6HOME FRAGRANCE PRODUCERS
relaxing properties, too.” Floral Street’s Fireplace candle (see below right) is a blend of juniper and birch leaf with a touch of raspberry, which evokes “winter evening warmth”, aids relaxation and takes Michelle back to the fireside of her own childhood Christmases. Michelle also believes in the value of simple rituals such as lighting a candle. “It’s a little like when you’re doing that in church,” she says. “It creates a moment for you. You have to pause what you’re doing and that can be very healthy at this busy time of year.”
AROMAS FOR ENTERTAINING
On Christmas Day, Michelle recommends using subtle fragrances that bring out the best of the natural aromas: “We have a pine forest by our house in Worcestershire and collect cones throughout the year. I cut greenery to bring into the house and then enhance and complement it with warm fragrances.” Woody, nutty, deeper aromas capture the best of winter’s outdoor scents.
We have strong emotional reactions to scent, adds Jérôme, so it’s important to strike the right note. “The parts of the brain where smell, emotions and memories are processed are all intertwined,” he says. “This means that smell is the sense most strongly linked to emotion and memory, so it often induces nostalgia or specific memories and feelings.” One warm, welcoming and widely liked aroma is vanilla. You could use a fragrance based on this in the hall and main entertaining space, whether that’s the kitchen or living room. Just avoid lighting too many scented candles or having too many reeds in a diffuser in an area where food will be served, as it could not only overwhelm the smell of the food but also affect how it tastes.
SCENTSCAPING
Michelle also suggests using different fragrances according to the time of day, who you are with and what you are doing. In the morning, for example, she likes to have an invigorating smell; in the evening, she prefers a cosier, richer scent. You could even change fragrances throughout the day or put different ones around the house – a technique called ‘scentscaping’. Of course, you might just want to keep things simple and choose a light scent that makes you think of home or a wintry forest. After all, you don’t want to have to resort to using relaxing scents just to help you unwind from making decisions about your home fragrance…