Home Fragrance
At Home with the Hastys - Home Fragrance
The Backstory
New to Hasty Book List? Read about the fire that prompted this home renovation, here.
The thing I will never forget is the smell of smoke. It is distinct and it is triggering. And that smell mixed with the reed diffuser oil I’d lovingly poured that morning made me nauseous. Still, as I write this nearly a year later, those fragrances take me back to that day when the rug was pulled out from under me. Thus the need to find a new home fragrance.
The Products
I’m looking for five products: candles, reed diffusers, room sprays, incense, and hand soap/lotion. The products don’t necessarily have to come from the same company or have the same fragrance, as long as they layer nicely with one another.
Other Criteria
I’d really prefer to support small businesses based in the United States as opposed to large national or international companies. I’m looking for an artisan feel, but with reasonable prices. And since I’m a history buff (did you know I have a PhD in fashion history and that my favorite genre is historical fiction?) a company with an interesting history would be a plus. Bonus points if I can purchase the products through a local business in Chicago.
Fragrance Profiles
Generally speaking, I prefer green floral, fresh, woody, and herbal fragrances. I tend to steer away from citrus, fruity, or sweet floral scents.
The Companies
The nine companies I identified (through my own research and the help of my Instagram friends) are:
Quick Breakdown
Detailed Breakdown
Apotheke Co
At Home with the Hastys - Home Fragrance
Products: Candles, Diffusers, Soaps, and Lotions
History: Established in 2011, founder Chrissy Fichtl started out selling soap at farmer’s markets in Brooklyn. She described them as, “were imperfect, they weren't packaged, and they were oddly shaped.” But years later, she was “discovered” by West Elm and everything changed.
My top 3 fragrances: White Vetiver: Cashmere, eucalyptus, and lilac are entwined with earthy vetiver, sandalwood, amber, and cedarwood; Amber Wood: Warm amber wood, sweet lily of the valley, and night-blooming jasmine are deepened by the tang of peppercorn, woody vetiver, and patchouli; Hinoki Lavender: rich smoky notes of hinoki cypress and fresh lavender meld with lotus flower and sandalwood.
Agraria Home
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Products: Candles, Diffusers, Room Sprays, Incense, Soaps and Lotions
History: Established in 1970, Agraria Home is the oldest luxury home fragrance company in the United States. It was founded by Stanford Stevenson and Maurice Gibson in San Francisco, originally as a potpourri shop.
My top 3 fragrances: Lavender and Rosemary: our unique and deeply aromatic blend of French lavender and Italian rosemary is enriched with the zest of bergamot and a few drops of English amber. Cedar Rose: A warm woody floral that blends the sultry depth of cedarwood with the uniquely fragrant damask rose. Surrounding the rose are hints of violets and lily of the valley. Balsam: A refreshing and luscious marriage that combines the essence of sweet balsam California redwood, a hint of French sage and the bouquet of white flowers.
PF Candle Co
Products: Candles, Diffusers, Room Sprays, and Incense
History: Established in 2008 as a one-woman operation, it is owned and operated by Kristen Pumphrey and Thomas Neuberger. Now a team of over 25, they continue to operate under one roof in Southern California.
My top 3 fragrances: Golden Hour: 5pm. Rustling grasses, baked earth, sun rays split between trees. Mellow, dry, tranquil. Bergamot, hay, and golden poppy; Dusk: 8pm. Taking the long way home, the buzz of streetlights, everything washed in shades of blue. Mysterious, dreamy, captivating. Clary sage, iris, and palo santo; Golden Coast: Big Sur magic, wild sage baking in the sun, the rumble of waves and rocks. Eucalyptus, sea salt, redwood, and palo santo.
Lafco
Products: Candles, Diffusers, Room Sprays, Soaps, and Lotions
History: Established in 1995 by Jon Bresler, the company was inspired by his time living in Switzerland and borrows from aromatherapy traditions in Europe. Lafco stands for Luxury Articles and Fragrance Company.
