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Best home fragrance


Best home fragrance – 13 impressive scents by season and room

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We've been busy testing the best home fragrances – from reed diffusers to candles – so that you can buy online with peace of mind. We consider the aroma of your home to be just as important as the look of your interiors and with plenty of fragrances to choose from out there, finding the exact one to suit your taste is no easy task. We've found everything from the best home fragrance for fall, to the top floral home fragrance and even an oriental home fragrance. You can pick something to suit the season – and your interior style. It's the small changes that make a big difference at home, and a candle or reed diffuser is a relatively affordable buy that won't break the bank to spruce your interiors.

There are hundreds if not thousands of options on the market, and with new scents and collections being released all of the time, it's easy to feel overwhelmed. With this in mind, our Deputy Ecommerce Editor has personally tried and tested every one of these home fragrances inside her 2-bed apartment. The home fragrances that made it to this list have been her favorite so far. Below, you'll find everything from the best reed diffuser to our favorite candle. We've listed these home fragrances by scent, season, and room. Use the links on your left to jump through this page.

13 of the best home fragrances for 2022

Types of home fragrance in this guide

Candles
Using one of the best candles makes a great way to scent your home, offering a time-release explosion of fragrance (for lack of better terms). Be sure to consider the wax of your candle, with soy being the best and most clean option in our opinion, and also consider the candle's size in comparison to your room size, and how many hours it can burn for. Another thing to think about is the safety of lighting a candle at home. If you have small children or wandering pets, then you might be best off to opt for a different type of home fragrance, unless you can place a candle well out of their reach to prevent it getting knocked over and wax spilling.

Reed diffusers
Another popular home fragrance type is reed diffusers, and they are sensational if you want more control over how strong the scent will be or have concerns about the safety of burning candles. Keep in mind that you'll need to flip the sticks to change which end is in the oil every couple of weeks (some reed diffusers require this every other day) for a fragrance boost. Again, even though reed diffusers aren't necessarily dangerous, you will still want to place them out of the way of children or pets to avoid spillages on your furniture.

The best oriental home fragrance

(Image credit: Rituals)

1. Rituals The Ritual of Sakura Fragrance Sticks

Specifications

Life: 3-4 months

Size: 250ml

Notes: Rice milk and cherry blossom

Refill available?: Yes

Today's Best Deals

The powerful oriental scent of Rituals' The Ritual of Sakura fragrance is one to turn heads – and surprise noses. If you are searching for a strong reed diffuser, perhaps for a bathroom for disguising odors, or for a hallway for flooding fragrance into several rooms, then this is it. It's small in size yet mighty powerful, and I tested it in my spare bedroom, hallway, and living room, and each time I was more impressed by it than the last. It really is powerful but in a good way, and I can definitely see myself repurchasing it again and again, especially since it seems to last a while.

Scent
With nods to the oriental fragrance family thanks to notes of rice milk, cherry blossom, it's a mix of creamy and sweet. You won't really need to flip the reeds with this diffuser, but you can do it when you want a boost or feel like you can no longer smell it (this should take a while!).

Packaging
One thing we will complain about is the packaging. Although it's lovely and boasts a white ribbed design with black reeds, it is very easy to knock over. This is due to its tall shape, so we would suggest placing it way out of the way of small arms, tails and more. A benefit, though, is that you can buy refill bottles for this diffuser so that you can use the same vessel over and over again.

The best fresh home fragrance

(Image credit: Neom)

2. Neom Happiness Reed Diffuser

Specifications

Life: Up to 10 weeks

Size: 3.38oz

Notes: Neroli, Mimosa, Lemon

Refill available?: Yes

Opt for a Neom reed diffuser, specifically their Happiness scent, for use at home during the summertime. This citrus-based fragrance offers a welcomed boost to any room, while it's particularly fitting for kitchens, for busy living rooms for a refresh and it's perfect for an entryway to flood a subtle scent throughout your rooms. I tested this reed diffuser in my bedroom and in my living room, and I think it's the perfect refreshing blend for spring and summer, and it would also work well in an entryway.

Scent
This uplifting scent is fragranced using neroli, mimosa and lemon essential oils, plus it's 100 percent natural for peace of mind. It's completely cruelty-free and also made without the use of sulfates, phthalates, parabens, petrochemicals, mineral oil, silicone and talc.

Packaging
Housed inside a glass vessel with an elegant metal collar, this reed diffuser looks as elegant as it smells, with classic Neom labelling. Included comes six reeds and it's packaged inside a Neom box, ensuring it's ready to gift if need be.

The best herbal home fragrance

(Image credit: The White Company)

3. The White Company Geranium Leaf Candle

Specifications

Burn Time: 28hrs

Size: 4.9oz

Notes: Geranium, Peppermint, Sicilian Orange

Wax: Mineral

Today's Best Deals

Searching for a fresh home fragrance? This Geranium Leaf candle should be in your home – it's uplighting and anything but subtle. A unique blend of citrus with herbs and fruits, it's also powerful enough to rid your home of any smells. Place it in a kitchen or bathroom, or even hallway for the best results. I loved lighting this candle after cleaning, to flood a fresh fragrance through my home. It's definitely kitchen and bathroom friendly, but don't hide its gorgeous ceramic vessel away. Be aware that this candle can be overpowering if lit in a smaller room, though.

Scent
With immediate notes of geranium, hence the name, as well as peppermint and Sicilian orange, there are also very subtle notes of lavender in this candle. A unique herbal aroma that should be a happy fit for most people, just be aware that it's only available to buy at certain times of the year. Stock up whilst you can!

Packaging
Poured inside a ceramic vessel that arrives complete with a lid, we think this candle looks as great as it smells. It also arrives inside a box, in case you want to give it as a gift to someone special. The same goes for all The White Company candles – they are filled in the UK using high-quality wax.

