Have you ever walked into a hotel and wondered how it smells so good? You’re not alone. Creating the best hotel scents is big business, with many resorts and spas working with consultants to create the perfect scent. “Hotels want to stimulate all of a guest’s senses when they walk through the door,” says Christian Schulz, partner and design director at hospitality design firm Studio Collective.
Often, that calls for a discreet commercial diffuser, explains Caroline Fabrigas, CEO of Scent Marketing, which develops custom fragrances for hotels. But with the right products, you can achieve a similar effect at home. Look for “high-quality, handmade, ethically sourced, non-petroleum soy or coconut wax candles” to start, says Schultz.
While the aroma you choose will depend on your personal preference, many hotels use woody or citrus scents (think sandalwood, cedar, grapefruit, and lemon). “Woody-based scents bring great comfort and calm to a home,” says Fabrigas. More specifically, Schultz cites fig and red currant as classic hotel scents that are great for living rooms. To make it even easier, some hotels sell their own scents to the public as candles, reed diffusers, and room sprays (Fabrigas’ company does this for its clients at ScentFluence.com). Read on for some recommendations for aromas that will make you go, “Wow!”
Amazon
Inspired by 5-star hotels, these three oils can be used with ultrasonic diffusers, ceramic diffusers, and car diffusers. It would be nice to have your favorite scent with you while you drive. Each bottle contains a different scent combination, so you can mix and match to suit your mood.
$45 on Amazon
target
Sea Salt is also one of Schultz’s favorite fragrances, and this spray smells clean and fresh, and will make you feel like you’re heading to the beach. Over 1,200 shoppers have given it a near-perfect 4.7 stars, with one fan commenting, “This scent is absolutely amazing. It smells fresh but not too linen-y. It smells like a luxury hotel or spa. I’m obsessed! I want to wear it as a perfume.”
$7 at Target
Amazon
One sniff of this popular Westin hotel scent will make you feel like you’ve arrived at a spa. A fresh yet soothing blend of warm cedar and vanilla notes and freesia, one diffuser lasts for two months – the same length as your childhood summer holidays.
$65 on Amazon
Brooklyn Candle Studios
This bestselling spray combines Schultz’s favorite scent combination of fig and currant with sandalwood and amber. A few sprays and your bedsheets will be fragrant. Add in some fluffy robes and a delicious delivery and your staycation is complete.
$26 at Brooklyn Candle Studio
The Ritz-Carlton
Even if you’ve never stayed at the Ritz, you can imagine how luxurious a trip there is. This candle smells just like the hotel’s legendary spa with its relaxing lavender scent, and comes in a bow-adorned box, making it the perfect gift for a fashionable friend.
$65 on Amazon
Amazon
If you’ve ever picked up a little bottle of soap or shampoo from your room (we don’t judge you!), you’ll understand the appeal of good hotel toiletries. Both Schultz and Fabrigas love fresh citrus scents, and this grapefruit-scented soap leaves skin feeling super soft; Schultz uses it in his own bathroom at home.
$23 on Amazon
Sam’s Club
Speaking of bathrooms, Schultz also recommends buying fresh eucalyptus stalks: “They look beautiful, and the humidity from the shower will release their essential oils, making them a natural refresher.” You can get eucalyptus stalks at Sam’s Club (in packs of a whopping 40), but you can also find them at florists and grocery stores.
$45 at Sam’s Club
Hotel Collection
The diffuser resembles a small piece of ceramic and looks great on a bathroom counter or bookshelf. It comes in five elegant scents, including Black Velvet with notes of wood, rose and fig (inspired by The Edition Hotel New York) and the refreshing 24K Magic with notes of lemongrass and jasmine (inspired by W Hotels).
$35 at Hotel Collection
The effect of scent
The 1 Hotel in New York is known for its luxurious lobby scent, which is a mix of pure musk, moss, and cedar. I’ll admit that this candle isn’t cheap; the listed price is for one candle. But it’s Schultz’s favorite hotel scent of all time, and a best-seller developed by Fabrigas’ company, Scentfluence. I decided to buy it.
$32 at Scentfluence
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