With a delicious glance at the fairytale gothic spired turrets above us, we stepped into the dark, hushed warmth of a building that both looked – and smelled – like spells. And that, in fact, was exactly what it was: for the Harry Potter-esque 1898 Porter’s House hotel in Ghent has such exquisite attention to detail that it has even curated its own magic-inspired scent diffuser, “Freyr” – an abundance spell, comprising patchouli, amber, vetiver and myrrh.
What it smelled like to me, however, was a love potion. For this boutique, otherworldly experience didn’t feel like it was for first-year wizards-in-training, heaving bags of luggage (and brooms) onto platform 9 and 3/4. And while families are welcome (there is a Porter’s family suite, complete with terrace, sauna and plunge bath), I personally wouldn’t bring my kids along – because this hotel is sexy. The vibes are cozy, luscious honeymoon, perfect for couples who appreciate something darker and more sensuous; the perfect complement to a winter wedding (or, dare I say, Halloween...?).
