Not being able to travel really stinks. But it doesn’t have to.
Does This Make Scents?
Perhaps like you, I’m very sensory-oriented.
Smells, in particular, instantly transport me to favorite memories such as vacations, seasons, holidays (especially Christmas time — the world heavyweight champion of holiday scents!).
How many of us go, Mmm, Cinnabon in an airport! when we smell warm cinnamon and butter? (Guilty as charged!)
Personally, I love Hawaiian Tropic sunscreen — because its scent always reminds me of being at a resort pool or the beach in Malibu. Other sun creams are fine — but the Hawaiian Tropic always takes me to a sunny day on the sandy beach with this view:
I admit it: when I walk into an American Express Centurion Lounge or Delta Sky Club, their signature scents (usually) make me feel welcome and calm. If I’m elsewhere and smell anything remotely like those aromas, I briefly go into “travel mode.”
Some hotels have signature scents. (This seems especially common in places like Las Vegas — probably to help mask the various odors caused by cigarettes, food, alcohol, and, y’know, people.)
I discovered a couple of different companies that create products designed to emulate specific hotels and cities!
So if you’re a scent-oriented person, check this out!
Make Your House Smell Like a Hotel!
Scentcerely by Aroma Retail specializes in recreating hotel scents. Their Amazon store sells scented oils based on aromatic “experiences” at hotels such as Mandarin Oriental, the oceanic breeze scent of the Marriott Times Square, and the London Marriott Grosvenor Square’s “leaf spring.”
Pretty trippy, right?!
The company recommends people use its Home Diffusion Machine (available on Aroma Retail’s website). It’s a little spendy, though, so don’t worry. Aroma Retail notes that its “fragrance oil refills may work in other companies’ diffusers and certainly should not hurt any other diffusion devices that take essential fragrance oils.” So you’re probably fine using a simpler, cheaper unit like this.
The company is based in Las Vegas — and pretty much cornered the Sin City fragrance market.
If you’ve ever visited MGM Grand, Luxor, or Aria, you know they have a very distinct aroma. (Some of my friends hate it. I love it because it’s so Vegas-y. And I always have fun in Vegas!) Aroma Retails’ “Asian Garden Fragrance” is pretty much what you smell at those properties. It has a “floriental blend of Jasmine, Lily of the Valley and Tuberose with Vanilla, Amber and Soft Woods. Sub Family Vanilla with top notes of Green leaves, Jasmin, Lily of the Valley; mid notes of Gardenia, Tuberose, Vanilla; and base notes of Soft Woods, Amber, White Musk.”
Never knew something so classy and aromatic could be linked to something like Luxor, did ya? (Fantastic comment: “Smells like the Luxor minus the scent of defeat.”)
If oils aren’t your thing, Aroma Retails sells sprays on its website — and also has a much more extensive scent selection than it does on Amazon. (And you can take 10% off when you shop through Aroma Retail’s site, I believe.)
(And for what it’s worth, Bath & Bodyworks’ vanilla coconut handsoap smells a lot like the scents pumped into the downtown Las Vegas casinos. I always feel like I’m sipping bourbon and playing cheap blackjack at the El Cortez whenever I wash my hands.)
Homesick Candles: For Your Special City
Do you miss the smell of your hometown or another city? Homesick candles has you covered! They even make candles for every state!
Atlanta has a candle! No aromatic notes of Delta, but you’ll smell “Dogwood blossoms, daffodils, and a big slice of warm, pecan pie. Scents as rich as the history of this southern gem. Everything that is Atlanta except the traffic!” (Currently $28.49 on Amazon — or $22.50 on Homesick’s website.)
Their New York City Candle, for example, bears “The distinctive scents of spring days in Central Park, fine department stores, and concrete capture the energy of the greatest city on earth.” (What, no street food or hot trash?) There’s also a Bloomingdale’s Candle.
It’s Los Angeles counterpart offers the scents of “bright mornings to star kissed nights…from the clean sea breeze to desert sand kicked up from a hike in the hills. Citrus notes of orange zest and lemon slices combine with a floral bouquet of jasmine and rose to perfume any occasion.” (Note to Los Angeles: please smell more like that.) For what it’s worth the Los Angeles candle is cheaper on the Homesick website than Amazon, so it’s worth comparison shopping.
Homesick also offers oils and reed diffusers.
What Are Your Memorable Travel Scents?
Does a particular airport inspire you to take a pleasant whiff? Do any hotel aromas have happy memories for you? Do some floral scents remind you of a favorite location?
Please share them in the Comments section below! (Anything pertaining to bodily functions isn’t acceptable, sorry. Don’t raise a stink.)
— Chris
Featured image: ©iStock.com/Pheelings Media
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Ritz in hertziliya is one of the best scents ever. Asked the front desk for their retailers name, not even manager would give up their trade secrets.
fun article