If there's one place synonymous with relaxation – it's a spa.
With delicate scents wafting through the air to evoke a calming atmosphere from the moment you walk through the door, the mood is set instantaneously. But what if you could create this sense of serenity in your own home?
I spoke to directors of luxury spa hotels all around the world, from France to Puerto Rico, to gather up their best kept scent secrets – to help you recreate that luxury spa aroma in your own entryway and make your home smell nice.
These are the entryway fragrance secrets used by luxury spa directors worldwide
Four Seasons Hotel, Megève, French Alps
Nestled on the slopes of Mont d'Arbois, in the heart of the French Alps, is the Four Seasons Hotel Megève. Continuing the legacy of the Edmond de Rothschild family, who sought to create an unrivaled, luxury hotel experience almost a century ago, Charlotte Ginolin, spa director, explains how they harness the idea of alpine chic to create a 'cocoon,' that you can recreate at home.
'At the entrance to our spa, we have an electronic diffuser filled with our signature scent, Promenade à Megève, she says. 'This creates an enveloping, scented experience from the moment the elevator doors open and the guests enter the spa floor, creating an alpine cocoon.
'Promenade à Megève was created last year and is a locally inspired scent that matches our surroundings – think Alpine fresh with mountain aromatic plant extracts, edelweiss, white pine tree and pine sap.'
If you're lucky enough to visit the Four Seasons Hotel, Megève, this beautiful scent can be purchased in scented candles and sprays at the spa boutique, but to recreate it at home go for fresh, woody scents that invigorate your space with a luxury, alpine feel.
There are plenty of matching home fragrance finds to keep your home smelling great all winter, and through into the warmer seasons.
All prices were correct at the time of publication.
I have used this Muji diffuser at home for years, and couldn't recommend it more. It's chic, sleek, and has two light settings for a calming ambience. As it's cordless, you can place it anywhere in your entryway, on a shelf or even on the floor, for a luxury spa scent experience as soon as you enter your home.
I absolutely love this scented candle for a pine scent that's not too heavy. With notes of lily of the valley, pine needles, fir sap and birch sap, it really does smell like a crisp morning in the Alps and shares notes with Promenade à Megève. It's vegan, cruelty-free, sustainable, and has a 50-hour burn time.
Made with essential oils and a premium soy-wax blend, this budget-friendly candle looks luxe, housed in a colored glass jar. With a burn time of 40-65 hours, it will keep your entryway smelling Alpine-fresh for that French Alps inspired spa smell.
Andronis Boutique Hotels, Santorini & Paros, Greece
With a collection of six boutique hotels in Santorini and Paros, Andronis luxury hotels deliver world-class luxury with bespoke spa experiences.
'Recreating the tranquil, luxurious atmosphere of a high-end spa at home begins with evoking the right scents,' say the spa team at Andronis. 'Here, we've crafted Iced Freshness, a signature fragrance that encapsulates the serene and revitalizing experience of our hotels.
Their signature scent opens with zesty, uplifting notes of verbena, green leaves, and lemon, 'reminiscent of a fresh Mediterranean breeze.'
At the heart of this spa fragrance is a harmonious blend of peppermint, Litsea cubeba (a Chinese evergreen tree), and crisp green notes, to capture the essence of pure relaxation and tranquility.
'Finally, the scent gently settles into a soothing base of lemon peel, spearmint, and lavender, leaving behind a lingering sense of calm and serene elegance,' they add.
So, to use the scent secrets from Adonis in your entryway, first choose the atmosphere you want to evoke. Is it calming, vibrant or energizing? Then, simply match scent choices to what you want to recreate, which is one of the things people with nice smelling hallways always do.
The spa itself is 'inspired by rejuvenation, balance, and energy, we believe in the power of specific fragrances to evoke these states of well-being.'
To channel the essence of rejuvenation in your own entryway, the spa team at Andronis advise looking for scents that refresh and invigorate, like citrus and mint, choosing candles such as the LA JOLIE MUSE Lemon Candle available at Amazon, or the bestselling Chesapeake Bay Refresh + Rejuvenate Mediterranean Citrus Scented Candle, also available at Amazon.
