5,000 years ago, the ancient Egyptians believed that burning incense in their homes was a way to get closer to the Gods. Their incense was made from such resins as frankincense and myrrh, along with aromatic wood and bark, seeds, roots, and flowersMany priests of the time would be buried alongside scented oils as a sign of Godliness.

Sweet-smelling rooms stuck around in the Middle East, while the Europeans of the Middle Ages thought they were sinful. It wasn’t until the Crusades, where returning soldiers would bring gifts home in the form of rosewater that the Europeans caught on to the calming properties of room scents. Alcohol was introduced as an ingredient in order to keep the scent for longer.


Carrière Frères has been around since 1884 making candles and scents, coming from a long line of candlemakers in the 17th and 18th centuries.  The maison received a gold medal during the Exposition Universelle of 1889 and has since then been creating iconic scents. Their latest creation is this reed diffuser - in its classic packaging, it feels like a little home treasure while it wafts a subtle but sweet scent into the room.


Santa Maria Novella - itself a brand no stranger to long histories and provenance given its founding as an apothecary back in 1221 using the natural herbs that were grown by Friars in the back gardens of  the convent of Santa Maria Novella. With possibly some of the best packaging known to mankind, their new reed diffuser scent Ambiente Europa smells like...well, like you've just gone through the best journey winding around the most scenic European towns with the wind in your hair and a delightful atmosphere. 

The 20th Century saw companies try to make the aerosol can and sprays with synthetic fragrances a thing - and yet we feel the pull of these lovingly crafted scents in oil form with long, natural wooden sticks will fully replace any quick fix for better smelling spaces, all the while adding some beauty to our shelves. 
 
Shop some delicious smelling other options here below: