What’s the Right Fragrance for My Bathroom?
Matthew Herman, creator of the fantastically named fragrance company Boy Smells, tells us which scent he’d pair with some of our favorite bathroom renovations from the last year.
Matthew Herman got into the fragrance business when he realized that scent can be a way for people to feel safe expressing and playing with their personal interpretations of gender. That, and he has a sense of humor. "Let’s call it Boy Smells and put it in a pink box—it literally came out of my mouth in three seconds," he says of naming the brand of candles, fragrances, and, most recently, underwear that he founded with David Kien.
Their fragrances are well-packaged cocktails of traditionally female florals, typically masculine musks, and every accord in between—plus the occasional whiff of weed. With names like Polyamberous and Broken Rosary, the scents are sometimes subtle, sometimes bold, a puzzle to define, and undeniably fun—like gender at its best.
As we have been dreaming about freshening up our bathrooms, we selected some of our favorite powder rooms and bathing spaces recently featured in Dwell and asked Herman to tell us which candle scent he would pair with each of them.
Translucence House By Anne Fougeron
Herman: This room would work with a powdery version of a cannabis scent, like our Cowboy Kush. Light woods and musks would give it a sense of richness without being heavy.
Circular mirrors by Dennis Luedeman join a custom walnut vanity with a counter and integrated sink by Corian. "The house is relentlessly linear, but we were able to add these more playful shapes,
Photo: Joe Fletcher
Sydney Addition By Polly Harbison Design
Herman: This space pulls in natural materials but adds polish. We have a candle that mixes mandarin peel and pink peppercorn—but also an artificial violet fragrance. That would be perfect.
Architect Polly Harbison designs an extension for her sister’s home to include a kitchen, a bedroom with an outdoor shower, and wide-open garden views.
Photo by Anson Smart
Square House By Levenbetts
Herman: The minimalism makes me think of charcoal and lava stone, so I would go with a smoky scent, but a dry smoky scent. Something with hay notes and palo santo would work.
An homage to Japanese culture, the bathing area includes a steam room and a custom hinoki ofuro (soaking tub) next to a Ming aralia tree. "The house is very particular, and in some ways it’s very ‘designed,’ but it’s also really informal,
Photo: Ike Edeani
Katowice Apartment By Mistovia
Herman: I love the mix of materials and tension between the objects. We have something called Rhubarb Smoke that would work here. There’s a lot going on, but it doesn’t feel noisy.
Interior design studio Mistovia combines chunky terrazzo, glass bricks, shiny surfaces, and bold colors to dazzling effect.
Photo by CNI Studio
Dye House Hotel By Shannon Maldonado and Kite Architects
Herman: This space makes me think of open-air freshness. You want to smell tomato vine, bergamot, fresh herbs, and dirt, but with a sense of light.
The bathroom vanity features a neon hue known as "optic yellow,
Photo Breanne Furlong
Northcote House By Studio Bright
Herman: I really love the dusty powder coating of all the metal fixtures. Something like our Slow Burn candle seems right. It’s based on the Kacey Musgraves song.
Strongly contrasting colors were used to differentiate bedrooms and bathrooms. The master bath is awash in reddish hues with a custom freestanding vanity by Studio Bright.
Photo by Rory Gardiner
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