The Nose Knows
Of the many senses we have, the sense of smell can be the one that is often overlooked at home. Kids, pets, life, we sometimes don’t notice the scent in our own homes as we live with them day in day out. But scent is easily picked up when we walk into a new space. I find it so interesting that I often link scent to a time, place, mood or memory. When I smell particular scents it can conjure up good feelings. This is one of the reasons that I am a huge fan of scent in the home. Candles, reeds, oil burners, incense, flowers, baking, however you enjoy scent, there are so many ways to personalise not just the look but also the smell of our homes – in a good way!!
My favourite scents currently are:
Le Labo: Bergamote 22
I first experienced this scent when enjoying a few nights at a fancy hotel where they used this range for the soaps, lotion and shower products provided in the room. Boujee! This is the biggest scent indulgence I have ever made and that’s why it is often my birthday or Christmas present because it’s a little hard to justify spending on myself. But boy do I enjoy that present each year! Le Labo also make another one of my all-time favourite scents and that’s Santal 33. Fortunately for me, that’s Jason’s favourite, so you can guess what he gets for his annual presents! Great thing is we can share depending on the desired scent for the day – and what a great start to the day they are!
Glasshouse: A Tahaa Affair
We were latecomers to exploring the South Wairarapa and it took almost eight years of living in Wellington before we finally made it “over the hill”! The first property we stayed in was in Martinborough and was called “The Secret Garden”. It was the most delightful bungalow that had been renovated and styled so beautifully and sympathetically. I remember gorgeous, I’m guessing original, vintage green tiles in the bathroom and an incredible private garden. What I also remember is the vanilla scent that welcomed us in. There were vanilla candles dotted around the house that gave the property a wonderful aroma. My favourite vanilla inspired candle is Glasshouse: A Tahaa Affair. Glasshouse describes it as caramel and coconut, but it sits in the vanilla family for me and when they are burnt down I put the old candles at the back of our linen cupboard so they continue to provide a subtle vanilla reminder whenever I reach for a towel. (PS: Me and Bella are also firm fans of the Glasshouse One Night in Rio candle and the Rio Scent Scene Diffuser is a simple way to maintain a more constant aroma in spaces like a guest w/c).
I’m a huge Aesop fan. I love their products, I love their packaging and I love their beautifully designed stores which I also love taking a big whiff of when I walk in the door. So, when Aesop brought out their essential oil collection with this beautiful brass oil burner I was in fragrance and form heaven. The level of scent given out by the burner is subtle and not overpowering, so you can keep it burning for hours on end without it becoming too much. My oil burner has the patina of use now but is still a beautiful object and I thoroughly enjoy breathing in the scent of an Aesop Store whenever the mood grabs me. (PS I could add any number of Aesop products here, such as their Resurrection Hand Soap and their Rind Concentrate Body Balm which are both incredible).
This was a birthday present from my mum and I just love it! The Green Onyx vessel can last me a lifetime and you just purchase your choice of scented candle which sits inside the holder. When that has burnt down you can simply replace or try a new scent from the range. I’m not sure if it’s my penchant for the Aperol Spritz that draws me to the Aperitivo Candle, but this is my hands down pick and is such a summery, light, citrusy scent. Bring on the holidays!
Murchison-Hume: Australian White Grapefruit Hand Cream
About 14 years ago Jason and I attended a conference in Sydney and while we were there, we splashed out on a lunch at the iconic Café Sydney. In the bathrooms they had the most pleasingly aromatic hand soap by Murchison Hume. I’d not heard of this company before, but after some research found that it can be easily purchased in NZ and is actually quite reasonably priced. I love this product not just for its Australian White Grapefruit aroma but also for its effectiveness. For someone who struggles with dry hands at times during the year, this is the ideal nightly hand cream for both scent and effectiveness. Win/Win! (PS: their plant-based home cleaning products are also incredible and their simple packaging makes them aesthetically pleasing too!).