The Best Scents for Your Home: A Room-by-Room Guide

Whether you’re a fan of woody scents, fresh florals, or uplifting citruses, fragrances play a huge role in tying a room together. Any interior design fan will know that the right scent is essential to set the tone of a space. However, with so many fragrance options, finding the right aroma can be overwhelming. 

So how do you utilize the power of scent to set the right tone for your space? We reached out to fragrance experts for their recommendations to elevate the aroma of your home. From the entryway to the bedroom, here are the best fragrances for every room to keep your space smelling like a “home sweet home.”

The best scents for the living room

Your living room is the go-to entertainment hub of the home, serving equal parts of hosting and relaxation. The scent you choose for the room should complement the long periods spent in the space and be inviting to guests who visit. Warm, earthy, or seasonal scents are a great place to start. Think sandalwood, cedar, lavender, and amber. 

When choosing a scent for your living room, Thistle and Fig recommend considering the aromatherapy benefits of each fragrance. “Notes of sage, palo santo, and lavender will help relieve stress and improve mood, putting you and your guests at ease.” 

Topsy Blends agrees, “Diffusing ultra comforting and stress relieving essential oils like geranium, frankincense, or clary sage will create a cozy and relaxing environment for your living room. You can also try a fresh and clean combo of purifying and invigorating essential oils like peppermint, lemon, or grapefruit to a diffuser in your entryway to elevate the mood and welcome your guests.”

Maybe you’re looking to bring some of the outdoors inside. Shannon Bachorick recommends incorporating the relaxing scents of nature by diffusing coniferous essential oils such as juniper, pine, spruce, fir, and cypress in your home. 

The best scents for the kitchen

Undoubtedly, the kitchen is one of the home’s busiest areas. Finding the right balance of fragrance in the kitchen can be difficult. You want the space to smell fresh and clean without interfering with the aromas of your cooking. 

That said, the safest option is citrus-based scents – think lemon, lime, grapefruit, or tangerine. These fragrances are bright and fresh and help cancel out any unsavory smells. Apple, pear, and thyme also work well in this atmosphere. Avoid florals in this space as they do not mix well with food aromas.

If you have an open floor plan, orange blossom or a similar fresh but calming fragrance like mandarin works remarkably well. Wild Planet Aromatherapy says, “These scents help detract from any lingering cooking smells but don’t interfere too much when enjoying meals and create a relaxing atmosphere in your downtime. It’s a transitional home fragrance that you can use in your interior space from morning and afternoon to evening.”

Lemon is an excellent option if you’re using essential oils. “Not only does it have antibacterial properties, but its fresh fragrance can freshen up any room,” says essential oil company VINEVIDA. “Lemon oil also has many uses for cleaning, such as removing dirt and grime from kitchens or multipurpose sprays that are great at getting rid of grease on a stovetop.”

The best scents for a bedroom

The bedroom should be a cozy sanctuary where you can unwind and relax after a long day. Choose scents that create a soothing and serene atmosphere and that help promote restful sleep.

“Create a calm, safe, and sensual bedroom atmosphere with earthy tones like sandalwood, ozone, or amber,” says Mountain City Candles. These woodsy, sometimes musky, fragrances are calming and comforting and inspire positivity to help you feel better instead of just making you tired.”

To set the perfect mood for your bedroom, Candelaria Candles recommends thinking of fragrances in 3 categories: relaxing, romantic, or refreshing. “For romance, try jasmine, amber, or sandalwood. If you’re going for relaxation, try bergamot, lavender, or chamomile. For a refreshing vibe, try eucalyptus, mint, or vetiver. The best scents for the bedroom will differ from what you’d use in the kitchen. Therefore, it’s important to consider the mood you’re trying to set in each space.”

The best scents for a home office

Scent can significantly affect how you feel while in your home office. The right scent can encourage productivity and creativity or reduce stress and create a sense of calm. 

Lavender and jasmine have calming properties that can help reduce tension, making them ideal for use in stressful work environments. Mint scents such as peppermint can enhance alertness and boost productivity and creativity.

The aroma of Lemongrass can also help calm your nerves, release tension, and reduce anxiety. “Lemongrass candles have a light, refreshing fragrance similar to fresh lemons or limes and blends well with other soothing scents like chamomile, lavender, rosemary, and eucalyptus,” says The National Candle Association.