily routine means your olfactory senses register the fragrance and your body responds and knows what to do. For example, it will wake up when it encounters citrus, calm down when it encounters Rose, and relax ready for sleep when it senses lavender,' says Melt's Sheena Moxom.

We asked experts to recommend fragrance rituals for you and your home throughout the day, to help make every day seem sweeter and less stressful.

Fragrance ritual for bathing

Our bathrooms are made for fragrance rituals. From shower gels and bath bubbles, beauty products to reed diffusers, this small space is generally packed with perfumed products, and you can turn the room into a mini spa with the best bathroom scents.

Take scented potpourri to the next level by getting intentional about the fragrances you use in your bathing rituals.

'Scents can greatly impact the way we feel and can either set us up for the day or help us unwind,' says Lauren Grainger, scent expert at From Today…

'Try surrounding yourself with bright citrus in the morning, maybe by using an energising body wash in the shower. Then switch to soothing fragrances such as bergamot or comforting ginger at the end of the day, with your bath oil or by lighting a scented candle as you soak.'

If you're not a morning person, there are four scents that can help you wake up, which are ideal for adding to your bathing fragrance ritual.

Working from home fragrance ritual

You may not be able to scent a shared workspace, but it's a different story if you can do your job from a home office. Mark the transition from home to work mode by beginning your work hours with a fragrance ritual.

'Immediate surroundings such as the workspace will benefit more from a slow and gentle diffusion method, such as a diffuser,' suggests Amanda Morgan, managing director of scent brand, Diptyque, which has just opened a London boutique specialising in home fragrancing.

Amanda recommends the Diptyque hourglass diffuser, which was designed to fragrance cosy spaces, but you could also choose an aromatherapy diffuser that can sit neatly on our desk and power your performance with scent.

'Rose geranium essential oil is good for concentration and grapefruit for stimulation,' says Sheena Moxom from Melt. 'And peppermint is great for headaches or nausea caused by sitting on the computer for too long.'

Homecoming fragrance ritual

If you do work, study or spend hours every day away from home, then creating a homecoming fragrance ritual can be a beautiful way to mark the shift back to your domestic space. Finding the perfect fragrances to scent your hallway is key.

'Set a welcoming tone in your home’s entrance with a reed diffuser that gives out comforting aromas like sandalwood, black pepper or neroli. These fragrances can help you transition from the hustle and bustle to a more peaceful home environment, welcoming you home for a cosy night ahead,' suggests Lauren Grainger at From Today…

'You can also turn your reeds as you return home for an extra scent boost.'

Fragrance ritual for mealtimes

Preparing and eating a meal may already feel like a ritual that punctuates your day and helps you feel good. But we can make the experience even more evocative by adding scent.

'In the kitchen, combine scent with your mealtime rituals by using invigorating aromas such as rosemary or lemongrass,' says scent expert Lauren Grainger. 'Whether you light a candle or use an essential oil diffuser, these scents can help to inspire your culinary creativity and stimulate your senses, getting you ready to eat.'

Fragrance ritual for entertaining

Of course want our home to smell good when we're hosting guests, but setting the mood with fragrance can be part of a ritual that helps us to prepare to invite people into our home. Add these tips to your ideas for entertaining.

'Scenting a room or a space completely changes the atmosphere depending on the fragrance chosen. It's similar to how you would choose lighting, music and decorations,' says Amanda Morgan, managing director of Diptyque.

'For instant scenting, choose the room spray, which is ideal for hallways and passages, as it instantly creates the welcoming atmosphere, whereas the fragrance from the candle emerges after 30 minutes of burning. 

'The living room is the most dynamic space in the home and the scent you choose comes down to the mood you want to create for different occasions. Diptyque Baies (berries) is an iconic choice, with the coolness of freshly picked blackcurrant leaves and berries, plus flowery accents of rose. For richer woody notes, both Ambre (amber) and Feu de Bois (wood fire) are great options to add warmth to the home.' 

Fragrance ritual for self-care

If you are someone who meditates, journals or had another de-stressing, self-care practice, then make fragrance a part of your ritual with scents to calm you down.

'Candle meditation is a very peaceful form of meditation done in silence and low light. Most people want to emerge from meditation feeling calmer, peaceful and with a sense of clarity,' suggests Sheena Moxom from Melt. 

'For this we would look to peppermint and eucalyptus to help clear thoughts, enhance clarity and focus; scents you can find in our Still candle. Another fabulous contender would be the Saddle candle – full of beautiful sandalwood – which is great for stress and anxiety. It also contains cedarwood, which is beneficial for helping nervous tension.'

Bedtime fragrance ritual

For winding down in the evening, scent-filled rituals  can help prepare you for rest. 'Even small tasks like applying a scented hand lotion or spritzing your room before bed can get you in the headspace for a more restful night. Pairing your chosen activity with the right scent can give this effect a boost,' says Lauren Grainger at From today…

Amanda Morgan from Diptyque says certain scents suit a bedtime fragrance ritual.

'The bedroom is a place of rest and tranquillity so you may want to choose a scent that helps you to relax, such as roses, which can help to lift stress. For a more romantic setting, the scent of Jasmine candle is sensual and voluptuous.'

From dawn to dusk, knowing what is a fragrance ritual and adding them into your day in various ways, will add a completely new dimension to your home, life and wellbeing.

'In the dynamic world of interior design, the art of scentscaping adds a multi-dimensional layer of sensory delight, transforming spaces into immersive environments that engage the senses and evoke emotions,' agrees Lauren. 'Utilise scented candles and reed diffusers to baseline the scent throughout your home, then use matching handwashes and lotions to carry it with you throughout the day.'

Shopping list

Scents are incredibly evocative, and it's never quite as obvious as over the holidays. Knowing how to make your home smell great for Christmas will not only delight your senses, but instantly signal to every friend and family member who comes by that the festive times are here. 

