The power of scent can inform how you experience a space. It can also trigger sensory memories from your past; The grandparent’s garden, the dusty cupboard under the stairs, the spices in the kitchen – they are both deeply personal and unanimously nostalgic. Perhaps more than any other sense, it can instantly disorient you through space and time. Therefore, it makes sense that designers can consider scent when creating a space, summoning its power to evoke a certain feeling for their clients. ‘By using smell in the built space, architects are able to increase user satisfaction and encourage certain types of behavioral or emotional experiences,’ suggests Emily Bayda. The Art of Scent in Architecture.
A great way to ensure your home smells consistently and naturally is to create and decorate with naturally scented materials rather than wrapping or masking the scent. Candles, reed diffusers, and incense are popular options if you’re looking for one Make your home smell luxuriousBut the material itself can also create a positive olfactory experience at home.
Herzog & de Meuron collaborated with Ai Weiwei to design and build the Serpentine Gallery Pavilion in Kensington Gardens in 2012, a project taken on by a different artist each year. The building, a spectacular amphitheater-like space with a lake on the roof, was made primarily of cork. Artists and architects cited the material’s acoustic properties, but also its distinctive smell. The enclosed structure complements the wrap-around aroma: a classic example of the natural aroma of materials used for architectural and practical purposes.
Conversely, some natural materials, such as stone in particular, give off-putting or sulfuric odors that can create an unpleasant atmosphere. Chemical smell – like gassing the bed or upholstery – can also provide quite the opposite effect for your nose and sense (and well-being).
Cork isn’t the only material that smells naturally; Many types of wood, seagrass, jute and sisal are wonderfully aromatic products used in home building and design. An open fire – both lit and unlit – can also spread a lovely aroma throughout the house, like an old Books In the library and antique leather furniture.
the wood
From beams to floorboards, wood is a commonly used material in construction houses. You can add wood to the cladding or for a full extension, garden room or lean-to. Where it may be cheaper or easier to choose engineered wood products such as lumber, timber or MDF, there are many more sustainable options that will fill your home with the beautiful green, warm aroma of natural forests; Cedar, walnut, mesquite, cherry and pecan have particularly pleasant aromas. Olive wood is also known to smell like green olives when cut. You can start by looking at the type of wood that is most readily available in your local area for the shortest distance possible. Travel. Also, consider what color the wood will become with age so it will continue to work with your plan as it evolves.
