In case you missed it, air fresheners—and the entire category of home fragrances, for that matter—have undergone a major rebrand. Gone are the days of a quick Febreze spritz before a dinner party, and the luxury candle’s time in the limelight might be coming to a close. But somewhere in the middle sits the room spray, the mist-able yet chic home fragrance option that seems to be having a moment of its own. In recent years, designer names in the fragrance space, like Trudon and Loewe, have decided to add what is essentially an interior perfume to their list of offerings, and younger brands are incorporating room deodorants in their core lineup.
Just last month, NYC-based fragrance brand Malin + Goetz debuted their home spray with a spritzable version of their internet-friendly tomato scent. To founders Matthew Malin and Andrew Goetz, room sprays are a natural product of our post-pandemic, WFH lifestyle shifts. “As our homes evolve into multifunctional spaces—serving as offices, workout studios, and venues for social gatherings—people (especially those living in smaller spaces) are seeking quick and effective ways to enhance their living environments,” Malin says. As we crave greater flexibility in all aspects of our lives, it’s natural that the functional elements of our home decor will emulate that.
Traditionally, home scents like candles or diffusers would offer a lengthy, slow release of fragrance, requiring a longer burn time before the eventual scent payoff. A room spray is quite the opposite: “An immediate solution for refreshing a space,” as Goetz puts it. “Room sprays provide instant freshness without the need for a flame, or the time required for a candle to burn and fill a room.”
The immediacy of the room spray is certainly alluring to those of us who lack patience—or have, er, busy lifestyles—but that doesn’t mean a quick mist isn’t worthwhile. “There’s a really beautiful ritual to scenting a space with a room spray,” says Frances Shoemack, founder of Abel Fragrances, an all-natural luxury fragrance company based in New Zealand. “It’s intentional, almost like a refresh moment.”
When you really think about it, a room spray is an even more meaningful act of self-care than the classic ‘lighting a candle’ platitude. A candle, while beautiful in its own right, makes for a passive experience and creates a constant stream of scent that can often feel overwhelming. For Shoemack, “spraying room spray is a conscious act and a beautiful ritual.” It forces you to pause and truly shift your mood through the power of scent.
