The best home fragrance: Our 10 favourites

Looking for the best home fragrance? We've compiled the ultimate list of home fragrances that will help conjure up the right atmosphere.

The best home fragrance should smell so good you’ll want to bathe in it. Whether you can’t live without sweet floral or prefer understated woody scents, we have compiled the ultimate list of home fragrances that will add that crucial final touch to your room decor and help conjure up the right atmosphere. Choose between reed diffusers and candles – and a very special room spray.

The best home fragrance

1. ORTIGIA ZAGARA REED DIFFUSER

The best home fragrance

Ortigia hail from Sicily, and this most Italian of scents will remind you of summer year-round.

The scent

This is the most perfect rendition of orange blossom in home fragrance we’ve ever tried; it has just the right balance of headiness and creaminess to be noticeable without ever becoming overpowering. Guaranteed to mentally transport you to Italy in spring.

The packaging

Gorgeous: clear glass engraved with exotic flora and fauna and filled with the sunny-yellow liquid. Makes an impactful gift.

Good to know

This reed diffuser has a natural oil base, which makes it a little less long-lasting that some other reed diffusers we’ve tried.

2. STONEGLOW LUNA REED DIFFUSER – LEATHER AND SAFFRON

Best home fragrance for a living room

Want to make a statement with your home fragrance? This one packs a punch.

The scent

While Luna is described as a leather and saffron scent, it’s actually a wonderfully textured, dark take on a jasmine room fragrance. It’s not a simple floral, though: the sandalwood and amber give it an opulence and warmth, while the leather makes the floral heart more masculine and formal. A great scent for a contemporary living room.

Packaging

Elegant and streamlined, in a versatile shade of navy that will blend in with your decor.

Good to know

We’re not keen on the reeds here – they’re a bit basic. Consider replacing with better-quality reeds.

3. DIPTIQUE BAIES SCENTED CANDLE

The best rose home scent

The scent

‘Baies’ translates as ‘berries’, and this candle opens with a luscious, sparkling blackcurrant note we can’t get enough of. However, this is primarily a rose-based room fragrance and any rose lover has to try this. It’s not a dusty or boring rose – rather a juicy, fruity one. Delicious in a bedroom

The packaging

We’re not crazy about it, if we’re honest. For a luxury brand, Diptyque are getting away with a clear glass jar with a sticker on it. Given how lovely the scent is, though, they’re forgiven.

Good to know

All Diptyque candles tend to lose their scent if not covered, so consider getting a cloche to cover your candle.

4. TRUE GRACE BURLINGTON CANDLE TEA CHEST

Best home fragrance for fall

This True Grace candle is great for creating a smokey ambiance, whether you like tea or not.

The scent

Tea-scented candles are all the rage these days, and True Grace are offering an unusual and versatile take on this staple home fragrance genre. The smokey-woody notes of tea and cedar are lifted by the zingy lime and the sweet rose. In fact, we find this candle to be surprisingly sweet, even heady, after a while. If you have a fireplace, its scent will blend beautifully with the smell of burning logs.

The packaging

Atmospheric amber glass; looks great in the dark.

Good to know

If you dislike strong fragrances, you might choose to pass on this one, as it’s quite strong and could give you a headache.

5. THE WHITE COMPANY CASSIS LARGE SCENTED CANDLE

Best home fragrance for winter

Our favorite from The White Company, this large-sized candle will make your home cosy in the colder months.

The scent

Cassis works incredibly well in cold weather because its crisp berry accord has been expertly blended with sweet, spicy notes of clove and cedar. Grounded and grown-up, festive berries. Yum.

The Packaging

Minimalist glass with a signature White Company sticker. Nothing special, but there’s nothing wrong with it.

Good to know

This home fragrance is surprisingly potent, and we’d reserve it for the largest room in the house; otherwise, you risk a headache from this one.

6. VOLUSPA CHAMPAGNE CLASSIC MAISON CANDLE

Best vanilla home fragrance

A rich and festive scent that will give any room in the house plenty of oomph.

The scent

Forget about champagne, as lovely as the booze-themed marketing for this fragrance is – it’s actually a very well-executed vanilla home scent. RIch, deep, and grounded by the oak, this is warm, creamy vanilla as it should be.

The packaging:

A sleek black glass jar with a gold sticker. Very opulent.

Good to know:

This isn’t a very strong fragrance, so is better suited to smaller rooms.

7. CIRE TRUDON MANON CANDLE

Best home fragrance for bedrooms

Cire Trudon are legendary French candlemakers wit hcenturies of experience, and this high-quality fragrance does not disappoint.

The scent

Evocative of crisp linen closets and freshly washed stone floors, this soft and relaxing fragrance is the definitive ‘clean’ home fragrance. Herbal lavender has been softened with soap and musk. The scent of everything being in order.

The packaging

The signature green glass jar with gold embossing; will look elegant and imposing on a bedside table.