A lot of us head straight to candles when scenting our homes. However, as much as we love the best Christmas scents in that form, it's far from the only option at your fingertips.

How to make your home smell great for Christmas – what the professionals do

Who could possibly know more about scenting your home than fragrancing experts? Exactly. 

So we've gone straight to the pros to not only find out how to make your space smell gorgeous without lighting a single candle, but how they do this themselves in their own homes each December.

Jo Malone CBE

'I find joy in creating a multi-sensory experience at home during Christmas,' Jo Malone CBE, founder of Jo Loves. 'Beyond candles, I love to infuse different scents throughout various spaces.'

'For the living room, I might use Jo Loves A Fragrance Diffuser in Christmas Trees, Plum Pudding or Snowflakes, creating a festive aura. Clean citrus notes, like those found in our Seville Orange & Neroli, Jo Loves A Lifestyle Fragrance are perfect for the bedroom, bathroom, and kitchen.'

'In the dining room, I enjoy mimicking the garden with fresh herbs and the fragrance of lemon or orange trees. For cosy spaces, warm wood and clean notes such as vetiver and amber work beautifully.'

Floral Street

'Typical aromas associated with Christmas tend to be spices like nutmeg, cinnamon and clove, and pine also features heavily in my home over December,' says Michelle Feeney, founder of Floral Street. 'But you’ll also find plenty of foodie notes like vanilla – I’m a big fan of using vanilla fragrances around the holiday period, as it’s so warming and welcoming to guests.'

'Don't be afraid to layer a few diffusers or scented reeds around the home to create your own custom scent. I like to add bright, festive colours into my home too. The Floral Street Midnight Tulip diffuser with its vivid red jar, looks beautiful alongside the yellow of the  Vanilla Bloom diffuser. The smells complement each other gorgeously – they're rich, warm, and enigmatic fragrances. Why not pair with some festive dried flowers too?'

'Food smells are also hugely evocative for me during the festive season. Personally, I think you can't really beat a bubbling pot of mulled wine in the kitchen! It truly fills the home with natural fragrance, especially if you add some cinnamon or cloves.'

'The focus of gourmand can be continuous throughout the home, especially during a festive period, so a woody, spicy scent in the living room to embrace that wintery feel using the Santal diffuser paired with Midnight Tulip scented reeds moving into the dining room can create that festive scent scape from room to room that lasts the full festive period.'

The White Company

'Room fragrance sprays are perfect as an instant refresh – a quick spritz is all you need. I use Fir Tree in the sitting room where we have our tree as it delivers a beautiful 'true' tree scent which is so Christmassy,' says Mark Winstanley, chief creative officer of The White Company.

'Fireside is warming a relaxing and the nearest you can get to having lit a real fire and our best-selling Winter will always inspire with its notes of spicy cinnamon, clove and orange – it really does mark that Christmas is coming – use in the hallway as it is so festive and welcoming.'

'Diffusers are an easy way to scent space – set up and forget ! Scent infused liquid with a number of richly aromatic essential oils that deliver fragrance through rattan reeds. Switch up the number of reeds to boost scent or create a subtler fragrance.'

'We are lucky to live in the country and have a lovely garden so gathering greenery and branches to fill the house at Christmas is my job! These and cuts from our tree provide something quite nostalgic - a scent that captures the magic of winter.'

'And don’t overlook an electronic diffuser, I can’t recommend one enough. Just add water and one of our fantastic scented oils for up to 16 hours of scent delivery.'

Charles Farris

'Though scented candles are our bread and butter, I love the simplicity of reed diffusers,' says Timothy Duggan-Rees, retail director of candle company Charles Farris. 'Their distinctive designs are subtle and prominent simultaneously, so they blend in perfectly amongst other festive decor. I currently have a winter spice-scented diffuser by the front door, so I’m greeted with a festive aroma whenever I walk in - it’s perfect for getting me back in that cosy Christmas spirit.'

'Christmas is also a great time for experimenting with more homemade scents. The warm, spicy scent of Christmas is rooted in entirely natural ingredients that you can place around your house. Instead of sourcing from a bottle of essential oils fill a small bowl with cinnamon sticks, pinecones, and dried orange peels in the living room or hallway. This will add warm, earthy colours to your home and a similarly natural scent reminiscent of the season.'

'My last suggestion - whilst not explicitly Christmas themed - still brings the fragrant power of nature to your home. If you have lavender growing in your garden, pick out a bunch, tie them together with some string, and leave them to dry in a dark, warm room for about a week.  Alternatively, set the stalks in the oven for 10 minutes at around 100 degrees Celsius until dry. Once dried, place them in a tall container like a glass vase, and put it anywhere in your house you want to relax, like the bedroom or bathroom. The fragrant power of nature to relax, alleviate worry, and invoke memories of years past will never fail to amaze me!'

Eym

I'd always much rather opt for natural ingredients over artificial, and my number one favourite is dried eucalyptus, it looks so good and gives off an incredible fragrance,' says Poppy Wall, co-founder, Eym 

'Going into your garden or the woods and foraging holly, pinecones, and foliage also creates an incredible seasonal smell, also it looks lovely and good it's so good for the soul to get out in nature.'

'My favourite Christmas essential oils are Vetiver and Frankincense, they are deep and woody, so they complement a fire beautifully.'

FAQs

So there we have it - how the fragrance pros themselves make their homes smell beautiful at Christmas. A mixture of room sprays, diffusers and taking advantage of natural scents. Smells like the festive season to me!

Stacey Solomon is known for her ability to transform her home with the seasons, so it's no surprise that we're heading straight to buy her new home fragrance collection with Air Wick. 

Taking inspiration from her very own Pickle Cottage, the collection is aptly named 'Cosy Cottage', promising you the same warm and inviting atmosphere as Stacey's home. While the hot weather is lasting for longer than anticipated, the slight chill in the morning air has left us yearning for those cosy autumn evenings - and the scents to match. 

