You smell thefreshly cut grass and it brings you back to memories of your childhood, of timesspent in the province, or running around the fields of your grade schoolcampus. You walk into a hotel and immediately you feel relaxed and ready to unwind.You smell a cup of hot chocolate and peppermint and instantly you know that it’sChristmas time.

Scents arevery good at sparking memories and feelings inside us—and apparently, it’s notjust all nostalgia or wistfulness. There’s also science to it.

According to Venkatesh Murthy, Raymond Leo Erikson Life Sciences Professor and chair of theDepartment of Molecular and Cellular Biology at Harvard, smell and memory seemto be so closely linked because of the brain’s anatomy. He explained in one ofhis lectures that when we smell something, the odor takes a direct route to thelimbic system, where the amygdala and the hippocampus are found. These thenmake sense because these are the regions related to emotion and memory.

Thesignature scent that comes with our trips to other places, staycations, and spadates have become part of the whole experience. And since the pandemic has discouragedmany of us step outside our homes for almost three years now, many are lookingto recreate these amazing moments inside their own homes.

This is whatscentscaping is about. Think of it as some form of decorating or designing—but withyour olfactory senses. It is the art of using scents to evoke emotions,feelings, and energy in a certain space.

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Differentscents—and how they can work for you

WGSN, the world'sleading consumer trend forecaster, included scentscaping as a prominent trendin interiors for this year. They believe that the power of scent to createemotion and enhance our sense of space has become even more prominentpost-pandemic.

“In thehome, consumers are aware of the importance of fragrance to create a sanctuary,with scents that range from clean to calming to set the mood in every room andtime of day,” wrote WGSN.

And what’sgreat about scentscaping is there is no one way to do it. It all depends onwhat you want to achieve, what your personal taste is, and what sort of vibe ormood you’re looking to create for your space.

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This meansthat maybe you don’t need just one scent for every corner of the house. Maybeyou’d prefer lavender in your bedroom as it known to help induce better sleep. Foryour work place or study nook, peppermint is said to boost concentration whilecitrus can help you feel more energized. When you’re feeling a bit blue, youmay want to spray some patchouli that’s found to uplift the mood and drive awayfeelings of sadness. If you’re feeling a bit stressed, light up some sage to helpcombat fatigue so you can deal better with stress and anxiety. Entertaining? Lightup an orange-scented candle in your living room and let this cheerful, fruityfragrance enhance feelings of well-being. Want to create a spa-like mood ofrelaxation in a space? Using eucalyptus or jasmine to help your body and sensesrelax.

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Apart from purescents, many candle and room spray makers have ventured into creating signaturescents and concoctions to create a more complex aroma. In the same way thatperfumes are usually different scents layered on top of each other, creatingthese layered scents for your space allows you to express your creativity andpersonal taste, and establish a signature smell that you can instantly associatewith your home.

Scents canalso be a time thing just as much as a spatial thing as they are great increating delineations in your routine. If you live in a small space and you’reworking, resting, and playing all in the same area, you can instantly changethe atmosphere by putting on a different scent depending on the time of day andthe kind of activity you’re doing. By nighttime, put on something more relaxingto help put you into relax mode. When you wake up, put on something that willhelp you focus to tell your body that it’s time to work.

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Choose yourmode of scent dispersion

When you’re readyto play around with different scents, one of the very first things that youshould think about is your chosen vehicle of scent dispersion. There are manyways to perfume a space, and you may have to consider what is the perfect fitfor your needs.

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Candles areone of the most popular ways to scent a room. The scent that comes from candlesis very rich and long-lasting, and there’s something magical about the way theflame dances and creates shadows when lit at night. But while candles are afavorite in scentscaping, they pose additional risks and requirements such as therequired 1-hour burn to avoid tunneling, soot residue, and the undeniable firehazard. If you have kids and pets running around, lighting a candle may not beyour best option.