Good to know

Yes, these are seriously expensive candles, but they really deliver on scent and longevity. Totally worth the splurge.

8. SCANDINAVISK SKOG CANDLE

Best home fragrance for Christmas

Scandinavisk have mastered the art of minimalist home fragrances: everyone should try at least one.

The scent:

Like a hologram of a Christmas tree. We’ve never experienced a pine scent that captured the sweet/woody essence of pine quite as successfully as this one. Put it on in the same room as your Christmas tree and you’ll be amazed by the hyper-natural effect. Scandinavisk had a stroke of genius with this one, adding the fresh lily-of-the-valley to the dark leather and pine accord. The result is resinous and sweet. We love it.

Packaging:

Cute and colourful jars that come with handy wooden lids, even in the smaller sizes. Looks great on a coffee table.

Good to know

We find that this candle burns really fast, so stock up if you want it on throughout the Christmas period.

9. DR VRANJES ROSSO NOBILE ROOM SPRAY

Best room spray

Dr Vranjes Firenze make some seriously classy home fragrances – Rosso Nobile is our all-time favorite.

The scent:

We think it’s impossible not to like this fragrance: its ripe, red berry and grape notes will instantly lift your spirits and make you smile. We don’t find it at all boozy or reminiscent of Italian wines (the brand’s description), but that doesn’t take away from the instant pleasure of this affable, fruity fragrance.

The packaging:

A cut-crystal bottle that looks stunning with the dark-red juice in it. Will look great on a bathroom vanity/

Good to know:

This is not cheap for a room spray, but the scent lingers – worth every cent, in our opinion.

10. APOTHEKE CHARCOAL REED DIFFUSER

Best unusual home fragrance

Not for the faint of heart, this characterful home fragrance will make a bold statement in a hallway or lounge.

The scent

In a word: charcoal. That rich, smokey smell of embers in the fireplace, with a hint of sweetness from the raspberry and maple (don’t be put off by ‘bacon’ in the notes - it doesn’t really smell like bacon). It’s not actually as out-there as it sounds and complements hallways, bathrooms, and lounges.

The packaging

An elegant matte black bottle – exactly what this room fragrance needs.

Good to know

Although we really like it, we’d recommend you smell this fragrance before buying, unless you know you like smokey scents.
How to choose a home fragrance

Choosing a home fragrance is a highly individual process: what smells great to one person may smell too strong/too sweet/too subtle to another. As a general rule, though, it’s a good idea to work out your preferences, and how the fragrance will be used, before you buy.

Which room will it be used in?

Large lounges do better with stronger, more opulent fragrances, whether sweet, floral, or smokey. On the other hand, strong room fragrances should be avoided in bedrooms: instead, look for lavender-based scents that will help you sleep. Kitchens are your perfect setting for gourmands (think vanilla or fruits) and herbal scents with notes of citrus and basil. Bathrooms and hallways can take just about anything, because they’re often aired.

What notes do you (dis)like?

Don’t worry about trends: what do you actually like? If you love rose, look for a rose-based fragrance. If you hate citrus, make sure your home fragrance doesn’t contain any, because whatever fragrance note you dislike will be the one you’ll end up noticing the most.

Reed diffuser, candle, or room spray?

Candles are less intrusive, because you can easily put them out, but you will need to supervise them when they’re lit. Reed diffusers are low-maintenance, but you’ll need to make sure you like the scent, as you’ll be smelling it all the time. And rooms prays are perfect for bathrooms and kitchens where you may wish to mask unpleasant odors.

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The Podcaster Who Accidentally Revealed He Earns Over $10 Million a Year

The popular host Joe Budden recently made headlines after accidentally sharing a screenshot that revealed he earns close to $900,000 per month—and later confirmed that his podcast network is on track to generate over $20 million in revenue by 2025. Budden represents a growing trend among independent audio creators who are trying to reduce their reliance on the industry’s major players—an industry that, according to new data, now generates $7.3 billion annually.

A Billion-Dollar Boom for Podcasts

According to a recent report from research firm Owl & Co, the global podcast industry brought in $7.3 billion last year—more than double most prior estimates. This surge reveals that podcasting, still a relatively young entertainment format, is bringing in far more money than many insiders had previously realized.

Advertising accounts for the bulk of these revenues, with the rest coming from paid subscriptions. These numbers do not include live events, such as the wildly popular British political podcast The Rest is Politics, which sold out London’s O2 Arena for a live taping.

Joe Budden’s Accidental Disclosure

In this booming market, one of the most surprising success stories is that of Joe Budden, a former rapper once dubbed “the Howard Stern of hip-hop.” Last month, Budden unintentionally posted a screenshot from Patreon—a subscription platform where fans can pay creators directly. The image showed over 30 million views in 30 days.

