Hotel Fragrances Are More Elevated Than Ever

There’s something so special about vacationing at a luxury hotel, whether it’s the high thread count sheets, the clawfoot tub, a plush robe and slippers, or the signature scent in the air. Many hotels have a distinct fragrance, and lucky for us, many now sell theirs, allowing you to bring a bit of your getaway home.

When asked what makes a hotel fragrance truly transportive, Kori Shaw, founder and chief perfumer of Swirl Works, a fragrance studio at Rosewood Sand Hill, explains, “Scent is as essential to experiencing a place as great food, design, or music. A well-crafted hotel fragrance is subtle and supportive, something you feel more than notice. It might gently greet you in the lobby, drift through the spa, or settle into your room. Though quiet in the moment, it becomes deeply tied to memory.”

And hotel fragrances aren’t limited to candles or diffusers anymore. They’re also sold as personal perfumes, reflecting the way travel and hotel stays have become part of people’s identities. “Where you travel, where you stay, where you shop—now you can take it all back in a bottle, and you get to tell the story when people compliment you. I call these ‘scent-venirs,'” says Kristen Pumphrey, perfumer and co-founder of P.F. Candle Co.

Below, we share some of our favorite signature hotel scents that are available as eau de parfums you can actually buy. We also asked our fragrance experts to break down the notes and explain what makes each one so addictive, both to wear and to experience in a hotel setting.