The best floral home fragrance

(Image credit: Noble Isle)

4. Noble Isle Rhubarb Rhubarb! Fine Fragrance Reed Diffuser

Specifications

Life: 16-20 weeks

Size: 100ml

Notes: Rhubarb, Juniper Berry, Rosemary

Refills available?: No

Today's Best Deals

If it's a sweet fragrance that you are searching for, then we can recommend the awesome Noble Isle Rhubarb Rhubarb diffuser. Not only is it housed in an elegant black glass vessel, but this diffuser is powerfully fragranced to impress. I use this reed diffuser in my entryway, to flood its gorgeous floral yet slightly sweet fragrance throughout my home, and to make a good impression on guests in the first instance of them stepping foot into my home. A flip of the reeds releases a burst of fragrance, and I would go as far as to say that it's my signature hallway scent. I probably wouldn't try anything else now.

Scent
A balancing aroma of sweet rhubarb, sour juniper berry and fresh muddled rosemary, the sweet smell of this diffuser is never overpowering, yet it always manages to reach each and every corner of a room. We use ours to scent our entryway, and it always impresses guests on their arrival. As well as being sweet, this scent is nice and fresh and perfect for use during spring and summer. Plus, it has lasted us several months and reeds require infrequent flipping. Also, the fragrance is cruelty-free and vegan.

Packaging
Elegantly poured inside a black glass vessel, this reed diffuser comes with five reeds, and it definitely looks smart enough to earn its place on display. It also arrives nestled inside an elegant gift box.  Just bear in mind that you can't buy fragrance refills of this diffuser.

The best warm home fragrance

(Image credit: Noble Isle)

5. Noble Isle Whisky and Water Candle

Specifications

Burn Time: 45hrs

Size: 200g

Notes: Whisky, Water

Wax: Mineral

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When we say that Noble Isle's Whisky and Water Candle is spicy, we truly mean it. It's also powerful and can be smelled before it's lit. Use it to fragrance any size room – and to make a statement. I mostly used this candle inside my spare bedroom, when it was a home office. It's quite a serious fragrance and isn't one for everyone, thanks to its super strong scent (you can actually smell it even when unlit). It's quite masculine but great for the warmer months. It burns clean, though you'll want to avoid lighting this candle in window-less rooms as it might become too overpowering.

Scent
Scented with, you guessed it: whisky and water, but also tonka bean and amber for good balance. It also has subtle floral notes to control its power, but otherwise, it's as spicy as they come.

Packaging
Poured inside a matte black glass vessel with a subtle Noble Isle logo on the front, this candle looks as elegant as it smells. It also arrives inside a lovely gift box with a bow on top. It's vegan and also has a 45-hour burn time. It doesn't come with a lid.

The best vanilla home fragrance

(Image credit: Floral Street)

6. Floral Street Vanilla Bloom Reed Diffuser

Specifications

Life: Up to 4 months

Size: 3.4oz

Notes: Plum, Liquid Musks, Spanish Ciste, Cashmere woods, Amber, Vanilla

Refills available?: No

Today's Best Deals

If you have been searching for a vanilla reed diffuser that isn't too warm — or too overpowering —then this is the one for you. Floral Street's Vanilla Bloom diffuser is the perfect concoction of scents, and it's the perfect addition to your home to brighten a room, and not only because it's housed in a bright yellow vessel to add a pop of color to your interiors at the same time. I tried this reed diffuser everywhere, from my kitchen to my living room and my entryway, and it's pretty versatile. Though it's not as strong as you'd expect from a vanilla fragrance, I liked this about it as sometimes I find vanilla scents to be super overpowering. It's uplifting and slightly warm. 

Scent
This Nordstrom-exclusive is a delicious blend of vanilla, plum, rose, and amber, for a deeper vanilla fragrance that never smells too warm or too powerful. We suggest using this diffuser in an entryway or living room, for an uplifting instantaneous effect. The fragrance itself is paraben-free, sulfate-free, phthalate-free, dye-free, and pigment-free.

Packaging
This fragrance is poured inside a fun bright yellow glass vessel, complete with a metal collar and five thick reeds. You'll want to flip these reeds every few weeks. It arrives inside a gorgeous floral box to impress, too. Unfortunately, you can't buy refills to top up your diffuser with fragrance, although this scent does come in more forms than a reed diffuser, but also a candle and more.

The best home fragrance for spring

(Image credit: Soak Sunday)

7. Soak Sunday Cleo's Paradise Honey & Oat Scented Candle

Specifications

Burn Time: 35hrs

Size: 230g

Notes: Honey, Oats

Wax: N/A

Today's Best Deals

This exquisite blend from Soak Sunday will be sure to impress this spring – in both looks and design. A fitting blend of honey and oat, it's the perfect signature candle for the start of the warmer weather season. Plus, it's light enough to enjoy inside any room of your home, though we'd recommend confining it to your bedroom, entryway, or living room. I preferred lighting this candle in my bedroom, and it burned clean, though bear in mind you'll want to trim your wicks regularly.

Scent
Unlike any other fragrance combination we've ever smelled, this candle is made using spring flower honey and soothing oatmeal and then balanced with vanilla, honeycomb, and roasted oats. It's light, making it perfect for spring and summer, yet its throwability is impressive. We've had guests comment on the scent of this candle, saying how impressed they are by its aroma.

Packaging
We love the white glass vessel that this candle is poured inside. It's elegant, with a quote reading 'Sink into your soul & emerge eternally glowing' wrapped around its front. The glass vessel itself is thick and sizeable at 230g. Oh, and it has a 35 hour burn time.

The best home fragrance for summer

(Image credit: Skandinavisk)

8. Skandinavisk Lempi Candle

Specifications

Burn time: 50hrs

Size: 200g

Notes: Peony, Rose, Strawberries & Mosses

Wax: Swedish Rapeseed Wax

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We've said it before and we'll say it again: this Skandinavisk candle is one of our top favorites around. It's the perfect floral candle that never takes over a room, giving off just the right amount of fragrance to reach from one corner of a room to the other. Plus, it burns nice and evenly every time. This candle will always be one of my favorites – in fact I've repurchased it again and again. Every time it burns evenly, and its aroma always manages to fill my living room and impress my guests.