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As analternative to lighting candles, electric diffusers allow you to create a richand long-lasting smell for your space. If you’re a fan of essential oils, usingelectric diffusers will let you enjoy all the aromatherapeutic benefits ofthese precious oils in your home. However, like any plant product, usingessential oils can contribute to skin irritation and hormone-related symptomswhen used improperly, so something to think about if you have particularlysensitive senses.

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If you want somethingmore straightforward, room and linen sprays are great options, too. Sofas, beds,carpets, and cabinets are great places to use your linen sprays.

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There aremany pros and cons to different scent vehicles, so it’s always nice to havedifferent ones around depends on your needs.

If you’reready to scentscape your home, check out the gallery below for our list offavorite scents and suppliers in the metro.

Honeymoon candle from Balay Pahulay - Made with soy wax, this candle is inspired by 2000s romantic comedy films.BUY HERE: @balaypahulay

Coffee-scented candle and room spray from Balay Pahulay - Perfect as your wake-up call in the morningsBUY HERE: @balaypahulay

Player 456 room spray by Kasa Adore - Inspired by Gi-Hun's compassion, this room spray’s scent is reminiscent of tangerines, freesias, lily, and musk. BUY HERE: @kasa.adore

BTS-inspired room spray by Kasa Adore - Show your love for BTS with these room sprays inspired from the BTS members’ favorite scents.BUY HERE: @kasa.adore

Park Seo Joon room spray by Kasa Adore - You can also “take your oppa home” with this fresh and crisp spray inspired from Park Seo Joon’s favorite scent.BUY HERE: @kasa.adore

Halcyon candle from Rare Earth - This earthy and grounding candle will remind you of vetiver, peppercorn, lavender, hot sand, and salty air.BUY HERE: @rare___earth

Still Life candle from Rare Earth - If you’re looking for something more floral and succulent, this scented candle will leave you images of fig leaves, white petals, cut stems, draped silk, and morning light.BUY HERE: @rare___earth

Undo X Rella Strawberry Croissant soy wax candle - A collaboration between Rella Essentials and fashion brand Undo, this candle will take you to a picnic in Paris with freshly baked Strawberry Croissant in your hand and a perfect view of Eiffel tower. BUY HERE: @rella_essentials

Room and linen spray from Rella Essentials - Choose from these three energizing, relaxing, and refreshing sprays for your pillows, linen, yoga mats, or work space.BUY HERE: @rella_essentials

Sumi Hinoki candle from Officine Universelle Buly - How about a luxury candle made by this Parisian perfumer who just opened their first store in the Philippines? Light this candle to capture the essence of Japanese cypress wood smoke and recreate Kyoto's black burnt-wood houses.BUY HERE: @officine_universelle_buly_ph

Palo Santo from Officine Universelle Buly PH - Purify negative energies in your space by lighting a stick of palo santo.BUY HERE: @officine_universelle_buly_ph

Kairos candle from LEV - Think warm and sexy summer nights. LEV candles are made with a secret blend of specialty waxes and oils from local suppliers, hand-poured in beautiful hand-blown iridescent glass jars.BUY HERE: @levmnl

Empyrean candle from LEV - Fill your room with a floral explosion and citrusy notes.BUY HERE: @levmnl

Black flow diffuser from KARMA - Perfect for 20- to 30-sqm rooms, this diffuser will let you use your favorite essential oils to brighten up your room.BUY HERE: @shopkarmaph

Summer Essential Oils Bundle from KARMA - Load your diffuser with these 3 essential oils that will make you feel like a more rested, less anxious, calmer, and happier human being.BUY HERE: @shopkarmaph

Filipino-inspired reed diffusers from ATIN - Travel the country from the comforts of your home with these reed diffusers that will bring you memories of Filipino favorites. BUY HERE: @thisisatin

The Korina reed diffuser by ATIN - You can also freshen up your room with this specially curated scent developed by no other than Korina Sanchez herself!BUY HERE: @thisisatin

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