As hotels prepare their guest rooms for the colder winter months, one subtle, simple shift can make all the difference – switching scents from citrussy summer notes to cozy, warm fragrances for a quietly indulgent feel that oozes sophistication.

It’s a simple switch we can all make in our own homes, too. So, we spoke to fragrance experts to find out exactly which fall scents top hotels use, and why.

Here, they share their tips on the best home fragrance buys to transform your bedroom into a grounded and serene space that welcomes sleep and relaxation.

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5 Fall Scents Top Hotels Use in Guest Rooms

As Susan Ankersen, co-founder and perfumer at Susan James Fragrances, explains, ‘Luxury hotels use scent the same way they use lighting or art, to shape emotion and reinforce their brand identity.’

To try this in your own home, our experts recommend these fragrance profiles:

1. Amber

Amber is warm and grounded.

(Image credit: Future / BRENT DARBY PHOTOGRAPHY LIMITED)

One of the easiest ways to provide warmth and elegance to your bedroom ideas and guest bedroom ideas, Caitlyn Grubb, a fragrance evaluation specialist at ScentAir, says, is to use amber fragrances, which are ‘perfect for the cooler fall months.’

‘Warm, slightly spicy, and subtly sweet, amber scents create an atmosphere of refined comfort – their golden, glowy essence evoking both richness and intimacy,’ she explains

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For this, Caitlyn recommends the ScentAir Santal & Red Cedar Fragrance Cartridge in Santal & Red Cedar, available at Amazon.

‘The creamy smoothness of sandalwood is balanced by warm cardamom and amber, creating a fragrance that feels both inviting and sophisticated,’ she says, helping to make your bedroom smell like a luxurious hotel suite, particularly when paired with tips to design a luxury hotel-style bedroom.

Additionally, says Susan, many hotels rely on pairing grounding scents like amber with sandalwood and leather, creating ‘a trio that communicates warmth and belonging.’ The Trudon Ernesto Scented Candle, available at Net-a-Porter is a good example of this.

‘Leather exudes lounging and legacy; it carries that sense of heritage, confidence, and understated luxury,’ she explains. ‘Amber adds a golden glow with a touch of familiar sweetness from vanilla, while sandalwood softens everything with a lactonic tranquility.’

All prices were correct at the time of publication.

Editor’s pick

Diptyque Ambre Diffuser

This amber-scented diffuser made it into our guide to the best reed diffusers, and is a low-maintenance way to fill your bedroom with a warm, balmy, spicy scent that will last all season.

2. Jasmine

‘Subtle florals mimic fresh linens.’

(Image credit: Future / SOHO MANAGEMENT LONDON LTD (JAMES MERRELL))

On the other end of the scent spectrum, Karen Arcilla, founder of Set Forth NY, suggests using floral notes, like jasmine or iris, for a ‘timeless,’ ‘lived-in,’ and ‘not perfumed’ feel.

‘Subtle florals mimic fresh linens and bring balance to heavier wood or musk notes, inviting a sense of calm intimacy,’ she advises.

If you love the clean scent of linen, you can also enjoy the fresh laundry smell all year with the Yankee Candle Clean Cotton Scented Candle available at Amazon, included among our best candles, which will pair beautifully with floral notes.

Alternatively, the Loewe Honeysuckle scented candle, available at Net-a-Porter, boasts a low-intensity, floral aroma.

90 hour burn time

Dolce & Gabbana Wild Jasmine Scented Candle

3. Vanilla

Vanilla scents are subtle and sweet, so long as you don’t opt for anything overly saccharine.

(Image credit: Future / Mark Bolton)

‘Vanilla fragrances are often associated with sweet nostalgia, but the trend we’re seeing in luxury spaces is to push vanilla beyond its traditional gourmand comfort zone,’ says Caitlyn. ‘Today’s innovative pairings create striking juxtapositions, adding depth and intrigue to a note we thought we knew.’

Indeed, vanilla fragrances, such as the WoodWick Vanilla Bean Candle available at Amazon, are a favorite among many, for a sweet yet subtle twist that elevates any space.

In fact, even Sydney Sweeney is a fan of this scent profile, as her favorite Zara candle is the Poetic Mind Scented Candle available at Zara Home, which she says is ‘calming’ and ‘cozy’, and has a ‘vanilla aspect to it.’