Scent
The Lempi candle is fragranced using all of the best floral scents, including peonies, roses, strawberries, and even mosses for good balance. To remind you of spring and summer blooms, even when you might be stuck inside. We sometimes find floral scents to be a tad overpowering, but this is never the case with this Scandinavisk candle. In fact, it boasts an impressive throw and is quite nice and subtle.

Packaging
Poured into a white glass Scandi-style vessel that's made from 30 percent recyclable materials, this candle even has an FSC-certified wooden lid for keeping dust away. It's made of a Swedish rapeseed wax blend. We think it looks as pretty as it smells.

The best home fragrance for fall

(Image credit: The White Company)

9. The White Company Fireside Diffuser

Specifications

Life: 3 months

Size: 5.1oz

Notes: Smoked Woods, Birch, Amber

Refills Available?: No

Today's Best Deals

The White Company's Fireside diffuser is the perfect addition to your home come fall and wintertime. Just place the reeds in the fragrance as soon as the weather starts getting cold. Then, pop it in a living room, bedroom, or entryway and breathe in the powerful yet unique scent that replicates... you guessed it: the smell of a roaring fireplace. It really is extraordinary – and impressively powerful yet never too scented. This is one of, if not the best reed diffuser that I've ever tested at home. Its impressive reach paired with its luxurious woody fragrance had this diffuser turn my bedroom into the most inviting space as the temperatures were getting colder.

Scent
With scent notes of smoked woods, birch and amber, this concoction almost screams fall and winter. It adds a warm and cozy vibe to any room, no matter its size. You'll need to flip the reeds occasionally, but rest assured once you do, this scent will fill the air in your space. You can also place this reed diffuser anywhere inside a room – it doesn't need to be placed in the center of a space! It's definitely not one for spring or summer, just an FYI.

Packaging
Housed inside the classic The White Company glass vessel, this diffuser will look the part on your side whilst scenting your home. It comes with rattan sticks to use accordingly, based on your room size and strength preference. It also comes inside a gorgeous white box, making it ready to gift.

The best home fragrance for Christmas

(Image credit: The White Company)

10. The White Company Fir Tree Candle

Specifications

Burn time: 18hrs

Size: 75g

Notes: Eucalyptus, Pine & Cedar

Wax: Mineral

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The White Company's Fir Tree candle is, without a doubt, our best pick for wintertime. Why? It smells like your Christmas tree, but better – and 10 times more fresh. I spent the entirety of December and January lighting this candle inside my living room. My dinner guests couldn't stop commenting on its fragrance, and even though my living room is sizeable it always managed to add a festive feel to this space.

Scent
This Christmassy candle has woody yet fresh notes of pine, eucalyptus, and cedarwood. Though wintery, it still manages to give off a slightly ozonic fragrance to leave your rooms smelling fresh. We definitely suggest placing this candle in your living room; otherwise, it works great in a hallway to greet your guests with a festive fragrance.

Packaging
You can buy this candle in several sizes, from 14g tea lights to a whopping 1555g candle. We suggest picking the 585g candle since it has the longest burn time of 114 hours. Though the votive size that we've pictured above is most popular. You can select whether you'd prefer this The White Company candle to come in a glass votive or unhoused and ready to light on a plate.

The best home fragrance for bedrooms

(Image credit: Neom)

11. Neom Organics London Real Luxury Scented Candle

Specifications

Burn Time: 20hrs/35hrs/50hrs

Size: 2.65oz/6.52oz/14.81oz

Notes: Lavender, Jasmine, Brazilian Rosewood

Wax: Vegetable

Today's Best Deals

Aptly named the Real Luxury candle, this Neom offering ticks all our boxes when it comes to finding an appropriate candle for your bedroom. Plus, it comes in a range of sizes, whether you are searching for a single wick candle or a three-wick option. Moreover, it burns super clean, and whilst testing I used it in both my bedroom and my entryway. I preferred burning this candle in my bedroom, before bed to help me unwind.

Scent
This candle gets its aroma from a blend of 24 natural essential oils, meaning that it's kind to light inside the room in which you sleep and breathe all night long. Its main fragrance notes come from lavender, jasmine, and Brazilian rosewood. It's a floral blend overall, but it's also, as its name suggests, relaxing and also slightly warm. Its scent is one you can light pretty much year-round.

Packaging
Hand-poured inside a classic Neom glass vessel, this candle comes in your choice of three sizes, with a maximum burn time of up to 50 hours. This vessel is quite often used once the candle has fully burned, and cleaned out to become a plant pot or makeup brush holder.

The best home fragrance for bathrooms

(Image credit: Yankee Candle)

12. Yankee Candle 2022 Scent of the Year Inspire

Specifications

Burn Time: 110 - 150hrs

Size: 623g

Notes: Sea Salt, Lime

Wax: Paraffin

Today's Best Deals

Inspire is Yankee Candle's scent of the year for 2022, and it's safe to say that this citrus fragrance is nice and fresh. We think it's the best fit for freshening up a bathroom, and with its impressive burn time you can leave this candle alight whilst you have guests over, to make an everlasting impression in your bathroom. It has been doing an incredible job at scenting my bathroom so far, though this space is small and windowless, it's never too overpowering and offers the perfect balance of a fresh aroma.

Scent
Inspire is a very fresh and citrus-based scent, and on the first sniff, you can definitely smell the ocean breeze accords as well as a hint of the lime. Undertones include bamboo, ginger, cedar, verbena, driftwood plus more. This fragrance will be sure to add an uplifting effect to your bathroom.

Packaging
Nothing dissimilar to the usual Yankee Candle packaging, Inspire comes in an apothecary jar with a glass dome lid, with a fancy blue pattern for adding some color to your bathroom.

