{"id":344581,"date":"2025-09-15T13:22:23","date_gmt":"2025-09-15T17:22:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.sothebysrealty.com\/?p=344581"},"modified":"2025-10-16T16:36:54","modified_gmt":"2025-10-16T20:36:54","slug":"on-the-scent-the-rise-of-fragrance-in-luxury-interiors","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/on-the-scent-the-rise-of-fragrance-in-luxury-interiors\/","title":{"rendered":"On the Scent: The Rise of Fragrance in Luxury Interiors"},"content":{"rendered":"

Designing for the senses is the height of luxury. Scent can transform a home, room by room<\/span><\/h2>\n

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Moro Dabron and Jamb have collaborated on a scented candle vessel inspired by ancient Roman bronzes. Photograph: Moro Dabron<\/span><\/p>\n

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There is a moment in every remarkable home when something intangible takes hold\u2014not in the contours of the space or in the choreography of materials, but in the air itself. Scent, elusive and difficult to define, is emerging as a silent signature in luxury interiors that is as powerful a design choice as a statement piece of furniture or a subtle architectural flourish.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

This fall, D\u00fcsseldorf\u2019s Kunstpalast will open \u201cThe Secret Power of Scent,\u201d an exhibition curated by olfactory expert Robert M\u00fcller-Gr\u00fcnow, exploring scent as both science and art. \u201cScent is the most underestimated of our senses,\u201d says M\u00fcller-Gr\u00fcnow. \u201cIt\u2019s the only one directly connected to our limbic system, which governs emotion and memory. Scent is the only sensory stimulus that cannot be filtered rationally, so it triggers immediate emotional reactions.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Working across the luxury sector, M\u00fcller-Gr\u00fcnow brings insight into how smell functions psychologically and as homeowners look increasingly beyond aesthetics to create immersive living spaces, the Kunstpalast exhibition feels prescient.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHome fragrances can influence mood, mask undesirable scents, and create an atmosphere that reflects one\u2019s personality and interior design style,\u201d M\u00fcller-Gr\u00fcnow explains. \u201cLuxury properties are pioneers in that sense: some have already integrated fragrance systems into the home at the planning stage, allowing various fragrances to be actively controlled.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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Signature scents, such as Perfumer H\u2019s Steam Eau de Parfum, inspired by mist rolling over the hills of a forest, are becoming as much of a design choice as paint or marble. Photograph: Jo\u00e3o Sousa<\/span><\/p>\n

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The design world, too, is tuning into the emotive potential of fragrance. \u201cScent can do as much as marble or paint to shift the mood of a room,\u201d says Edinburgh-based interior designer Carla Mackay. \u201cI\u2019ve experimented with scent layering, especially in entranceways where I want to make a warm first impression.\u201d Cedar wood, clove and orange are inviting in fall, says Mackay who favours reed diffusers. In open-plan spaces, used sparingly to avoid overwhelming the senses. \u201cIn bedrooms, I use candles and linen sprays for curtains and bedding. Chamomile is gentle and mellow; when grounded with cedar wood, it feels warm, woody, and enveloping without being sharp.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Fragrance designer Katie Astle echoes this interior-minded approach. \u201cI think of a home like a story and each room is a different chapter. There\u2019s something beautiful about having a subtle thread running throughout\u2014a recurring note such as sandalwood or citrus, almost like having your signature scent that everyone remembers you by,\u201d she says. \u201cScent gives you the ability to shift emotion room by room, while still creating a sense of flow. It\u2019s like interior styling, but for the senses.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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L\u2019Artisan Parfumeur\u2019s Amber Boule diffuser has been a coveted design object since 1976. Photograph: Supplied<\/span><\/p>\n

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Luxury fragrance brands have long recognized scent\u2019s power to transform space. \u201cThe rapid growth of the room-fragrance market in recent years shows the importance fragrances have also gained in interior design,\u201d says M\u00fcller-Gr\u00fcnow.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

French perfume house L\u2019Artisan Parfumeur\u2019s Amber Boule diffuser, introduced in 1976, remains a cult objet d\u2019art, celebrated for its warm, enveloping amber aroma. More recently, London design studio Moro Dabron’s latest collaboration\u2014on a series of refillable bronze candle urns with antique fireplace company Jamb\u2014was inspired by the frescos of Pompeii.<\/span><\/p>\n

