Cartier Coco

From Byredo’s Olfactive Stéréophonique to Poltrona Frau’s disc-shaped diffuser, there are plenty of well-designed devices to aid in perfuming a space.

These Scent Diffusers Enhance a Room in More Ways Than One

With all the time that so many of us have been spending at home over the past two years, it’s no wonder that our interiors might begin to stink. As those looking to overcome the distinct aroma of pandemic-induced isolation know, spraying aerosol disinfectant from a can simply won’t do (not that it’s ever a great option).

Maybe that’s why one of the most exquisite scent diffusers ever made recently sold out in less than 24 hours. Two weeks ago, the Swedish perfume and beauty brand Byredo released the limited-edition 

, a device that spreads scent with the same mechanism that speakers use to spread sound. A collaboration between Ben Gorham, the company’s founder and creative director, and Ojas, a hi-fi audio equipment company founded by 

), it consists of a cherry-red flared horn that sits atop a square base. Instead of broadcasting sound, the machine puts out scent—an incense-inspired bouquet of clove buds, carnation, papyrus, Haitian vetiver, and other woody notes that Gorham and Turnbull brewed up, that takes the form of tiny capsules. Once a capsule is placed inside the apparatus and it’s switched on, the fragrance is intermittently disbursed for two hours.

While some were evidently unfazed by the diffuser’s $1,300 price tag, it might cause others to wrinkle their noses. No matter. There are several other stylish yet affordable scent-scattering alternatives worth trying. Consider Hay’s porcelain 

, a collaboration between Japanese designer Ryosuke Fukusada and Portuguese designer Rui Pereira that looks like a miniature fireplace. To perfume a room, fill the well with water and a few drops of scented oil, then light the tea candle inside. There’s also Muji’s 

, which has two adjustable LED light levels; the 

, which creates an intense stream of mist for seven hours; and Poltrona Frau’s 

, a larger, in-home version of the company’s 

 that comes with its own app and camouflages itself with an elegant leather disc. 

If you’re facing multiple musty areas at once or need to radically re-scent a space, go with a nebulizer. Unlike a diffuser, which disperses concentrated oils by filtering compressed air through it to turn them into mist, nebulizers mist pure oil, creating a stronger smell. The 

 is strikingly effective, and comes in a wood and glass container that’s particularly pretty. Ultimately, whether you spend a lot or a little, the idea is the same: to cultivate a stream of delightful smells.

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