The best home fragrance for kitchens

(Image credit: Mrs. Meyer's Clean Day)

13. Mrs. Meyer's Lavender Large Jar Candle

Specifications

Burn Time: 35hrs

Size: 7.2oz

Notes: Lavender

Wax: Soy/Vegetable

Today's Best Deals

Mrs. Meyer's fans will already know this scent well since it's also available in everything from hand soap to dryer sheets. But we're still not sick of it, and the crisp, fresh, and inviting lavender scent is one of our favorite choices for a powder room or entryway. I tested this lovely candle and used it in mostly my kitchen and bathroom, and its impressive scent is anything but overpowering. I'm not usually a fan of lavender fragrances, but this one is a lovely fresh blend that's also herbal, to imitate a clean home.

Scent
It's light, floral, and clean, reminiscent of a bright spring day in the park. A lovely combination of floral and herbal, this lavender fragrance is slightly warm making it perfect for use in between the seasons. 

Packaging
The Mrs. Meyer's Lavender candle comes in an eco-friendly recycled glass jar that complements casual spaces well. It looks great in a kitchen or bathroom, though we'd probably avoid displaying it in your entryway, bedroom or living room. Perfect for the warmer months, this home fragrance is made from renewable ingredients like soy and vegetable wax that make it a sustainable scent, too.  

How did we test these home fragrances?

Our Deputy Ecommerce Editor, Annie Collyer, has been testing all types of home fragrance from reed diffusers to candles and room sprays, inside her home for the best part of a year now. She has had hands-on experience with each and every one of the products in this guide, and she tests the candles until they are fully burned. The reed diffusers have all been tested until they are near to empty, and she tends to move these fragrances around her home to see which room(s) they work best inside.

Annie lives inside a spacious 2-bedroom apartment, with two pets (a dog and a rabbit), so rest assured she's a great tester for these home fragrances. Whether you are searching for something to mask pet smells or a reed diffuser for a spacious living room, she can help.

What to consider when choosing the best home fragrance?

We've listed a range of specs above, along with each product we recommend. Specifications differ from reed diffusers to candles, but when it comes to both of these home fragrances, we've made sure to list both size and notes. Go for a larger candle or reed diffuser if you are considering this for a big space. Consider each fragrance's notes and think about the scents you usually pick up, or ones you already own (and like) at home.

Otherwise, when it comes to candles we've also been sure to list the burn time of each fragrance. Consider this and compare it to the candle's price. The last specification for candles that we listed is wax. This is mostly down to personal preference, but we have found that soy wax burns cleaner than others – and it does tend to be a better option for breathing in.

When listing reed diffusers, we've been sure to note each one's lifespan. This is an approximate timeframe that your reed diffuser should fragrance your home for. This is also useful to compare with the reed diffuser's price tag to consider whether it's worth it, in your opinion. Moreover, we've made sure to check if each reed diffuser has to be fully replaced once finished, or if refills are available. Refilling your reed diffuser isn't only an eco-friendly option, but it's also more affordable than buying the entire diffuser vessel and fragrance again and again.

Round up of today's best deals

Rituals The Ritual of Sakura Mini

£16.50

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Noble Isle Whisky & Water Candle

£28

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Skandinavisk Lempi Candle

£19

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The White Company Fir Tree Candle

£20

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Neom Organics London Real Luxury

£18

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Annie is our Deputy Ecommerce Editor at Real Homes, with her particular area of expertise being home fragrance (there isn't a candle out there that she hasn't lit in her home). She's our guru when it comes to what to buy, when — and also where. She has years of experience when it comes to finding deals — Amazon Prime Day, Black Friday or not — and she particularly loves finding a bargain. With some of her favorite homeware pieces coming from Amazon, she's always looking for budget-friendly alternatives and dupes, as well as eco-friendly products to help her on her recent journey to being more sustainable at home. There's nothing she loves more than her Pug, Doug, and a bargain thrift shop find (yes, she once thrifted a brand new Le Creuset pan). Next up on her to-do list at home: DIY crittall-style doors...

Best home fragrance – 13 impressive scents by season and room

Real Homes is supported by its audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s why you can trust us.

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We've been busy testing the best home fragrances – from reed diffusers to candles – so that you can buy online with peace of mind. We consider the aroma of your home to be just as important as the look of your interiors and with plenty of fragrances to choose from out there, finding the exact one to suit your taste is no easy task. We've found everything from the best home fragrance for fall, to the top floral home fragrance and even an oriental home fragrance. You can pick something to suit the season – and your interior style. It's the small changes that make a big difference at home, and a candle or reed diffuser is a relatively affordable buy that won't break the bank to spruce your interiors.

There are hundreds if not thousands of options on the market, and with new scents and collections being released all of the time, it's easy to feel overwhelmed. With this in mind, our Deputy Ecommerce Editor has personally tried and tested every one of these home fragrances inside her 2-bed apartment. The home fragrances that made it to this list have been her favorite so far. Below, you'll find everything from the best reed diffuser to our favorite candle. We've listed these home fragrances by scent, season, and room. Use the links on your left to jump through this page.

13 of the best home fragrances for 2022

Types of home fragrance in this guide

Candles
Using one of the best candles makes a great way to scent your home, offering a time-release explosion of fragrance (for lack of better terms). Be sure to consider the wax of your candle, with soy being the best and most clean option in our opinion, and also consider the candle's size in comparison to your room size, and how many hours it can burn for. Another thing to think about is the safety of lighting a candle at home. If you have small children or wandering pets, then you might be best off to opt for a different type of home fragrance, unless you can place a candle well out of their reach to prevent it getting knocked over and wax spilling.

Reed diffusers
Another popular home fragrance type is reed diffusers, and they are sensational if you want more control over how strong the scent will be or have concerns about the safety of burning candles. Keep in mind that you'll need to flip the sticks to change which end is in the oil every couple of weeks (some reed diffusers require this every other day) for a fragrance boost. Again, even though reed diffusers aren't necessarily dangerous, you will still want to place them out of the way of children or pets to avoid spillages on your furniture.