Stacey's collection with George Home has provided plenty of inspiration for dressing your home for the seasons without breaking the bank, but while the decor is essential for creating a specific ambience, home fragrance is the biggest unsung hero.

The scent in question, Cosy Cottage, is made up of a blend of Frosted Snowberry and Winter Rose and is available in a range of popular Air Wick formats, so whether you're looking for the perfect living room fragrance or you're even on the hunt for ways to subtly alter your home ready for winter, we think you'll love this affordable option. 

Top buy

The scent promises to envelop your living spaces with a sweet and floral scent, which is perfect for both living rooms and kitchens. Plus, it comes in a variety of different formats so you can choose different options to suit specific areas of the home. 

The Freshmatic Autospray Kit is our top buy as it takes the effort out of fragrancing your home. You simply place the device in a corner of any room and it periodically sprays, so your home is automatically scented 24/7. It lasts for approximately 70 days too, so a refill should last you a while. 

'I love the Air Wick Auto Sprays for keeping my home smelling fresh with absolutely no effort required from me. It's great how long-lasting the scents are and they're not too overpowering for everyday use,' says our Ecommerce Editor, Molly Cleary. 

'I just love everything about autumn,' says Stacey. 'It’s my favourite season to go into and really marks a new beginning for me, so I always like to add little touches to each room, making them feel warm and homey for the whole family. Whether it's popping one of my Freshmatic Autospray Kits in the living room or my brand-new Slow Release Air Freshener in the hallway, it’s the little things that make all the difference to me.'

'With Christmas and other holidays on the horizon, I think the Mist Diffuser is a lovely, affordable gift for friends and family that will bring even more cosiness into their home!'

The plug-in scented oil warmer kit is a no-brainer for achieving a cosy autumnal ambience too. Alongside the scented candle in the collection, you can create a snug feeling when cosied up on the sofa.  

The reed diffuserand aerosolwill also all be helpful for masking unpleasant odours and turning your bathroom into a mini-spa - there truly is an option for every room in your home.

The Air Wick x Stacey Cosy Cottage collection is limited edition - so move fast! It's available in Asda, B&M, Tesco, Sainsburys, Morrisons, Poundland, Home Bargains and Amazon, so it's easy to pick up on your food shop or from the comfort of your sofa.

Whether you have a dedicated home office space or have designated a space or area in your bedroom, living room or dining room table for you to work or enjoy a hobby, creating a space where you can not only concentrate but do some in a calm manner, is key. While you can perfect your home office ideas, it is important not to forget about the role scenting your home office can play too.

'The choice of home fragrances for a home office can play a significant role in promoting productivity, reducing stress, and creating a conducive work environment,’ says Alex Hall, founder at Born of Botanics. 

‘In home offices, it's important to strike a balance between invigoration and tranquillity,’ suggests Aluxury’s founder, Andrew Gaugler. However, only you will know exactly what kind of working environment you’re looking to achieve in your work-from-home space.

‘While there is ongoing research on the effects of scents on productivity and stress reduction, the field is still evolving, and scientific evidence may vary. Certain smells have been traditionally associated with specific mood and cognitive performance effects,’ Alex adds.

The best home office scents

If you're looking to scent your at-home working space, some of the leading fragrance experts have shared their top recommendations for what scents to choose with us.

Whether you use essential oils in a diffuser like The White Company's motion sensor plug-in diffuser, or a traditional candle, these are the scents to opt for.

1. Rosemary

‘Whenever you need a boost of brain power, awakening scents like mint, rosemary and eucalyptus are stimulating, making them great for concentration,’ affirms The White Company’s founder, Chrissie Rucker OBE.

‘Rosemary has been linked to improved cognitive performance and memory retention,’ remarks Alex. ‘The scent of rosemary may help increase alertness and concentration, making it a suitable fragrance for a home office where focus and productivity are essential.’

2. Peppermint

‘Peppermint is known for its invigorating and refreshing qualities. It may help boost energy levels, improve concentration, and alleviate mental fatigue, making it beneficial for a home office setting,’ Alex continues.

3. Woody notes

‘If it’s a sense of calm you’re after, select fragrances with woody and resin notes; there’s a reason why sandalwood, cedar and frankincense have long been used for meditative practices,’ reveals Tajinder Banwait, founder of Urban Apothecary London.

‘The woody note of sandalwood is reputed for encouraging mental clarity, making it an ideal component for office ambience. Additions of earthy cedarwood and patchouli offer a calming undertone, helping to alleviate work-related stresses,’ Andrew concurs.

Experiment with scent combinations

‘It's important to note that individual responses to scents can vary, and what works well for one person may not have the same effect on another,’ warns Alex. And this is especially true for fragrances that we’re hoping will give us an energy or concentration boost.

‘Furthermore, research on the impact of odours on productivity and stress reduction is still emerging, and more scientific studies are needed to establish concrete conclusions,’ Alex continues.

So, experimenting with a few different fragrances before you decide on a definitive one can help you work out which one works best for you during office hours. Essentially, you want to make your work environment and space one which is pleasant and inviting, with it being an added bonus if it impacts or improves your mood and overall performance.

‘Scents used in a home office should not be too strong that it becomes distracting either,' says Chrissie from The White Company. ‘Using a scent like Wild Mint in a diffuser or candle is a subtle way to softly scent a home office.’

FAQs

Aldi's limited-edition collaboration with organising and styling duo, the Style Sisters, has hit stores nationwide today – and smitten doesn't even begin to express how we feel about this new range of home fragrances.

If there's anything we love here at Ideal Home, it's a) Aldi, and b) organising and decluttering. So, bring the fan-favourite budget store and the celebrity duo together and the outcome? Some seriously chic home fragrances we can't wait to add to our basket.

