As the holidays get fully underway and our minds turn to decorating our homes, it’s worth considering fragrancing as another way to get everything ready for Christmas. As Kate Crofton Atkins, founder of Cochine, a range of delicious candles inspired by Vietnam knows only too well, some simple smells can completely transform a place, before you even begin on the holly. Here, she shares her tips on how to fragrance your home this winter.
Kate Crofton Atkins of Cochine on how to fragrance your home
I love winter evenings- the shortening days are an excuse to draw the curtains, light a roaring fire and settle into a plumped up sofa. However cold it is outside, it’s all about creating that warm glow inside which you can do with fragrance, lighting and a few other tricks
Winter is the perfect candle time of year – the crackle and glow of a candle adds a special warmth to a room. I tend to move away from floral or citrus scents and fill the house with warm, woody fragrances like (Cochine) Agarwood & Amber, a rich, sensuous scent combining agarwood, white amber, tuberose and patchouli or Vanille & Tabac Noir, a sultry blend of vanilla bean, tobacco flower, cardamom and nutmeg. Our new winter fragrance, Juniper & Ginger, encapsulates what Christmas means to me- crisp yet spicy, it combines fresh notes of Juniper, Eucalyptus and Bergamot with the sweet spiciness of ginger and clove.
Lighting is also important to get that warm glow – try replacing lights with lower watt bulbs and use table lamps rather than ceiling lights.
Winter foliage can make your home look and smell more festive. I decorate the centre of our dining table with eucalyptus and pine- they are easy to get and smell amazing- and intersperse with candles, holly, red berries, pine cones, silver ribbon and small silver baubles. You can prepare it now and it will last throughout December, just spray it every few days. It looks fresh during the day and festive at night when the candles reflect off the silver. Arrange it on mirrored squares for extra effect.
