Have you ever had guests come over to your house and tell you that it has a distinct smell? Whatever that is, you definitely want it to be the good kind. Forget about all the grocery store-bought air fresheners that are actually killing you and invest in good—even organic—room mists and sprays.
You’d be surprised. There’s even an art to it: It’s called “scentscaping.”
One often missed-out detail in interior design is scent. Yes, creating a sensory experience in your home with different scents has been a thing for quite a while now. Even Iggy Azalea thinks so, too. It’s like science—experimenting with an array of scents that resonate with you to enhance a room-to-room olfactory experience. Though there are experts dedicated to it, you can be your own amateur “scentscaper” with room sprays.
If you want an instant boost to evoke a calming, relaxing, invigorating, or energized mood, these home mists bring does the job fast. And because scent is easily absorbed by fabric, they can be sprayed directly on curtains, linens, or even drawers with your clothes.
But let’s face it: there are hundreds scents and brands to choose from, so we’ve narrowed the list down to just homegrown products. Here’s a quick starter guide on which ones to select based on your personality.
#1 For the expressive types
When you have scents with names like Sulyap, Kilig, Alaala, and Dati (thought these are there perfumes and colognes), you know they’re created for people who have a lot of, you know, #feelings. Simoy ng Haraya bottles up all your unrequited or pent-up emotions of longing and love in a line of cologne, perfumes, aromatherapy sticks, and room sprays. Their Hamog Room and Linen Spray (P150/120 ml) evokes the essence of freshly cut grass on a fresh, drizzly morning. This scent that may be best appreciated when shared with someone under the sheets, on a cuddle-weather kind of morning.
Simoy ng Haraya. Available online at Simoy ng Haraya. For more information, visit their website.
#2 For the lady who lunches
Blogger-turned-entrepreneur Grace Barbers-Baja of The Spoiled Mummy recently debuted her home and interior line, starting with two home fragrance products: the Grace Home Candle (P2,650/210g) and the Grace Home Room Fragrance (P1,450/81ml). The home fragrances line includes two introductory scents, namely Talc & Vanilla, and Olive & Milk. The oils infused in the scents are sourced directly from Grasse, France, the capital city of fragrances. Go for Talc & Vanilla for a delicate and calming mood, or opt for Olive & Milk for something cheerful and comforting.
Grace Home Room Fragrance. Available online at The Spoiled Mummy and Seek the Uniq. For more information, visit their website.
#3 For the homey clinophile
First up, something for those in torrid love affairs…with their beds, ther’s a home fragrance that can actually create a sense of being at home. The Oscar Mejia Artisan Fragrances Tahanan Collection hopes to achieve just this. The Himbing Sleep Enhancing Pillow Mist and Room Spray has essential oils of lavender, green apple, and green tea to ease your way into a peaceful sleep. Come morning, the Sigla Energy Boosting Room Spray has an uplifting mix of essential oils of bergamot, olive, and orange to perk up your day.
Oscar Mejia Artisan Fragrances Tahanan Collection. Available online at Oscar Mejia Artisan Fragrances. For more information and a full list of branches, visit their website.
#4 For the indecisive scent-lover
Leave it to BC Fragrance to help you set the right ambience. What started as just a line of 10 fine fragrances in 2009 has already evolved into more than 300 scents for perfumery, personal care, and household products. Their best-selling BC Fragrance Room Fragrances (P150/85ml each) are the fruity ones: Ginger Orange (to relieve tension), Grapefruit (to awaken your senses), and Lemongrass (to reduce bad odor). For the impending holiday season, their Christmas collection is swiftly gaining popularity with scents like Apple Cinnamon, Black Currant & Tea, and Christmas Cookies.
BC Fragrance Room Fragrances. Available online at BC Fragrance. For more information, visit their website.
#5 For the old souls
Mia Maison is the fragrance supplier of the biggest mall chains in Manila. So if you find mall scents enticing, chances are you’ll appreciate this one. You can scale it down to fit your home as you choose from over classic 30 Mia Maison Room Mist scents (P339/160ml each), from basic ones (lemongrass, peppermint, and vanilla) to the abstractly familiar (waterfalls and ocean breeze).
Mia Maison Room Mists. Available at leading malls. For more information and a full list of branches, visit their website and Facebook page.
#6 For the motivational gal
If you’re the type to post uplifting Insta-quotes every morning, Sparrow’s Closet & Pillow Mists (P250/30ml each) might resonate with you. The Sweet and Flowery Camellia, Calming Lavender, and Refreshing Green Tea, as the brand puts it, may help you “rekindle memories of love and hope, and inspire your everyday lives.” Pro tip: Closet mists can also serve the same function as mothballs—they keep mildew away from your clothes and linens.
Sparrow Closet & Pillow Mist. Available online at Seek the Uniq. For more products, visit Sparrow on their Seek the Uniq page.
#7 For the humble homemaker
This non-aerosol spray is not just limited to the home. Spray it in your office, car, or any space that needs refreshing as Pontetilla Room & Fabric Colognes (P199/100ml) are infused with notes that transform an environment. Choose from Pink Grapefruit, Tea Party, Mint Chai, Thai Spa, White Antibes, Gingergreen, Fresh Cut Grass, and their newest scent, Satsuma and Bamboo. Extend their use beyond the four corners of your room by spraying it inside your cabinets, drawers, linens, and on fresh laundry, as well.
Pontetilla Room & Fabric Cologne. Available online at Pontetilla. For more information, visit their website.
Art by Dorothy Guya