Boutique hotels don’t just feel luxurious because of the dizzyingly high thread count of their sheets or the depth of their freestanding baths; hoteliers also meticulously curate the fragrance notes that waft throughout their properties, creating an indulgent experience from lobby to spa.
‘Every hotel has a signature fragrance,’ says scent specialist Lady Clémence. ‘They tend to go for lighter, natural smells specifically designed for large buildings. The fragrance may change for certain rooms, but it always maintains a common DNA. They also create coordinating toiletries, which help to renew the scent.’
‘The lesson for scenting our own homes is to keep things simple and consistent throughout,’ Clémence continues. ‘Olfactory memories last longer than visual ones, so choose your scent as carefully as your furniture, and consider the associations you’d like to create. Think of it as an invisible accessory.’
‘Many hotels favour florals for their understated sophistication – or default to classics such as sandalwood, airy vanillas, fresh citrus or soothing white tea,’ says Clémence. Location also holds some significance in the selection process. ‘By the sea, for instance, a marine note is appreciated.’ Contemporary properties may go punchier, with layers of leather, wood and spice.
The right fit for your own home will depend on the aesthetic you want to emulate, so read on for more tailored inspiration.
Rural riot
Maison Margiela By The Fireplace diffuser
Maison Margiela By The Fireplace diffuser
For your own country retreat (think rich wooden panelling, joyously clashing prints, roaring fires and beautiful antiques), warm, woody fragrances are a good fit. ‘They’re especially comforting in winter,’ Clémence explains. ‘Look for amber and cashmere if you like to feel truly enveloped by your scent.’ This type of fragrance is most at home in a living room or wherever you go to unwind.
Shop now: Maison Margiela’s woody By The Fireplace will replicate those open-fire crackles with notes of chestnut, clove and cashmere, punctuated with pink pepper essence.
Masculine maximalism
Maison Margiela Jazz Club diffuser
Maison Margiela Jazz Club diffuser
Want your space to feel like a bar where Don Draper would happily enjoy an old fashioned? Reach for blends that are confident, spicy and rich, such as rum, vanilla, tobacco, or pink pepper. ‘Alcohol accords encourage sensuality, setting the scene for elegant after-dinner cocktails,’ says Clémence. ‘Boozy and woody notes can also boost self-confidence.’ Add them to your kitchen or dining area to instantly upgrade your hosting prowess.
Shop now: Maison Margiela’s Jazz Club ticks the spicy-sweet boxes, with a woody base topped off with rum and vanilla bean accord, and smoke from tobacco leaf absolute.
Pared-back poise
Maison Margiela Lazy Sunday Morning diffuser
Maison Margiela Lazy Sunday Morning diffuser
‘Flowers like lily of the valley or mimosa are the best for a fresh, chic ambience – they have a spring-like feel,’ Clémence explains. If you draw inspiration from hotels with minimalist clean lines, crisp, sharply pressed linens and neutral, nature-inspired palettes, these notes will reflect that same sophistication. Clémence suggests bringing them into your bedroom to amplify that fresh-sheet feeling.
Shop now: Get that clean-yet-comforting combination from Maison Margiela’s floral Lazy Sunday Morning, with waves of warm sunlight, fresh sheets and vibrant bouquets.
Spa-inspired serenity
Maison Margiela Matcha Meditation diffuser
Maison Margiela Matcha Meditation diffuser
Spas and wellness resorts often pair florals with citrus and green notes for an immersive, refreshing fragrance. Sometimes you’ll also get a welcome hint of matcha, which Clémence describes as ‘soothing and not overpowering’. While the bathroom is the most obvious spot for such scents, ‘orange flower, neroli or bergamot are also beautiful in summer houses or on verandas,’ she adds.
Shop now: Maison Margiela’s uplifting Matcha Meditation merges bergamot and matcha with benzoin absolute for a calming, cosseting effect.
Classic chic
Maison Margiela Bubble Bath diffuser
Maison Margiela Bubble Bath diffuser
Playing it safe isn’t always a criticism – traditionally designed hotels with crowd-pleasing scents are perennially popular for a reason. ‘A clean, soapy, rosy smell is a great signature scent if you’re sensitive to fragrance and prefer to keep it simple,’ Clémence says. ‘White musk will make your house – or at least your laundry room – smell like fresh-out-of-the-machine clothes, with a cloudy, cotton-like ambiance.’
Shop now: Soap bubbles and coconut milk mingle with rose and white musk in Maison Margiela’s utterly cocooning Bubble Bath scent.
Shop the new Maison Margiela diffusers at lookfantastic.com
