Scents I’m Using To Set The Vibe In My House

My love of fragrances doesn’t stop with things I put on my body. The right scent filling a space can be transformative in the same ways the perfect perfume can.

Most mornings after I’ve finished my coffee and writing in my journal I’ll light a candle or two around the house. I’m working toward curating a vibe of a cozy, modern art gallery in my home and I use scent to help me set that mood. It’s like how upscale and boutique hotels use scent as part of the experience of staying there. I can still smell The Sinclair in Fort Worth and it’s been more than a year since I’ve graced those halls and rooftop bar. The scent sets the art deco jazz club vibe immaculately.

Though I am not welcoming hundreds of guests into my home on a daily basis, I still like to make scent part of the experience of my home. Even if it’s just me and The Mister™ enjoying the experience. By strategically placing my three-wick candles in common areas and using single wicks to create unique atmospheres in smaller spaces, I’ve managed to recreate that same intentional ambiance.

Lighting a candle or two signals a transition from my slow morning routine to the rush of starting my work day, but I can still feel comforted by the cozy and clean vibe of my candles.

I don’t choose scented candles randomly. I tend to choose the scent over the aesthetic, but I’m willing to pay more for candles that have both. My current rotation features some standout performers from familiar brands that each contribute something special to my home’s atmosphere and a few specialty picks that set the tone perfectly.

White Barn Sunwashed Santal

I immediately gravitated toward this candle because we are partial toward santal in this house. It’s woody. It’s warm. It sets a sophisticated mood. If I owned an actual art gallery or a boutique shop, this is what I’d want it to smell like.

Bath & Body Works Bergamot and Birch

I’m debating peeling off the exterior wrapping of this candle before I use it because it’s doing too much, but the scent is a knockout. It’s a perfect balance of citrus and earthiness that smells like a relaxing afternoon. You know the feeling you get after you’ve done all of your to-do list and the whole house is clean? That’s this candle.

Bath & Body Works Book Loft

The name of this candle drew me to it. I love how libraries smell so I was intrigued. The library vibe is in there, but it’s not exactly a paper, glue, and leather smell. It’s more subtle than that like…a book loft. It’s cozy and calm like a day bundled up with a warm blanket and cup of warm tea with lemon reading next to a window.

White Barn Cactus Blossom

If Voux Elegante swapped the cinnamon note for something citrusy this candle would likely be the outcome. That’s oversimplifying, but the vibe is there. I bought this candle for our guest bathroom to give it a crisp, desert spa, oasis vibe.

White Barn Fiji White Sands

When I picture a tropical beach vacation, this candle is what it smells like. It’s very sweet, but not in a cloying way. I smell papaya, sugarcane, and sandalwood. I also smell white cotton sheets, sunscreen, a screen time of less than 2 hours per day, and no responsibilities. I got this one to remind myself of my goals and aspirations. I don’t get to go to nice beaches anywhere close to as often as I’d like to.

Luxury Candles

I happened across Apotheke candles on my favorite site for discounted goods. I fell in love with the minimalist packaging and had to see what the scents were about. There’s nothing cluttered or overwhelming about these fragrances—just like the space they’re enhancing. Whenever I see clutter at my house it has to go. I clear space means I have a clear mind. And when have you ever seen a nice art gallery that looks cluttered?

Earl Grey Bitters

This sophisticated scent was my wild card. From the description on the site, I wasn’t sure I’d like it, but I was willing to roll the dice. This smells like having tea in a floral garden on a bright morning. It’s unexpected, but relaxing. I immediately smell peony and lemon, but there are also notes of bergamot and early grey tea leaves.

Charcoal

This candle smells clean, broody, and slightly smoky. It’s not a scent I would choose to burn in the daytime if it weren’t late fall or winter. It has a cozy, leathery note in it that makes it a good choice for movie date night at home. Just add a cocktail and the vibe is completely set.

White Vetiver

This scent is very clean. It smells like the spa at a resort. It’s earthy, bright, and complex, but also soothing. It’s heavy on the eucalyptus and vetiver with notes of lilac, amber, cedarwood, and sandalwood.