Smart Tips From a Home Fragrance Expert

As the nose behind countless high-end blends, Rayda Vega has good scents to spar
e. Here, she shares tips on infusing your rooms with unique olfactory charm.
By Nicole Sforza
Why bother scenting our homes, anyway?
Fragrance is an accessory. It adds depth and character. And it allows you to giv
e each space in your home a different feel.
How did you get started in this business?
While studying sociology at the University of Chicago, I discovered that I was f
ascinated with lab work but completely bored sitting at a desk. When I moved to
New York, I answered a random ad in the Times to work at a fragrance lab. Then I
apprenticed with a master perfumer and went on to become a perfumer myself. I w
orked for major fragrance companies. Then a few years ago I went out on my own.
Companies hire me to create scents for their products candles, diffusers, perfumes
, shampoos.
Are you on team candle or team diffuser?
Both they just have different uses. With diffusers, you can set them down and forg
et about them, so they re good for continual, overall ambience. Some diffuser pack
aging is ugly, but you can pour the liquid into a pretty glass container of your
own. Candles are best for an intimate event, like dinner or a bath, because the
y re not only about the scent. The light they give off sets a mood, too.
How do you figure out what fragrance is right for each room?
Think of it like music. In a living room, you d usually want soft background music
. A subtle floral is the scent equivalent to that. I have Joya s Quince & Heliotro
pe Petals diffuser ($76, beautysage.com) in my living room. But for a party wher
e you d turn on lively music, you d want a happy, social fragrance that gets noticed
, like Joya s Luscious Vanilla Dragon-fruit candle ($25, joyastudio.com/shop). For
the kitchen, something that s a little bit mouthwatering apple, fresh pear, or thym
e works well. Avoid florals here. They ll get in the way of food aromas. I like Mrs.
Meyer s Clean Day Basil Soy candle ($10, mrsmeyers.com). For the bathroom, juicy
grapefruit, crisp linen, or the candle version of your favorite perfume.

And in the bedroom?

Orange flower and lavender promote relaxation. You can put fresh lavender buds i
n a pretty dish just not by your head. The scent would be too strong. I buy mine a
t the local farmers market. Jo Malone s Orange Blossom candle ($65, nordstrom.com)
is also quiet and soothing. For a scent that s a little sexy, try something with m
usk, vanilla, and amber, like Tocca s Collette candle ($38, tocca.com).
Any buying tips for candles?
Rub your finger on the wax around the wick to release the fragrance before you s
niff. And beware of liquid beading on top. That s the sign of a poorly made candle
. It means the fragrance and the wax aren t compatible.
What about room sprays?
The best sprays, like Bath & Body Works Sandalwood Citrus ($9.50, bathandbodywork
s.com), have a very fine dispersion. If droplets hit you when you walk through t
he mist, that s not a fine spray. Spritzing linens can be nice. Use sprays made sp
ecifically for fabric so they don t leave a stain.
What s good for those who don t usually like fragrance?
Try something with daisies, wildflowers, or sunflowers on the label. That means

the scent is likely to be natural and bright, not perfumy. Some flowers, like da
isies, may not smell at all, so the manufacturers aren t taking the actual oils fr
om the plant. They re creating a scent based on our ideas about these flowers. But
if you really don t like fragrance, skip it!
Can you recommend a candle for the holidays?
I love Archipelago s Holiday Hope ($29, archipelago-usa.com). It s woodsy, with bayb
erry and spice.
Tell us a common mistake that people make with home fragrance.
Sticking with a single element say, just jasmine or just gardenia. Unless it s reall
y, really high-end, it draws too much attention to itself. People will think you r
e trying to cover something up. You re much better off with a multifaceted fragran
ce that s hard to pinpoint.
But what if we really love jasmine or gardenia?
Go for an artful blend. Something I like that mixes narcissus and jasmine with a
little muguet and a touch of mimosa is Nest s White Narcisse candle ($48, neimanm
arcus.com).
Do any scents spark memories for you?
Pine. It reminds me of sleep-away camp, floating in the lake, and looking at the
clouds pure freedom.
Do you have a fragrance for your car?
I have a very active Border collie. So my car fragrance is Febreze.