Jo Malone London

My world is very much about making things beautiful, but when I say “design” I am not only referring to external aesthetics—one might argue design is also how we internalize all that surrounds us and how that makes us feel. Last month, I was reminded of this when my dear friend Cleo Wade released her newest book, Heart Talk: The Journal. I cracked it open to a random page, trusting that I’d find what I needed that day, and the passage I read was this, “The best thing about your life is that it is constantly in a state of design. This means you have, at all times, the power to redesign it.” I mean, boom!

So, how do we do that? How do we shift our experiences in the body, heart, and home? Soothing music to unwind after a long day. A morning meditation or yoga practice to calm energy. An indulgent meal to mark a celebrated moment. A familiar scent that carries you to a time and a place or lifts you forward.

There is so much comfort in ceremony and rituals. As soon as I walk into my house, before I have even fully “arrived,” I light a candle. Something as simple as the warmth and fragrance of a candle burning has the ability to envelop your senses and transport you to the depths of your fond or forgotten memories. That’s why I design the sensorial experience right at the entryway. This often neglected space is so vital to the mood you wish to create. When designed well, your entryway has the ability to inspire a sensorial moment that invites a visceral reaction as it welcomes you home.

Decorating with scent makes design feel familiar. Scent allows us to dream, to whisk us away, to wrap us in warmth and make us feel truly home. Jo Malone London has always captured that magic in their candles. Their new Townhouse Collection is proof of this, ushering us to lead with our instincts first, to dial into our desires, and let our hearts guide the way, which is something I have always done in my own homes. I turn to different scents depending on the mood or experience I want to evoke. On the weekends it’s usually something fresh and uplifting for the daytime (like the clean smell of crisp linen sheets) and then I’ll opt for something far more smokey and sexy at sundown.

This particular collection is inspired by celebratory scenes in a classic London townhouse–– from the sun clad vines in the garden to a cozy night nestled in front of the fire. And of course what truly captured my multi-faceted attention is not only the six scents that make up the collection, but also the attention to the design of the vessels themselves, elegantly understated bathed in unglazed white ceramic and detailed with architectural elements reminiscent of georgian columns, cornices, and fireplace mantles.

Just like design, scent is a continuous journey of exploration and adventure. Identify what those scents are for you and embrace the magical mood that transpires as soon as you strike that match and light the wick of your favorite candle fragrance. The two candles from the Jo Malone London Townhouse Collection I’m personally drawn to are WILD BERRY & BRAMBLE which I feature in my Amagansett home and GLOWING EMBERS which feels perfectly designed for my Brooklyn entrance. I love how each space and each time of day warrants a new experience and scent. It’s my idea of heaven at home.