Steve Cordony’s Guide To Scent-Styling Your Home When Entertaining Guests
“For me, anything goes.”
When entertaining guests, there can be a million and one things to consider but something that puts the finishing touch on the event is undoubtedly scent. Properly scenting your home leaves an indelible impression on your guests, regardless of the occasion—if it’s done right.
A room spray, a candle, or an incense, these are small gestures with a discernible impact on our olfactory senses and a pivotal arc in swaying the mood. So, who better to learn the tricks of the trade from than Steve Cordony? The Sydney-based interior stylist is the best in the business and our go-to expert for home decor, so for this holiday season (and beyond) we’ve asked him about the intricacies of scent-styling.
Here, he shares his go-to tips, using his preferred range of show-stopping products from Jo Malone London. And quite frankly, they’re bound to make a change in the air.
Let’s go back to basics: how should one go about selecting the scent itself for the home? How do we narrow down what we like?
I like each space to have a slightly different scent, given the versatility of Jo Malone London scents. For example, using fragrances from nature like Blackberry & Bay, works perfectly in kitchen spaces and in dining spaces near food, while I prefer more floral and stronger woody scents, for example Wood Sage & Sea Salt or English Pear & Freesia for areas such as the lounge and bathroom. I find more delicate scents like Wild Bluebell work better in bedroom spaces.
Are there any other rules on how to select a home fragrance? Scent is so personal, so when entertaining guests, what other tips can we steal from you?!
For me, anything goes. But definitely using stronger scents in larger spaces, for example, Lime Basil & Mandarin, and softer scents like Peony & Blush Suede in smaller spaces works well in my opinion.
Are there any clashing scents we need to avoid?
Playing around with scent pairing is part of the fun, and you will know if it doesn’t work but give everything a go. Trial and error is key here! All Jo Malone London fragrances are designed to be combined, so you can’t go too far wrong.
What are some of your favourite ways to scent the home? Do you only use candles or do you like to use fresh florals too?
My favourite way to scent the home is a mix of florals, candles and diffusers that create that intangible mood within the home.
Photographed by Edward Urrutia
How do you style fresh florals with home styling pieces like candles or diffusers?
With florals I love to do singular mass en masse. For example, a bedside table looks best with a small posy, one head of the same floral in the same colour, next to a candle or fragrance is the best and most simple way to style a bedside table.
Lastly, what are some of your go-to Jo Malone London pieces for the home at the moment?
Recently I’ve been loving my Pomegranate Noir Deluxe Candle, and the Lime Basil & Mandarin Body & Hand Wash and matching Body & Hand Lotion.
Let’s go back to basics: how should one go about selecting the scent itself for the home? How do we narrow down what we like?
I like each space to have a slightly different scent, given the versatility of Jo Malone London scents. For example, using fragrances from nature like Blackberry & Bay, works perfectly in kitchen spaces and in dining spaces near food, while I prefer more floral and stronger woody scents, for example Wood Sage & Sea Salt or English Pear & Freesia for areas such as the lounge and bathroom. I find more delicate scents like Wild Bluebell work better in bedroom spaces.
Are there any other rules on how to select a home fragrance? Scent is so personal, so when entertaining guests, what other tips can we steal from you?!
For me, anything goes. But definitely using stronger scents in larger spaces, for example, Lime Basil & Mandarin, and softer scents like Peony & Blush Suede in smaller spaces works well in my opinion.
Are there any clashing scents we need to avoid?
Playing around with scent pairing is part of the fun, and you will know if it doesn’t work but give everything a go. Trial and error is key here! All Jo Malone London fragrances are designed to be combined, so you can’t go too far wrong.
What are some of your favourite ways to scent the home? Do you only use candles or do you like to use fresh florals too?
My favourite way to scent the home is a mix of florals, candles and diffusers that create that intangible mood within the home.
Photographed by Edward Urrutia
How do you style fresh florals with home styling pieces like candles or diffusers?
With florals I love to do singular mass en masse. For example, a bedside table looks best with a small posy, one head of the same floral in the same colour, next to a candle or fragrance is the best and most simple way to style a bedside table.
Lastly, what are some of your go-to Jo Malone London pieces for the home at the moment?
Recently I’ve been loving my Pomegranate Noir Deluxe Candle, and the Lime Basil & Mandarin Body & Hand Wash and matching Body & Hand Lotion.
Comments
Love your work so much! Classic, elegant; do you ever style smaller contemporary homes? Have not seen any photos nor guide for it. You may not be interested in these, I do understand and respect that. But my husband and I have moved to Bowral, retired and not wealthy to engage professional. So I have a stub at doing our own home!! If you have book or photos for smaller homes? Respectfully Ivanka Rivera