We think they're sure to make a living room look expensive for less than £5 each.

Aldi and The Style Sisters home fragrance collaboration

In a supermarket first, Aldi has partnered with the organising and styling duo, the Style Sisters, to create an exclusive home fragrance range that has just launched in stores today.

The exclusive range is available in two scents, 'Energize Your Space' and 'Post Detox Zen', in both a candle and diffuser form. The fragrances cost just £4.99 each, making for the ideal budget decorating idea or the perfect addition to scent your hallway.

'We are so excited to be launching this range with Aldi! We wanted to create a range that will bring elegance and effortless style into every home, creating a harmonious blend of luxurious scents, at a great affordable price without dampening on quality,' says Gemma and Charlotte of the Style Sisters.

'It was important to us that each scent created a specific experience. Energize Your Space features zesty hits of grapefruit that help to invigorate and energise the mind – perfect for lighting when you’ve got a long to-do list!'

'On the other hand, Post Detox Zen is a scent to relax, so we've added calming, cosy scents such as leather and amber, which are known to aid sleep.'

If there's something we can hold Aldi to, it's their ability to deliver affordable fragrances that make achieving a signature scent in your home not feel like such an unattainable feat. We saw this with their Jo Malone and Tom Ford-inspired scents that were easy on the purse and equally a lovely way to fragrance a living room.

That being said, we're feeling optimistic that this exclusive range will also be up to par – and for £4.99, intrigued is an understatement. Not to mention, they just simply look gorgeous and would make for a beautiful home decor piece.

The Style Sisters' candles and diffusers are available in stores starting today, while stocks last.  As with every Aldi Specialbuy, once they're gone, they're gone. So, act quickly to avoid disappointment.

EDITOR’S NOTE: An earlier version of this article included a quote from a purported expert whose credentials we have not been able to verify. The quote has been removed. We regret this lapse in our verification process and have updated our internal protocols to reduce the risk of recurrence.

When it comes to our homes, one of the very first impressions that guests get is as soon as they walk in through your front door. Whether you’ve got quite a small hallway, all the way through to a much grander entrance or foyer, the fragrance that you choose will be the first and last thing that people remember when they visit you.

On the other hand, if your front door opens directly into your living room, don’t forget about the hallways that connect some of the other rooms in your home. We can often forget that these internal hallways will be passed through time and time again. And not utilising a fragrance here can be a missed opportunity.

Not only that, a hallway can be a great place to try out a signature scent. But if you have no idea where to begin, there are some universally beloved fragrances that are a great place to start from.

Ideally, you’ll want to strike a balance between a welcoming fragrance that invites people in, with one which still creates some impact as you first walk in through the front door. 

The best fragrances to scent your hallway

‘A hallway fragrance sets the tone for your home, it's the welcoming note that greets every visitor,’ says Andrew Gaugler, founder of fragrance brand Aluxury.

For interior hallways a light, universally enjoyable fragrance can be the best way to go. But which scents did the fragrance experts all resoundingly agree on? Keep reading to find out. 

1. Clean cotton

If you’re looking for an inoffensive scent that practically everyone will enjoy, embrace the freshness that comes from clean cotton and crisp linen.

It is an ideal, universally appealing scent that would appeal to the majority of the people that come in and out of your home.

2. Light florals

'Floral notes like rose or jasmine can suggest a setting of elegance and tranquillity,’ adds Andreaw from Aluxury. Which makes them great for hallways

‘You can’t go wrong with a soft floral to create a welcoming aroma that sets a comforting first impression when guests enter your home,’ outlines Laura Slatkin, founder of fragrance brand NEST New York.

3. More nature based scents

If floral fragrances aren’t your thing, there are a few other nature based scents that work just as well in small spaces like hallways.

‘Fragrances with a hint of greenery, such as bamboo, green tea, or freshly cut grass, can add a touch of nature to the hallway,’ says Alex Hall, founder of Born of Botanics. 'Meanwhile ocean-inspired fragrance can bring a sense of tranquillity and freshness.’

If your front door leads into your garden, this continuation of natural scents will create a pleasant journey for you and your guests.

EDITOR’S NOTE: An earlier version of this article included a quote from a purported expert whose credentials we have not been able to verify. The quote has been removed. We regret this lapse in our verification process and have updated our internal protocols to reduce the risk of recurrence.

Our kitchen can experience quite a few different smells throughout the day. From lingering cooking and grilling scents, to our bins and dirty dishes having a bad odour in the warmer weather, this can be exacerbated in small kitchens.

Often there isn’t a great amount of airflow in kitchens anyway, which is why scents – whether they are pleasant or unpleasant – tend to stick around longer than other areas in our homes. And if you have a smaller kitchen, the fragrances can almost get trapped in this confined space.

We’re all for opening our windows and turning on an extractor or cooker hood as we cook and prepare food. However, that doesn’t always help to get rid of these scents completely. Or leave us with the most fragrant room.

But how do you go about counteracting and masking those smells? Well, have you considered implementing and embracing some home fragrances in your kitchen? 

Just as how to fragrance your living room, we've spoken to fragrance experts to suss out which scents work best in a kitchen – and how you can implement them in your own kitchen. And we’ve got a feeling at least one, if not several of them, will be ones that will instantly transform the way that your kitchen smells.

The best home fragrances and scents for small kitchens

‘The best home fragrances/scents for small kitchens are pleasant, not overwhelming, and complement the cooking odours rather than overpowering them,’ outlines Alex Hall, founder at Born of Botanics. 

And these are the fragrances that came up time and time again from the top fragrance experts.

1. Citrus scents

Citrus is great for neutralising smells, making a space feel much cleaner and fresher. Opt for lemon, orange, lime or even grapefruit based fragrances to add a clean, zesty and fresh scent to your kitchen. These will also work well for making your bathroom smell good all the time.

