Spring is a time of new beginnings and starting afresh. This applies to the home just as much as it does to the natural world outside. Scent can have a real part to play in bringing the seasons in - which is especially welcome if we’re spending more time at home than we used to.
Over the last two years we’ve needed our domestic spaces to work so much harder for us - they’ve become offices, classrooms and gyms, let alone places to eat, sleep and relax in. We’ve changed the way we use our homes, so it’s no surprise that we’ve turned to home fragrance to help bring about a sense of calm, pleasure and spatial structure. Hence, the home fragrance category (candles, diffusers, sprays, wall plug-ins) has enjoyed a real surge in popularity and according to NPD our purchases last year were up 43% on 2020 (which were up 146% on 2019.)
Emma South, Jo Malone’s Fragrance & Lifestyle expert, puts it perfectly: “Scent has such a close relationship to memory that it influences our mood and perception in a profound yet often unconscious way. The art of home scenting is about channeling this to add to the spatial dimensions of a property, creating and delineating new spaces within an open plan area and also helping to structure the day, creating scented signals that direct us from work to leisure, day to night.”
On a subconscious level perhaps in a time where things seem fragile and unpredictable in so many ways we want to exert more control over the our homes, making them scented and satisfying. All of this highlights why home fragrance is enjoying such a renaissance and also why it makes such a great gift. It’s multi-sensory - as well as smelling good there is an aesthetic dimension too. Candles and diffusers can compliment and enhance the look of a room, even when they are not being used.
Fragrance can act as a portal, a way to leave our armchairs and be transported to a favourite destination or remember a happy time or place - and this clearly relates to men, just as much as it does to women. There’s nothing ‘girly’ about wanting a room to smell good, or to aid focus, but there are some fragrance notes that may be more appealing to men. To generalise, guys may prefer woody, smoky profiles and fresher marine or citrus scents.
However, scent is not inherently gender-based, so if you like it, or you think the recipient will, then buy it! If it’s gifted with love and demonstrates that you have been thinking about the person, there’s nothing better than that.
It’s also worth saying that candles and diffusers are the gifts that keep on giving. Once the wax has burned away or the oil has evaporated there are a multitude of ways to up-cycle the jar - plant pot, storage pot, vase, toothbrush holder, mug - you name it.
Here is an edit of candles, diffusers and incense sticks that would make a thoughtful gift for a friend or loved one this spring. Or buy one for yourself - it’s called self-care for a reason…
SHOP: Best Scented Candles For Men
SHOP NOW: Best Scented Candles For Men 2022
1 of 15Sana Jardin Berber Blonde, £48
Sana Jardin are a socially conscious, luxury fragrance house. Perhaps their most well known scent (available as a fragrance as well) is Berber Blonde. It's a real mood-lifting orange blossom candle that promotes mindfulness and concentration. The profile here is Moroccan orange blossom, North African neroli and musk. Sana Jardin are a brand that are all about being part of positive social change, so the Moroccan female flower harvesters can become micro-entrepreneurs by recycling the unwanted products from the production process to make these candles. Now that's clever…
2 of 15Acqua di Parma Oh, L'Amore, £59
If love was expressed in wax form (what a thought!) then Acqua Di Parma believe the fires will be lit by this 'Oh L'Amore' candle. It's a heart-warming blend of pepper, tonka bean and cloves to make things spicy and the iconic yellow vessel will add a touch of Italian chic to any living space.
3 of 15Śurū Punjab Rose, £38
Inspired by personal recollections of Suru's founder and his family, growing up in a Punjabi household in East London, this candle uses a fusion of notes influenced by traditional Indian and modern British cultures. The scent profile features lychee, plum, rose, incense and sandalwood and is made from a natural coconut & rapeseed wax blend.
4 of 15BYAM It's Kind Of...Magique, £55
This new British brand creates beautifully illustrated bone china luxury scented candles, artwork, coaster sets and premium kitchen linens. BYAM is an acronym of 'between you and me' - and it's a family brand consisting of a mother, daughter and daughter-in-law all bringing their respective talents and passions to the business. The USP of the candles is the monochrome line drawings on the bone china vessels and just as much TLC has gone into the high-perfume content wax. Magique's scent profile is citrus, violet and rose, a herby aromatic heart on a base of sandalwood, white cedar, amber and musk.
