Scent scaping, otherwise known as fragrance zoning, is the latest wellness trend to help transform the home. Here, Katy Worthy, renowned interior designer, scent expert and co-founder of luxury home fragrance brand O by Olfacto, shares her tips on how to utilise scent in a holistic approach to wellness and interiors.
Over the past two years, our relationship with our homes has changed. As more people than ever are working either fully or partially from home, the lines between work life and home life become blurred, and people are looking for holistic ways to redress the work/life balance and prevent burnout and lack of motivation.
Olfaction has close links to memory meaning that certain scents have the power to send subconscious triggers that evoke different emotions and feelings, and tapping into this primitive sense is a fantastic way of creating spaces within the home with a specific purpose.
How this feels in practice is simple. By creating a tailored scent experience in each area of the home, it is possible to create scent pathways that can transform interior spaces and our moods.
Choosing which scent to place where comes down to two things: how to space is used day-to-day, and the desired atmosphere required within that room for it to be at its most harmonious.
For example, bergamot is well known to promote focus and productivity and can be used to create an energising atmosphere, perfect for that much-needed mood-boost during a busy workday. It’s ideal for a home office, and if you work in different spaces around the home, consider a portable diffuser like the OBYO Mini that can boost your efficiency wherever you need to be.
Many people want to add a touch of luxury to the home in entertaining areas such as the dining room or living room, where guests might be hosted for evening gatherings. Here, I like to look to rich and sophisticated scents with woody or spicy notes such as cedarwood, amber, and pepper to help to create an atmospheric mood. Or, aim for opulence with rich jewel notes like amber, oud or musk. This will create an atmosphere of luxury that transforms a simple evening at home into an indulgent experience.
In areas such as the kitchen, where food smells can be less than attractive, using a natural odour neutraliser, such as eucalyptus, or fresh scents like mint will work to refresh the space.
Moving to the bedroom, scents are the ideal way to support deep and healthy sleep. Lavender is renowned for its soporific properties but it isn’t to everyone’s taste. You could consider any soft and comforting scent, perhaps looking to quite sweet base notes like toffee or alternative florals like jasmine or neroli.
Finally, the hallway can often be overlooked but don’t forget this is one of the most important areas for scent. It’s the first experience guests have of your home but it’s also an opportunity to set the mood as soon as you re-enter your home each day. Consider helping the transition from outside to in with scents that evoke a walk in the forest. Woody fragrances like cedarwood, pine and patchouli will make you and your guests feel welcomed in from the cold, and earthy tones such as leather and tobacco can add depth to the scent.
Fragrance zoning is about evoking a feeling with your fragrance choices, which is at the heart of what we strive to do at O by Olfacto.
Images: Unsplash
