Refreshing, uplifting, calming – our sense of smell has the power to evoke memories and emotions and help create a comforting home. It was the abundance of such evocative fragrances in the British countryside that led to the creation of our new candle collection.

According to neuroscientists, it is our senses that connect us most directly with our environment, through touch and sight as well as smell, helping us make good decisions and create lasting memories.

This layering of senses is also important within the home, from the comforting tactility of solid oak furniture and visual delight of a harmonious colour scheme, to the scent of baking or fresh laundry. There is even growing evidence that suggest we can be influenced to linger a little longer by the presence of pleasant odours, while various aromatherapy scents, such as lavender and peppermint, are said to improve our mood and wellbeing.

When creating our new candle collection, we took inspiration from the British countryside and the memories and emotions associated with being in nature, resulting in five distinctive scents: The Vegetable Patch, The Rose Garden, The Lavender Field, The Wild Meadow and The Herb Garden. Working with one of the world’s leading fragrance houses, we created candles made from a blend of soy and rapeseed wax, which hold and release essential oils slowly and effectively when burning. These natural fragrances often contain aromatic compounds released by trees and plants known for their relaxing properties, and inhaling these scents can help to lower stress levels and promote a sense of calm and well-being. 

It’s commonly agreed upon that the scents of nature have a positive effect on our mood. ‘These subtle scents in outdoor environments, such as an April dawn in the countryside or the heat of the day in a city in August, are mutable and can shift in the space of five paces,’ says Lizzie Orstrom, fragrance writer and founder of Odette Toilette. ‘I really believe that even if it’s totally unconscious, we are constantly navigating and assessing places and ourselves based on this response to scent.’

Most of our emotional associations with a scent are created in childhood, which is the most vivid period of our lives for memory, and can influence how we introduce scents into our homes. ‘One of the most interesting things about scent is that it elicits a visceral or emotional reaction before we have a linguistic response,’ adds Lizzie. 

As with mood lighting, a soft scent of thyme or lavender, both of which feature in our new candle collection, can have the same calming effect as dimming the lights or turning on a lamp, creating an ambience throughout the home. ‘Connecting the senses is a great idea, especially thinking about colour, light and touch,’ explains Lizzie. ‘That might be harmony between the senses or creating an element of surprise, such as a more vibrant scent you associate with joyful childhood memories being used in your serene living space.’

From the earthy scent reminiscent of a grandparent’s vegetable garden, to the joy of receiving a fragrant bouquet from a loved one, welcome the outdoors in with scented candles and relive those precious memories.

Meet our new scents...

The Vegetable Patch

This fresh scent is reminiscent of walking amongst a summer vegetable garden. Top notes of ripe tomatoes and green leaves keep it sweet and uplifting, while being grounded by an earthy base of oakmoss.

The Rose Garden

A soft floral scent which captures the aroma of a blossoming rose bush at the heart of a traditional British garden. This scent has top notes of rose with a touch of soft violet and grounded by a musky base of patchouli.

The Lavender Field

Lavender’s recognisable herbal scent brings moments of calm into the home. Spicy top notes of pink pepper blend with aromatic lavender, grounded by a musky base of patchouli.

The Wild Meadow 

A truly floral scent reminiscent of a meadow in full bloom, with bees buzzing and grasses swaying. Soft notes of wildflowers and sweet petitgrain blend with an earthy wood base for a light summer scent.

The Herb Garden

An instantly refreshing scent that captures the essence of freshly chopped herbs on a spring day. Cooling peppermint, thyme, and basil combine with a touch of green galbanum, grounded by earthy accords.

Discover our new home fragrances in store now or explore the full collection here.