We discovered Neale Whitaker’s favourite candle so your house can smell like style

We already know Neale Whitaker’s country cottage is a stylish oasis. A verified interior style expert, Neale has made a career out of his impeccable taste in decor. But what of home fragrance?

In his latest chat with Home Beautiful’s The Edit podcast, Neale revealed that he always has a candle burning in his home. “Candles all year round. I mean, we don’t just like candles at home in the winter. We have them on in the summer too. Love candles, always have done,” he told The Edit host and Home Beautiful’s Editor in Chief, Elle Lovelock.

And what is his go-to scent?

“I’m a huge fan of Diptyque candles, and my favourite of those would be the fig one, the Figuier,” he confessed.

Listen to more home tips from Neale Whitaker on The Edit podcast:

Whitaker’s preferred candle — Figuier by Diptyque — is a warm, woody and fruity scent, combining notes of green leaves, bark, milky sap and fig. It’s described by the French artisanal fragrance brand as “a composition inspired by the fragrance of the wind in a fruit garden with the summer sun at its peak” — so, it’s no wonder Neale would prefer this fragrance for his home.

Home fragrance tips

Selecting the right fragrance for your home is both an art form and a matter of personal taste. Scent-scaping (think: ‘landscaping’ with fragrance) has become a popular interior trend to define the different zones in your home. For example, in your living room, you would opt for something relaxing, such as woody, amber-y or gourmand scents, suggests Ethan Archer from Agence de Parfum. Meanwhile, a citrus scent can neutralise strong odours in the kitchen.

When it comes to your bedroom, you might benefit from a more subtle fragrance — or no fragrance at all. Feng shui experts warn against scents in the bedroom, as this can create an “active” energy, and prevent a good night’s sleep.