‘A small kitchen can be opened up with the light and bright mood of an uplifting candle with citrus ingredients,’ concurs Michelle Feeney, Founder of Floral Street. The ‘Floral Street grapefruit bloom is perfect as it brings a burst of upbeat optimism by way of pink grapefruit, bergamot, pomegranate, and passion fruit. This will uplift that space and feels like freshly squeezed juice in the mornings.’

While NEOM’s founder, Nicola Elliott, has a specific recommendation. ‘I love Feel Refreshed in the kitchen,’ she affirms. ‘It’s an energy boosting essential oil with Sicilian lemon and fresh basil so works well when you’re whipping around cooking!’

2. Herbaceous scents

‘We often recommend the herbaceous notes of rosemary, thyme, or basil, sometimes accented with zesty lime or refreshing peppermint,' advises Aluxury’s founder, Andrew Gaugler. 

'These natural essences harmonise to neutralise cooking odours, while also promoting a sense of freshness as if you've stepped into a herb garden. Your kitchen, no matter its size, should be an aromatic haven enhancing the joy of cooking and dining.'

And this type of scent can also be carried into the dining room too, as Jo Malone London’s Fragrance and Lifestyle Expert, Emma South, recommends. ‘For dining situations we always recommend citrus based candles and diffusers.'

Just switch to unscented candles when you're actually dining, otherwise your flavour palette can be affected. 

3. Bakery scents

If, like us, the thought of your home smelling like your favourite baked goods or freshly brewed coffee from your favourite coffee machine all day long sounds like a dream, then it’s time to embrace some bakery scents in your kitchen.

For example, did you know that you can get candles that smell exactly like croissants, pain au chocolats and even cinnamon rolls? 

‘Home fragrances that mimic the smell of freshly baked cookies, pastries, or bread can give your kitchen a comforting and inviting vibe,’ suggests Alex from Born of Botanics.

Candles with coffee notes in the scent are also great for this room as they can help mask cooking smells.

EDITOR’S NOTE: An earlier version of this article included a quote from a purported expert whose credentials we have not been able to verify. The quote has been removed. We regret this lapse in our verification process and have updated our internal protocols to reduce the risk of recurrence.

For most of us, our living room is the spot in our homes that we retreat to after a long day. Because of this, we want it to be the space in our homes that feels comfortable and relaxing.

A lot of time will be spent in there across a whole range of occasions, so it's important that you find the right scent - one that's welcoming and doesn't dominate the space.

But which fragrances work best in a living room? Whether you have a cosy snug or a larger living space, these are the scents that the experts always recommend.

The best home fragrances and scents for living rooms

‘The best home fragrances and scents for living rooms create a warm, inviting, and cosy atmosphere,' explains Alex Hall, founder of candle brand Born of Botanics. 'The living room is often a central gathering space for family and guests, so choosing suitable fragrances can enhance the overall ambience.'

‘For the living area, scents that inspire, nurture and transport work well,' adds Tajinder Banwait, founder of home fragrance company Urban Apothecary London. 'These will act just like soft background music to calm the senses in what might be the busiest area of the house.'

Add warmth with the likes of vanilla and amber

‘To create that welcoming and warm atmosphere as you enter your home, a comforting fragrance with notes of pomegranate, vanilla and amber is perfect,’ says Chrissie Rucker OBE, founder of The White Company.

Michelle Feeney, founder of fragrance brand Floral Street, recommends ‘placing a vanilla scented diffuser in your living room as its familiar, warming scent creates a comforting ambiance for leisure times or family gatherings.’

When autumn arrives you'll probably want a warmer fragrance like amber. Going through to winter look to cardamom and cinnamon too, for that extra cosy feeling.

‘If you prefer a cosy, more intimate 'mood' then choose a candle or diffuser with rich, spicy ingredients and dark florals,’ suggests Floral Street's Michelle.

Create a relaxing atmosphere with lavender

Now, you may typically correlate lavender with bedrooms and relaxing before drifting off to sleep. But lavender is also a great fragrance to use in a living room to promote those relaxing and calm moments.

In addition to traditional candles and diffusers, Tajinder from Urban Apothecary notes that ‘lavender cushions that release a burst of scent as you lean into them, or one of the quickest ways to introduce fragrance into your space is with a room spray.’

Follow the seasons with your fragrance choices

‘Consider using candles with scents that match the current season,’ recommends Alex from Born of Botanics. ‘For example, in winter, opt for spiced scents like cinnamon or clove; in summer, go for light, floral aromas.’

This allows you to switch things up, while embracing the changing of the seasons. This is especially exciting in the lead up to special occasions and holidays, such as Halloween and Christmas.

There’s nothing we love more than having our home smell like all things pumpkin spice as soon as the leaves start to turn and fall in autumn. The same can be said for adding festive favourites, such as cinnamon, balsam and peppermint, to get us ready for the Christmas period.

During the spring and summer months, fresh, fruity or citrus scents all work well and complement the hopefully somewhat sunnier and warmer weather. Think coconut and peonies, zesty lemons and beautiful bouquets.

A home should both look and feel good. And in order to make your home feel great, it’s important to take all senses into consideration. The sense of smell is one of the most powerful and it’s also the sense that’s engaged immediately upon entering a space – so in order to make a good first impression, I recommend looking to the best reed diffusers to make sure your home smells lovely.

Whether you’re looking to give your home a signature scent or just a seasonal one, a reed diffuser is one of the best home fragrance options as you don’t have to do anything with it for it to fill your space with lovely fragrance, other than turn the reeds over every couple of weeks. Other than that, reed diffusers just sit there, smelling and looking pretty.

This is reed diffusers’ biggest benefit over even the best scented candles – they’re low maintenance, while candles need to be lit in order to fill a room with fragrance. However, more often than not, scented candles will have a stronger fragrance compared to reed diffusers.