Fashion houses, meanwhile, are carving out new sensory experiences: Dior\u2019s electric diffuser combines cutting-edge technology with sculptural elegance, while Loewe\u2019s home fragrance range of room sprays, incense sets and ceramic diffusers are offered in unconventional scent profiles\u2014think roasted hazelnut, beetroot, cucumber or wasabi. At the artisanal end of the spectrum, Lyn Harris, founder of Perfumer H, crafts home scents with a more tactile ethos. Her potpourris use botanicals gathered from the Balkans, while her incense is hand-rolled in Japan, marrying tradition with contemporary luxury.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Ai Weiwei and Herzog & De Meuron\u2019s Serpentine Pavilion used cork for its scented properties. Photograph: \u00a9 Iwan Baan<\/span><\/p>\n

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The boundaries between design, art and olfaction are blurring. At the 2024 Venice Biennale, Koo Jeong A created a scent portrait of the Korean Peninsula, brushing the air with aromas evoking red pine trees and salt air or cooked rice with soy sauce and sesame oil. This kind of storytelling echoes past architectural experiments, such as the Serpentine Pavilion in London by Herzog & de Meuron and Ai Weiwei, where the structure\u2019s cork-clad interior released a distinctly earthy scent.<\/span><\/p>\n

Limited-edition artist collaborations have elevated scents for the home to collectible status. Diptyque\u2019s Fragrance of Infinity is a room fragrance housed in an optical glass bottle created with photographer Hiroshi Sugimoto. Byredo paired up with multimedia artist Dozie Kanu for an exhibition in Milan exploring the malleability of memory, taking cues from its Bal d\u2019Afrique.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Dusseldorf exhibition will invite visitors to rethink scent as both medium and message: M\u00fcller-Gr\u00fcnow presents it as central to how we experience space, memory and even visual art. Works from the museum’s collection, which spans 1,000 years of cultural history, will hang among scent columns, atomisers and diffusers, highlighting the connection between art and the senses. One gallery will diffuse a bespoke \u201cKunstpalast scent,\u201d grounding visitors in a space shared by works from Rubens, El Anatsui and Gerhard Richter.<\/span><\/p>\n

Scent functions as emotional architecture: it anchors memory and gives form to the invisible. Olfaction has become part of the spatial language of design, as vital as color, light or material in shaping how we feel in a space. As homes become more curated, sensorily rich and psychologically attuned, scent is stepping fully into the architectural conversation.<\/span><\/p>\n

How designers use tapestry to blend old and new in strikingly contemporary interiors<\/span><\/i><\/a><\/p>\n