My top 3 fragrances: Marine: The gentle essence of marine water and crisp sea air abound. Salty breezes carrying sea jasmine, rose, and cyclamen, mingle with a hint of bergamot. Fresh rhubarb, with vetiver and sea moss, create the textured mood of a sandy shore; Vetiver Sage: Upon entering, the welcoming scent of almond blossoms greets the guests. Aromatic sage and white lavender deepen the earthiness of Haitian vetiver. Woody undertones of orris, spiced with pink pepper, add a touch of warmth to sandalwood and amber; Sea and Dune: Sunlight scatters across the waves as they meet the windswept coast. Fresh lemon and spicy coastal lily fall into watery blue lotus and natural sea grass. Warm golden amber and cool sea spray invite you to escape to endless summer days.
Antica Farmacista
Products: Candles, Diffusers, Room Sprays, Soaps, and Lotions
History: Established in 2003 by best friends Susanne Pruitt and Shelley Callaghan in Seattle, it was the first brand to bring the home ambiance diffuser to the US market.
My top 3 fragrances: Acqua: Reminiscent of a delicate sea breeze, Aqua is a blend of Sweet Musk and the cool blue notes of Marine Algae. A light sophisticated fragrance, popular for those who prefer a light, sheer fragrance; Ironwood: This rich blend of herbs, woods and spices starts with an herbaceous medley of sage, ambrette seed, and basil. An earthy infusion of vetiver, birch and violet leaf blends with an aromatic accord of cardamom, pepper and black tea. Warm, creamy notes of sandalwood and rye balance the cool, dry notes of ironwood to complete this unforgettable fragrance; Santorini: A medley of crisp citrus and green notes artfully paired with exotic spice and natural wood essences. Top notes of vibrant Italian bergamot sweet verbena and fresh vetiver are enhanced by the subtle sweetness of rosewood, warm sandalwood and aromatic cardamom.
Skeem Design
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Products: Candles, Room Sprays, and Incense.
History: Established in 2004 by Suji Meswani and Geoff Weiser, a husband-and-wife team, this company was their way to escape the corporate grind and establish a creative outlet.Their products are designed with a focus on eliminating excess packaging.
My top 3 fragrances: Sweet Balsam: Sweet Balsam is a blend of evergreens highlighted by spring bulbs and pine cones. Contains all-natural cedarwood, grapefruit, pine and patchouli oils; Palo Santo: Our Palo Santo collection is 100% natural. The unique scent is derived from Palo Santo essential oil, which is distilled from the natural resin of the wood. It is believed this essential oil holds all the properties of the sacred wood, and will ward off bad energy, and calm and cleanse the body and mind; Dune Sage: Dune Sage is an herbal and woodsy blend of moss, sage, and three types of beach pine. Contains all-natural Mandarin, tangerine, orange, galbanum, cypress and cedarwood oils
Harlem Candle Company
Products: Candles, Diffusers, and Room Sprays.
History: Established in 2014 by Teri Johnson, a film director and travel and lifestyle expert, Harlem Candle Company has grown from a kitchen operation to an award-winning company. It was inspired by Teri’s love of fragrance, jazz, and Harlem.
My top 3 fragrances: Josephine: From Harlem’s hottest jazz clubs to Broadway to the Follies-Bergère in Paris, “The Bronze Goddess” made a sensational impact, captured perfectly in this opulent luxurious scent. A bright citrus opening of vibrant bergamot blends magnificently with an emotional heart of lush Moroccan Rose and Indian Jasmine, while a velvet background of warm liquid amber, sweet Tonka bean and precious sandalwood provides a beautiful finish as exquisite as Josephine herself; Langston: A dramatic heart of heady jasmine and a warm background of resinous sandalwood round out this deeply personal blend that perfectly evokes Langston Hughes, a true Renaissance man; Love: The sensual heart of lush rose celebrates Baldwin’s deep affection for his garden in St. Paul de Vence, while a base of smoky sandalwood brings warmth and depth to this enigmatic and highly personal blend.