Years before becoming Ideal Home’s Room Decor Editor, I used to work in the Harrods and Fortnum & Mason home fragrance departments, selling both reed diffusers and scented candles which allowed me to learn a lot about both, taking all the knowledge and experience into my current role and applying it to this guide to the best reed diffusers across different price points – don’t worry, not all of my top picks are high end, selling in the Harrods home fragrance section. There’s something for all budgets here.

Quick list

How we test

Either I myself or someone on the Ideal Home team have tested every reed diffuser you can find in this guide for up to two weeks, trying them out at home in order to get a picture of their value for money, longevity and all-important scent. We're also always in the process of testing the newest releases and fan favourites so that we can keep this guide up to date.

We're always conscious of the eco-friendly element too, as we know how important sustainability is to shoppers, as well as value for money.

Read our page for more information on how we test products at Ideal Home, and keep scrolling to find out more about our expert testers.

Best brands for reed diffusers

• Rituals: for crowd-pleasing yet original scents
• Marks & Spencer: for budget-friendly fragrance that smells expensive
• Dr. Vranjes: for luxury diffusers with unique, long-lasting fragrance
• Jo Malone: for instantly recognisable diffusers everyone loves
• Arran Sense of Scotland: for soothing, evocative fragrance
• Neom Wellbeing: for mood-based spa-like experience
• Aery: for aesthetically pleasing, sustainable diffusers
• Jo Loves: for luxury diffusers with beautiful design and lovely scents
• The White Company: for a wide range of long-lasting scents for all seasons
• Molton Brown: for fairly priced but refined, long-lasting home fragrance
• L’Occitane: for scents inspired by the charming south of France
• Diptyque: for the ultimate luxurious diffusers with strong scents

Why choose a reed diffuser over a candle?

I wouldn't say this is necessarily a case of choosing one over the other as scented candles and reed diffusers work well in tandem. But reed diffusers are the consistent source of scent for your home that do the everyday heavy lifting.

But you can then bring in scented candles and light one for special occasions or when you yourself feel in the mood for a more intense hit of home fragrance – as scented candles tend to provide that.

FAQs

What should I look for in a reed diffuser?

Home fragrance can be a tricky thing to get right, especially if you're looking for a way to rejuvenate lots of different rooms. Rachel Bough, head of buying at The Fragrance Shop, is an expert on how to scent your home and thinks that the right materials go a long way when it comes to diffusers.

'Choose reed diffusers where the reed is made from rattan, other materials can absorb the fragrance oil rather than dispersing it across the room,' says Rachel, and make sure to 'choose reed diffusers that come in bottles with narrow necks, the fragrance oil can evaporate through the top of those with wide bottle openings rather than through the reeds.'

And Sarah-Louise Henry, marketing manager at Osmology by Aery, agrees and adds, 'When choosing a reed diffuser, focus on quality. Opt for natural essential oils and non-toxic oils fragrance oils. Natural rattan reeds ensure even scent diffusion without clogging. Look for sustainable, reusable designs and well-balanced fragrances that match your space. A stylish diffuser doubles as a decorative element while enhancing your home with long-lasting, clean fragrance.'

Using diffusers with different notes across your home is one of our top tips to make your home smell excellent and can also make a huge difference to your mood. Small but impactful tips include opting for fresh smells in your bathroom, and avoiding anything too severe in your bedroom so as not to disturb your sleep.

What are the pros and cons of buying a reed diffuser?

Reed diffusers are popular for a reason, as they can add so much to a room without needing much input from you. Rachel Bough at The Fragrance Shop thinks the same, adding, 'A reed diffuser is very low-maintenance – all you need is that bottle and the reeds to create the fragrant scent you want transported around the room'.

She adds that 'They continuously work and simply diffuse the oil that’s in their container until it runs out. Typically, it takes a few months for the fragrance in the bottle to run out completely, meaning they can also be long-lasting. Buying one for yourself means that you can personalise your home scent to what you like and need in each room.'

As far as drawbacks go, Rachel adds that 'as a reed diffuser is a constant scent, you can't switch it off compared to an electric diffuser. If you're out of town or out for the day, that scent may go unappreciated and if it's a bold fragrance it can be quite overpowering after a long time of the house being unused. However, when you do get back, it's lovely being welcomed by a gorgeous home scent.'

On the flip side, some reed diffusers might be too weak to scent a whole room which could be seen as another downside. However, we've tried to include only the most effective diffusers in this guide so hopefully this shouldn't be an issue with any of these. 'Some diffusers may struggle in larger spaces, but our blends are designed to overcome this. Cheap oils can evaporate quickly, but our premium formulas ensure durability and value, making reed diffusers an excellent, low-maintenance choice,' says Jemma Dunphy, marketing executive at Osmology by Aery.

Where should you not put a reed diffuser?

For reasons of safety and in order to preserve your scent, there are a few places on the no-go list when it comes to finding a home for your new diffuser. Rachel Bough at The Fragrance Shop advises against putting your diffuser 'near radiators or other sources of heat. Heat can cause the oil in the diffuser to evaporate quicker, meaning that you’ll end up replacing the oil, or buying a new reed diffuser faster than necessary.'

To ensure that you're getting the most from your diffuser, Jemma Dunphy at Osmology by Aery also recommends avoiding 'drafty areas. Excess draft can cause the oils to evaporate too quickly, reducing the diffuser's lifespan. Additionally, placing them near open windows might make the scent less concentrated in your space.'

Sunny spots can also spell trouble for the life span of your diffuser, as 'this will cause the oil in the diffuser to evaporate', according to Rachel. 'It might look nice sitting on your windowsill, basking in the sunlight, but you’ll only end up having to replace your reed diffuser faster.'

So, where's the best spot for a diffuser? 'Near fans or air conditioners, as this will help to spread the fragrance throughout the room. Place them also in high traffic areas such as hallways as this helps to circulate the scent without the aid of a fan. It’s also a welcome treat whenever anyone enters a room,' Rachel says.

