The beauty of how home fragrance can bring memories home

When I trade at markets I love listening to customers chat about what an every nook candle scent reminds them of. Often it’s people, their homes or memories of times spent together. It’s what I love about scent and love sharing with others. Perhaps you’ve experienced it as you’ve walked into someone’s home. The scent of a lit candle, or just a hint of something in the air, and suddenly you’re transported back into your mum's kitchen, or to the seaside, or decorating your Christmas tree with your family.

That’s the beauty of scent.

For me, the smell of rhubarb just takes me back to my mum serving up rhubarb crumble on a Sunday, something my children just won’t eat yet so I have to rely on my candles to enjoy this scent for a while! Lavender reminds me of my Grandma, not an uncommon association I know as it’s such a traditional scent, but she always had those little lavender scented bags in her wardrobe and drawers.  Randomly, the smell of cranberry always reminds me of my first job working for The Body Shop, the Cranberry bath and body range was very popular so we smelt it a lot, I loved working there too - so whilst its a work association its a good one.

Now this is the techy bit, scents are processed by the part of the brain that stores memories and emotions. So, when you walk into a room that smells of citrus, you don’t just think “this smells fresh” - you feel it - the brightness of a sunny day and the sun streaming in through the windows.

That’s why I love filling my home with fragrances that mean something to me, the same way I love vintage furniture, to create meaningful spaces. A delicious, sweet spiced scent in Autumn just evokes cosy, warm feelings. Invigorating, citrus scents instantly turn a regular bath time into a mini spa experience :) And using a sophisticated, smoky scent can really change the tone of a space, turning a living room that's been bustling with family chaos all day into a grown up space to relax in for the evening. 

Fragrance doesn’t need to be about just recalling past memories, but helps us make new memories, too. Light the same candle every time you host friends, and years from now, that scent might bring back memories of the fun times spent together.

So the next time you pick a candle, a diffuser, or wax melts, think of it as more than just a scent. Think of it as a memory in the making.

Because home isn’t just how it looks—it’s how it feels. And sometimes, it’s how it smells, too.

Discover all the every nook scents and the little scent story behind them on our website or have a chat with me at our next maker market, I love talking about fragrance!