The best oriental home fragrance

(Image credit: Rituals)

1. Rituals The Ritual of Sakura Fragrance Sticks

Specifications

Life: 3-4 months

Size: 250ml

Notes: Rice milk and cherry blossom

Refill available?: Yes

Today's Best Deals

The powerful oriental scent of Rituals' The Ritual of Sakura fragrance is one to turn heads – and surprise noses. If you are searching for a strong reed diffuser, perhaps for a bathroom for disguising odors, or for a hallway for flooding fragrance into several rooms, then this is it. It's small in size yet mighty powerful, and I tested it in my spare bedroom, hallway, and living room, and each time I was more impressed by it than the last. It really is powerful but in a good way, and I can definitely see myself repurchasing it again and again, especially since it seems to last a while.

Scent
With nods to the oriental fragrance family thanks to notes of rice milk, cherry blossom, it's a mix of creamy and sweet. You won't really need to flip the reeds with this diffuser, but you can do it when you want a boost or feel like you can no longer smell it (this should take a while!).

Packaging
One thing we will complain about is the packaging. Although it's lovely and boasts a white ribbed design with black reeds, it is very easy to knock over. This is due to its tall shape, so we would suggest placing it way out of the way of small arms, tails and more. A benefit, though, is that you can buy refill bottles for this diffuser so that you can use the same vessel over and over again.

The best fresh home fragrance

(Image credit: Neom)

2. Neom Happiness Reed Diffuser

Specifications

Life: Up to 10 weeks

Size: 3.38oz

Notes: Neroli, Mimosa, Lemon

Refill available?: Yes

Opt for a Neom reed diffuser, specifically their Happiness scent, for use at home during the summertime. This citrus-based fragrance offers a welcomed boost to any room, while it's particularly fitting for kitchens, for busy living rooms for a refresh and it's perfect for an entryway to flood a subtle scent throughout your rooms. I tested this reed diffuser in my bedroom and in my living room, and I think it's the perfect refreshing blend for spring and summer, and it would also work well in an entryway.

Scent
This uplifting scent is fragranced using neroli, mimosa and lemon essential oils, plus it's 100 percent natural for peace of mind. It's completely cruelty-free and also made without the use of sulfates, phthalates, parabens, petrochemicals, mineral oil, silicone and talc.

Packaging
Housed inside a glass vessel with an elegant metal collar, this reed diffuser looks as elegant as it smells, with classic Neom labelling. Included comes six reeds and it's packaged inside a Neom box, ensuring it's ready to gift if need be.

The best herbal home fragrance

(Image credit: The White Company)

3. The White Company Geranium Leaf Candle

Specifications

Burn Time: 28hrs

Size: 4.9oz

Notes: Geranium, Peppermint, Sicilian Orange

Wax: Mineral

Today's Best Deals

Searching for a fresh home fragrance? This Geranium Leaf candle should be in your home – it's uplighting and anything but subtle. A unique blend of citrus with herbs and fruits, it's also powerful enough to rid your home of any smells. Place it in a kitchen or bathroom, or even hallway for the best results. I loved lighting this candle after cleaning, to flood a fresh fragrance through my home. It's definitely kitchen and bathroom friendly, but don't hide its gorgeous ceramic vessel away. Be aware that this candle can be overpowering if lit in a smaller room, though.

Scent
With immediate notes of geranium, hence the name, as well as peppermint and Sicilian orange, there are also very subtle notes of lavender in this candle. A unique herbal aroma that should be a happy fit for most people, just be aware that it's only available to buy at certain times of the year. Stock up whilst you can!

Packaging
Poured inside a ceramic vessel that arrives complete with a lid, we think this candle looks as great as it smells. It also arrives inside a box, in case you want to give it as a gift to someone special. The same goes for all The White Company candles – they are filled in the UK using high-quality wax.

The best floral home fragrance

(Image credit: Noble Isle)

4.

Noble Isle Rhubarb Rhubarb! Fine Fragrance Reed Diffuser

Specifications

Life: 16-20 weeks

Size: 100ml

Notes: Rhubarb, Juniper Berry, Rosemary

Refills available?: No

Today's Best Deals

If it's a sweet fragrance that you are searching for, then we can recommend the awesome Noble Isle Rhubarb Rhubarb diffuser. Not only is it housed in an elegant black glass vessel, but this diffuser is powerfully fragranced to impress. I use this reed diffuser in my entryway, to flood its gorgeous floral yet slightly sweet fragrance throughout my home, and to make a good impression on guests in the first instance of them stepping foot into my home. A flip of the reeds releases a burst of fragrance, and I would go as far as to say that it's my signature hallway scent. I probably wouldn't try anything else now.

Scent
A balancing aroma of sweet rhubarb, sour juniper berry and fresh muddled rosemary, the sweet smell of this diffuser is never overpowering, yet it always manages to reach each and every corner of a room. We use ours to scent our entryway, and it always impresses guests on their arrival. As well as being sweet, this scent is nice and fresh and perfect for use during spring and summer. Plus, it has lasted us several months and reeds require infrequent flipping. Also, the fragrance is cruelty-free and vegan.

Packaging
Elegantly poured inside a black glass vessel, this reed diffuser comes with five reeds, and it definitely looks smart enough to earn its place on display. It also arrives nestled inside an elegant gift box.  Just bear in mind that you can't buy fragrance refills of this diffuser.

The best warm home fragrance

(Image credit: Noble Isle)

5. Noble Isle Whisky and Water Candle

Specifications

Burn Time: 45hrs

Size: 200g

Notes: Whisky, Water

Wax: Mineral

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When we say that Noble Isle's Whisky and Water Candle is spicy, we truly mean it. It's also powerful and can be smelled before it's lit. Use it to fragrance any size room – and to make a statement. I mostly used this candle inside my spare bedroom, when it was a home office. It's quite a serious fragrance and isn't one for everyone, thanks to its super strong scent (you can actually smell it even when unlit). It's quite masculine but great for the warmer months. It burns clean, though you'll want to avoid lighting this candle in window-less rooms as it might become too overpowering.

