Something's In The Air

From überluxe car fresheners to perfumed paintbrushes, we’ve got the l’eau down on the newest ways to scent your life.

- Megan Mcintyre

There was a time when immersing yourself in scent was considered a faux pas. No one wanted to be that girl on the elevator who left behind a cloud of potent perfume. Nor did you want to ride in a taxi that smelled like a synthetic pine forest or sit through a dinner party in a home that reeked of Mrs. Claus’ cookies. Luckily, times—and fragrances—have changed. In fact, the latest trend is to use (subtle!) fragrance throughout the day, in every aspect of your life, from your hair to your car to your home.

And ambient scenting—the idea that fragrance can enhance an environment and be part of the experience rather than just a pretty smell—has quickly gained popularity. Cool hotels have signature aromas, boutique fitness studios are lit with fancy candles, and burning palo santo guides plenty of mindfulness meditation classes. For a generation of women (fine, we’ll say it: Millennials), fragrance has become a nonverbal declaration of self. “We’re more attuned to scent being a 360-degree experience,” says Krista Miller, manager of Brooklyn-based beauty boutique Twisted Lily. “It’s a major expression of who we are.”