8 Home Fragrances That Will Transport You To Exotic Locales

The world is in lockdown right now, and all international travel, save for the truly essential, has been curtailed. But that doesn’t mean that you can’t still try and recreate part of the travel experience in the safety and comfort of your own home.

Here, we have rounded up 8 of our favourite home fragrances that will tickle your olfactory senses and transport you to colourful destinations. Of course, these scents are all available for purchase online.

01 | Maison Francis Kurkdjian, Le Tamaris Candle

This candle from perfumer Maison Francis Kurkdjian will take you to the heart of the French countryside. The scent of Les Tamaris has a deep warmth, with the scent of everlastings and acacias basking in the sunlight, paired with undertones of smoked coffee and spices. It was composed after the perfumer Francis Kurkdjian’s own memories of Les Tamaris, which is an actual place in the south of France.

“Les Tamaris is my little corner of paradise on the Atlantic coast of France,” says Kurkdjian “It’s a family home in the heart of nature, where the only sounds are the chirping of crickets and the crackling of the parasol pines.” The perfect relaxing destination for when we can all travel again.

Maison Francis Kurkdjian is available at escentials.com.

02 | Le Labo, Calone Vintage Candle

Thinking of that vacation in St Barth? Travel restrictions say that that will remain a pipe dream at least for now, but hey, maybe St Barth can come to you, courtesy of Le labo. Le Labo’s Calone candle will make your home smell exactly like a summer cottage by the sea. The candle, which has a soy base heavily dosed with perfume, has notes of geranium for that green floral scent of fresh-cut wildflowers, amber for warmth, and a strong marine note to simulate the salty sea breeze. Perfect for when your high-rise home gets a little too claustrophobic.

Le Labo is available at lelabofragrances.com.

03 | Editions de Parfum Frédéric Malle, Rubber Incense Rosa Rugosa

Imagine this: Wild roses, deep dark pink, growing on the edge of a sandy beach, straining against the wind. These wild roses are often found growing wild all along the Atlantic coast of the United States. Their dry, cold, and almost astringent scent was recreated in perfume form by Carlos Benaïm — considered America’s most eminent living perfumer — and will transport you to the blustery summers of New York.

The rubber incense sheets from Frédéric Malle are the modern evolution of the fragrance sachet, and are powerful enough to scent a small space for up to half a year. The patented rubber material is also 100 percent recyclable.

Frederic Malle is available at escentials.com.

04 | Fornasetti, Scacco Otto Scented Candle

We’ll be honest and say that the best part of Fornasetti’s candles is probably the beautiful imagery of famed Italian opera singer Lina Cavalieri printed on the porcelain container — but make no mistake, the scent is no slouch. The Scacco Otto candle’s scent was created by famed perfumer Olivier Polge — a.k.a. Chanel’s in-house nose — and has tons of herbaceous notes that recall the Mediterranean herbs that would have dotted Piero Fornasetti’s own home. Thyme and lavender topnotes add freshness, heartnotes of cedarwood and orris lend warmth, and basenotes of incense and birch make sure that the entire fragrance is deep and well-rounded. Try not to think about how Cavalieri looks like she’s trapped in a gilded room.

Fornasetti is available at Net-A-Porter.

05 | D.S. & Durga, Breakfast Leipzig Candle

Not gonna lie, we chose this candle because we would like to have breakfast anywhere but home right now. Bonus points if it’s in a city that was voted Germany’s most livable; Leipzig. This candle from New York brand D.S. & Durga was specifically created to capture a special moment in the city. It has notes of Javanese coffee, almonds, and buttery, buttery pastry, combined with the scent of leather upholstery and a smoky fireplace. That moment? Having breakfast with Johann Sebastian Bach in Leipzig’s Café Zimmermann, the coffeehouse that provided a backdrop to early performances of many of Bach’s compositions. Play his coffee cantata when you light this candle to add to the mood.

D.S. & Durga is available at escentials.com.

06 | Louis Vuitton, Dehors Il Neige Candle

Dehors il neige literally translates to ‘it’s snowing outside’ in English, and — as you can probably already imagine — that is the scent memory that this candle is meant to evoke. Think French Alps in January for off-piste skiing, or Hokkaido’s top-class powder slopes for some snowboarding. Cinnamon, anise, and incense notes form a warm, cozy base in this candle — think mulled wine and a roaring fireplace — while notes of pine and aldehydes conjure the refreshing gust of wind that blows through the chalet when someone opens the door. We also like how this candle has hand-painted green wicks and a leather handle for that extra luxurious touch.

Louis Vuitton is available at the brand’s Singapore e-commerce website.

07 | Cire Trudon, Abd Al Kader Candle

There’s very little in the scent universe that conjures images of a sunny Moroccan holiday as effectively as sweet spearmint — hot, sweet mint tea is the country’s ubiquitous hospitality beverage. The Abd Al Kader candle has spearmint as the dominant topnote, accompanied by the sweet and spicy notes of clove, jasmine vanilla, and ginger. All told, the scent evokes the image of a bustling souk, replete with large sacks of spices and crowds of people — tourists and locals alike. Heading to any souk is not a possibility at the moment, so we’ll stick to lighting this candle and playing pretend.

Cire Trudon is available on Net-A-Porter.com.

08 | Diptyque, 34 Boulevard Saint Germain Hourglass Diffuser

Paris is always a good idea — even if you can’t get to it right now. One of the closest ways to get to the city of love is indulging in Diptyque’s 34 Boulevard Saint Germain fragrance, which is named after its historic flagship store on the left bank. With unusual notes of moss, green accords, blackcurrant leaves, and fig leaves dried in the sun, the scent will leave your home smelling positively historic — or just delightful. Plus, the beautiful form of the hourglass diffuser would most definitely spark joy in these difficult times.

Diptyque is available at escentials.com.