Scent
Scented with, you guessed it: whisky and water, but also tonka bean and amber for good balance. It also has subtle floral notes to control its power, but otherwise, it's as spicy as they come.

Packaging
Poured inside a matte black glass vessel with a subtle Noble Isle logo on the front, this candle looks as elegant as it smells. It also arrives inside a lovely gift box with a bow on top. It's vegan and also has a 45-hour burn time. It doesn't come with a lid.

The best vanilla home fragrance

(Image credit: Floral Street)

6.

Floral Street Vanilla Bloom Reed Diffuser

Specifications

Life: Up to 4 months

Size: 3.4oz

Notes: Plum, Liquid Musks, Spanish Ciste, Cashmere woods, Amber, Vanilla

Refills available?: No

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If you have been searching for a vanilla reed diffuser that isn't too warm — or too overpowering —then this is the one for you. Floral Street's Vanilla Bloom diffuser is the perfect concoction of scents, and it's the perfect addition to your home to brighten a room, and not only because it's housed in a bright yellow vessel to add a pop of color to your interiors at the same time. I tried this reed diffuser everywhere, from my kitchen to my living room and my entryway, and it's pretty versatile. Though it's not as strong as you'd expect from a vanilla fragrance, I liked this about it as sometimes I find vanilla scents to be super overpowering. It's uplifting and slightly warm. 

Scent
This Nordstrom-exclusive is a delicious blend of vanilla, plum, rose, and amber, for a deeper vanilla fragrance that never smells too warm or too powerful. We suggest using this diffuser in an entryway or living room, for an uplifting instantaneous effect. The fragrance itself is paraben-free, sulfate-free, phthalate-free, dye-free, and pigment-free.

Packaging
This fragrance is poured inside a fun bright yellow glass vessel, complete with a metal collar and five thick reeds. You'll want to flip these reeds every few weeks. It arrives inside a gorgeous floral box to impress, too. Unfortunately, you can't buy refills to top up your diffuser with fragrance, although this scent does come in more forms than a reed diffuser, but also a candle and more.

The best home fragrance for spring

(Image credit: Soak Sunday)

7. Soak Sunday Cleo's Paradise Honey & Oat Scented Candle

Specifications

Burn Time: 35hrs

Size: 230g

Notes: Honey, Oats

Wax: N/A

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This exquisite blend from Soak Sunday will be sure to impress this spring – in both looks and design. A fitting blend of honey and oat, it's the perfect signature candle for the start of the warmer weather season. Plus, it's light enough to enjoy inside any room of your home, though we'd recommend confining it to your bedroom, entryway, or living room. I preferred lighting this candle in my bedroom, and it burned clean, though bear in mind you'll want to trim your wicks regularly.

Scent
Unlike any other fragrance combination we've ever smelled, this candle is made using spring flower honey and soothing oatmeal and then balanced with vanilla, honeycomb, and roasted oats. It's light, making it perfect for spring and summer, yet its throwability is impressive. We've had guests comment on the scent of this candle, saying how impressed they are by its aroma.

Packaging
We love the white glass vessel that this candle is poured inside. It's elegant, with a quote reading 'Sink into your soul & emerge eternally glowing' wrapped around its front. The glass vessel itself is thick and sizeable at 230g. Oh, and it has a 35 hour burn time.

The best home fragrance for summer

(Image credit: Skandinavisk)

8. Skandinavisk Lempi Candle

Specifications

Burn time: 50hrs

Size: 200g

Notes: Peony, Rose, Strawberries & Mosses

Wax: Swedish Rapeseed Wax

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We've said it before and we'll say it again: this Skandinavisk candle is one of our top favorites around. It's the perfect floral candle that never takes over a room, giving off just the right amount of fragrance to reach from one corner of a room to the other. Plus, it burns nice and evenly every time. This candle will always be one of my favorites – in fact I've repurchased it again and again. Every time it burns evenly, and its aroma always manages to fill my living room and impress my guests.

Scent
The Lempi candle is fragranced using all of the best floral scents, including peonies, roses, strawberries, and even mosses for good balance. To remind you of spring and summer blooms, even when you might be stuck inside. We sometimes find floral scents to be a tad overpowering, but this is never the case with this Scandinavisk candle. In fact, it boasts an impressive throw and is quite nice and subtle.

Packaging
Poured into a white glass Scandi-style vessel that's made from 30 percent recyclable materials, this candle even has an FSC-certified wooden lid for keeping dust away. It's made of a Swedish rapeseed wax blend. We think it looks as pretty as it smells.

The best home fragrance for fall

(Image credit: The White Company)

9. The White Company Fireside Diffuser

Specifications

Life: 3 months

Size: 5.1oz

Notes: Smoked Woods, Birch, Amber

Refills Available?: No

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The White Company's Fireside diffuser is the perfect addition to your home come fall and wintertime. Just place the reeds in the fragrance as soon as the weather starts getting cold. Then, pop it in a living room, bedroom, or entryway and breathe in the powerful yet unique scent that replicates... you guessed it: the smell of a roaring fireplace. It really is extraordinary – and impressively powerful yet never too scented. This is one of, if not the best reed diffuser that I've ever tested at home. Its impressive reach paired with its luxurious woody fragrance had this diffuser turn my bedroom into the most inviting space as the temperatures were getting colder.

Scent
With scent notes of smoked woods, birch and amber, this concoction almost screams fall and winter. It adds a warm and cozy vibe to any room, no matter its size. You'll need to flip the reeds occasionally, but rest assured once you do, this scent will fill the air in your space. You can also place this reed diffuser anywhere inside a room – it doesn't need to be placed in the center of a space! It's definitely not one for spring or summer, just an FYI.

Packaging
Housed inside the classic The White Company glass vessel, this diffuser will look the part on your side whilst scenting your home. It comes with rattan sticks to use accordingly, based on your room size and strength preference. It also comes inside a gorgeous white box, making it ready to gift.

