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Ideal Home
Ideal Home
Rebecca Knight

A 'base scent' is the secret technique all the best-smelling homes use – this is how to choose one for your home in 2026

Wooden coffee table with books stacked on top and earthenware vase and candle.

A gorgeously scented home is one of those little pleasures that makes you take a deep breath in as soon as you step in the front door. However, the trick to all the best-smelling homes isn't simply splashing your cash on the most expensive scented candle; instead, it's all about choosing the perfect 'base scent' for your home.

A 'base scent' does what it says on the tin; it is that underlying fragrance that sets the tone for your whole home and will usually come in the form of one of the best reed diffusers. It is a little like a signature scent, which you can then layer over with other scents to suit the season, time of day, or to scent-zone your home.

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