When designing and decorating your home, it’s important to think about engaging all senses. A space should not only look good, it should also feel great – and the first sense that gets instantly engaged as soon as you walk into a room is the sense of smell. And this is where the best scented candles come in.

The thing about scent is that it’s incredibly subjective – so one candle that I absolutely love might not necessarily be your cup of tea. So rather than putting together a list of the best specific candles according to me, I’ve rounded up the best scented candle brands that offer the best ranges of the best home fragrances of the highest quality to choose from, the best design of candle jars with the longest lasting fragrance that best fills a room. And this guide includes everything from affordable buys to luxury picks – so there’s something for everybody, no matter your budget.

As the Room Decor Editor at Ideal Home, I’m not only incredibly fussy about the scented candles and other home fragrance I have in my home and give my approval to. But I also have previous experience working in the home fragrance departments at Harrods and Fortnum & Mason selling some of the best candles and best reed diffusers available on the market, and this has made me very attuned to what makes a great scented candle and what to look for when shopping for one.

1. Cire Trudon

Why I recommend the brand: Being the oldest candlemaker in the world still active today, Cire Trudon must be doing something right. Based in France, the brand’s so prestigious that it once supplied the French Royal Court and Versailles, namely king Louis XIV. and Napoleon, with its candles – not many other brands can say that. But aside from its very impressive history, I love Cire Trudon’s deep, rich fragrances which tend to be on the more intense side – if you prefer very light and fresh scents, this might not be the brand for you. And the design of the jar in dark green or blue glass always finished with the signature Trudon emblem also looks very aesthetically pleasing.

Which candles I like the most: It would be easier to list the candles that I’m not that big a fan of than all the Cire Trudon candles I like and would recommend. I think the best ones can be found in Trudon’s core ‘Icons’ range (instantly recognisable by the green-hue glass jars) – Ernesto, available at Selfridges, is the brand’s bestseller and it’s easy to understand why given its sophisticated leather and tobacco scent. But I also really love Abd El Kader, inspired by Moroccan mint tea and blending the freshness of mint with spicy clove and ginger and sweet vanilla and jasmine.

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2. Diptyque

Why I recommend the brand: Diptyque is one of those few candle brands that you’ll find in pretty much every stylish home. The whole Ideal Home team is obsessed with Diptyque, myself included, and our super cool Editor in Chief, Heather Young is a self-proclaimed ‘Diptyque girl’. The brand has some of the most recognisable candle scents, as well as candle jar design which has recently got a little updated redesign at the same time as Diptyque launched five new candles (all of which the team and I have tested) – and from this September, most of the core-range candles will become refillable. All of this has made me like the brand even more than I already had before.

Which candles I like the most: There are a handful of Diptyque candle icons that you truly can’t go wrong with – my favourite of the bunch is Figuier (fig tree), but Baies (berries) and Ambre are both also lovely. But I’ve found a new favourite in the just-released Shiso candle which I got to test ahead of its launch and boasts a fresh and green scent with a bit of sweetness to it.

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3. Earl of East

Why I recommend the brand: Based in London, Earl of East is known as the cool candle brand, also widely appreciated for its sustainable ethos. The brand’s scented candles are made with soy wax (rather than the traditional paraffin) which is considered more sustainable, better for health as it’s non-toxic and produces less soot. Purchases made through Earl of East’s website also contribute to forest tree planting and the materials chosen for the candle packaging, from the cardboard to the amber-glass jars, are chosen for their eco-friendly nature.

Which candles I like the most: Earl of East is most known for its core range of candles housed in amber-glass jars, the most popular of which is the soothing Shinrin-Yoku candle, available at Selfridges, blending cedarwood with black pepper. But I’m more into the brand’s unconventional candles such as the Cafe range, all of which come in a ceramic mug which can be reused for drinking hot drinks like tea and coffee. The Primavera collection featuring the very unusual Pasta candle (which smells like freshly boiled pasta) is another go-to.

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4. Homework

Why I recommend the brand: Homework is another London-based brand which I fell in love with for its look before I ever smelt them. Inspired by traditional Chinese medicine, each candle is housed in a delicate green-tinted glass jar with a matching lid and minimal branding. Each candle is named after one of the five elements, from water to fire, and made with wax derived from rapeseed and coconut. And once I smelt the candles, I started liking them as much for their scent as for their stylish look.

Which candles I like the most: I currently have the Homework Wood candle (available at Yards Store) at home which I burn regularly and thoroughly enjoy. Designed to encourage creativity and restoration, it blends woody notes of cedar, pine and cypress with vetiver, moss and clary sage. On the first burn, it took a little while to really get the fragrance going and fill my space with it. But now, whenever I light it, my home becomes enveloped by the candle’s earthy scent almost instantly.

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5. Jo Malone London

Why I recommend the brand: Jo Malone is a high-end brand that has the nation in a chokehold with its beautiful scented candles. Known for its uncomplicated, ingredient-focused scents such as Lime Basil & Mandarin or English Pear & Freesia, Jo Malone’s candles are instantly recognisable despite their minimalist design of a clear glass jar filled with creamy white wax topped with a branded label and a silver-toned lid. The candles are made with paraffin wax but many high-end brands are sticking with paraffin as it’s known for creating a stronger fragrance, while being more cost-effective given it’s a petroleum byproduct.

Which candles I like the most: While I enjoy Jo Malone London’s bestselling Pomegranate Noir, blending the namesake fruit with patchouli, pink pepper and lily, I prefer both the scent and the look of the brand’s more luxurious Townhouse candle range, packaged in white ceramic vessels with a matching lid. My favourite is the refreshing and slightly sweet Green Tomato Vine candle, especially for summer as tomato scented candles are the best for the warmer months.