The best home fragrance for Christmas

(Image credit: The White Company)

10. The White Company Fir Tree Candle

Specifications

Burn time: 18hrs

Size: 75g

Notes: Eucalyptus, Pine & Cedar

Wax: Mineral

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The White Company's Fir Tree candle is, without a doubt, our best pick for wintertime. Why? It smells like your Christmas tree, but better – and 10 times more fresh. I spent the entirety of December and January lighting this candle inside my living room. My dinner guests couldn't stop commenting on its fragrance, and even though my living room is sizeable it always managed to add a festive feel to this space.

Scent
This Christmassy candle has woody yet fresh notes of pine, eucalyptus, and cedarwood. Though wintery, it still manages to give off a slightly ozonic fragrance to leave your rooms smelling fresh. We definitely suggest placing this candle in your living room; otherwise, it works great in a hallway to greet your guests with a festive fragrance.

Packaging
You can buy this candle in several sizes, from 14g tea lights to a whopping 1555g candle. We suggest picking the 585g candle since it has the longest burn time of 114 hours. Though the votive size that we've pictured above is most popular. You can select whether you'd prefer this The White Company candle to come in a glass votive or unhoused and ready to light on a plate.

The best home fragrance for bedrooms

(Image credit: Neom)

11. Neom Organics London Real Luxury Scented Candle

Specifications

Burn Time: 20hrs/35hrs/50hrs

Size: 2.65oz/6.52oz/14.81oz

Notes: Lavender, Jasmine, Brazilian Rosewood

Wax: Vegetable

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Aptly named the Real Luxury candle, this Neom offering ticks all our boxes when it comes to finding an appropriate candle for your bedroom. Plus, it comes in a range of sizes, whether you are searching for a single wick candle or a three-wick option. Moreover, it burns super clean, and whilst testing I used it in both my bedroom and my entryway. I preferred burning this candle in my bedroom, before bed to help me unwind.

Scent
This candle gets its aroma from a blend of 24 natural essential oils, meaning that it's kind to light inside the room in which you sleep and breathe all night long. Its main fragrance notes come from lavender, jasmine, and Brazilian rosewood. It's a floral blend overall, but it's also, as its name suggests, relaxing and also slightly warm. Its scent is one you can light pretty much year-round.

Packaging
Hand-poured inside a classic Neom glass vessel, this candle comes in your choice of three sizes, with a maximum burn time of up to 50 hours. This vessel is quite often used once the candle has fully burned, and cleaned out to become a plant pot or makeup brush holder.

The best home fragrance for bathrooms

(Image credit: Yankee Candle)

12. Yankee Candle 2022 Scent of the Year Inspire

Specifications

Burn Time: 110 - 150hrs

Size: 623g

Notes: Sea Salt, Lime

Wax: Paraffin

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Inspire is Yankee Candle's scent of the year for 2022, and it's safe to say that this citrus fragrance is nice and fresh. We think it's the best fit for freshening up a bathroom, and with its impressive burn time you can leave this candle alight whilst you have guests over, to make an everlasting impression in your bathroom. It has been doing an incredible job at scenting my bathroom so far, though this space is small and windowless, it's never too overpowering and offers the perfect balance of a fresh aroma.

Scent
Inspire is a very fresh and citrus-based scent, and on the first sniff, you can definitely smell the ocean breeze accords as well as a hint of the lime. Undertones include bamboo, ginger, cedar, verbena, driftwood plus more. This fragrance will be sure to add an uplifting effect to your bathroom.

Packaging
Nothing dissimilar to the usual Yankee Candle packaging, Inspire comes in an apothecary jar with a glass dome lid, with a fancy blue pattern for adding some color to your bathroom.

The best home fragrance for kitchens

(Image credit: Mrs. Meyer's Clean Day)

13. Mrs. Meyer's Lavender Large Jar Candle

Specifications

Burn Time: 35hrs

Size: 7.2oz

Notes: Lavender

Wax: Soy/Vegetable

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Mrs. Meyer's fans will already know this scent well since it's also available in everything from hand soap to dryer sheets. But we're still not sick of it, and the crisp, fresh, and inviting lavender scent is one of our favorite choices for a powder room or entryway. I tested this lovely candle and used it in mostly my kitchen and bathroom, and its impressive scent is anything but overpowering. I'm not usually a fan of lavender fragrances, but this one is a lovely fresh blend that's also herbal, to imitate a clean home.

Scent
It's light, floral, and clean, reminiscent of a bright spring day in the park. A lovely combination of floral and herbal, this lavender fragrance is slightly warm making it perfect for use in between the seasons. 

Packaging
The Mrs. Meyer's Lavender candle comes in an eco-friendly recycled glass jar that complements casual spaces well. It looks great in a kitchen or bathroom, though we'd probably avoid displaying it in your entryway, bedroom or living room. Perfect for the warmer months, this home fragrance is made from renewable ingredients like soy and vegetable wax that make it a sustainable scent, too.  

How did we test these home fragrances?

Our Deputy Ecommerce Editor, Annie Collyer, has been testing all types of home fragrance from reed diffusers to candles and room sprays, inside her home for the best part of a year now. She has had hands-on experience with each and every one of the products in this guide, and she tests the candles until they are fully burned. The reed diffusers have all been tested until they are near to empty, and she tends to move these fragrances around her home to see which room(s) they work best inside.

Annie lives inside a spacious 2-bedroom apartment, with two pets (a dog and a rabbit), so rest assured she's a great tester for these home fragrances. Whether you are searching for something to mask pet smells or a reed diffuser for a spacious living room, she can help.

What to consider when choosing the best home fragrance?

We've listed a range of specs above, along with each product we recommend. Specifications differ from reed diffusers to candles, but when it comes to both of these home fragrances, we've made sure to list both size and notes. Go for a larger candle or reed diffuser if you are considering this for a big space. Consider each fragrance's notes and think about the scents you usually pick up, or ones you already own (and like) at home.

