I’ve Discovered the Secret to Making My Apartment Smell Like an English Garden

As someone with a small apartment that’s easily overwhelmed by strong scents, I’m constantly on the lookout for diffusers and aromas that will subtly keep my home smelling fresh. My search finally ended when I discovered the Inspired Space Collection at Aera. Beloved by editors (and even a winner of Apartment Therapy’s 2024 Small/Cool Design Award), it has a sleek look and light, nuanced fragrances that check all my boxes.

Maxwell Ryan, founder and CEO of Apartment Therapy, describes these as the “finishing touch” for your thoughtfully designed home. The good news is that they’re available to buy right now!

The Aera x Apartment Therapy collection introduces Aera’s mini scent diffuser in two new, limited-edition colors: terracotta and forest green. This plug-in version of the brand’s original diffuser is incredibly simple to use and designed to save space. To operate, simply plug the device into a power outlet, insert the scent pod, and adjust the controls on top to set your preferred scent strength. Ideal for areas up to 400 square feet, the diffuser also works with the convenient Aera app, allowing you to set schedules and timers.

The collaboration features three exclusive scents, all “inspired by our audience-sourced House Tours,” according to Maxwell. These include Brooklyn Brownstone, a subtle fragrance with notes of log fire, sea salt, and fresh air; English Cottage, which blends floral notes like gardenia and tuberose with amber, grapefruit, and fig; and Tuscan Villa, featuring the aroma of bergamot, sage, and lavender, among others. Notably, each scent lasts up to 600 hours, offering 5x longer use than many competing brands.

The Aera mini diffuser uses what the brand terms “surround scent,” a technology that gives you control over the dispersal and intensity of fragrance microdroplets. As Style Editor Emma notes in her review, this method achieves an even distribution of scent throughout a room, kind of like “surround sound.” The effectiveness comes from the tiny size of the droplets — 100 times smaller than those from standard aerosols  — which allows them to “burst quickly and release pure fragrance molecules.”

What our editors love about the Aera Mini Diffuser is that it’s a compact yet powerful device that performs well even in large, open-plan spaces. Its limited-edition colors offer a stylish accent, and the fragrances are noticeable but not overwhelming. Contributor Alicia particularly enjoys the Brooklyn Brownstone scent. “As someone who is manifesting living in a Brooklyn brownstone, I was drawn to this scent based on packaging and name alone,” she says. “Luckily, the scent is as cozy as a warm apartment on a cool fall evening.”

And contributor Nikol says, “I’m especially fond of Tuscan Villa’s complexity, as it has both warm notes, like vanilla orchid, and greener notes, like the sage and lavender.” She adds that English Cottage has “a pleasant, fresh floral scent.”

The Aera Mini Diffuser is a great option for small spaces. Plus, with the Inspired Spaces trio, you’re guaranteed to find a fragrance you love. Don’t wait — elevate your home today and create a refreshing vibe with this diffuser and scent collection.

Shop the Aera and Apartment Therapy’s Inspired Spaces collection here.