Christmas: ‘Scent-scaping’ makes a house a festive home

Create a cosy home this Christmas with the art of scent-scaping. Tara Carlile-Smith, founder of Freckleface Home Fragrance on Cambridge’s Rose Crescent, tells us how

Tell us about the business:
“Freckleface started in 2017 as a hobby and a way of showing our son Noah how a business works - he’s always been a little entrepreneur! We made wax melts and candles for family and his teachers, and it has grown from there.
“Noah is my business partner and we are very proud to have built a brand that is now stocked in more than 750 shops and continues to grow and expand.
“We are also proud that our products are 100% vegan, all our ingredients are ethical and, where possible, locally sourced. Every product is handmade in our workshop in the UK by our dedicated team.”

What is scent-scaping?
“Scent-scaping is the art of using complementary fragrances throughout the home to create a welcoming environment. Layering scents can transform your guest’s experience and enhance your home’s ambience.
“Scent is a powerful tool when it comes to evoking memories and our emotions. No time is this more prominent than at Christmas when a scent can immediately transport us to a festive memory, evoking warmth and nostalgia.
“Our Christmas range has been developed to tap into our memory bank of longstanding festive traditions. The scent of Evergreen, for example, immediately reminds us of bringing the Christmas tree home, whilst the warm aromas of Cinnamon Latte invoke memories of festive baking.”

How can we scent-scape our home?
“Start with your main living space. If you have an artificial tree, try splashing it with a fragrance oil – particularly one with woody and crisp notes. Freckleface’s Evergreen is reminiscent of fresh fir. Alternatively, use ceramic scent carriers as baubles with the scent sprinkled onto them.
“These ceramic scent carriers are also perfect for continuing your scent-scape into smaller rooms of the house, like a cloakroom or bathroom. To carry the scent throughout your main living space, add a diffuser or room spray in the same, or a complementary scent. Christmas Star has notes of fir and pine as well as an earthy smokiness reminiscent of a cosy, open fire.

“Food plays a big role during Christmas – as does the kitchen. To ensure any unwanted odours in this pivotal area of the home, use fresh scents where top notes include citrus or pine as they will help to neutralise other smells. Examples of kitchen-friendly scents include spiced orange, eucalyptus and peppermint, or - for a Christmassy flourish – frankincense and myrrh. Using wax melts in the kitchen helps to maintain a more constant and long-lasting scent.

“We host more during the festive season than any other time of the year. To create a cosy, warm ambience for your guests, try crafting a tablescape with fresh foliage from the garden and scatter with a mix of large and small candles in vintage glass holders. To create that festive feeling around the dining table, choose scents that combine earthy with citrus tones - like Freckleface’s Christmas Star.”

Find Freckleface Home Fragrance on Rose Crescent, Cambridge and at frecklefacehomefragrance.com