There’s three things that can really make a house, a home. First, it’s the presence of your loved ones – be it your partner, pet, or even parents. Second, you need lots of comfortable furniture to make your living space as functional as possible. And lastly, you want your home to smell as lived-in and lush as possible, which can be achieved with fresh flowers, home-cooked meals and nice scents.
We were lucky enough to speak to Nicole Eckels, co-founder and creative director of Australia’s favourite candle and home fragrance Glasshouse Fragrances, about her design process and inspirations.
Talk us through your creative process. What drives you to design new fragrances?
Trying new materials and ingredients that aren’t commonly found in home fragrance is something that appeals to me. I draw on many experiences that I have had through cuisine and travel, and I love expressing “theatre” through fragrance. I believe that scent can be expressed in a visual and sensual way through story-telling and fantasy.
What is the “French style” of fragrance that you refer to?
Americans tend to adore fruity floral fragrances and Gourmand scents, thus, many fragrance brands tend to focus on these families of scent. Australians love fruit and also floral fragrances (which is different to fruity floral in that the scents are not blended together) so most fragrance brands in Australia tend to focus on these. The French, on the contrary, love Woody, Amber, and Musk materials and that is what I wanted to focus on when I created the La Maison range. I chose to work with French Perfumers because I wanted to create a range of fragrances that are authentic to these materials.
What makes Grasse such a special place for fragrance?
Grasse is the birthplace of perfumery and as such it tends to attract very serious and talented perfumers. So, for me it’s the perfect place to discover new fragrances and artful creations!
What’s your best advice when it comes to picking the right fragrance for your home?
I like choosing scents for the season and for the design of your space. These two things combined with choosing scents that you love is really the winning formula. In the same way a hotel or retail chain might have a scent to express their brand, that is what we can do to express ourselves and fall in love with the scent of our home.
Why is it important for candles to have top, middle and base notes?
In order for any fragrance to be complex and full, it has to be constructed with top, middle and base notes. Exactly like a fine fragrance that you would wear on your skin.
Which is your favourite Glasshouse scent of all time, and why?
My favourite Glasshouse fragrance of all time is Arabian Nights which is a new limited edition coming out in June this year. I based this scent on OUD materials and my visits to the Middle East. It also reminds me of a friend who is my style muse and she is entirely luxurious and elegant!
What’s your favourite Glasshouse scent, and why? Tell us in the comments below.
