Luxury is in the air: Here’s how to make your home smell like a 5-star hotel

September 14, 2025

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Staying at a first-class hotel is the ultimate indulgence. There are impossibly smooth sheets and plush towels, fluffy bathrobes and heavenly mattresses, and let’s not forget the ability to order a foie gras omelette at 3 a.m. But have you ever considered the smells? The best hotel scents have the power to transport you somewhere magical. And with the right candles, room sprays and diffusers, you don’t even have to hop on a flight — you can recreate these five-star fragrances at home.

Hotels consider scent such an important part of the experience that many spots hire consultants to create a signature fragrance or find one that perfectly captures the mood and environment. “Hotels want to stimulate all the senses when guests cross the threshold,” says Christian Schulz, partner and design director at Studio Collective, a hospitality design firm. Sometimes hotels pump scents through commercial-grade diffusers, explains Caroline Fabrigas, CEO of Scent Marketing Inc., which develops signature fragrances for hotels. But you can get a similar effect at home for much less effort — and cost.
If you’re looking for a specific resort or spa fragrance, some sell their signature scents to the public (Fabrigas’ company does this for clients at ScentFluence.com). Read on for our favorites, plus tips on how to use them. Then all that’s left to do is kick back, relax and say ahh.

Start with a diffuser

If you’re looking for a consistent fragrance in a space, reed and plug-in diffusers are the way to go. (You can always burn a candle too — scroll down to see our picks — but make sure the combo doesn’t compete or smell too heavy!) Fabrigas says that some of her clients even bring USB scent sticks in the car “so they can take their favorite scent on the road.”

Amazon

waterless diffuser, which has a sleek, unobtrusive design), it would make a great gift.

$10 at Amazon

Amazon

$65 at Amazon

Amazon

$35 at Amazon

Burn palo santo sticks

If you like the idea of a diffuser or incense but want a more natural fragrance, Schulz and his wife are big fans of palo santo sticks, which they first learned about in Mexico. “We often burn a few each night when we get home from work to set our brains at ease and transport us to another place,” he says.

A woodsy smell like this “brings a wonderful sense of comfort and grounding to the home,” says Fabrigas.

Amazon

the set that includes a handmade ceramic holder for $35 — the design is beautiful!

$13 at Amazon

Hang eucalyptus

“The stalks look beautiful and the humidity from the shower brings out the essential oils as a natural refresher,” Schulz says. You can hang them in your shower for spa-like vibes or arrange a bunch in a vase on the sink.

Amazon

$10 at Amazon

Treat yourself to quality candles

Nothing against the $10 candles at big-box stores, but if you’re focused on creating a luxurious whole-home fragrance, you may want to spend a bit more. Look for “hand-crafted, ethically sourced non-petroleum-based soy or coconut wax candles with lead-free cloth or wooden wicks,” Schulz says. The upside is that these higher-end candles generally last longer!

Related: The best affordable scented candles, according to high-end designers

Amazon

$65 at Amazon

Amazon

$80 at Amazon

Scentfluence

$32 at Scentfluence

Spritz your sheets

A room or linen spray can do wonders when it comes to transforming your bedroom into an oasis. Schulz recommends scents like lavender, sage and sandalwood, which are calming and encourage you to relax. But really, pick any fragrance that will transport you! All you need is a light misting to do the trick.

Target

$7 at Target

Brooklyn Candle Studio

$26 at Brooklyn Candle Studio

Suds up with a citrusy soap

If you’ve ever grabbed those little bottles of soap and shampoo from your room (no judgment), you know the appeal of a good hotel toiletry. Both Schulz and Fabrigas love zesty citrus scents because they’re fresh and uplifting. Place hand soaps that feature grapefruit, orange or lemon by every sink — or try similarly scented body wash in the shower to really wake up your senses.