5 of 15Jo Malone Lavender & Moonflower Diffuser, £65
A new innovation from Jo Malone London is a collection of scents to mark the end of the day with fragrances specifically designed to help you unwind and relax. The Lavender & Moonflower diffuser is a soft, enveloping scent with English lavender, white musk and night-blooming moonflowers. The dark blue design will also add an understated and stylish touch to any bedroom.
6 of 15The Muses, Be, £28
The Muses brand are perfect for consumers who want to scent their homes sustainably and stylishly. The fresh inspiring scent of 'Be' contains a unique combination of green florals and foliage. The candle comes in a stunning brass jar that can (and should!) be re-purposed after use.
7 of 15SUN.Day, Beyond The Pines, £33
Beyond the Pines from SUN.DAY of London evokes the power of nature, bringing it into your home. The diffuser gives off a gentle ambient aroma of pine needle, cedar wood and eucalyptus so you be transported to the heart of a lush forest. The botanical reed diffusers are created with aromatherapy grade pure essential oils and the apothecary style-glassware has real shelf-appeal.
8 of 15Ånd, Får Candle, £55
The latest candle from Ånd celebrates just how closely our sense of smell and taste can be linked. It's a gourmand's dream - yuzu cheesecake, tangy lime and mandarin with a buttery biscuit base. It's (almost) good enough to eat. If you like the candle, it's also available as a perfume. Delicious!
9 of 15MĀ Ceramic Diffuser, £83
MĀ offers a different approach to creating sensory moments with a range of organic essential oils and an innovative plug-in ceramic diffuser. The clever design uses ultrasonic technology to diffuse the oil and will be a subtle, elegant feature in any room. You can choose which of the essential oils you want to use in the diffuser to switch up the mood.The aesthetic is very much rooted in Japanese simplicity and is 100% natural, vegan, organic and sustainably considered.
10 of 15Horace, & Horace candle, £21
French brand Horace's first scented candle is inspired by their signature fresh, woody male fragrance '& Horace' - and the stylish blue glass vessel is perfect for any room in the house. Burn time is 24 hours, so you have plenty of time to settle down to watch a whole season with Jack Bauer. (No spoilers!)
11 of 15Bamford Explorer Geranium Candle, £100
Geranium is one of 3 a new candles developed by renowned British perfumer Lyn Harris in collaboration with Carole Bamford. The fragrance is inspired by Bamford's greenhouse, where more than 100 varieties of geraniums and pelargoniums are propagated. It's a perfect choice for spring as it's herbal, verdant and uplifting. It's worth also mentioning the presentation, with the wax housed in a beautiful hand-carved alabaster vessel.
12 of 15Goutal Bois Cendrés Candle, £48
The Bois Cendres scented candle evokes imagery of roasting chestnuts with its aromatic fragrance and the warming image of a fire that spits ash and embers that gently fall to earth. The subtle aroma will fragrance any room with greenery, deep woods and rich leather.
13 of 15Ila Incense Sticks, £12
Handcrafted in India, these incense sticks are chemical-free and give off a scent that is hard to beat. It's the perfect de-stresser, clearing away negative energy and filling the room with a sense of calm and peace. The fragrance is subtle yet effective, with sandalwood and jasmine. This spring could be the time to give incense sticks a try.
14 of 15Carrière Frères, La Rose aime le Poivre, £70
With its apothecary-shaped flask, this fragrance diffuser showcases the perfect fragrance pairing of pepper and Damascus rose. Carrière Frères are a French candle manufacturer with a proud history dating back some 140 years and the skill and dedication to the craft can be seen (and smelt) in this diffuser. It would be a fine addition to any home.
15 of 15Daydreamin Storm Chaser, £22
Daydreamin' are a new British brand that take a modern and irreverent approach to candle making with bold fragrances and striking design. 'Storm Chaser' recreates the 'petrichor' smell – the scent that occurs when rain hits the ground and activates nature's plant oils. It consists of herbal moon tea leaves and smoky guaiac wood, sweetened with fig bark, clean amber and white fig fruit.
You can follow more of Haydn's adventures in men's fragrances at Instagram.com/yousmellgreatwhatisit and yousmellgreatwhatisit.com.