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6. Loewe

Why I recommend the brand: There’s a reason why most stylish people with stylish homes on IG have at least one (if not more) Loewe candle in their space. The unique shape of the candle jar which comes in several different bold colours, corresponding with its scent, just looks chic. Since their launch, Loewe candles have also become something of a status symbol, much like Diptyque candles are. But aside from all of that, the range features vegetable wax (rather than the traditional paraffin) and offers some unusual but beautiful fragrances, from Marihuana to Oregano and the very popular Tomato Leaves, all available at John Lewis with prices starting at £92. Yes, that status and style is going to cost you a bit.

Which candles I like the most: I’m a big fan of anything with tomato vine or leaves scent, especially during spring and summer – I think it perfectly encapsulates the warmer seasons. But when smelling the entire range, I was also intrigued by the earthy Beetroot candle, the clean and green scent of Cucumber and the soft and slightly sweet floral fragrance of Honeysuckle.

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7. Malin + Goetz

Why I recommend the brand: If you’re looking for a more affordable alternative to some of the Loewe candles, Malin + Goetz would be my top recommendation. The brand’s candles retail for £59 each and the range feature both a Tomato scented candle and a Cannabis candle, both available at John Lewis. The vegan and cruelty-free formulas are made with a natural wax blend and come in a clear glass jar with prominent branding, including the entire story behind each of the scents.

Which candles I like the most: Apart from the aforementioned Tomato candle, I also really like the Leather candle which I love to burn during autumn and winter since it’s such a cosy yet sophisticated scent, blending leather with amber and woody notes.

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8. Marks & Spencer

Why I recommend the brand: If you’re after really budget-friendly scented candles, M&S should be your first stop. The retailer’s home fragrance offering is vast, but the range that I’d recommend the most is the M&S Apothecary collection which recently also got a little update making the fragrances up to twice as strong as before. The scents are both spa worthy and wellbeing focused. And they’re some of the best refillable candles out there, certainly the most affordable.

Which candles I like the most: The Warmth scented candle would be my top pick as it’s a well-known budget alternative for Le Labo’s famous Santal 33 fragrance (which also comes as a scented candle, available at John Lewis).

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9. Neom Wellbeing

Why I recommend the brand: Speaking of spa-worthy scents, Neom Wellbeing knows a thing or two about that – so much so that the brand put ‘wellbeing’ in its name. The all-natural candles (using both naturally derived wax and essential oils) focus on creating an environment in which you’ll feel less stressed, more energised, where you’ll sleep better and your energy and mood are boosted.

Which candles I like the most: The Real Luxury candle is the brand’s bestseller and it’s also one of my favourites. Based around the rich aroma of jasmine flowers, the scent also features notes of lavender and sandalwood. But since I love the smell of lavender, I also really like the Perfect Night’s Sleep candle which champions the soothing scent of the flower.

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10. Osmology by Aery

Why I recommend the brand: Formerly known as Aery, Osmology has recently gone through a rebrand which included a name change, inspired by ‘the science of scent’ as the brand describes it since osmology is indeed the scientific study of smells. Apart from creating feel-good fragrances rooted in science, Osmology is also a sustainable brand manufactured locally in Bristol, using vegan and cruelty-free ingredients like plant-based naturally derived wax and fragrance oils.

Which candles I like the most: The Hinoki candle, available at Anthropologie, is a more recent discovery for me but one that’s become one of my favourites from the brand. Blending fresh forest-inspired notes with grounding earthy ingredients, Hinoki pairs cloves and geranium with cedarwood, patchouli and hinoki, which is a Japanese cypress. But I’m also a fan of the brand’s Fig Leaf and Tomato Leaf candles, both available at John Lewis.

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11. Pott

Why I recommend the brand: Pott is a candle brand built around sustainability. Each of the candles comes in a beautiful hand-thrown ceramic pot (hence the name) created by local artisans which can either be reused as a coffee cup or you can purchase one of the brand’s candle refills and continue using it as a candle. Each candle is hand-poured, using natural wax and essential oils, as well as sustainable fragrance oils. And the brand’s fragrance offering changes with the seasons.

Which candles I like the most: I recently visited the Selfridges home fragrance department where I smelt the current Pott candle range. And the two scents that really stood out were the Tonka candle and the Orangery, the latter of which was a surprise to me since I’m not usually a fan of orange blossom scents. But the Orangery candle blends the orange blossom with rosemary, basil and cedar which makes it less floral and more herbal.

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12. The White Company

Why I recommend the brand: The White Company is one of the most popular home fragrance brands in this country. The brand’s scented candles are especially loved as they feel like something of an attainable luxury, starting at just £25. The brand’s candle offering responds to the seasons – so if you want your home to smell like spring, summer, autumn or winter, The White Company is your best bet. But aside from these season-celebrating scents, the brand also has a range of new Spa candles which focus on wellbeing, similarly to those from Neom Wellbeing or the M&S Apothecary range.

Which candles I like the most: The Seychelles candle has long been The White Company’s bestseller and with its soft and smooth scent of bergamot, orange, coconut, amber and vanilla, it’s easy to see why. But apart from this classic, I also really like the Portofino candle which is one of the brand’s newer additions blending orange leaf, jasmine, leather and oakwood.

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How I test

There were a few different ways and factors that have helped me to determine what brands to include when putting together this shortlist of the best scented candles. Firstly, I’m very fortunate that I get to test a lot of candles from various brands by simply burning them in my own home.

But there are only so many candles that I can burn. So I’ve also sniff-tested a lot of candles in department stores, including Harrods and Fortnum & Mason where I once worked, and brands’ physical stores over the years.

On top of that, I’ve researched the brands, what type of wax they use, their brand ethos and customer reviews and feedback. And I’ve also looked to the rest of the Ideal Home team for insight and have taken their experience with various brands and candles into consideration.

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