Brooklyn Candle Studio
At Home with the Hastys - Home Fragrance
Products: Candles, Diffusers, and Room Sprays.
History: Established in 2014 by Tamara Mayne, Brooklyn Candle Studio started with a kit from a local craft store and now operates in a 2000 square foot studio in Brooklyn. They focus on providing all of their employees with fair wages and benefits: paid time off and subsidized healthcare, dental, and vision.
My top 3 fragrances: Catskills: Imagine a tranquil hike in the woods of the Catskill Mountains after an autumn rainstorm, as your feet crunch atop fallen pine needles and the fresh air is flecked with the scent of cedar, cypress, and juniper; Kyoto: The tree-lined streets and wooden architecture in Kyoto inspired this meditative blend of Hinoki cypress, cedar, sandalwood, vetiver, and pine. The ethos of Kyoto is one of wood, rain, and art; Fern and Moss: A scent for nature lovers inspired by the dewy and beautiful Fern Canyon in Northern California. Fern + Moss blends notes of sage and lavender with woodsy base notes of spruce and pine to capture the elusive aroma of the great outdoors. This fragrance oil is infused with natural sage, lavandin, and orange essential oils.
Orleans Home Fragrances
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Products: Candles, Diffusers, and Room Sprays.
History: Established in 2002 by three friends with fifty years of history. Orleans Home Fragrances was inspired by their favorite city and the company’s namesake, New Orleans. All these years later, the candles are still hand-poured.
My top 3 fragrances: Jazz: Top note of Bergamot and Green notes, followed by a middle note of Sheer Floral Accord. Base note blend of Moss and Woods. Part of the Woody fragrance family; Quartet: A sensual medley of oud, patchouli, cedar, and sandalwood accented by floral nuances of night-blooming jasmine and violet as well as pineapple, iris, and amber. From the Exotic Family; Chateau: A complex blend of dark bergamot and black pepper with the finest vanilla, incense, and opulent woods. From the Ozonic fragrance family.
The Smell Test
So far, we were able to try the following scents: From Apotheke Co, Hinoki Lavender, Amber Woods and White Vetiver; from Agraria Home, Balsam, Lemon Verbena, Lavender & Rosemary, and Cedar Rose; from Skeem Design, Palo Santo, and Sweet Balsam; from Brooklyn Candle Studio, Fern + Moss, Catskills, and Palo Santo; from Orleans Home Fragrance, Saint and Orleans #9. Here is the verdict:
Best Everyday Scent: Brooklyn Candle Studio Fern + Moss
Best Cold-Weather Scent: Agraria Balsam
Best Warm-Weather Scent: Apotheke White Vetiver
Best Incense: Skeem Design Sweet Balsam
Best Room Spray: Orleans Home Fragrance Orleans #9
BONUS: Best Fall Fragrance: Pumpkin Caramel Crunch from Soy Candles by Ashley (not me…another Ashley)
Turns out, we are really bad at picking out one single signature home fragrance. But if I had to choose just one…I think it would be Brooklyn Candle Co’s Fern + Moss. It is a really light scent that combines sage, lavender, spruce, pine, and oakmoss. So it doesn’t lean toward any particular season. It smells natural and fresh.
Earlier this week Ashley of Soy Candles by Ashley reached out and asked if they could send me a Fall candle to try. She described herself as “just a small candle co in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.” These are the kind of business I live for - I love how social media can connect us! She asked for my favorite fall fragrance (pumpkin) and she had THREE options! So I asked her to send me her favorite. She sent the Pumpkin Caramel Crunch and Cran-Apple Marmalade. Both candles filled our apartment with a beautiful fragrance (great throw!) I preferred the pumpkin but my husband preferred the Cran-Apple Marmalade…he said it reminded him of the holidays. Thank you SO much, Ashley! You’re making fantastic candles!
At Home with the Hastys - Home Fragrance
