E-Paper
Home fragrances to elevate your corner this summer
Amid summer heat, scent-scaping is essential for home decor. Refreshing fragrances like lemongrass and chamomile boost energy and mood.
With temperatures soaring outside, people have been turning their home spaces into cooling corners. However, amid all this, one key element that is often overlooked in the seasonal decor: scent.
Fragrance has the power to enhance any space, making it seem luxurious, positive, clean and even nostalgic for some people if it is a familiar smell. Overall, fragrance, though subtle, has a large role to play when it comes to decorating your home. Enter: scent-scaping, the art of curating how your home smells.
The right scent can also help lift your mood and energy levels. The scent profile for summer leans toward refreshing scents like lavender, lemongrass, citrus, basil, chamomile and rose. These are some ideal choices as they bring a fresh vibe to your space and also act as a natural insect repellent. It is best to avoid hard scents like musk, oud or vanilla as they are better suited for colder months.
Indian homes often feature materials like wood, cane, and marble. Selecting fragrances that complement these materials can enhance the overall ambience: “Clean and crisp fragrances like white tea or linen harmonise with the cool elegance of marble surfaces, offering a refreshing touch. Sandalwood and cedarwood resonate with the natural warmth of wooden interiors, adding depth and a grounding effect," shares Shuchita Sancheti Garg, founder of vVyom By Shuchita.
You can also look at lesser-known scents that pair beautifully with Indian homes during the summer, enhancing the atmosphere with a sense of calm and freshness. “Kyushu Rice, with its clean, grounding aroma reminiscent of sun-warmed rice fields; Agathis Amber, a warm yet airy, resinous scent that adds depth without overwhelming; and Madeleine Rose, a soft, nostalgic floral that brings a gentle elegance to any space," advises Dhara Shroff, head of retail at Opulin.
There are different ways to go about filling your space with scents:
- Potli bags filled with herbs that have a natural scent and left in different corners.
- Another way is using candles or aroma diffusers in the living room or halls so they spread to all corners of your home.
- Pouring drops of your favourite itr (make sure it is not too expensive) over your sheets, sofa and cushion covers is also a way to add fragrance to your home. And then, your home will smell like you!
- Use scented pillow sprays with fresh scents that keep your bedroom feeling cool.
- Choose to scent your curtains with sprays as well so the fragrance does not escape and stays locked inside the room.
“Using layered scents in different areas of your place can help elevate the mood even further. Citrus in the kitchen, lavender in the bathroom, lemongrass in the bedroom and sandalwood in the living room for an evening calm,” suggests interior designer Navya Dutta.
