Key Takeaways:
- Scent is tied to emotion and memory and serves as a powerful hosting tool.
- Scentscaping is the intentional use of aromas to shape how your home feels.
- Effective scentscaping is about choosing fragrances that enhance and bring balance to the atmosphere.
It’s the holiday season — that special time of year when we open our doors to friends and family for festive gatherings. While many hosts have mastered the art of cheerful decorations, a jolly playlist, and delicious food and drinks, one major element is often overlooked: scent.
Thoughtfully filling your home with holiday-inspired aromas can instantly elevate your party atmosphere and put guests in a celebratory mood. Through the art of scentscaping, you can create a welcoming environment that feels as festive as it looks.
What Is Scentscaping?
Throughout history, cultures around the globe have used the fragrance of aromatic plant materials like incense, resins, and oils to influence mood, and for good reason. Research shows that smell is closely linked to emotion and memory, and scentscaping helps bring this age-old practice into modern times.
Scentscaping is the use of aromas to shape how your home feels, much like lighting and music can set the mood. Rather than relying on a single fragrance, scentscaping uses various complementary aromas throughout the house.
How To Scentscape for the Holidays
When scentscaping your home for the holidays, the key is to create distinct atmospheres that complement one another.
Each space serves a different purpose and deserves a chance to shine. For example, the kitchen and living room should feature unique aromas that work together harmoniously. As guests move between rooms, they should be delighted by the transition, not disoriented.
There are several ways to infuse your home with these layered fragrances. Some people use essential oil diffusers to disperse natural scents like lavender and pine. While many enjoy the holistic benefits of essential oils, some can be harmful to pets and should always be researched in advance.
Others opt for air fresheners like sprays or plug-ins, which typically use chemicals like ethanol to trap and mask odors with fragrances. While effective, air fresheners may worsen indoor air quality or trigger allergies, headaches, or asthma.
One of the most convenient and controlled ways to scentscape is with candles. When high-quality candles are used responsibly, they’re a safe and effective method for scenting your home. Beyond fragrance, the warm flicker of candlelight adds to the charm of your event decor.
Here’s a fully mapped-out scentscape to inspire your next holiday party.
Entryway
The entryway sets the tone for your holiday gathering, so it’s essential that the scent here makes guests feel welcome. Warm, inviting notes like vanilla, tonka bean, and fir balsam create a comforting first impression.
We suggest using Snif’s Sweet Ash candle to get the job done. This ambery, aromatic fragrance features a scent stack that draws guests in and leaves them wanting more. Notes include juniper, bergamot, vanilla bean, white moss, fir balsam, and tonka bean.
Kitchen
As the heart of the home and the room where food is prepared, guests will naturally expect your kitchen to smell delicious. Go beyond expectations by enveloping them in decadent, gourmand fragrances.
For a fruity twist, try Apple Cider Smash. Featuring notes of sparkling cider, honeycrisp apple, cinnamon sugar, caramel glaze, and sweet donut accord, this candle brings the charm of an apple orchard into your home.
If you’re craving a more winter-forward aroma, opt for Merry Mint Mocha. This sip-inspired candle serves up Christmas in a cup with no mug required. The fragrance blends white chocolate, caramel swirl, crushed peppermint, chocolate shavings, marshmallow, and sea salt.
Or recreate the warmth of freshly baked cookies with our Mornings at Levain candle, made in collaboration with the well-loved New York bakery. Notes of sea salt, chopped walnuts, fluffy musk, cookie accord, and creamy orcanox recreate the scent of entering a cozy bakery on a cold day.
Living Room
While guests are likely to wander, the living room is where they’re most likely to gather. Encourage them to relax and get comfortable with cozy, festive scents like gingerbread, spice, and plum.
For something soothing, check out Instant Karma. This dark, dreamy candle blends cedarwood, cardamom, nashi pear, black tea, black plum, geranium, and vetiver to create a soothing atmosphere.
For a festive option, Lost Claus offers a sweet and spicy burn thanks to a comforting blend of cinnamon, smoked marshmallow, peppered gingerbread, caramelized patchouli, nutmeg, vetiver, and milky musks.
Bedroom
When scentscaping, every room matters, even the bedroom. You never know when unexpected guests might wander through to hang up their coat or use a spare restroom. For your bedroom, we suggest grounding scents that feel calm and intentional.
Heal the Way will get the job done. This candle is designed as a reminder to honor your journey and celebrate small wins. Notes include pistachio cream, davana, palo santo, vanilla absolute, musk, and amber.
We also recommend Gentle Reminder. Soft and floral, this milk-tea-inspired candle blends lavender, purple ube, milk froth, black tea, palo santo, and date sugar for a soothing, grounding effect.
Bathroom
Throughout the party, guests will be in and out of the bathroom, so it is essential that this space smells clean and cared for. Crisp, wintery scents help neutralize unwanted odors while maintaining a festive feel.
For something fresh and woody, opt for Old Saint Wick. The smells of rosemary, Siberian pine, creamy sandalwood, fir balsam, and apple blossom come together for a burn that’s merry and bright.
Smells of the Season
Fragrance has the power to welcome, comfort, and transform a space. With thoughtful scentscaping, you can bring the smells of the season into your home and create a gathering that looks and feels festive.
Sometimes, all it takes to spark a little holiday magic is lighting candles throughout the house. Happy hosting!
FAQs
What is scentscaping?
Scentscaping is the use of fragrance to shape how a space feels using complementary scents in different areas.
What scents are associated with the holidays?
Holiday scents tend to be warm and nostalgic. Popular festive notes include cinnamon, peppermint, apple, vanilla, gingerbread, fir, and pine.
Are cozy scents good for the holidays?
Yes, cozy scents are good for the holidays because they evoke feelings of comfort and togetherness and put you in a positive mood.
Sources:
Effects of odor on emotion, with implications | PMC
Aromatherapy: Do Essential Oils Really Work? | Johns Hopkins Medicine