How to scent your space

I take scent seriously. From my days as a Victoria’s Secret body spray toting teen to my grown-up job as bh’s Perfume Editor; it’s always been one of my favourite ways to show people my personality. But fragrance doesn’t just belong on your body – you can scent your space too. Yep, it’s officially time to put a home scent strategy into place with an indoor cologne collection.

Perfuming your place is an underrated step of the interior design process, and the good news is that it's one of the most fun. Your home no doubt has a definitive vibe – modern, eclectic, bright, neutral – or maybe it’s a mix of a few that requires multiple aromas to reflect the ambiance. I like to think of my scents as fragrant interpretations of each room - they add depth and character to your home and allow you to give each area a distinct and decadent feel. For example, my bedroom is strictly black and white (I’m a colour scheme diehard), and whilst some people like to surround themselves with soothing lavender before bed, my personal fragrance nightcap happens to be Diptyque. I habitually spritz their perfumes in my room, partly because the space feels like the scents smell, and partly because the packaging perfectly fits the refined vibe.

On the other hand, my living room is filled with vibrant colours from teal to fuchsia, and I like it to smell as bright as it looks. My go-to is the Glasshouse’s Beverly Hills Pink Lemonade candle – the smell is energetic and colourful, plus it’s the closest I’ll ever get to living like Lisa Vanderpump. So feel free to get started on your scent decoration – I’ll just be sitting here waiting for the Best Smelling Apartments in Sydney nominations to be announced… any day now, I’m sure.

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For your bathroom: candles

Besides the obvious, scenting your bathroom is also awesome for relaxation. When treating yourself to a bath, the flicker of a flame can do wonders for making your space a zen zone. Try something with a moody, spicy vibe to unwind in winter. Otherwise, even an unlit candle omits sweet fragrance into the air and of course they’re also delightfully decorative.

bh loves: Vanessa Megan Autumn Afternoon Candle

For the air: room sprays

If you’ve outgrown Impulse but a speedy spritz is still your vibe, chic room sprays are for you. They provide a light yet long-lasting scent leaving your home with aromatic atmosphere. There are even sprays concocted with different moods in mind with scents to help conjure feelings of happiness and calm. Sweet-smelling and serene.

bh loves: Buckley & Phillips Happiness Room Spray

For your kitchen: diffusers

Diffusers are amazing for masking any less than ideal smells coming from your kitchen (I’m definitely guilty of burning more than candles in my home), whilst instilling a serene aroma in your prep space. I generally opt for vanilla-caramel-nutmeg style scents to leave my kitchen smelling like a cookie factory. Another tip? Freshen your fridge with a bowl of vanilla extract soaked cotton balls – just change them out every few weeks and prepare to start checking best before dates, because your fridge will always smell fantastic (a perk).

bh loves: Glasshouse Fragrances Tahaa - Vanilla Caramel Triple Strength Fragrance Diffuser

For your bed: linen spray

I used to spray my sheets with my favourite EDP’s before realising that this was a decadently dreadful way to waste Tom Ford. Linen spray is a lazy girl’s best friend – nobody really has time to wash their sheets every day, but the delight of sleeping in fresh, fragrant linen on the daily would be ideal. You can fake it in a few spritzes – this Jo Malone delight even gets my budget Kmart sheets feeling like luxury.

bh loves: Jo Malone London Linen Spray

For your closet: handy hacks

Your favourite frocks deserve a fragrance too. If you’re down to make perfume part of your wardrobe, soap is your new secret weapon. Pick your fave and place it in your cupboard, closing the door and leaving the scent to soak into your clothes. After about four hours, the space will have absorbed the aroma and you’ll be hit with a whiff of sweetness every time you open the doors. Dealing with drawers? Try lining them with tissue paper spritzed with your favourite scent - even if you forget to apply perfume before leaving the house, your clothes will already smell fragrant fresh from the closet. Try to opt for scents that are enticing without being too intense, as an enclosed space isn’t exactly the place for an overpowering perfume.

bh loves: L’Occitane Bonne Mere Rosemary Soap

For your (faux) plants: matching notes

You may have a green thumb, but I do not – I could kill a cactus. Ikea is generally my nursery of choice, and faux orchids abound in my space. I like to spritz them with scent to really enhance the narrative, and matching the notes in your fragrance to the plant you’re placing in your space is the perfect way to do it. Otherwise, if you’re old-fashioned (and by that I mean you possess the ability to take care of a living object), fresh flowers are also always an amazing aromatic option.

bh loves:  Estée Lauder Beyond Paradise Eau de Parfum

Main image credit: Getty Images

Do you scent your space currently? What’s your favourite trick?