Certain smells can hark memories of a former love, an aunt’s living room or even an exact moment in life. Hotels understand the power of aroma, too, and, over the years, have subtly tried to solidify memories of their own properties in your head with smells coming from AC vents and sprays used in turndown services. And while some of these places tease guests’ noses with hotel-use-only scents floating about the lobby, other places allow patrons to purchase perfumes, sprays and candles for the home, so memories of their stay can linger long after they’ve checked out.
The fine hotel brand has outposts all over the globe, including a new one that opened in July in Chicago. This, of course, means guests staying in London, the Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star in Shanghai or Sydney all experience the same scent, Ginger Flower. A delicate, graceful bouquet, the aroma tickles the senses from the moment you walk through any of the Langham lobbies. And to ensure that the same sensation is repeated, the brand makes candles, sprays and oils available for purchase.
This Italian gem prides itself on the individualized treatment it offers its patrons. But personalization goes well beyond spa treatments and yoga lessons here. PH Milan, working with the impeccable nose of renowned perfumer Laura Tonatto, offers a scent that stands apart from PH Paris’ sandalwood or Washington’s patchouli, violet and rose. A seamless mix of amber, vanilla extract, orange blossom and musk, the end result has a feminine, sophisticated air that guests won’t soon forget — especially since items such as body milk, ambiance spray and eau de parfum are available on site.
Featuring 2,000 square feet of green roof space and James Beard Award-nominated chef Eric Warnstedt’s Hen of the Wood Restaurant, Burlington’s first independent hotel turned heads when it opened its doors back in May. But the items we were most looking forward to sniffing out were the property’s signature scents. Working with Lunaroma, a Vermont-based aromatherapy products company, the hotel will have a line of purchasable toiletries such as shampoo, lotion and bedside spray that blend Vermont honey, beeswax, lavender and other local ingredients into earthy fragrances that will permeate throughout the 125-room property.
There’s certainly something special about this Four-Star property, but some visitors just have a difficult time putting their finger on it. They should be using their noses instead. Asian Rain is the specialized scent that Steve Wynn chose for his high-end establishment. The business magnate actually pioneered the trend of casinos funneling scents through their vents back in 1990 at The Mirage. One can only guess how many noses his casinos have tickled since then. In the case of Asian Rain, diffusers and candles are available at the hotel store in the event you want to treat your next houseguests to a little high-roller fragrance.
Photos Courtesy of Langham Hotels International Limited and Hotel Vermont
