Expert Advice on Making Your Home Smell Like a High-End Hotel

Even if your budget doesn’t allow for a lavish White Lotus-esque hotel stay, you can still recreate that luxurious ambiance at home. By adopting the same fragrance techniques used by top-tier resorts, you can craft a multi-sensory experience that transforms your space. Learn how to infuse your home with the scent of a high-end retreat. All that’s left is convincing someone to place chocolates on your pillow during evening turndown.

Discover the Signature Scents of Your Preferred Hotels

One of the simplest ways to achieve that upscale hotel aroma? Visit the website of your favorite luxury hotel. Leading chains like Four Seasons, W, Ritz-Carlton, and others sell their exclusive fragrances in candles or diffusers, allowing you to bring the essence of your getaway back home. It’s a delightful keepsake!

Choose Fragrances with Rich Woody Accents

"Wood inherently exudes luxury," explains Caroline Fabrigas, CEO of Scent Marketing, Inc. and Scentfluence, who works with premium hotels to design bespoke scents for their spaces. "Many of our best-selling fragrances feature a woody undertone. However, achieving that opulent vibe doesn’t require a deep, heavy wood." Notes like cedar, sandalwood, and teak can serve as excellent foundations for a sophisticated scent.

Additional notes commonly found in luxury hotel blends include bergamot for a citrusy touch, white tea, and fresh green aromas like herbs or aloe.

Plan Your Fragrance Distribution Wisely

We all know someone who layers multiple fragrances daily, creating a chaotic mix of scents that overwhelms the senses. To avoid this, stick to a cohesive fragrance family—or better yet, a single product line. For instance, if bergamot appeals to you, incorporate citrus-based scents throughout your living space.

For larger spaces, Fabrigas suggests a more tailored approach to scent placement. Consider calming aromas like lavender in bedrooms, while opting for invigorating scents with mint or citrus notes to enhance focus in your home office.

Adjust Scents Seasonally

Just as you update your decor with the seasons, you can also switch up your home fragrances. Fabrigas advises using lighter, fresher scents like Mediterranean linen or sea-salt and sage during spring and summer. "These fragrances are crisp, airy, and uplifting," she notes.

In fall and winter, people often gravitate toward festive scents featuring evergreen or spicy notes, such as winter pine or green spruce.

Incorporate Fresh Flowers and Natural Aromas

For a simple yet elegant way to fragrance your home, consider natural elements like fresh flowers, citrus fruits, or aromatic herbs, suggests Malka Helft, founder of Think Chic Interiors. You don’t need to spend a fortune on extravagant bouquets. "Even fresh flowers from Trader Joe’s or your local grocery store can transform a space, making it feel polished and inviting." Beyond the scent, the visual appeal of flowers adds an extra layer of charm.

Invest in Premium Fragrances

A luxurious scented candle or diffuser can be a valuable addition to recreate the ambiance of a high-end hotel. Budget-friendly home fragrance products often rely on synthetic scents rather than natural oils, resulting in a more overpowering aroma. Cheaper candles typically use paraffin wax, a petroleum byproduct that may release more emissions compared to higher-quality alternatives.

Maintain a Subtle Approach

No one enjoys being overwhelmed by strong fragrances upon entering a home. Electronic diffusers offer an easy way to adjust and manage the intensity of scents in your space—perfect for neutralizing odors after cooking pungent dishes like those with onions.

When using candles, Fabrigas recommends repositioning them or extinguishing them to regulate the aroma. (Remember, most candles should burn for no more than four hours at a time and must never be left unattended.)

Build Your Fragrance in Layers

While candles and diffusers scent the air, you can also incorporate fabric sprays, hand soaps, lotions, and even laundry or dish detergents to maintain a cohesive fragrance theme throughout your home—and on yourself. Just be cautious not to overdo it. "Opt for clean, fresh scents that convey a well-kept home—nothing too overpowering," advises Helft.