100% Natural Soy Wax

96NORTH Luxury Vanilla Soy Candle

This long-lasting, highly-scented candle is made with natural soy wax and cotton wicks, for a clean burn and excellent scent diffusion.

4. Sea Salt

Sea salt and mineral air add freshness to your space.

(Image credit: Future / M+M MANAGEMENT (DAVIDE LOVATTI))

Another scent that hotels use for guest rooms, says Karen, is sea salt, paired with notes of mineral air. ‘These are often layered in coastal retreats to create openness and clarity, even as temperatures drop,’ she explains.

So, whether you strive to bring a touch of coastal elegance to your space or want to hold on to the scent of summer, opt for salty notes, such as the Airkeep Ocean Mist & Sea Salt Reed Diffuser, available at Amazon.

Professional cleaners also use these fresh scents to make your bathroom smell fresh, so they’ll work just as well there, too.

Lasts up to 90 days

NEST New York Ocean Mist & Sea Salt Reed Diffuser

This diffuser boasts hints of sea salt, white tea, and coconut, for a sophisticated and refreshing scent that exudes seaside freshness.

5. Wood

Woody scents bring the outside in.

(Image credit: Future / SARAH KAYE REPRESENTATION LTD (POLLY WREFORD))

Finally, a fall classic for a reason, ‘Deep woody fragrances are another great option to add a touch of luxury, while also bringing the outdoors in with their grounding presence,’ says Caitlyn. ‘They’re incredibly versatile and pair beautifully with many notes while remaining a solid base.’

For this, try Diptyque’s Feu de Bois candle, available at Amazon, which is one of our best fall candles – and for good reason. It will look gorgeous at home among any fall mantel ideas, too, as will the Trudon Altaïr candle, available at Net-a-Porter, which features notes of sandalwood, cedar and oud.

Great for gifting

Cocorrína Black Forest Diffuser

This black forest diffuser looks stunning and smells even better, with notes of vanilla, cedar, licorice, and amber, and lasts for weeks of full-room-filling scent.

What to Shop

Bestseller

This cult classic candle is woody, with vetiver and patchouli, grounded with notes of spice and tonka bean. It burns well and quickly fills a room.

150 hour burn time

Yankee Candle Midnight Jasmine Scented Candle

This budget-friendly candle recreates the scent of a serene summer night, with floral notes of jasmine, rose, and orange blossom. It’s made with premium plant-based wax.

Three wicks

Mainstays Cozy Comfort Candle

This pick combines two of our expert-recommended scent notes, vanilla and jasmine, and provides a smooth and consistent burn for an even fragrance distribution

Refillable

NEST Indian Jasmine New York Reed Diffuser

This Nest diffuser offers continuous fragrance and a classic floral scent, and is vegan, cruelty-free, and free from formaldehyde, parabens, and phthalates.

Clean-burning

Lulu Candles Ocean Mist & Sea Salt Candle

This candle is made with a clean-burning, non-toxic, paraben-free soy-wax blend, with 100% cotton wicks.

Meet the Experts

Caitlyn Grubb

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Fragrance evaluation specialist at ScentAir

Caitlyn is a fragrance evaluation specialist with over four years of experience at ScentAir and specialized education in consumer studies. Caitlyn expertly identifies emerging trends and translates them into innovative fragrance concepts. Whether crafting bespoke scents for niche markets or refining existing formulations for optimal performance, Caitlyn thrives on the creative challenge of bringing scents to life.

Susan Ankersen

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Co-founder of Susan James Fragrances

Susan is a Danish olfactory artist, and co-founder of Susan James Fragrances, a Los Angeles-based small-batch scent studio creating wedding and milestone scents. With more than 15 years of experience in fine fragrance and olfactory art installations, such as Torrance Art Museum, and London Design Museum, she specializes in using scent to capture memory, emotion, and wellbeing.

‘Familiarity also plays a role,’ says Susan. ‘Studies show that familiar scents tend to evoke stronger feelings of comfort and safety than new ones. So when guests inhale the familiarity of leather and wood, their brains register it as comforting.’

For that reason, the scents you use should perfectly compliment your cozy bedroom ideas, for a homey, comforting space.