While the revenue figures were blacked out, internet sleuths edited the image and discovered that Budden had likely earned over $900,000 in that single month, backed by more than 154,000 active subscribers. The figures quickly made headlines. Budden’s latest Patreon update and podcast episode even referenced the leak with a title that cheekily reads “Blackout the Numbers.”

On Track for $20 Million+ in 2025

According to Ian Schwartzman, CEO of the Joe Budden Network, the platform is now averaging $1.04 million per month on Patreon. “We have around 70,000 paying subscribers, with subscription tiers ranging from $5 to $50 per month. Higher tiers offer access to more content, including exclusive spin-off shows,” Schwartzman told The New York Times.

Budden’s Patreon offers four subscription levels:

Homies ($5/month) – Ad-free episodes and bonus content.
Family ($10/month)
Friend of the Show ($25/month)
Part of the Show ($50/month) – Includes a chance to appear on-air and have your name in the credits.

These subscription revenues alone could exceed $12 million in 2025, making Budden one of the highest-earning creators on Patreon—a claim that a Patreon spokesperson has confirmed.

Advertising Still Adds Millions

But subscriptions aren’t Budden’s only income stream. Advertising also contributes millions in additional revenue, said Schwartzman. Notably, Budden’s team sells their own ads directly, instead of partnering with major networks like iHeart, Wondery, or SiriusXM, which often take a cut of ad revenues.

From $500 a Week to Industry Powerhouse

Budden’s journey hasn’t always been lucrative. Back in 2017, when he co-hosted a show on the media platform Complex, Schwartzman recalls that they were struggling to break even. Budden himself has said he was surviving on a $500-per-week stipend at the time.

From 2018 to 2020, The Joe Budden Podcast had an exclusive licensing deal with Spotify, which paid under $2 million per year and didn’t include ad revenue or equity.

Leaving Spotify: A Strategic Reboot

After a tense split with Spotify, Budden and Schwartzman began shopping for new distribution deals. But negotiations often broke down over exclusivity clauses. In one case, a potential $44 million deal was rejected because it required removing all content from YouTube.

“As the money goes up, so do the demands,” said Schwartzman. “We wanted someone who saw our value and would let us stay in the game.”

In 2021, they found their fit in Patreon—no guaranteed check, but equity in the company and advisory roles for both Budden and Schwartzman. “Joe is in a league of his own,” said Patreon CEO Jack Conte. “Earning $1 million a month on Patreon is extremely rare.”

A New Model for Creator Power

Since hitting that revenue milestone in November, the Joe Budden Network hasn’t slowed down. Conte credits Patreon’s creator-first model, noting: “Artists today have more leverage and control than ever before in the history of the arts.”

Trump Announces $550 Billion Japanese Investment and New Trade Agreements with Indonesia and the Philippines

The U.S. President disclosed new trade deals that include reduced tariffs and investment pledges from key Asian economies, with Japan committing $550 billion in U.S.-based projects

Former U.S. President Donald Trump has announced a series of new trade agreements with Japan, Indonesia, and the Philippines, detailing what he described as transformative developments for the American economy.

According to statements released on his social media platform, Japan has pledged to invest $550 billion in the United States, with 90% of profits reportedly expected to remain within the country.

The trade agreement with Japan includes significant tariff adjustments, with Japanese imports to the U.S. subject to duties ranging between 15% and 19%.

In return, the Japanese market will open further to U.S. goods, including automobiles, trucks, rice, and other agricultural products.

Trump stated that the investment deal would generate hundreds of thousands of jobs.

Following the announcement, Tokyo’s stock exchange experienced a 3.5% surge, marking the highest closing since July 2024.

Additionally, Japan's 10-year government bond yield rose by 9 basis points to 1.60%.

The agreement with Indonesia entails the removal of 99% of tariffs on American industrial, technological, and agricultural products entering the Indonesian market.

In contrast, Indonesian exports to the U.S. will be subject to a 19% import tariff.

The deal includes commitments by Indonesia to supply critical minerals to the United States and purchase American goods, including Boeing aircraft, agricultural exports, and energy products, in contracts valued in the tens of billions of dollars.

A similar framework has been established with the Philippines, where American products will be exported tariff-free, while Philippine goods entering the U.S. market will face a 19% tariff.

During a state visit by Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to Washington, the two countries signed a trade agreement that also includes military cooperation initiatives.

These agreements come two weeks after Trump previously announced plans to impose higher tariffs on several Asian nations—32% on Indonesia, 30% on Japan, and 25% on the Philippines—due to the expiration of a moratorium on his proposed trade measures.

The recent negotiations have led to revised terms and apparent withdrawal from those earlier tariff levels.

Japanese and regional media outlets have prominently covered the announcement, with front pages in Tokyo highlighting the scale of the trade and investment commitments.

The agreements mark a shift in bilateral economic relations between the United States and several Asian partners, following extended negotiations involving trade liberalization and strategic collaboration.