An immersive space is one that engages all of our senses. Think about a cafe that draws you in with a warm, roasty aroma you can smell from halfway down the block. Or close your eyes and imagine you’re at a high-end spa, lying facedown on a massage table as warm oils are rubbed into your skin. Imagine how the room smells. You’re probably picking up clean, cozy, relaxing scents that make you feel rejuvenated.
Now describe those scents. What does “cozy” smell like? How does “relaxing” smell? It might be hard to articulate, but you know it when you smell it. That’s because spas—and many other types of commercial spaces—engage in a type of interior design known as scentscaping. Scentscaping is the use of scents to create a distinct sense of space and leave a lasting impression in visitors’ minds. It’s been a popular, effective part of designing commercial spaces for decades, and now, we’re seeing more and more consumers use it to achieve the same effect in their homes.
How does scentscaping work?
Scentscaping is the olfactory component of interior design. Think about how lighting and decor work together to visually create a sense of space. Scentscaping adds a dimension, building connections in visitors’ brains between the space and their experiences there.
Scentscaping is backed up by neuroscience. Our brains combine scents with the emotional experiences that accompany them, creating layered memories that last our entire lives. That’s why a certain smell can instantly transport you back in time and stir up memories associated with that time and place.
When you scentscape your home or commercial space, you’re creating those kinds of memories in the people who enter. It’s part of the larger trend of sensorial wellness, which promotes better mental and physical health through curated sensory experiences.
So what does this look like, or perhaps smell like, in practice? It could be a bedroom that greets its occupant with soothing lavender notes that promote restful sleep. Or it could be a kitchen that smells faintly of lemon, backed by warming black pepper and sea musk notes that bring the Italian seaside to suburban America. It’s the strategic deployment of scents to create unique spaces within a home, giving each a signature mood.
Creating a Scentscape
Scentscaping largely entered the home markets around 2020, when people spending more time at home wanted to make their spaces feel more intentionally designed. This desire arose alongside the need to physically separate areas within homes, as work-from-home orders and virtual learning blurred the lines between work, home, and school. Fragrance zones became a way to separate spaces, and this trend continues to be prevalent today.
There are a variety of ways to create scentscapes. Candles and oil diffusers are traditional choices, as are incense sticks and sprays. The right diffusion strategy for a space depends on a few factors, such as the size of the scent zone being created, the scent itself, and the user’s goals for the scent zone.
With the emergence of smart home technologies and an increasing focus on mental well-being, we’ve seen a rise in new fragrance diffusing device launches. These devices, some leveraging the power of AI, allow consumers to program when a scent is emitted, its intensity, and can even rotate fragrances from hour to hour. Smart scent diffusers offer unprecedented customization, convenience, and fragrance choices to consumers.
Beyond the ideal scent diffusion method for a given space, the user’s goals will determine the specific scents they choose. Our team can help you with this step as you develop scented products for specific spaces. Tell us the emotion you aim to evoke—the more vivid the picture, the better. We can match that picture to specific scent notes and build a custom formulation that brings your picture to life. If you’ve got ingredient preferences, like solely using natural or plant-based ingredients, that’s no problem for us. With our extensive network of sources and suppliers, Custom Essence is equipped to craft any formulation you desire.
Telling a story in scents
Put yourself into a family room on a chilly December night. You’re on the couch with your loved ones, watching a beloved holiday movie. The fireplace is crackling and the lights are turned down low. Breathe in the scents of this moment and allow them to transport you to another place and time.
Or imagine yourself walking back to a beach house after a long day in the sand and surf. You’re salty, satisfied, and looking forward to the evening’s plans: burgers on a charcoal grill, ice-cold beer in hand, and a scented outdoor candle keeping bugs away as you enjoy a vacation meal with family at the old wooden picnic table.
These are the kinds of stories your customers are telling. As you explore scents and develop products, think about the roles they play in the stories people tell. This is scentscaping in action.
As you develop scented products for specific spaces, our team can help you with this step. Tell us the emotion you aim to evoke – the more vivid the picture, the better. We can match that picture to specific scent notes and build a custom formulation that brings your picture to life. If you have ingredient preferences, like solely using natural or plant-based ingredients, that’s no problem for us. With our extensive network of suppliers, Custom Essence is equipped to craft any formulation you desire.
Ready to start developing scents for your spaces?
Scentscaping may be trending, but we predict it will become a mainstay of commercial and home design. As you develop new products and product lines, think about how their scents contribute to their places’ overall settings and the moods they can create. Our team is here to help you dial in the perfect scent formulation for your product, starting with quality ingredients and delivering the perfect experiences for the spaces they occupy.
Ready to learn more? Contact Custom Essence today to set up your initial consultation with our team.
