Avoid These 5 Fragrances, According to Perfume Experts, to Preserve the Atmosphere of Your House
Caitlyn Grubb, a fragrance evaluation specialist at ScentAir, and Emilie Mascarell, a renowned fragrance and beauty product development consultant, share their insights on selecting the ideal home fragrance.
Based in the US, Caitlyn Grubb boasts years of experience in crafting inviting, memorable spaces through scent. She advises against using overly masculine scents in homes as they can feel too bold and synthetic. Instead, she recommends androgynous scents such as spicy notes for fall, organic earthy scents for spring and summer, and soft gourmand themes for winter.
Emilie Mascarell, the founder of Emilie Consulting and the perfume specialist behind the luxury home care brand Maison Mascarell, agrees. She warns against using home fragrances with harsh citrus notes, as overly sharp lemon or synthetic lime accords can veer into 'cleaning product' territory. Exaggerated powdery fragrances, she adds, can make a space less neutral and harder to linger in long term.
Instead, Caitlyn suggests a broody but mesmerizing scent mix of vanilla and tobacco, musk and oud, or leather and florals. Emilie, on the other hand, advises against using excessively sweet gourmand scents as they can feel heavy and cloying in a living space. Syrupy caramel, cupcake, or candy-like notes are examples of scents to avoid in gourmand fragrances.
One example of a fragrance that fits Caitlyn's criteria is Loewe's Honeysuckle Scented Candle, crafted from 100% vegetable wax and carrying a gentle floral fragrance. TRUDON's Madurai Room Spray is another unconventional choice, offering a touch of femininity with its floral notes.
For those seeking a more masculine fragrance, Malin+Goetz's Dark Rum Votive Candle offers a handsomely masculine and grown-up candle option. The Mimosa Hourglass Diffuser by Diptyque, meanwhile, is a great example of citrus blends that refresh without overwhelming.
It's worth noting that both experts advise against scents centered around white blooms, such as lilies, as they can be especially discomforting.
Emilie Mascarell's journey in the fragrance industry spans over two decades, during which she has worked for leading beauty brands like L'Oréal, Estée Lauder, and Coty. For more than ten years, she led product development at Le Labo, which gave her a profound passion and mastery for taking products from inception to execution. In 2025, she launched Maison Mascarell, a luxury home care brand that reimagines everyday essentials with a focus on sensoriality, sustainability, and timeless elegance.
In conclusion, when choosing a home fragrance, it's essential to consider the scent's intensity and appropriateness for the season. Avoid overly masculine, powdery, or sweet scents, and opt for androgynous, citrus, or broody fragrances instead. With these tips in mind, you can create a welcoming and inviting atmosphere in your home.
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