Otherwise, when it comes to candles we've also been sure to list the burn time of each fragrance. Consider this and compare it to the candle's price. The last specification for candles that we listed is wax. This is mostly down to personal preference, but we have found that soy wax burns cleaner than others – and it does tend to be a better option for breathing in.

When listing reed diffusers, we've been sure to note each one's lifespan. This is an approximate timeframe that your reed diffuser should fragrance your home for. This is also useful to compare with the reed diffuser's price tag to consider whether it's worth it, in your opinion. Moreover, we've made sure to check if each reed diffuser has to be fully replaced once finished, or if refills are available. Refilling your reed diffuser isn't only an eco-friendly option, but it's also more affordable than buying the entire diffuser vessel and fragrance again and again.

Round up of today's best deals

Rituals The Ritual of Sakura Mini

£16.50

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Noble Isle Whisky & Water Candle

£28

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Skandinavisk Lempi Candle

£19

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The White Company Fir Tree Candle

£20

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Neom Organics London Real Luxury

£18

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Annie is our Deputy Ecommerce Editor at Real Homes, with her particular area of expertise being home fragrance (there isn't a candle out there that she hasn't lit in her home). She's our guru when it comes to what to buy, when — and also where. She has years of experience when it comes to finding deals — Amazon Prime Day, Black Friday or not — and she particularly loves finding a bargain. With some of her favorite homeware pieces coming from Amazon, she's always looking for budget-friendly alternatives and dupes, as well as eco-friendly products to help her on her recent journey to being more sustainable at home. There's nothing she loves more than her Pug, Doug, and a bargain thrift shop find (yes, she once thrifted a brand new Le Creuset pan). Next up on her to-do list at home: DIY crittall-style doors...

The best fragrances for home and interior

Thanks to quarantine, we all finally began to spend more time at home. And appreciate small pleasures like new curtains. The next step is to buy fragrances for the home.

Leah Fayzullina

You must have noticed how nice new expensive cars smell. And in boutiques of luxury brands you always want to sniff: there is such a subtle, barely perceptible “smell of luxury”. No, it’s not expensive interior leather and not silk and velvet from the best manufactories that smell like this - these are perfumes that were specially developed by perfumers for car salons and boutiques. Now that we've been spending so much time at home, it's time to choose a fragrance for him too.

Black Label Decor Tessuto, Culti Milano, 10 600 RUB

It was the Italian brand Culti Milano who invented the modern diffuser with rattan sticks more than 30 years ago. One of the most popular brand fragrances is Black Label. It smells of musk, blackcurrant and cotton.

Au The Vert, BVLGARI, 4800 RUB

This is the very first fragrance of the Bvlgari jewelry house, which can be heard in boutiques and premium hotels around the world. And now the memory of your honeymoon at Shangri-La can be taken away in an elegant bottle. In it, the characteristic astringency of green tea is revealed with the help of a top note of fresh Italian bergamot and a pinch of spicy black pepper. Saturate curtains, pillows and furniture with it.

Gianna, Flame Moscow, RUB 2290

The Russian niche perfumery studio Flame Moscow gives its fragrances feminine names so as not to reveal the notes in the title. But we, in a big secret, will share what our favorite smells like. The hot and sensual composition of Gianna fragrance shocks with the sharpness of the tree to envelop with the sweetness of pecan and notes of hazelnut. It is ideal to install it on the summer veranda of the cottage to awaken the appetite and enjoy morning coffee with the family.

Dans Mon Li, Frederic Malle, 7110 rubles

The French brand was founded by Frederic Male, the grandson of the famous perfumer Serge Heftler, the author of the iconic fragrances of the House of Dior. Frederic, surrounded by loud aromas since childhood, decided to embody restraint and originality in his brainchild. For example, this spray is intended only for scenting bed linen. In its heart Essen Turkish rose, a bouquet of garden flowers and white musk. To imagine this fragrance, move to the gardens of Istanbul, where the spicy aromas of spices from the neighboring street merge with blooming roses.

West, Dr. Vranjes, 6450 rubles

We all miss the sea a little now. Waking up to the smell of a breeze in your own apartment will help the diffuser West Dr. vranjes. Its heart is green bergamot, sea breeze, orange and lemon flowers. The main thing is not to look at the street, but just close your eyes and visualize. Dreams Come True!

Freshness, L'Occitane 1450 RUB

Sometimes you just want your home to smell like the freshness of a summer morning. This scent is captured in L'Occitane's diffuser fragrance with mint, pine, rosemary and sweet orange essential oils.

Baies, Diptyque, 18290 rubles

The French perfume house Diptyque was founded by three artists in 1961. And this creative approach is immediately noticeable: each bottle is a work of art. For example, this hourglass-shaped diffuser will be a real decoration of any interior. And it smells like the legendary bright berry flavor of the brand - Baies. The diffuser contains essential oils of blackcurrant leaves and rose. We warn you: you will get tired of answering questions from guests about the name of the fragrance.

Luce di Colonia, Acqua di Parma, 5200 rubles

A bright option for lovers of rich and memorable fragrances. In Luce di Colonia, juicy citrus gives way to light shades of neroli and petitgrain, and in the finale flows into patchouli and vetiver. It will perfectly "voice" a loft-style apartment or a country house with a fireplace.

Vanilla Blend, Zielinski & Rozen, 9900 RUB

That feeling when you pass by your favorite gastronomy and are seduced by the crazy smell of vanilla and baked goods that you want to buy and take home. It seems that Zielinski & Rozen guessed our little weaknesses, creating an absolutely vanilla diffuser for the house. Vanilla sounds very bright in it, setting off all other notes. It's delicious and very appetizing, let's take it to the kitchen!

Red Roses, Jo Malone, 5800 RUR

The Red Roses diffuser is reminiscent of a birthday party, when the house is filled with the aroma of presented bouquets. This composition contains seven varieties of roses, violets and notes of lemon. Just put it in the bedroom so that the feeling of eternal holiday never leaves you.

Have you ever felt unpleasant smells in someone else's house?

which one to choose, rating with photo