The Best Home Fragrances — 12 Exquisite Scents Our Editors Can't Live Without

Nothing smells like home quite like... well, a nice-smelling home, and while that might sound obvious, it's a fact. Think about the moment you get back from work and walk past your doorway: doesn't the familiar scent of your house instantly hit you, ending all the preoccupations and commitments that have shaped your day up until then? Smells, of course, are just as crucial in other people's homes, since the ones we encounter as we step inside them — whether of mouth-watering delicacies sizzling in the oven ahead of a dinner party or of their go-to scenting picks — determine our experiences of their domestic space. Whether you're looking to impress others or indulge in the luxury of an aromatic house, our edit of the best home fragrance products will set you up for success.

From the best essential oil diffusers and the best candles for scenting your rooms to the best incense options for serial design lovers, the buys listed below have got you covered, whatever your perfume, format, and look preferences. Whether you're into long-lasting scents and natural home fragrances, or keen to discover what the latest designer-approved house scenting alternatives are, this comprehensive list has something for everyone. Hypnotizing, oscillating diffusers waving goodbye to unaesthetic home scenting additions? Check. Traditional yet equally mood-boosting candles crafted to elevate your interiors and last a lifetime? Done.

Coming courtesy of Diptyque, Jo Malone, Aromatherapy Associates, and more, these are the best home fragrance buys to add to your wish lists — or gift someone you love — tried and cherished by our editors. Before sharing them with you, we have used them in our own homes for weeks, getting to observe their scenting performance across different rooms over a long period of time and, of course, paying attention to how their presence enhanced the look of our domestic havens. This best home fragrance curation, featuring 12 buys we wouldn't trade for the world, thus brings you the finest options on the market that will not just scent your rooms like a master perfumer but also make them look absolutely flawless. Discover them all below.

Best Home Fragrances

Why Should We Stick to Natural Home Fragrance?

According to Mark Jacobs of Below 60°, “natural fragrances made with essential oils offer a gentler, subtler, and more pleasing scent", translating into an all-around superior fragrance experience that is not overbearing. "Most synthetic fragrances formulated with many chemicals give off a similar 'artificial' and more harsh scent that often overtakes a room," he adds. As scents are proven to influence our overall frame of mind and moods, we should always stick to natural fragrances to get the best out of our olfactory journeys. Not only are these best to keep us balanced, whether mentally, emotionally, and psychologically, but eliminating synthetic, artificial chemicals from our environment "provides us a safer, healthier environment for our pets and loved ones, too", Mark points out.

Which Types of Home Fragrance Last Longest?

Reed diffusers are the longest-lasting home fragrance you can choose. They are oil-based, meaning the scent is of high quality and releases slowly, and are an optimal way to introduce a base scent to your home since there is no on-and-off switch — just a clever little bottle that constantly emits a subtle fragrance. They come in a range of sizes and scents, some of which are small enough to be a concealed way to make your home smell amazing.

"Reed diffusers are excellent for long-lasting fragrance," Spekless Cleaning's Karina Toner tells us. "Reeds already disperse scent gradually over time, but the trick to making them more potent is to flip the reeds regularly." This, adds the expert, will extend their lifespan and refresh their scent. One more tip: don't forget to layer them with other types of fragrance, unless you want to go nose blind!

What Tricks Make Home Fragrance Last Longer?

The key to creating a fragrance that lasts is using the best products. "To make scents last longer, choose high-quality candles and fragrance oils over synthetic ones," Grace Young, scent expert at House Fragrance, tells us. To maximize your scenting experience, check ingredients to determine the quality of your home fragrances, and remember to avoid harmful parabens.

In the case of candles, look for ingredients such as soy wax and natural oils for a luxurious house addition that will show you how to make your home smell like a hotel. "Natural oils disperse slowly and maintain their aroma longer," explains Grace. Candles with synthetic scents, on the other hand, will overpower your space and dissipate quickly. Other useful tricks include fragrancing your furnishings using your room spray of choice (many of them are safe to use on fabrics); scent-layering, or combining multiple types of fragrance products for a more intense, albeit pleasant, effect; and switching up your choice of home scents so as to make the most of them intermittently.

What Home Fragrance Notes Are Best for Each Season?

Fall: Sweet and Spicy; Fruity; Warm and Smoky; Forest Greens. In short, anything that can help us elevate our domestic spaces as we gradually go back indoors while retaining the experiential, sensory-led feel of the hot season. Think gourmand candles that incorporate sweet flavors such as vanilla, pumpkin pie, and orchard fruit, or more abstract fragrances such as smoke and must, oakmoss, sandalwood, rich amber, and soft leather — refreshingly cozy nods to the outside world.

Winter: Pine and Birch; Citrus Fruits; Lavender. Again, the coldest months of the year are the time to pamper ourselves with home fragrance that not only enhances our experience of our domestic spaces, but simultaneously, and subtly, echoes what lies ahead of us. Avoid overpowering festive scents like cardamom, to name one, you'll get tired of in a matter of days, and stick to evergreen scents that can grant you long-lasting peacefulness, relax, and joy, including patchouli, honeysuckle, and cashmere and musk. Check our QVC festive scents for the holidays deep-dive for room-by-room winter fragrance inspiration.

Spring: Floral; 'Clean' Scents; Citrus Fruits; Woody Aromas. Spring is a time of renewal, rebirth, and reset, both literally and metaphorically. Mixing blossoming and fruity touches of scent with more grounding, wood-based ones will help you ease into the season and gain fresh energy ahead of your summer comeback.

Summer: Citrus Fruits; Fruity Notes; Spiced Accents; Clean Aromas. Summer is a celebration of all things sunshine and fuit, so it only makes sense to bring part of that vibrant world indoors with you when scenting your home. While citrus is everyone's top-of-the-list for this season, other fragrances such as bergamot, grapefruit, sweet orange, and cedar can keep you glowing and revitalized even at the peak of summer.

What Scents Should We Use to Revitalize Our Homes?

Cedar: At once warm, comforting, and uplifting, this natural scent has got it all, and it is one of the best scents to revitalize your home, and yourself, in return.

Eucalyptus: Because of its aromatherapy potential, eucalyptus is probably one of the first scents you'll think of when looking for ways to imbue your home with a fresh boost of energy. Its punchy, almost mint-like smell will open up your lungs and breathe new life into your rooms.

Citrus: A room that smells of citrus doesn't just feel instantly cleaner and well-kept, but it also captures a sense of escapism, particularly during the coldest and darkest months of the year. Its timelessly elegant, crisp, and invigorating.

Bergamot: Bergamot is one of those scents I always return to because of its instantly positive impact on my mood, energy, and stress levels, and, of course, its naturally permeating smell is just as beneficial to any room of your home and those who spend time in them.