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Designing for the senses is the height of luxury. Scent can transform a home, room by room Moro Dabron and Jamb have collaborated on a scented candle vessel inspired by ancient Roman bronzes. Photograph: Moro Dabron   There is a moment in every remarkable home when something intangible takes hold\u2014not in the contours of the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":232770370,"featured_media":344716,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_crdt_document":"","advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1399],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-344581","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-home-and-design"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/On-the-Scent_Amber-Boule.jpg","jetpack_likes_enabled":false,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pf4gbL-1rDL","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":345500,"url":"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/how-to-design-a-party-perfect-interior\/","url_meta":{"origin":344581,"position":0},"title":"How to Design a Party-Perfect Interior","author":"Kate Marburger","date":"December 1, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Whether you enjoy hosting cozy soir\u00e9es or grand events, create a welcome haven for guests with luxurious materials, subtle lighting and clever, streamlined design, writes Claudia Baillie Bel Air, California | Sotheby\u2019s International Realty - Beverly Hills Brokerage Entertaining at home has become a defining part of contemporary luxury living,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Home and Design"","block_context":{"text":"Home and Design","link":"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/category\/home-and-design\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Custom wine bar in an London home","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Party-Interiors_Hux-London-Bespoke-Bar.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Party-Interiors_Hux-London-Bespoke-Bar.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Party-Interiors_Hux-London-Bespoke-Bar.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Party-Interiors_Hux-London-Bespoke-Bar.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Party-Interiors_Hux-London-Bespoke-Bar.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Party-Interiors_Hux-London-Bespoke-Bar.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":345914,"url":"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/candlemania-the-art-of-traditional-home-lighting\/","url_meta":{"origin":344581,"position":1},"title":"Candlemania: The Art of Traditional Home Lighting\u00a0","author":"Kate Marburger","date":"January 23, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Designers are creating a warm, intimate home atmosphere with candlelight and elevated accessories, writes Francesca Perry Ramona Albert\u2019s Ramus candleholder subtly lights a bedroom. Photograph: Olivia Steuer In an electrified world, we may not need candles, but we certainly long for them, and in the dark days of winter, candlelight\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Home and Design"","block_context":{"text":"Home and Design","link":"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/category\/home-and-design\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Candles","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/image1.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/image1.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/image1.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/image1.png?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/image1.png?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":346701,"url":"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/how-to-design-the-ultimate-dressing-room\/","url_meta":{"origin":344581,"position":2},"title":"How To Design the Ultimate Dressing Room","author":"Natalie Davis","date":"May 4, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"With luxury features ranging from climate-controlled cabinetry to museum-grade lighting, these private spaces combine glamour and calm, writes Emma Reynolds Brooklyn, New York\u00a0|\u00a0Sotheby\u2019s International Realty - East Side Manhattan Brokerage It\u2019s a dazzling month for\u00a0fashion\u00a0as stars parade showstopping looks at the Met Gala in New York, while \u201cThe Devil Wears\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Home and Design"","block_context":{"text":"Home and Design","link":"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/category\/home-and-design\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Bel Air dressing room with glass doors and recessed lighting","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/belair.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/belair.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/belair.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/belair.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/belair.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/belair.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":389,"url":"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/chalet-chic-dream-homes-for-ski-getaways\/","url_meta":{"origin":344581,"position":3},"title":"Chalet Chic: Dream Homes for Ski Getaways","author":"Procurement Admin","date":"January 9, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"The perfect winter escape blends spectacular nature with luxurious comfort, writes Jessica Klingelfuss Mountain Village, Colorado | LIV Sotheby's International Realty There\u2019s an otherworldly magic in the grandeur of the mountains as they greet you each morning, with the first rays of sunlight casting a golden glow over snow-dusted peaks.\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Home and Design"","block_context":{"text":"Home and Design","link":"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/category\/home-and-design\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/header.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/header.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/header.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/header.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/header.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/header.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":344651,"url":"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/what-is-a-perfect-home-for-a-libra\/","url_meta":{"origin":344581,"position":4},"title":"What Is a Perfect Home for a Libra?","author":"Kate Marburger","date":"September 22, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Our monthly series asks: What decor best suits each star sign? Warm-hearted Libra wants a space to feel balanced\u2014and a little luxurious, writes Jill Krasny \u00a0Pacific Heights, San Francisco | Sotheby\u2019s International Realty - San Francisco Brokerage Ever wonder why some homes grab your interest while others leave you unmoved?\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Art and Culture"","block_context":{"text":"Art and Culture","link":"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/category\/art-and-culture\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Header-3.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Header-3.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Header-3.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Header-3.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Header-3.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Header-3.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":344428,"url":"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/luxury-real-estate-headlines-third-week-in-august-2025\/","url_meta":{"origin":344581,"position":5},"title":"Luxury Real Estate Headlines: Third Week in August, 2025","author":"Kate Marburger","date":"August 15, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Homes in the News Pebble Beach, California\u00a0| Sotheby's International Realty \u2013 Carmel Brokerage Robb Report An Oceanfront Estate in Pebble Beach Priced at $57.5M Is Poised to Shatter a Sales Record A sprawling oceanfront estate in Pebble Beach, California, has hit the market for $57.5 million, potentially setting a new\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Brand News"","block_context":{"text":"Brand News","link":"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/category\/brand-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Pebble2.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Pebble2.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Pebble2.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Pebble2.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Pebble2.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Pebble2.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/344581","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/232770370"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=344581"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/344581\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":345029,"href":"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/344581\/revisions\/345029"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/344716"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=344581"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=344581"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=344581"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}