For balance, opt for calming aromas like lavender and eucalyptus, to help center the body and mind.
'Finally, for a sense of energy, vibrant and uplifting notes such as lemongrass and verbena can create an atmosphere of vitality and renewal,' they say. 'By choosing scents aligned with these essences, you can transform your home into a sanctuary that reflects the luxury and tranquility of a spa experience.
This candle is made from 100% eco-friendly soy wax with a 80-90 hour burning time. With a non-toxic wood wick, the candle gives off a soft, distinctive crackling sound, to add an atmospheric feel to your entryway.
This beautiful candle is perfect for adding a touch of color and pattern to your entryway. The spa-scent to create a relaxing ambience, with notes of eucalyptus, lavender, tonka bean and vanilla.
Inspired by fresh green mint growing in a herb garden, with notes of sweet basil and earthy tones, this hand-poured candle has an invigorating fresh scent, with two wicks and a burn time of 50 hours.
Dorado Beach, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve, Puerto Rico
'The moment you step into Dorado Beach, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve, the air tells the story of pure luxury,' says spa director Viorica Coman. 'The signature fragrance lingers – a delicate blend of paradise, instantly transporting you to serene shores.
'Then, the fresh aroma of lemongrass and ginger Spa Botánico envelops your senses, awakening the soul and grounding you in the beauty of nature. Each breath is a reminder that here, relaxation if more than a feeling – it's a way of life.'
To bring this mantra into your entryway ideas, use lemongrass notes for a fresh and uplifting aroma. It's often used in aromatherapy and spas to promote relaxation and reduce stress.
We recommend the 96NORTH Luxury Lemongrass Candle available at Amazon, which has a premium scent without the price tag to match, and has a strong burn time of up to 40 hours. To really bring the feel of the Dorado Beach spa into your own entryway, try fragrance layering with notes of ginger.
'A sophisticated balance between these two natural elements crafts an aroma that feels both invigorating and indulgent, balancing the bright, citrus notes of lemongrass with the warm, spicy undertones of ginger,' continues Coman. 'This balance can evoke feelings of calm yet energized luxury – clearing the mind, refreshing the senses, easing tension and promoting relaxation.'
This candle is a blend of ginger and lemongrass, with spicy notes of black pepper, and warming notes of ambrox, fresh cedar and white musk. Housed in a gorgeous glass jar, it's perfect to bring a luxe spa feel into any entryway.
Lucknam Park Hotel & Spa, Wiltshire, UK
In Wiltshire, in the south west of England, sits Lucknam Park, a carefully restored Palladian mansion with luxury spa, set within 500 acres of glorious parkland.
'To capture that spa-like atmosphere, it's all about incorporating calming, natural fragrances that engage the senses in a subtle yet powerful way,' says Jessica Grant Sloyan, director of spa and wellness.
To do so, Grant Sloyan's secret is utilizing essential oils and diffusers, with scents such as lavender, eucalyptus, and sandalwood. 'They're classic spa scents, ideal for creating a soothing environment,' and also work well if you want your bathroom to smell like a luxury spa, too.
Or, opt for high-quality candles with notes of bergamot, jasmine, or chamomile, for a relaxing, elegant touch from the moment you walk through your door.
If you want to want to know how to make a house smell nice without candles, particularly useful if you have children or pets, Grant Sloyan says, 'a cedarwood and citrus room spray offers a fresh, spa-like refresh.' We recommend the Aesop Olous Aromatique Room Spray available at Amazon, which blends citrus, cedar and cardamom.
This candle is fresh and citrusy, with notes of salty winter blooming bergamot orange blend, and the soothing aroma of dried black tea leaves.
This cashmere jasmine candle features a self-trimming wick, which makes your candles last longer by creating a slow, even burn.
This silky, sweet blend candle has inviting scents of florals, vanilla bean and sandalwood, with an earthy patchouli undertone for a luxury entryway scent.
Once your entryway smells like a luxury spa, these are our spa bathroom ideas for an elegant and sophisticated space.
